Getting Serious
March 27, 2003 10:02 AM | General
March 27, 2003
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Charles Hales knows its time to get serious.
 |
||
| Quarterback Charles Hales attempts a pass during fall camp last year. (Blue & Gold News Photo/Kevin Kinder) |
The West Virginia University junior quarterback is the clear cut favorite to serve as a backup for starter Rasheed Marshall this season now that former No. 2 Danny Embick has transferred out of the program.
“This off-season has been great and it’s been kind of fun because last year was so hectic trying to learn everything,” Hales said on the eve of spring practice set to start Friday.
West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez is counting on Hales to develop into a viable option at quarterback should something happen to Marshall.
“It’s critical for Charles Hales to progress to the point where we can count on him,” he said. “Charles is a great competitor, so he’ll want to push Rasheed as much as he can this spring, which will help them both.”
Hales is one of just three scholarship quarterbacks available to operate the offense this spring (freshman Dwayne Thompson in the other). Adam Bednarik, a 6-foot-3, 215-pound quarterback from Bethlehem, Pa., will join the team in the fall.
Hales came to West Virginia last summer after spending a year at Jones County Junior College in Ellisville, Miss. The 6-foot, 190-pounder grew up three miles from the junior college campus and had other offers to attend Oklahoma State and New Mexico before deciding to come north to WVU.
He earned JUCO all-region honors after leading his team to the state championship. Hales played in a no-huddle, spread offense at Jones County, but he admits it didn’t have the tempo or the sophistication of Rodriguez’ system.
“In junior college it was no huddle and the coaches relayed plays in from the sidelines, but here there is a lot more communication and the tempo of play is much faster.
“It was like learning a million things at one time,” he added. “I was trying to learn too much. Instead of learning one or two things that I could be good at, I was getting discombobulated with trying to learn everything.”
Because he was the team’s third quarterback and wasn’t likely to see action, Hales says it was hard remaining focused all of the time during practice and in meetings.
“Sometimes during practice you’re focused and at other times you’re looking around wondering what time it is,” he says. “It’s tough when you know you’re not going to play.”
During the season the Mountaineer coaches detected a mechanical flaw in his delivery and have since worked with him to correct it.
“I was slightly side arm and they have adjusted me to throwing more over the top,” he said.
Hales says the alterations to his throwing motion have helped him add more velocity and become a more accurate thrower. In the meantime, he’s focused on getting a better grasp of the system and gaining the trust of coaches, teammates and fans.
Where Marshall is an exceptional runner and can take off and get yardage when the rush is about to get him, Hales prefers to stay in the pocket and look for receivers working themselves free.
“I’m not as fast as him so I might have to hold on to the ball longer and take a hit,” Hales said.
For his part, starter Rasheed Marshall has seen a great deal of improvement in Hales.
“He’s coming along real well,” said Marshall. “He’s starting to get comfortable with the offense.”
Marshall cautioned that being comfortable in practice is one thing. Being comfortable in a game is another. Marshall still vividly recalls his first time on the field at Boston College in 2001 as a redshirt freshman.
“I can remember the PA announcer at Boston College calling my name and the next thing I knew I was in there getting hit and the fans were yelling at me,” he said. “It’s something you have to get used to.”
Marshall says his real wake up call came at Syracuse once he returned to the field midway through the season after injuring his hand against BC. Late in the game Rodriguez motioned for him to go in. Two plays later he’s lying on the ground with Syracuse All-America defensive end Dwight Freeney on top of him.
“The next thing I know he’s on top of me and the place is going crazy,” said Marshall. “I had to clear out my head quickly.”
Marshall points these things out because that was what he had to get adjusted to when he saw his first action. In Marshall’s case, he says it took him most of his sophomore season to feel entirely comfortable with the offense, the speed of the game and his surroundings.
Marshall is confident that if Hales should be pressed into action that he will be able to make the adjustment.
“He will be all right,” said Marshall.
Hales is appreciative of the help he’s received from Marshall and he believes that once he improves his play that will make Marshall an even better quarterback.
“He’ll have a quality backup,” said Hales.
