HUNTINGTON Ƶ Marshall quarterback Zion Turner knows the early phases of the new Thundering Herd offense about as well as anyone.
HeƵs a transfer from Jacksonville State, where he worked with new Marshall offensive coordinator Rod Smith.
After the first day of spring practice, Turner had three words on his mind Ƶ tempo, tempo and tempo.
ƵI would say the tempo,Ƶ Tuner said of what needs work. ƵItƵs fast. Everything that the quarterback needs to do is sped up. From reading the front of the (defensive) line to the secondary and getting your protection call in to your (offensive) line Ƶ everything has to be fast.
ƵƵ a quarterback, we have to be quick on our toes, quick on our thoughts and our decision-making has to be perfect.Ƶ
Turner said the offense feels nearly identical to what he had last season with the Gamecocks. While thereƵs always new wrinkles and more install to be had, Turner said the Herd has started strong.
ƵGetting a quick start on offense,Ƶ Turner said. ƵThe guys here have been working on it all January. ItƵs been a good start. A lot of mental mistakes, but I think weƵre moving in the right direction. Guys are in the right area, so we just have to do the right things. Every day, we will get better. IƵll stress tempo.Ƶ
No one should have expected the Herd to be championship-ready after the first day of practice. Turner calls it iffy.
ƵItƵs pretty difficult,Ƶ Turner said. ƵThe chemistry isnƵt there yet. ItƵs the first day, so itƵll get better over the course of 15 practices. With this offense, everyone has to know what theyƵre doing, what the guy next to them is doing and know how it works against a certain defense. ThereƵs a lot of variables, so every day will keep getting better.Ƶ
Turner said his role includes the leadership to show new faces the ropes.
ƵIƵm still learning things, but I can be (that leader),Ƶ Turner said. ƵIƵve studied this offense pretty well. The team up north Ƶ (new West Virginia) coach Rich (Rodriguez) taught me a lot at Jax State. He created this offense. Learning it from the guy that created it gives you an advantage. I took those things IƵve learned and brought them here.Ƶ
It comes naturally.
ƵI think, as quarterbacks, weƵre always in a leadership role by position,Ƶ Turner said. ƵThatƵs something I learned in high school. This position tasks you with things that you may not want to do, but you have to do them for the sake of the team, (like) leading these guys and making sure weƵre on the same page. Even when weƵre up, we want to keep guys energized and not let them get too high or low.Ƶ
Turner, though, hasnƵt locked down the starting quarterback spot just because he was one of the players Marshall made available to talk to the media on Tuesday. The whole signal-calling position group ran drills during the period of practice open to media, and Marshall coach Tony Gibson was explicit in his depth-chart plans.
ƵWe have a depth chart (at the beginning) just to let them know where they are and let them run out there together,Ƶ Gibson said. ƵBut we wonƵt set a depth chart until after spring ball. We want to see how these guys compete. They have 15 opportunities to do that, and then weƵll see.Ƶ
Part of that competition has been bred during the winter weightlifting phase. While many newcomers jumped right into the fray, Gibson said MarshallƵs strength staff helped bring the Herd up to standard quickly.
ƵI like that they competed. At the end of all those workouts, we had competitions Ƶ winners and losers,Ƶ Gibson said. ƵI loved the way that when the whistle blew that they got after each other. ThatƵs what you want to build.Ƶ
