Spring Break
Race for starting quarterback job underway
Sean Star
Issue date: 3/25/09 Section: Sports
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Unlike most who were born in Colorado, Eastman has an opportunity run an offense similar to the one Elway once ran.
Granted, Elway played on Sundays in the NFL. Eastman is merely one spring practice into a heavily contested competition for the opportunity to play on Saturdays in the Mountain West.
Still, it's one reason why the new Ram is fired up to run coach Steve Fairchild's pro-style offense.
"I'm really excited to be in this offense because I grew up a big Bronco fan, a big John Elway fan," Eastman said. "My family's always been big fans of the Broncos and John Elway specifically. The (CSU) offense is just pro-set; it's what you see them run on Sundays. So I'm excited to play in that offense."
Eastman, who after being born in Fort Morgan moved to Utah, is one of three Rams competing this spring for the quarterback position left vacant by the graduated Billy Farris.
The transfer from Snow College (Utah) is joined by senior Grant Stucker and redshirt freshman Alex Kelly. Sophomore Klay Kubiak, who last season served as the primary backup to Farris, will sit out spring practices because of a shoulder injury he suffered in the fall.
Fairchild said at a press conference Monday that "ideally" he would like to name a starter by today, but that it will take much longer than that.
The second-year coach said he liked what he saw Tuesday, despite some significant wind and rust from the offseason.
"I thought they looked good," he said. "We're going to have a nice battle, just like last spring, between those three guys. And I'm kind of excited to see what happens here over the next six or eight practices. Whenever the time's right, we'll name the starter."
Each quarterback brings something different to the table.
Stucker, entering his fifth season with the program, has the experience of competing with Farris last year.
Eastman has the most playing experience and perhaps the most potential, having led his junior college last year to the national championship.
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