THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, April 25, 1995 TAG: 9504250381
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY STEVE CARLSON, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium: 90 lines
When he was at his best, Maurice DeShazo could make a mistake and turn a bad play into a good play.
Jim Druckenmiller, DeShazo's successor as Virginia Tech's quarterback, won't have that luxury.
``Maurice could make a mistake and get away with it with his athletic ability or by outrunning the defense,'' Druckenmiller said. ``If I make a mistake, I don't have the same advantages to get away with it. I have to be on my toes a little more and make the right decisions.''
Druckenmiller had a solid spring practice for the Hokies - ``He was a hell of a surprise,'' Tech assistant head coach Billy Hite said - turning what was expected to be a battle with redshirt freshman Al Clark for the starting job into a rout.
When Tech takes the field this fall, the man behind center will be a fundamentally different type of quarterback than the one who has been there the past three seasons.
DeShazo was a smallish, athletic player (6-foot-1, 200 pounds) with modest arm strength but elusiveness and quickness. Druckenmiller, a pure drop-back passer, is big (6-4, 223), strong (320-pound bench press) and throws with velocity, a word that will never be used to describe his foot speed.
For three years Druckenmiller, a rising junior who redshirted his first season, has studied the nuances of playing quarterback by watching DeShazo.
``You really get a chance to see everything that goes on without it happening to you,'' Druckenmiller said. ``I think it's beneficial. I've learned a lot standing there.''
But nothing compared to what he'll learn standing in the pocket against Boston College in Tech's opener on ESPN on Sept. 7.
Before that happens, the Hokies hope Druckenmiller learns more about playing the position and what to do in certain situations. Tech coach Frank Beamer said Druckenmiller ``eliminated a lot of bad plays this spring,'' but there's more work to be done.
``Physically, he's got the talent to play,'' offensive coordinator Rickey Bustle said. ``Mentally, he's got to catch up a bit. It's his opportunity; he's got to run with it or fumble it.''
Bustle said Druckenmiller had a good spring in terms of his study of the game and the questions he asked. Bustle said he had a decent performance in running the offense during Saturday's spring game, one of the few instances in which Druckenmiller saw live action. He completed 16 of 28 passes for 148 yards and one touchdown.
``He got excited a couple times and wanted to run downfield and throw blocks after handing the ball off,'' Bustle said. ``We just need to let him get out there and play without having me standing over his shoulder.''
Druckenmiller counts it a benefit that Bustle is the guy at his shoulder. Druckenmiller worked under Bustle his first two years in Blacksburg. Then Bustle went to South Carolina as the offensive coordinator, Gary Tranquill came in, and the offense changed. Tranquill left at the end of the season for Michigan State, and Bustle jumped at a chance to return.
``It definitely feels a lot more comfortable with coach Bustle back,'' Druckenmiller said. ``We both know what I can do, and we're both on the same wave length.''
Bustle's offense two years ago set a bundle of Hokies records. The Hokies hope his return translates into the return of 1993's offensive productivity. Tech has seven offensive starters back, with DeShazo and receiver Antonio Freeman the only significant losses.
``The combination of having Jim and Bustle there is better than our old combination,'' center Billy Conaty said. ``There's no question Jim's the starter. He's looked impressive. He's going to sit back there and throw the ball, not run himself into sacks and start scrambling.''
Two of Druckenmiller's uncles went to Penn State, including one, Dennis Onkatz, who went on to play linebacker for the New York Jets.
Penn State didn't recruit Druckenmiller when he came out of high school in eastern Pennsylvania, but neither did any other Division I school.
Druckenmiller only played quarterback his final season at Northampton (Pa.) High, and a couple of Division II schools recruited him. He went to Fork Union Military Academy and caught the eye of the Hokies, despite only playing half the season because of an elbow injury.
In three seasons at Tech, Druckenmiller has thrown 38 passes, mostly in a mop-up role.
``He's going to surprise some people, because I don't think people know how good he can be,'' Conaty said. ILLUSTRATION: [Color Photo]
Associated Press Jim Druckenmiller will fill some flashy shoes -
Maurice DeShazo often outran trouble. But the drop-back passer
impressed in the spring. ``Physically, he's got the talent to
play,'' offensive coordinator Rickey Bustle says.
by CNB