An injury to Mike Teel is one of the absolute worst things that could happen to the Rutgers football team during the 2008-09 season. Teel's ability to manage the offense, combined with his experience on the field, are irreplaceable components of the Scarlet Knight offense.
If disaster were to strike however, RU and head coach Greg Schiano are confident that the team's backup quarterbacks can handle the job.
The primary backup at quarterback is junior Jabulani Lovelace, who saw some playing time last year when Teel suffered through a thumb injury. In certain running packages, Lovelace would come in and move the pile with his bulky, muscular frame.
"My game saw a big, big improvement [when I got on the field] because the coaches simulate the game very well in practice, but once you're actually in it, it's a totally different environment," Lovelace said. "I thought the more opportunities that I got in the game, I felt like I just kept growing as a player. Whatever disaster scenario might happen, I feel really comfortable."
In his limited playing time last season, Lovelace threw for 69 yards and ran for 380 yards and four touchdowns.
Lovelace also has a speed advantage that Teel does not. He has shown that he can pass the ball this spring, but it is his ability to make plays on his feet that make him a real threat at quarterback.
"I'm a dual threat type [of quarterback]," Lovelace said. "I enjoy running it and I love throwing it, so I enjoy having both worlds and being able to do both out there."
Lovelace's improved play and work ethic over spring practice have impressed his teammates, making them confident in his ability to manage a game.
"I think Jabu has continued to do a good job of what he's been asked to do," Teel said. "He's had experience and he's played and he needs to continue to take that next step to really understand the offense and be a leader on the football team."
Critics of Lovelace say that he doesn't have the arm to be an every down college quarterback, but his teammates think otherwise.
"Absolutely [he] can pass the ball," said senior wide receiver Tiquan Underwood. "We see him at practice. He can manage this team and he's a leader like Mike Teel is, so if something happens to Mike, he's going to step in and take charge of the team."
Perhaps the best showcase of his arm so far came in the Scarlet-White game, when he placed the ball right into wide receiver Julian Hayes' arms from 40 yards out for a touchdown.
"Jabu put the ball right where it needed to be and Julian made a great play and caught it," Teel said in reaction to the touchdown pass.
Lovelace said that he is working hard on improving his reads and has gotten a lot of help from the more experienced quarterback, Teel, while doing so.
"Mike has taught me so much," Lovelace said. "You see him on Saturdays with his approach. It's calm, it's collected, it's calculated and I like that. I'm trying to put that in my game, not only with the passing, but just being nice and relaxed, just never really panicking. That's what Mike does well and people never give him credit for it."
Lovelace isn't the only quarterback that learns from the exchange, however. Teel said that he has learned a lot of Lovelace and the other quarterbacks on the squad.
"We learn things off each other every day, whether it's going through progression or coaching points throughout the day," Teel said. "[He taught me] to get down and not try to run people over like he does when I'm running the ball."
