Mitchell masterful in EWU scrimmage
Bo Levi Mitchell, a junior to be and first-year transfer from Southern Methodist University, was the most of impressive of the five quarterbacks Eastern Washington coach Beau Baldwin used during Saturday's first scrimmage of spring drills.
You can read an unedited version of the scrimmage story that will appear in Sunday morning's S-R below, and be sure to check back tomorrow for additional thoughts and comments from Saturday's scrimmage.
MITCHELL MAKES HIS CASE
Beau Baldwin,
And when it does, look for Bo Levi Mitchell – a junior to be and first-year transfer from Southern Methodist University – to be the favorite to step into the spot was vacated last fall by Matt Nichols.
Mitchell, a 6-foot-2, 210-pounder from
Mitchell, who started 19 straight games at SMU – including 12 as a true freshman – was used exclusively with the No. 1 offensive unit on Saturday and responded by completing six of eight passes for 75 yards and one touchdown, while also directing the Eagles to a pair of scores during red-zone situations where the offense started at the defense’s 20-yard line.
“He played really well, considering this was only practice (number) five,”
“But he’s operating really well, and he’s taken it upon himself, away from practice, to understand our terminology and our system.”
Among Mitchell’s many impressive throws during Saturday’s scrimmage, was a 29-yard touchdown toss to Nicholas Edwards, a rangy 6-3 sophomore to be, on a deep crossing pattern that required a deft touch.
“It was real pretty,” Edwards said. “He just laid it out there with a perfect touch, and I was able to go get it. He seems to know what kind of balls our receivers want thrown to them in certain situations, and he’s really made a nice connection with us since he got here.
“We feel comfortable with him and Nick Gauthier. They both have really strong arms, but still put a nice spin on the ball that makes it really catchable.”
Gauthier, a 6-1, 205-pound junior to be, who redshirted last fall after transferring from Bakersfield (Calif.) College, directed the No. 2 offense and completed just three of nine passes for 30 yards, but was victimized by a couple of dropped throws that were right on target.
Three of the other quarterback candidates – Jeff Minerly, Anthony Vitto and first-year JC transfer Greg Panelli – also got a limited number of reps, leaving Scott Burgett, who saw just mop-up duty in two games as a redshirt freshman last fall, as the only one of the six to not take snaps in the scrimmage.
“I don’t think any of the five guys who played today – including Bo – go enough work,”
“That’s just the way it has to be.”
Mitchell seemed pleased with his performance, but admitted he still has plenty of issues to address as spring practice continues.
Among those is his footwork, as he attempts to re-learn what it’s like to take occasional snaps from under center after spending two seasons in June Jones’ shotgun spread passing game at SMU.
“I feel good out there, and I thought I threw the ball really well today,” he said. “But there are still a couple of drops I need to make better. In high school, this was our offense – taking five-step drops, taking three-step drops and sprinting out.
“But at SMU, we just took the snap and got ready to throw the football, so I’m just starting to get my muscle memory back to where it was in high school.”
The Eagles will continue spring drills with practices on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday (sans pads), before scrimmaging again next Saturday. That scrimmage has been tentatively set for 12:30 p.m. at Woodward Field.