HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Chase Litton admitted his performance through three games as Marshall’s starting quarterback was far from perfect, although his record is.
Litton has faced the anxiousness of his first collegiate start, the third-ranked defense in the country, and soggy, slippery weather. Each time he and the Herd found ways to win. Now, the offense is trying to build chemistry and consistency.
Litton completed 21-of-35 passes for 212 yards and a pair of touchdowns Saturday in Marshall’s 27-7 win over Old Dominion, having moments where he fit the ball into tiny windows but also some where he missed open targets.
“Being more consistent,” Litton said. “There’s a lot of plays I should have hit, a lot of routes that I should’ve hit that I didn’t.”
One of the most evident examples of a route Litton should have hit came in the second quarter when Litton missed an open Davonte Allen on third-and-10. The pass short-hopped Allen and as the punt team ran on the field, Litton hit himself in the helmet, wishing he could have the throw back.
“The drag to Davonte, I just didn’t step into it, I rushed it and that’s just something we can’t do,” Litton admitted. “Plays like that we can’t miss. There’s going to be times in games we need those plays and we’ve got to get them.”
However, for every throw like that, Litton made an equally impressive throw in the steady rain Saturday afternoon. His first touchdown pass to Deon-Tay McManus was a bullet between two defenders. Later in the third quarter, on second-and-12, Litton somehow escaped a sack, kept his eyes down field and was able to find tight Ryan Yuracheck for a 31-yard gain.
“I still don’t know how he got that ball to me,” Yuracheck said after the game. “We’ve been doing a better job the past couple of weeks just getting on the same page and I think that shows on the field, not only with me but the other receivers as well.”
It’s starting to show not only when plays break down and Litton must adlib outside the pocket, it you can see the chemistry building on timing patterns and the confidence building when Litton fires into a small opening, giving his receiver a chance to make a play on the ball.
“Our chemistry is getting much better and we’ve just got to be more consistent and I’ve got to be more consistent,” Litton assessed.
Yuracheck, who caught a career-high six passes, including a touchdown, believes the receivers and the freshman quarterback are becoming more comfortable with each other.
“I think you see that not only when he’s scrambling but play to play. He’s making the right checks and right reads and its all flowing well.”
You expect the consistency and chemistry to develop with every game, series, and play. But Doc Holliday was quick to point out the most important statistic that’s been consistent for Litton so far.
“The important thing is he’s 3-0 as a starter.”
Birdsong update: Quarterback Michael Birdsong, who was injured in the loss to Ohio, continues to improve.
Birdsong was dressed for Saturday’s game against ODU and fully participated in warmups. The previous two weeks, Birdsong had not thrown. Doc Holliday has said Birdsong will have a chance to compete with Litton for the starting quarterback job once he is fully recovered.