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MARSHALL SPORTS
The quiet battle
Marshall quarterback Mark Cann goes through some passing drills during the Thundering Herd's first practice in full pads Saturday, August 9, 2008, at Joan C. Edwards Stadium.
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HUNTINGTON -- Storylines hardly are lacking during Marshall University's preseason football camp.
There is Albert McClellan, again disrupting the offensive backfield. Conference USA's 2006 Defensive Player of the Year is gradually returning to form after missing last season because of a knee injury.
Because coaches know what they have in All C-USA tight end Cody Slate and home run wide receiver threat Darius Passmore, they have been reined in during practice. Still, both players have managed the occasional highlight, offering glimpses at what could be a big-play pass attack.
How about placekicker Craig Ratanamorn's explosive right leg? He routinely blasts 50-plus yard field goals during practice, while punter -- and fellow newcomer -- Kase Whitehead displays similar range.
Almost under the radar is the battle at the marquee position of Thundering Herd football. Quarterbacks Mark Cann, Brian Anderson, Jonathan Garner and Wesley Beardain quietly have gone about their work, competing for the starting job.
Cann, the lead candidate entering today's 10 a.m. scrimmage (open to the public), is fine with a modest profile.
"I really don't have anything to compare it to," Cann said. "This is my first go at it. And of course with guys like Albert coming back that's going to be where the focus is.
"It's doesn't bother me any. If anything, it's maybe a little better that way. I don't know. I don't have anything to compare it to."
Cann, a 6-foot-4, 230-pound redshirt freshman from Landrum, S.C., enjoyed a solid spring, capped by a 16-of-21 passing performance in the Green-White Game. The athletic southpaw has taken a majority of first-team snaps during camp, while Anderson and Garner have shared second-team duties.
Anderson is making a push, however, evidenced by Friday's impressive practice.
"Brian's had a pretty good camp," Marshall head coach Mark Snyder said. "Jonathan's coming. Wes just got back and maybe a little bit behind, but Brian's had a pretty good camp and Jonathan's coming."
That synopsis was offered earlier this week. Following Anderson's Friday performance, Snyder was more direct.
"Brian's heating up Mark a little bit," he said, previewing today's scrimmage. "I've been pleasantly surprised."
Anderson, a 6-3, 217-pound sophomore, completed 12 of 28 passes for 94 yards with three interceptions last season. He started against New Hampshire in place of injured Bernard Morris, connecting on half of his 14 attempts for 58 yards with one pickoff.
Garner sat out last season after transferring from Georgia Tech. The 6-4, 219-pound junior threw for 154 yards on 16-of-35 passing with one interception in the Green-White Game.
Beardain, a 6-1, 208-pound junior, missed several recent practices (personal reason) but is back with the team. He entered late in a game last season at UCF, completing one of two passes for 10 yards.
Relative anonymity will be lost when one is named as the starter for Aug. 30's season opener against Illinois State. Cann, the son of a football coach and a multi-sport high school standout, is accustomed to interaction with the media.
"I'm prepared," he said. "Just be yourself. I don't worry too much about that kind of stuff."
More of a concern has been an active, aggressive Thundering Herd defense, testing both a new-look offensive line and green quarterbacks.
"The defense is moving around a lot," Cann said. "They're running around, showing different looks, but it's good for us.
"We need to see as much as we can, and that's going to be good for us in the future."
Snyder likely won't name a starter until Illinois State game week, leaving the foursome to continue quietly sharing practice time and tutoring each other in the film room with offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach John Shannon.
"I don't know when they're going to do that (name a starter), and we're just going to keep competing until then," Cann said. "I haven't been told anything. I am taking most of the snaps with the ones, but I'm going to keep competing."
Shannon and Snyder, meanwhile, have opted for patient, reasoned approaches with their quarterbacks.
"It's going to be a process," Snyder said. "It's going to be the first time the lights come on for most of those guys. So we've got to be smart about what we ask them to do."
