Charlotte 49ers might start junior Lee McNeill at QB this week against Florida Atlantic
Charlotte 49ers football coach Brad Lambert has opened the possibility that Lee McNeill might start at quarterback Saturday night against Florida Atlantic.
McNeill, who started three games last season when Matt Johnson was sidelined with a knee injury, had been No. 3 on the depth chart in the 49ers’ first three games this season, but Lambert hinted Tuesday there might be a change for Saturday’s Conference USA game at 7 p.m.
“We’re evaluating all of our quarterbacks,” Lambert said. “Lee manages the game well. He had a good fall competition, and he deserves an opportunity as well.”
Johnson started the opener against Georgia State, but freshman Brooks Barden started the second game against Presbyterian. He and Johnson alternated series through much of that game, and McNeill entered late in the contest.
Johnson and Barden alternated again in Saturday’s 73-14 loss to Middle Tennessee State, but each committed several turnovers. In addition, Barden suffered a cut over his eye that required stitches.
McNeill, a redshirt junior from Porter Ridge High in Union County, played late in the Middle Tennessee State game and has completed 4 of 6 passes with one interception this season.
“We’ve got to value the ball better,” Lambert said Tuesday.
But Lambert said the platoon system at quarterback will continue this week. He said Johnson will continue to alternate with whomever starts against Florida Atlantic.
Middle Tennessee hangover?: Lambert said he told his team not to dwell on Saturday’s drubbing at Middle Tennessee.
“I told the team that we’re going to move on quickly from this,” he said. “We’re going to learn from our mistakes and do better.”
Deceiving record: Lambert said fans should not be fooled by the 0-3 record that Florida Atlantic brings to Charlotte. The Owls lost 47-44 in overtime at Tulsa, then gave Miami a tough battle for a half before falling 44-20, and then lost 33-15 at home last Saturday to Buffalo.
“Don’t let their record deceive you,” Lambert said. “They’re playing well on defense. And they doubled the overall yardage against Buffalo. Turnovers were their big problem in that game.”
A sickening situation: Florida Atlantic might welcome the trip to Charlotte this week. The team was kept indoors for practice several days last week because of heavy rains in southern Florida.
Then the squad was hit hard by a stomach-intestinal virus. Head coach Charlie Partridge said 20 players and coaches were sick with the virus at one time or another last weekend.
Men’s soccer news: Charlotte 49ers’ redshirt junior defender Luke Waechter has been named to TopDrawerSoccer.com’s National Team of the Week. Waechter played a key role in helping the 49ers blank William & Mary 1-0 on Sept. 15 and then hold 12th-ranked Old Dominion to a 1-1 tie Saturday. Waechter was the same honor on this week two years ago.
This story was originally published September 22, 2015 at 4:59 PM with the headline "Charlotte 49ers might start junior Lee McNeill at QB this week against Florida Atlantic."