Bernell DorroughRandy Moss, Terrell Owens…. Brad Duesing?
It may seem like a stretch, but these three wide receivers have a lot in common. They’re all talented pass catchers with big bodies. All possess blinding speed. And they are also all heavily leaned upon by their respective offenses.
Duesing may be just a sophomore, but he has already established himself as the premier athlete on the team. A rough day for quarterback Adam Meranda last Saturday against Illinois Wesleyan didn’t stop Duesing, who caught six passes for 149 yards and two touchdowns. His exploits gave the Bears a chance to win the game late in the second half.
The Bears plan to rely on Duesing and his fellow wideouts even more against Rose-Hulman on Saturday. At 1-2 and coming off a tough loss, the team needs to get as much as it can out of its best weapon. Luckily, Rose-Hulman’s defensive style will allow the Bears to air it out to Duesing.
“The biggest thing for this game is getting the ball downfield,” Duesing said. “They like to play man-to-man on the corners. We’re going to have to challenge them deep if we want to win the game.”
In addition, the Bears must shore up their pass defense. Against Illinois Wesleyan, they gave up 343 yards through the air despite playing excellent run defense. It is unlikely that the run defense will be quite as good against Rose-Hulman, simply because the Engineers have a powerful ground attack led by Charlie Key. Key has racked up three straight 100-yard performances, and the team has rushed for 213 yards per game.
Also, the Bears defense will receive a nice treat against Rose-Hulman: a freshman quarterback. The Engineers start rookie Cameron Hummel, who went 6-of-24 for 66 yards in the team’s previous game against No. 4 Wheaton College. Against a much less accomplished passer than they have been facing, the Bears will attempt to prove that they can contain the passing game by pressuring the inexperienced Hummel.
Fortunately for the Bears, their early struggles won’t hamper their chances of securing a UAA championship for the third straight year. The team only plays four conference games each season, as opposed to six non-conference games per year. They don’t face a UAA opponent until an Oct. 18 showdown against Chicago.
By then, the Bears hope to have rebounded in time to hit their stride during the UAA season. With a potent weapon like Brad Duesing on their side, the team will find out just how far their stellar wideout can take them.