Dispatch
Pickerington Central QB emulates his idol
Anderson gives opposing teams a McNabb look
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
Steve Blackledge
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
NEAL C . LAURON DISPATCH Pickerington Central quarterback Chazz Anderson is a threat when he?s running or throwing.
From the rocket arm and the mobility to the mannerisms and the No. 5 jersey, Chazz Anderson is the spitting image of Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb.
"Thank you very much," said Anderson, the senior quarterback for Pickerington Central. "Donovan is my favorite football player."
That Anderson has been able to duplicate his idol?s throwing motion and idiosyncrasies speaks volumes of his work habits.
"While his friends are sitting around playing video games, Chazz is either doing extra work in the weight room, throwing balls to his receivers after practice or studying films," Tigers coach Jay Sharrett said. "He?s really a film nut. He loves to break down his and other players? mechanics."
A third-year starter who holds eight school records, the 6-foot-2, 200-pound Anderson has led Pickerington Central (7-1) to the brink of the Ohio Capital Conference Cardinal Division championship and a Division II playoff spot. He has completed 93 of 152 passes for 1,385 yards with seven touchdowns. He also has run for four scores.
Anderson played running back from pee wee leagues through middle school. Seeking a freshman scout team quarterback, Sharrett asked for a volunteer, and Anderson reluctantly raised his hand.
"I could always throw the ball really far, but not with very good accuracy," Anderson said. "I took a lot of pounding my freshman year, but playing running back all those years helped my mobility. Everything worked out in the long run."
After earning second-team All-Ohio honors in 2004 with 2,146 passing yards and 19 touchdowns for a 10-2 regional semifinalist, Anderson?s statistics tailed off a bit last season. With clearly less talent around him on a 6-4 club, he threw for 1,331 yards with eight touchdowns and 12 interceptions.
"I refuse to blame that on other people because I could have done more, too," Anderson said. "What happened last year just made me double my workouts and film study."
Sharrett said Anderson has improved markedly each season.
"Chazz has made the biggest strides in his decision making ? knowing when to tuck it and run or to throw it away," he said. "He?s not forcing the ball nearly as much. And his leadership is a real asset. Without doubt, the kids gravitate to him. They follow his lead."
Anderson, who threw for for a seasonhigh 286 yards in a 50-7 rout of previously undefeated Olentangy on Friday, seems especially comfortable operating outside the pocket.
Last summer, Anderson committed to play at Cincinnati, citing the program?s use of its quarterbacks and its curriculum in architecture. Some programs recruited him as an athlete.
"One of the UC coaches came to practice three or four weeks ago and Chazz threw an absolute rope of 35 or 40 yards," Sharrett said. "And he told me afterwards that?s all he needed to see to convince him that he was a Division I quarterback. I really think he?s got a lot of upside."
Linear Mode
