Two words are taboo when describing a quarterback: game manager. Fans wince when they hear an expert use those words to describe their starter. It insinuates that the player cannot be a difference-maker. Rather than running from this tag, Kentucky quarterback Zach Calzada is welcoming it.
Following his first scrimmage in a Kentucky uniform, Mark Stoops commended the play of Calzada and Cutter Boley. They didn’t make any severe mistakes, took care of the football, and most importantly, converted in critical third-down situations.
While throwing the ball around Kroger Field, Calzada wasn’t focused on making the big play. He just wanted to make the right one.
“For me, it’s being a ‘game manager.’ It’s just keeping my team ahead of the sticks,” Calzada said. “When coach calls shot plays, if it’s not there, don’t force anything, take my checkdowns, hand the ball off on RPOs when I’m supposed to, and just managing the game. Big plays will come, but if you’re searching for it, you’ll get behind the sticks quickly. So making sure that I keep us in third and short situations and taking yards when we need ’em.”
Calzada is suiting up for his seventh and final college football season. During his most recent stop at Incarnate Word, he was asked to do everything for the offense, throwing the ball more than 37 times a game. Kentucky is built much differently. He will not have to carry the weight of the entire offense on his shoulders.
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“I think the run game is going to set the tone, and as a quarterback, I think the running game is your best friend. Being able to let those guys do their thing and manage the game, when my time comes to take shots and let receivers make plays down the field, we’ll be ready,” said Calzada.
It’s a bit of a mystery who will be Calzada’s primary targets this fall. We know Ja’Mori Maclin and Kendrick Law will be heavily involved, but there is a ton of competition for reps. Six players rotate in regularly. Calzada is hesitant to ever single out any one specific target, but he did go out of his way to share some praise for a pair of true freshmen who are game for the challenge.
“I like seeing the freshmen come along,” he said. “Cam Miller and (Montavin) Quisenberry have done a great job just showing effort. The fact they believe they belong in that room, they’re coming in
and making their mark.”
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