Ross quarterback Hayden Lehmann throws a pass to Garrett Schneider against Southview.
Photo by Tony Zimmerman
SYLVANIA – There is no tool more valuable to a quarterback than experience.
Having the physical skills is great and one can spend countless hours watching film to mentally prepare, but only until he is in the middle of the action can a quarterback truly learn the position.
Hayden Lehmann missed out on gaining that experience a year ago. He is learning now.
A broken ankle suffered last August derailed his sophomore season. The plan had been for Lehmann to learn the position, grow and have two more years as a supremely-skilled and experienced upperclassman. But now, healthy and a junior, the snaps he missed a year ago look as though they’re playing a role the Little Giant offense’s sluggish start to the season.
“I feel like if I did have that experience last year I’d be 20 times better than I am right now,” Lehmann said. “It’s still a learning process.”
Through two games, Lehmann has completed 18-of-38 passes (47 percent) for 337 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions.
But what the numbers don’t show are the passes off his back foot or throws that miss their target when the target is an open man with nothing between him and the end zone.
“We have to get Hayden Lehmann to step up and complete some of those passes,” head coach Chad Long said. “We had some wide-open kids and he’s not really progressing, he’s regressing right now. He’s throwing off his back foot, he’s scared of a little bit of pressure. He has to stand in there, set his feet and throw the ball.”
Lehmann had a handful of throws he’d like to have had back in Ross’ 20-6 win over Southview Friday, including overthrows of Shawn Newsome and Noah Hotz in the second and third quarters. Part of the experience Lehmann missed out was learning how to move on from a poor throw.
“Sometimes I do kick myself because I know I should make certain throws,” Lehmann said. “I’ll learn from it and get better.”
Lehmann’s teammates believe the best is yet to come from the 6-foot-2, 190-pounder.
“With his missing out last year, it kind of hurt him a lot, but he’s still a young quarterback,” senior receiver Devyn Jagodzinski said. “I have confidence in him to make the plays and mature throughout the season.”
When Lehmann and passing game find their rhythm, the rest of the offense will gain traction as well. Friday night Southview overloaded Ross’ line with a two-man blitz, stuffing the Little Giant rushing attack. With more success in the passing game, the ground attack should gain steam as well.
“This is what we’re going to get,” Long said. “They’re going to shut down the run game, load the box and say. ‘OK young guy, you haven’t proven yourself, let’s see what you can do in man-to-man coverage.’ That’s what Southview did tonight and he didn’t take advantage of it.”
Despite Ross’ 2-0 record, Lehmann knows the Little Giants have work to do.
“We still haven’t played to our full potential yet,” he said. “We still have a lot of work to do. I don’t think anyone is happy with how we won tonight.”