Well-rested Villanova begins post-Robertson era in earnest
A lot can happen when a college football team has 16 days between games. When No. 14 Villanova (2-2, 1-0 Colonial Athletic Association) hosts Williams and Mary (2-2, 1-1) on Saturday, the Wildcats will be coming off "the longest layoff I can remember," coach Andy Talley said.
A lot can happen when a college football team has 16 days between games.
When No. 14 Villanova (2-2, 1-0 Colonial Athletic Association) hosts Williams and Mary (2-2, 1-1) on Saturday, the Wildcats will be coming off "the longest layoff I can remember," coach Andy Talley said.
In that time they learned that star quarterback John Robertson's career is over because of a knee injury. They also had time to lick the wounds from their historic Sept. 24 upset by Penn on Sept 24.
Talley feels that the layoff's positives outweigh the negatives, especially as it relates to getting redshirt freshman quarterback Zach Bednarczyk up to speed. This will be his second career start.
The playbook that Robertson mastered over three seasons was too comprehensive for Bednarczyk to digest in the five days he had to prepare for Penn. As a result, Talley didn't want the dual-threat lefty to leave the pocket for fear of injury.
Talley voiced confidence earlier this week that Bednarczyk is more comfortable and ready to seize the moment, which is coming at least a year earlier than expected.
"I think Zach has a tremendous opportunity," Talley said. "You can ask any quarterback in the country and the only thing they are looking for is an opportunity. They want to play and show what they can do."
The extra time off also allowed the Wildcats the chance to get a backup quarterback up to speed. Against Penn, the Wildcats didn't have one. Had Bednarczyk been injured, they would have turned to senior running back Gary Underwood.
Freshman Adeyemi DaSilva, previously hobbled by a knee injury, is healthy now and would get the call in a pinch.
William and Marshall coach Jimmye Laycock said earlier this week that although the Wildcats will have to make adjustments to life after Robertson, he expects Villanova to be eager to play after a long layoff.
"Losing Robertson, such a great player, is devastating. You never want to see anyone's career end that way, especially when he's meant so much to the school and to the conference. But they are so well prepared. I'm sure they're ready to play."
The Wildcats could be catching the Tribe at a good time. This will be their fourth road game this season. And the status of star running back Mikal Abdul-Saboor (knee) is up in the air after he missed last week's loss at Delaware.
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