Marietta High's Andy Schob and Eric Mangini of the Cleveland Browns are in a similar situation.
Each head football coach has to ultimately make a tough decision as to who will be their team's quarterback this upcoming season.
While a QB controvery may be brewing in Cleveland, with Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson contesting the position, that's not the case in the Marietta camp.
Lance Weppler and Morgan Wynn are the primary Tiger candidates to fill the big shoes of graduate Cody Westbrook, who owns most of the school's passing records.
Last season, Westbrook completed 153 of 286 tosses for 2,327 yards and 14 touchdowns. He also had 12 throws picked off.
"You're not going to replace a player like Cody," Schob said. "But in my opinion, if you're going to have a good program, if you don't lose good players every year, then your program is not where you want it to be anyways.
"So, it's not what you lose, it's what you replace them with the next year. Hopefully, we can keep losing good players and keep replacing them. That's the sign of a good program."
Schob said he was very pleased with the MHS quarterbacks during the summer's 7-on-7 scrimmages at Don Drumm Stadium.
"Two have kind of stepped up a little bit," the coach said. "Lance's throwing the ball really well and made good progress with his reads, and Morgan gives you a different option. He's good with his reads and he may be the fastest kid on our team. So, he kind of gives us that kind of option, too."
Incidentally, Weppler appears to have recovered nicely from a late spring shoulder injury to his right throwing arm. He probably would've been out for the season if he'd had surgery, Schob said.
"His shoulder is good, and he hasn't had any trouble with it," Schob said. "He's done rehab and strengthened it."
Weppler is a senior, while Wynn is a junior.
Matt McKitrick, a sophomore, is also in the QB mix. He figures, though, to be a receiver on offense and to play in the secondary on defense.
"Matt's done a good job, too," Schob said. "Athletically and understanding the game, he's progressed."
Schob paused.
"We want to develop three quarterbacks," he continued, "and whichever one steps up, we'll have three ready to go in the meantime."
Marietta High is scheduled to play in three home scrimmages this month before its 2009 season opener against visiting Morgan Aug. 28. So, Weppler and Wynn will have plenty of opportunity to showcase their signal calling skills.
By the way, if Weppler takes center snaps, Wynn will probably be at the wide receiver position. If Wynn gets the job, Weppler figures to be somewhere in the backfield.
Last year, Weppler was a lead blocker for Perry Wheeler, who rushed for 1,037 yards and scored 19 touchdowns.
Both Weppler and Wynn also could be on the defensive side of the football as well.
"With the scrimmages and practices, more will be determined when the pads get on," Schob said. "We'll be looking at their leadership on the field and things like that.
"They both bring a different aspect to us. And, right now, I feel comfortable with either one of them to start the season at quarterback."
Ron Johnston is the Marietta Times sports editor, and can be reached at 376-5441, or at rjohnston@mariettatimes.com
