In Lobato, Bears know 'QB1' spot is solidified for 2012

Earnest Collins audio (April 11) | Northern Colorado Football 2012 spring roster | 2012 spring schedule | 2012 Letterman's Weekend brochure

By JORDAN FREEMYER and SCOTT WARD
UNCBears.com

GREELEY -- With the knowledge that he will be the starter next fall, Northern Colorado junior quarterback Seth Lobato has shown off an increased comfort level this spring and taken on a heightened leadership role with the Northern Colorado offense.

Despite suffering an early-season concussion last year, Lobato, who transferred to the Bears in 2010 after redshirting one year at Colorado, still finished his sophomore campaign in 2011 with 2,448 passing yards and 17 touchdowns through the air and also notched a pair of 400-yard games.

Northern Colorado Football will again need that kind of production on the field this coming season from Lobato -- and an off-the-field approach to match.

One early indicator of Lobato's growth in that department has been his planning and running of volunteer 7-on-7 sessions this spring. The Bears have been on a Monday-Wednesday-Friday-Saturday team schedule this month, so Lobato has been on the Butler-Hancock Practice Fields on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons, throwing to and against any of his teammates interested in attending.

The popularity of those sessions was low at first, but a succint post-practice browbeating from Lobato a couple weeks ago turned that tide in a hurry.

"You want your quarterback to be one of the leaders on your football team," Northern Colorado head coach Earnest Collins Jr. said following Wednesday's spring practice. "Seth is not the yeller and the screamer, but he's trying to lead by example. He does get on the guys when he needs to, [and] I think he's doing a good job of maturing into a leader on the football team."

Added Lobato: "You've got to improve every day. You've got to master your craft and know everybody's assignment, so, that you can feed them."

One player that will likely be fed often by Lobato this fall will be redshirt-junior wide receiver Jace Davis, who sat out the 2011 season (academic issues) and will be playing with Lobato for the first time in 2012.

Davis and Lobato did get to work together a bit in practice during the 2010 season, so, they're excited to work together "for real."

"He grew up," Davis said of Lobato, who was a high school multi-sport star at nearby Eaton High School. "He learned how to control the offense and control the team and take the lead. I'm sure if you've been out at practice, you've heard it -- we've all heard it -- and we're following him. He's taking us to the promised land."

Lobato spent much of this past offseason in the weight room, getting stronger and adding some bulk to his 6-foot-5 frame, so he'll be more able to take hits.

He also worked on his pocket awareness and reading defenses.

"He had a great offseason, working out with coach [Dinky Williams], the strength coach," Northern Colorado quarterbacks coach Jon Boyer said. "Overall, his pocket presence is something else that he ended up progressing through the year as it went along, and he's still improving on that. He'll stay in there and take the hit; he's fun to work with."

Lobato finished last season on a strong note, averaging nearly 330 passing yards per game in the last five games of the season, while throwing 10 touchdowns and just four interceptions.

Both he and Collins gave credit to Boyer for Lobato's in-season development in 2011.

"He's really helped me out on defensive identification and overall pocket awareness," Lobato said.

"Coach Boyer is doing a good job of, if he makes a mistake, pointing it out to him and if he does something good, pointing it out to him," Collins said. "I think Seth is smart enough that he'll learn from it and be a much better football player for it this year."

Last spring, Lobato was in an open competition for the starting quarterback spot with then-senior Dylan Orms and then-junior Matt Baca. Collins was running his first Northern Colorado spring camp, and most of the positions, including quarterback, were declared "open" when he took the job.

However, this year the "QB1" job is firmly Lobato's, which has increased his comfort level and, according to Collins, has benefitted the team as a whole.

"It's always huge when you can go through spring and know who your starter's going to be," Collins said. "Last year, we didn't have a starter until two weeks before game time, so, now you're going to get your starter the work, he's going to get all the reps, you're focused on that, getting him ready. You go into the fall much farther ahead if you know who your starter is at the quarterback position."

And given his success last season and his impressive development throughout the offseason and this spring, Collins has made it clear he has high expectations for Lobato in 2012.

"I expect him to be an all-conference quarterback," Collins said. "I expect him to be one of the best quarterbacks in the conference."

For breaking news and other updates on Northern Colorado Football and Athletics, follow the Bears on Twitter @uncofootball and @unc_bears.

2012 Northern Colorado Football Spring Schedule

March 26	Practice	3:30 - 5:30 p.m.
March 28	Practice	3:30 - 5:30 p.m.
March 30	Practice	3:30 - 5:30 p.m.
March 31	Practice	10 a.m. - noon
April 2	Practice	3:30 - 5:30 p.m.
April 4	Practice	3:30 - 5:30 p.m.
April 6	Practice	3 - 4:45 p.m.
April 7	Practice	10 a.m. - noon
April 9	Practice	3:30 - 5:30 p.m.
April 11	Practice	3:30 - 5:30 p.m.
April 13	Practice	3:30 - 5:30 p.m.
April 14	Practice	2 - 4 p.m.
April 16	Practice	3:30 - 5:30 p.m.
April 18	Practice	3:30 - 5:30 p.m.
April 19	Coaches vs. Players softball game	5 p.m.
April 20	Friends and Family golf outing	Noon
April 21	Captains Breakfast (not open to public)	8 a.m.
April 21	"Battle of the Bears' Blue & Gold Spring Game	Noon
April 22	Spring BBQ	1:30 p.m.