QB experiment paying dividends

Carter Bradley takes his usual spot when the Toledo offense is on the field.

Not behind center — on the sidelines behind the opposing defense.

The Rockets’ two-quarterback system allows Bradley to see another vantage point, surveying the action on the far end of the stadium so he can adjust on the next possession.

“I take a good picture of the defense,” said Bradley, who has completed 26 of 40 passes for 404 yards and two touchdowns. “It gives me a good opportunity to settle the nerves, if I have any, and just see the field from a different perspective.”

Bradley has started the first two games, with Dequan Finn filling in sporadically. Bradley, a pure passer, leads the Mid-American Conference in passing efficiency by a wide margin, and has the 37th-best quarterback rating nationally.

Finn offers a legitimate contrasting skill set because of his ability to run, piling up 106 yards and two touchdowns on just 11 carries, none bigger than his 26-yard touchdown run at Notre Dame that had all the makings of the game-winner.

“I think I’ve done a good job playing my role,” said Finn, who led the Rockets in rushing yards against Norfolk State.

“Whenever coach calls my number, I’m ready. As far as executing the plays to make sure I’m taking advantage of my opportunities, I think I’ve done a good job. I’m still progressing, and there are things I need to work on.”

So how long will this experiment continue?

At least through Saturday’s game against Colorado State at the Glass Bowl.

Head coach Jason Candle likes what he sees. The most recent time Toledo went a full season with a healthy quarterback was in 2017, so there is credence to having two guys immersed in the offense. The decision becomes more pronounced when Bradley and Finn deliver results.

Two weeks — albeit a small sample size — have yielded evidence of an offense that can move coherently with one or the other operating as the conductor.

“Each guy continues to do some things really, really well,” Candle said. “Does one guy emerge and play great the rest of the way and the other guy falls off the face of the Earth? I hope one guy doesn’t fall off the face of the Earth. I hope they continue to get better and continue to improve and continue to buy into a game plan. I think it’s good to have both guys involved and have a change of pace. I think it gives the guy who’s not in a unique perspective to look and see what’s going on out there.”

The bulk of the offensive snaps belonged to Bradley at Notre Dame, as he consistently guided the Rockets into the red zone.

Touchdowns weren’t always the result, but his penchant for finding receivers and creating chunk plays provided a snapshot into what he can grow into this season.

“I felt like those other 10 guys on the field played their butts off,” Bradley said. “I felt like I left a lot of opportunities out there, especially in the red zone. I have to be better. Our coaches did an unbelievable job game planning and making sure we were in the best position to win. I feel like I fell short. But that’s football. You got to come back the next week with your head high staying positive. I feel like I still need to take the next step to make this offense a little bit better.”

Conversation is a theme on the UT sideline between Bradley and Finn. The pair discuss what they’re seeing while in the game and from the sidelines, presenting morsels of information to digest. On the next possession, whoever occupies the quarterback position is able to anticipate coverages and get the football in the appropriate spot.

“They feed off each other a little bit in that there’s authentic communication on the sideline on what they see,” Candle said. “Unless you’re out there in that environment on the field, it’s hard to take it from a coach or from someone who isn’t out there seeing all 21 guys run around. Their communication has been a real positive.”

Finn, despite the obvious appeal to his speed, assures that he’s a pass-first quarterback. Candle is not muted in crediting Finn for his work ethic. He’s considered one of the hardest workers on the team, a trait that was constant during the summer as Finn refined his passing accuracy.

“When my moment comes, I have to seize it,” he said.

Co-starters. 1A and 1B. The UT quarterback derby can be described in various ways.

With each base covered — passing, running, accuracy, speed — perhaps it could be a 14-game research and development project.

“It gives the defense a lot of stuff to prepare for when you have one guy that can spread the field and make you defend all 53⅓ with his arm, and the other guy can make you defend all 53⅓ with his legs,” Candle said. “That’s a different element. And we’re not talking about putting in a wildcat running back. The first three plays [Finn] was in Saturday were passes, and by design. I like where those guys are going.”

Contact Kyle Rowland at krowland@theblade.com or on Twitter @KyleRowland.