Craig Pearson
The Tribune-Star
TERRE HAUTE —
Michael Engle might feel a bit like Aaron Rodgers taking over for Brett Favre in Green Bay.
The former all-Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference quarterback for Terre Haute South will step into the shoes of Spud Dick at DePauw this season.
Dick led the Tigers to their first Division III playoff appearance in 2009 after becoming the school’s all-time leading passer during his junior year and ultimately finishing with 9,312 career passing yards.
Engle was under center in place of Dick, who suffered a concussion, for one start last fall.
Engle is ready to leave his own footprint on the DePauw program.
“Spud was better at some things than me. There are things I can do that we wouldn’t have done so much last year,” Engle said. “The offense isn’t really changing in the transition.”
Saturday’s season opener in Greencastle against Rose-Hulman will be the start of Engle’s senior year. With only three starters graduating on offense, Engle expects a seamless transition for the Tigers, who are favorites to defend their Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference championship.
“Definitely repeat as conference champs is the goal,” Engle said Saturday after a quality intrasquad scrimmage. “Definitely will be a target on our backs. Have to work that much harder. We will get everyone’s A game. We plan to improve on the foundation the seniors left with us last year.”
The son of former South coach Jay Engle, Michael’s ability to be prepared is his biggest strength as a quarterback, he explained. The aspiring lawyer will probably be found with a laptop in front of him to study film when he has time away from schoolwork.
“Being a coach’s son gives me an understanding what it takes week in and week out and how to prepare for a game.
“I learned a lot about film study and understanding what the defense is doing,” Engle said.
“I pride myself on preparation, spend a lot of time not only learning the intracacies of our offense but understanding the defense and what they’re going to do. We have to put ourselves in the best situation.”
DePauw’s offense returns preseason first-team All-America wide receiver Alex Koors in addition to “three or four receivers with significant experience,” Engle said. “There’s a lot of guys who’ve started that are returning, which definitely makes my job a lot easier.”
The DePauw offense will rely on a quality offensive line so Engle can have time to make the correct reads.
“Our system focues on precision and timing routes in our passing game so we try to take precise drops and reads so we don’t have to move out [of the pocket] much,” Engle said. “Having great protection allows us to do that.”
Dick completed 71.3 percent of his passes in 2009 for 2,785 yards and 27 touchdowns. Engle has no interest in setting statistical goals for himself.
“I definitely want to go in each and every day and get better as a player,” he said. “Definitely control the offense, make smart decisions, make smart plays. Try to be a leader for the offensive unit. Try to minimize turnovers. Hold onto the ball, control the ball.”
Former Illinois quarterback Dustin Ward is the DePauw offensive coordinator. Engle expects to be given the chance to be a coach on the field when the situation calls for it.
“Coach Ward definitely puts a lot of responsibility in the quarterbacks and knows we prepare week in and week out. It does play into it,” Engle said. “There’s a lot of confidence to put the offense in the right play and right situation.”
Engle will have his sights set on recapturing the Monon Bell against Wabash on Nov. 13 at Crawfordsville. Behind Dick, DePauw had won the matchup in 2007 and 2008. The historic rivalry began in 1890.
It all starts with getting the season off to a solid start Saturday against Rose-Hulman, a rivalry in which DePauw holds a 39-13 edge.
“Obviously, we’re very close, and it’s two great football programs,” Engle said. “Should be great games, not only this year but for years to come.”
