As a new era emerges under new head coach Mike Bobo a quarterback competition has heated up between two young quarterbacks. Coleman Key and Nick Stevens are battling for the top spot. They both bring a lot to the table and there are many differences between how the two approach the game. Since Key was in high school two years ago and redshirted last season for CSU, let’s look in some depth at his junior year and break down his highlight reel.

Coleman Key led an offense that often rolled out to stretch the field and this style seemed to suit him. He has a powerful and fairly accurate arm, his vision downfield is impressive and he showed the ability several times to throw across his body to make the play to a check-down receiver. Key, like Nick Stevens, always wanted to make the pass down field and ran as a last option. That doesn’t mean that either of them are dead in the pocket. In fact, Coleman showed impressive abilities feel the pressure and adjust. For an accurate comparison, he isn’t your flawless pocket passer like a Tom Brady or an Aaron Rodgers, more a keep it alive and keep the eyes downfield passer like Russel Wilson.

The highlight reel showed that he was a true gunslinger. He not only threw the long ball, he hit his teammates in the hands, in stride and in a position that the defensive back could not defend. He had several throws over 30 yards. Key hit receivers in the back of the end zone and on the pylons. His throws were high enough to put the ball out of the reach of linebackers but not beyond his receivers. The best example of his arm I saw was a 50 yard (in the air) bomb…hit his receiver in stride.

Key played the role of a pocket passer and did it well, but this young man young can be trained to be an exemplary pocket passer, with the capability to do so. He has raw talent in so many areas it is hard not to be excited about his future.

Here is BSN Denver’s film breakdown:

Roll-out passes: This guy has a decent set of wheels and down field vision, he attacks the deep shot when he can, checks down or runs. He is proficient at it too. There were a few plays (that worked out in high school) in which he threw a lofty ball because he released it with bad form. He makes decent plays running the ball outside. He plays it smart and gets out of bounds.

Gunslinger: You can’t be a gun slinger without situational awareness. This guy has tons of just that. A defensive end stops him in his tracks on a blind side roll out, out of the corner of his eye and, bang, this guy is going the other direction. He reads the positions of defensive backs relative to his wide receivers and takes chunks of yards.

The long ball: Have we mentioned that this guy can throw? Seriously 15 yards totally across the body, 50+ yards down the seam and 35-45 on a roll-out. Not to mention accuracy. Raw strength, raw talent.

Smarts: Key doesn’t panic, he makes smart plays, which makes sense because he graduated with academic all-district honors.

This young man has everything he needs to succeed. A good frame at 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds, talent coming out the wazoo, and a great young coach to grow with. He is the least experienced in the fight for the starting position and experience is important to a coach. Still, counting him out at this point still seems a bit hasty.

Coleman Key’s junior year highlight reel here:

See Nick Stevens article here.