Topic: Marshall, Monarchs both are breaking in new quarterbacks

[Big City]

Old Dominion and Marshall will have one thing in common when they meet Saturday in Huntington, W.Va.: both are struggling to replace standout quarterbacks.

ODU clearly misses Taylor Heinicke, now with the Minnesota Vikings, and Marshall has had trouble filling the hole left by Rakeem Cato, who starts for the Canadian Football League's Montreal Alouettes.

Michael Birdsong, who transferred from James Madison, started the season for Marshall and completed 23 of 36 passes for 234 yards in a 41-31 victory over Purdue. However, he did not play well and suffered a shoulder injury during a 21-10 loss at Ohio, completing 16 passes for 106 yards with two interceptions.

Enter true freshman Chase Little, who threw for 270 yards and four touchdowns in a 45-7 victory over Norfolk State. Little then struggled last weekend in a 36-29 double-overtime victory over Kent State. He completed 14 of 36 passes for 151 yards, threw two interceptions and lost a fumble.

Birdsong is listed as questionable for Saturday.

ODU, meanwhile, is coming off a 49-0 loss to Appalachian State and ranks 120th among the 128 Football Bowl Subdivision teams in scoring.

http://hamptonroads.com/2015/10/marshall-monarchs-both-are-breaking-new-quarterbacks