IU's quarterback position unresolved after Spring game

After 12 practices, two scrimmages and Friday's spring game, the IU quarterback situation is still, as coach Terry Hoeppner says, "in pencil."\n"We've got a long way to go (with the quarterbacks) yet," Hoeppner said. "At times they've all made plays, but we're not passing the football as well as I would like." \nThe team's four quarterbacks were divided up between teams Friday, with likely starting candidates Blake Powers and Graeme McFarland wearing crimson and Mike Vlahogeorge and Grant Gregory taking snaps for the cream. All of the quarterbacks struggled at times. Hoeppner said nobody particularly distinguished himself from the pack. \nPowers and McFarland, the top two on the depth chart, turned in similar performances, though Powers was more efficient than McFarland, completing 11-for-17 for 82 yards, including a 12-yard touchdown pass. \nMcFarland completed only 4-for-12, but threw a picture-perfect lob to wide receiver Marcus Thigpen for a 40-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter. \nPowers, who Hoeppner said was No. 1 on the depth chart Friday, was still critical of himself.\n"I just need to work on making good decisions more consistently," he said. "I did some things like I was expected to, but I made mental mistakes. You can always fix it, though.\n"To me, it doesn't really matter how good of a game you have. Even if you were really perfect, there is always room for improvement."\nOn the cream side of the ball, Vlahogeorge and Gregory got the chance to showcase their contrasting styles. Gregory, who also plays wide receiver, impressed the crowd scrambling. He finished 7-for-11 with 44 yards and one interception, while Vlahogeorge, more of a straight drop-back passer, was 4-for-11, for 62 yards and two picks. \nHoeppner said the passing game needs to improve before the fall season begins in August. \n"Our play-action passing game is OK," he said. "Our drop-back passing game is not where it needs to be. We've put a lot of burden on guys who haven't really played much, and we've got to make great strides."\nHoeppner said he sees the summer as a chance for the quarterbacks, and the offense as a whole, to form as a cohesive unit.\n"We can make those improvements over the summer," he said. "Now that (the quarterbacks) understand the concepts and what we want, the challenge will be for them to work all summer and get this passing game where it's acceptable to go into the season."\nPowers said he is geared up to get the summer underway.\n"We need to get guys participating in seven-on-seven drills religiously," he said. "We need quarterbacks to be throwing, receivers catching and lineman blocking. Once we all start to get on the same page, that will make this offense effective in August."\n-- Contact Staff Writer Eamonn Brennan at eabrenna@indiana.edu.