Redshirt junior, not green

Ram fans get ready for a new face to lead the football team to

the promise land

next season.

Life after Bradlee Van Pelt has begun. Justin Holland has

supplanted the former Ram and has earned the role of starting

quarterback for next season by showing off his strong, accurate

arm.

“I think we are a completely different style of quarterback,”

said Holland in reference to himself and Van Pelt. “The biggest job

will be replacing his leadership.”

Fans and opposing teams will have to adjust to Holland’s style

of play. Most are used to the Van Pelt-oriented offense that

consisted of mad scrambling mixed in with an occasional pass.

Holland said he is more of a pocket passer than a scrambler.

“Defenses will have to change and start playing us as a

pass-style offense,” Holland said. “We’ll be able to stretch the

ball down field.”

The Rams offense will definitely be a little tweaked to fit the

skills Holland possesses.

With targets like David Anderson, who caught 72 passes last

year, Holland and the Rams shouldn’t have much trouble adjusting to

a passing offense.

Holland’s arm and abilities have received much praise from his

teammates and coaches.

“He has a strong accurate arm, he’s a good guy and he’s a leader

that has a lot of positive attributes,” senior running back Marcus

Houston said.

Head coach Sonny Lubick offered his own evaluation.

“His passing ability is better than previous quarterbacks we’ve

had,” Lubick said. “He’s confident; he knows he can go in there and

move the football team.”

Heading into his fourth season with the program, the redshirt

junior and former Bear Creek High School standout knows what

coaches expect of him. His experience is one of his many positive

attributes. Holland played in a number of the games last season and

started in the 2004 Diamond Walnut San Francisco Bowl for the Rams

in January.

“It’s not like I’m going in there blind, I’ve played in most of

the games the last two years,” Holland said. “I have confidence in

myself to perform right away.”

Waiting in the wings the last two years has proved to be a

buildup of anticipation for Holland.

“I feel like it has been a long time coming,” he said. “It’s

kind of a relief.”

“He has paid his dues, as they say,” Lubick said. “We’re going

in with a fairly experienced quarterback this season.”

Holland will get his first chance to show everyone his abilities

in the Rams spring game on April 24 at Sonny Lubick Field at Hughes

Stadium.