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O'Brien quietly gets his job done
Quarterback for East Forsyth doesn't put up flashy passing statistics
Journal Photo by Lauren Carroll
Quarterback Danny O'Brien of East Forsyth has committed to play at Maryland.
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Published: August 21, 2008
KERNERSVILLE
Coach Todd Willert of East Forsyth had a quick response when asked why his quarterback, Danny O'Brien, didn't have gaudier passing totals the past two seasons.
"When you have an offensive line like ours, it's hard not to run the football," Willert said. "When you have a running back like Christian Smith, a Division I tackle (David Collins) and a guard (Jeff Smith) who is as good, it's hard not to run when its first and 10, when its third and 3."
But Willert also said he has the utmost trust in O'Brien, a gregarious 6-3½, 205-pound senior who has been impressive enough to land a scholarships offer from Maryland, Duke and East Carolina. He committed to Maryland in June.
O'Brien, who has passed for 2,540 yards and 17 touchdowns in 17 games as East's starter, doesn't seem to care much about anything other than being successful.
"Stats are all good and everything, but our offense, we have to run the ball a little bit and stay balanced because we have such a good (offensive) line," O'Brien said. "Stats are good, but you don't need them because (college) coaches will know what you can do when you do throw the ball. We threw for about 2,000 yards last year and had a balanced offense, so that's good.
"Whatever gets it done to win, and that's my main thing. Just to turn the program around and win games. If we have a successful season, I really don't care what I do personally."
O'Brien -- who moved with his family from St. Paul, Minn., to Kernersville before he started the sixth grade -- was East's starting junior-varsity quarterback in 2005. He moved up to the varsity in 2006, started three games at wide receiver and then took over at quarterback.
Willert laughed about how his excitable personality and O'Brien's calmer demeanor have meshed, saying he was glad -- but not surprised -- that Maryland and other colleges saw O'Brien for what he could do rather than what he has done.
"I think he feels like he gets slighted quite a bit," Willert said of O'Brien. "He is not all about that though; he wants to win. But deep down, he hears people talking about other quarterbacks, and I have told him the more you win, the more they talk about you. The big thing is he got his offers and now he can relax and enjoy playing football and not worry about trying to earn a scholarship. The biggest pressure he has is he wants to win.
"That's what you need in a quarterback. The colleges that sat down and talked to him realized his leadership and knowledge of the game."
O'Brien said he "sleeps easier" at night knowing that Collins, a 6-7, 290-pound tackle who has committed to North Carolina, and Jeff Harris, a 6-2½, 265-pound guard, are protecting his blind side. He also said that the one thing he has worked to add to his repertoire is running from the Shotgun.
"The main thing I focused on in the offseason was to become more of a runner and dual-threat quarterback just because it puts so much more pressure on a defense to focus on the deep threat and the running threat," O'Brien said.
"We roll out of the pocket a lot, and I am looking to run a little more when I see a little crease, and we have some designed runs for me, as well as just dropping back."
East (5-7 last season) will start its season Friday with high expectations in a tough venue, playing at Rocky Mount against a team coached by B.W. Holt, a former Starmount coach.
"We are real excited and we have been preparing real hard for Rocky Mount," O'Brien said. "We know they are the No. 1 team in the state in 3-A, and I see it as a big opportunity to turn some heads right off the bat. You know with that kind of recognition they will be a good team, and I think they play well man-to-man with us, on offense at least. I think if we execute the way we should, we should have a chance.
"For me, I just want to limit my turnovers and keep the ball and the chains moving. If I can do that, the wins will take care of themselves."
■ Mason Linker can be reached at 727-7324 or at mlinker@wsjournal.com.
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