ORONO – Last season, it was a quarterback controversy or competition, and a bit of a complication for the University of Maine football team.

This season, it’s a quarterback augmentation, improvisation, and anything but a complication, unless you happen to be one of the opposing defenses.

“People are asking because we played two last year, but there really isn’t a big issue on the depth chart at quarterback,” said Black Bears head football coach Jack Cosgrove.

Right now, that depth chart lists redshirt sophomore Adam Farkes as the starting quarterback and redshirt junior Michael Brusko as the No. 2 signal-caller, but that’s a bit misleading.

See, both started games last season and although the plan is for Farkes to start each game, Brusko will still see significant time behind center, as well as in the backfield, out on the ends and maybe even all over the place on special teams.

“We’re just trying to put our players in positions of strength,” Cosgrove said. “I think anybody who’s watched Michael play running quarterback knows he’s very good at it. Anyone who’s watched Adam Farkes knows he can throw it.

“You’ve probably got a Heisman Trophy winner if you could put the two of them together.”

Even if Cosgrove could find a way to do that, Brusko wouldn’t start practicing his Heisman pose any time soon.

“I’m not sure we’d be quite that good, but he has a very strong arm and is a real accurate passer. I don’t want to say I can’t do those things, but I’ve had a lot of success scrambling around and running the football,” Brusko said. “So if we can both bring different elements to the offense, that’s even better for us because defenses have to react to two different guys.”

The challenge of getting plenty of game time and drawing up plays and formations to take advantage of both quarterbacks’ strengths goes to offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Kevin Bourgoin.

“I don’t find it a challenge to find their strengths and use them. To me, the more things they can do, the easier it makes my job,” Bourgoin said. “There will be situations where both’ll play based on what we’re trying to do and game situations. We’re not going to play them by series or quarters.

“The only challenge I can think of is making sure we don’t take away the flow from one of them if someone’s really got a good rhythm going.”

It’s easy to see why UMaine coaches have adopted the spread offense, in part, to better take advantage of the presence of two quarterbacks with different strengths.

Farkes started six of the 10 games he played in last year before suffering a season-ending injury Nov. 3. The 6-foot-2, 200-pound Boston native threw for more than 150 yards three times and completed 78 of 154 passes (51 percent) for 836 yards and seven touchdowns while being intercepted four times. He also gained 251 yards on 74 rushes.

“I enjoy playing that position, but Adam’s done a great job,” said Brusko. “He’s worked hard in the offseason and it really shows.”

The 6-3, 226-pound Brusko went 3-3 as a starting QB, completing 60 of 100 passes for 561 yards and four TDs while being intercepted twice. He also finished as Maine’s second-leading rusher with 340 yards and four TDs on 72 carries.

“We’re not good enough to take a guy who rushed for almost 400 yards off the field, so he’s going to play, and he’s going to run the football, throw the football and catch it,” Bourgoin said. “You can’t do this with just anyone, but he’s a smart football player.

“Mike can play every position right now, honestly. He can probably play offensive line because he probably knows this offense better than any kid we have. He can tell you what the left tackle’s doing, the center, he can tell you how to get lined up and the calls.”

Brusko tried to play fullback last spring when the team was running drills and found itself down a fullback, but Bourgoin frowned on the idea, not wanting to take a chance on Brusko getting injured.

Wherever he plays, Brusko’s versatility, combined with the return of six starters, should give the Black Bears more offensive savvy and punch.

“We definitely have some tricks ready for this season with both of us,” said Farkes. “It’s really exciting because there’s so much variety we can throw at a defense and mix them up, and we’re planning to use it every way we can.

“I think it’s going to be a lot more explosive.”

aneff@bangordailynews.net

990-8205