Its a sunny fall day in North Delta and on the uneven turf of Sunbury Park stands Panther Football rookie franchise quarterback, Christian Rodriguez. The 6'0 pivot is young at only the tender age of 18, but the fate of the expansion Panthers rests heavily on the shoulders of the Sands Scorpion Grad.
His life started out in Toronto, where he was born after big brother Carlos Rodriguez. The family after several years headed west to Vancouver in search for a better a life. The move landed the family in the suburb municipality of North Delta. The family of Mexican descent found themselves amidst the Hockey friendly community as Chris eventually started to play minor league hockey in the winter time and ball hockey in the summers.
An already developed pre-teen coming into his own when he reached high school in the fall of 05', Chris found himself being a stand out in much of the activities and sports he set his sights on. The all star ball hockey player joined Scorpion Football his junior year and never looked back. He had an impressive first year in which he led his squad to the playoffs. The mobile slinger used a combination of his feet and arm to account for 4 touchdowns during the first round but his team was eventually slowed down to end the programs inaugural junior campaign. His final 2 years of high school ball were plagued by his busy commitment to hockey that didn't see Chris play every possible snap.
As Chris graduated Sands, he was drafted 10th overall in 2010. Everyone knows about his arm but he has very deceiving speed and has a great ability to throw on the run. Hes got the swagger and hes not afraid to throw the long ball. During the summer campaign he was able to show poise in the pocket beyond his years and the hype for the rookie has been wide spread through fall. As half a year looms before the start of the 1st spring season for the Panthers, Chris is determined to put all the distraction behind him and put forward a successful year. The teams message to the young man is simple. He doesn't have to be great, just good and he doesn't have to win games, just don't lose them. Chris is at his best when he has time in the pocket with max protection and able to make his reads. His arm is top notch and his mobility will come in handy if he ever needs to buy himself time to air it out. Chris needs to work on the cerebral part of the game, but his natural athleticism and football sense is high enough to get him by for now. Like any young quarterback, interceptions will be his measure of unit for his productivity but if he is able to combat them with TDs, the fans wont care.
Chris Rodriguez is a young QB with the talent to be the next big thing. Only time will tell if the hockey player turned gun slinger will blossom into the franchise quarterback the Panthers think he can be.
Next day we look at agile Tight End and brother of Christian Rodriquez, Carlos.
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