The opener will also gauge how junior Brady White has progressed after his first year at quarterback. Riley Ferguson, the previous quarterback, improved his numbers in every category between his first and second seasons. White passed for 3,296 yards and 26 touchdowns with a 62.8 completion percentage. But finishing with six touchdowns and six interceptions in his final five games wasn't the best indicator that he improved from the beginning of the year."It's a lot of work in understanding and just the repetition of making sure their eyes are in the right place, that they're going through their reads and progressions at an elite level," Norvell said of how quarterbacks make the leap in their second year. "Sometimes that can be a challenge in Year 1." White has said he didn't think he had the best season because neither he nor the team maximized all four quarters in every game. But if Memphis is to contend for an AAC championship, they'll need a better year from White with playmakers Darrell Henderson and Tony Pollard now in the NFL. - Memphis Commercial Appeal