Western Michigan has solved its quarterback concerns. The question now becomes, "Is Tim Hiller good enough to lead WMU to a championship?"

Hiller won the quarterback derby during spring practice over a group of largely untested players and now must complete his comeback with a solid season in 2008.

Hiller was the Mid-American Conference freshman of the year in 2005, then missed 2006 with torn knee ligaments. He returned to action in 2007 but was an inconsistent performer who caused coach Bill Cubit to pull his hair out at times.

But Hiller made improvements this spring and now is in control of the offense. Backups Robert Arnheim and Drew Burdi didn't play as well in the spring, and there is concern if Hiller is injured.

Yet all three made some level of progress.

"The good thing is when they come over, they've got answers," Cubit said. "Whereas last year, you sit there and they come over and they've got a blank stare. They understand that they did screw up and what they screwed up, which is 95 percent of the battle."

Hiller didn't perform well in the spring game, but that was the exception to his play throughout the spring. He no longer has to worry that one mistake could result in him taking a seat on the bench.

"It was kind of a frustrating end to the spring," Hiller said of his 5-for-12 passing performance in the spring game. "In a way it might be kind of good, just to kind of have a taste in your mouth that you have to keep working and get better."

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