Spring football wrapup: Texas Tech has star power
Monday, May 12, 2008
Dallas Morning News/
BAYLOR
Last season's record: 3-9 (0-8 Big 12)
Coach: Art Briles (hired Nov. 28, 2007)
No problem
Defense shouldn't be Briles' biggest concern. Tackling machines Joe Pawelek and Jordan Lake return, as do Dwain Crawford and Jake La Mar. The Bears pressured people last season (21 sacks). But teams racked up 182.3 rushing yards per game.
Problem solved
The Bears dramatically upgraded QB talent. Senior Kirby Freeman transferred from Miami, and freshman Robert Griffin practiced this spring after graduating early from Copperas Cove. Freeman, Griffin and returning players Blake Szymanski and Tyler Beatty should compete hard again in August.
Still searching
Every receiver should feel pressure. Dropped passes tormented this team last season. Justin Akers, Brad Taylor, Thomas White and David Gettis could all flourish in the new offense. But they need to catch the football first. A long summer full of 7-on-7 work would be the best thing the Bears could do.
OKLAHOMA
Last season's record: 11-3 (6-2 in the Big 12)
Coach: Bob Stoops
No problem
OU returns seven of its eight players from last season's two-deep offensive line, including all five starters. Four of those five are seniors: LG Duke Robinson, LT Phil Loadholt, RG Brandon Walker and C Jon Cooper. Junior Trent Williams and senior Branndon Braxton will battle again for the starting RT spot.
Problem solved
Junior Ryan Reynolds, who started at weakside linebacker, moved to the middle for the spring to replace Curtis Lofton, the Big 12 defensive player of the year in 2007. Reynolds, who has often been injured, had a solid spring but need to stay healthy to lead the revamped LB corps. Junior Keenan Clayton moved from safety to strongside linebacker in the spring and played well. Redshirt freshman Sam Proctor emerged as the likely starter at free safety. Sophomore CB Dominique Franks had three of the six spring game interceptions.
Still searching
The battle for starting weakside linebacker will continue. Redshirt freshmen Travis Lewis and Austin Box appear to be ahead of junior Lamont Robinson and junior college signee Mike Balogun . At least one CB spot remains unclear. Sophomore Jonathan Nelson, a Mansfield Summit standout who had an 81-yard interception return for a touchdown in the OU spring game, will compete for playing time with junior Brian Jackson of DeSoto and redshirt freshman Jamell Fleming of Arlington Seguin.
OKLAHOMA STATE
Last season's record: 7-6 (4-4 in the Big 12)
Coach: Mike Gundy
No problem
Junior QB Zac Robinson took over as the starter early last season and showed that he was the man for the job. Robinson set school records for total offense in a season (3,671 yards) and total yards in a game (486 against Texas). He also passed for a school-record 430 yards against the Longhorns. The dual-threat standout enters his first season as the full-time starter.
Problem solved
Injuries and inexperience really hurt the Cowboys last season because they lacked depth at several key positions. OSU took a step toward solving those problems with eight midyear enrollees, including seven junior college transfers. Speedy DB Maurice Gray, bruising RB Beau Johnson and DT Swanson Miller will push for playing time. Two other transfers ? RT Andrew Mitchell and FS Lucien Antoine ? are part of the Cowboys' two-deep roster after solid springs.
Still searching
Neither Alex Cate nor Brandon Weeden emerged as the clear backup quarterback this spring. Cate, sophomore from Salt Lake City and Weeden, a redshirt freshman from Edmond, Okla., "both had good springs," Gundy said. "But we're not satisfied that either one is ready to take the job as the backup quarterback."
TEXAS
Last season's record: 10-3 (5-3 Big 12)
Coach: Mack Brown
No problem
QB Colt McCoy and backup John Chiles give Texas a solid one-two punch. Brown vows to use both and to incorporate trick plays the way the team did in a 52-34 win over Arizona State in the Holiday Bowl. The unpredictability could help keep defenses off-balance until the Longhorns break in new players at running back, receiver and tight end. Brown also says he plans to play more incoming freshmen and to do away with redshirting. He had been reluctant to use first-year players because he didn't want them to make mistakes and lose confidence.
Problem solved
Brown says linebackers improved the most in the spring. That's good news considering the position has been a weakness the last two years. New coordinator Will Muschamp coaches the linebackers and should have plenty to work with in athletic juniors Sergio Kindle of Woodrow Wilson, Rod Muckelroy and Jared Norton, as well as senior MLB Rashad Bobino and redshirt freshman Keenan Robinson of Plano East.
Still searching
With the loss of RB Jamaal Charles, WR Limas Sweed and TE Jermichael Finley, the offense suddenly needs speed. Coaches hope RBs Vondrell McGee and Fozzy Whitaker can team up to replace Charles. There's a plethora of young, fast talent at receiver, but none of it is proven. In the secondary, the coaches' refusal last season to play young guys like Curtis Brown and Chykie Brown at cornerback and Ben Wells, Christian Scott and Earl Thomas at safety means UT has some unknowns defending the pass.
TEXAS A&M
Last season's record: 7-6 (4-4 Big 12)
Coach: Mike Sherman (hired Nov. 26, 2007)
No problem
There's no doubt whom the top tailback will be. Mike Goodson could shine in Sherman's offense, which features lots of I-formations and little zone read. If Jorvorskie Lane puts his heart into fullback, his new position, A&M will have a rock-solid backfield.
Problem solved
QB Stephen McGee hustled through rehabilitation on his injured shoulder so he wouldn't miss any spring practice. He didn't want backup Jerrod Johnson hogging the spotlight. So who will start? It's unclear. But at least the Aggies don't have to worry. These two completely different athletes give Sherman options.
Still searching
Offensive line and linebacker will be two big areas of concern this fall. A&M simply doesn't have much depth in either unit. Matt Featherston and Anthony Lewis must prove themselves under defensive coordinator Joe Kines. They both have incredible speed, but can they run to the right places?
TEXAS TECH
Last season's record: 9-4 (4-4 in the Big 12)
Coach: Mike Leach
No problem
Senior QB Graham Harrell of Ennis and sophomore WR Michael Crabtree of Carter will be Heisman Trophy candidates. Harrell needs 43 touchdown passes (he led the nation with 48 last year) to break former Hawaii quarterback Colt Brennan's major college career record of 131. Crabtree set NCAA freshman records for receptions (134), receiving yards (1,962) and touchdown catches (22). He was the Biletnikoff Award winner as the nation's top receiver, a unanimous All-America first-team selection and the Big 12 offensive player of the year.
Problem solved
The Red Raiders lost just one offensive starter ? inside Y receiver Danny Amendola ? but didn't take long to find his replacement. Sophomore Detron Lewis, who began to emerge last season with 10 catches for 120 yards and three touchdowns, will start at inside receiver after an impressive spring. Lewis will be backed up by redshirt freshman Tramain Swindall. Also emerging in the spring was sophomore Bront Bird, who will probably start at strongside linebacker. Bird played in eight games. Redshirt freshman Tyrone Sonier is Bird's backup.
Still searching
Who will start at running back? Four players vied for the role in the spring, and nothing was decided. All four ? senior Shannon Woods of McKinney North, junior Kobey Lewis and sophomores Aaron Crawford and Baron Batch ? will compete for playing time in the fall. Woods, who led the Big 12 in all-purpose yards as a sophomore, is the most experienced. Woods, the best pass blocker, started the first eight games before landing in Leach's doghouse. Crawford started the final five games. Lewis was a backup. Batch redshirted last year.
SMU
Last season's record: 1-11 (0-8 Conference USA)
Coach: June Jones (hired Jan. 7)
No problem
The players are sold on embracing the new coaching staff's ways, and the Run and Shoot is essentially installed. Translating that progress into wins could take time for a program on a 10-game losing streak. SMU's last win, against North Texas, came on Sept. 8, 2007.
Problem solved
Jones said SMU didn't have the number of players it needed during spring practice. The incoming class of almost 30 will help. Incoming freshmen will get their chances to play quickly.
Still searching
SMU ranked 116th out of 119 teams in total defense, giving up almost 500 yards per game. The QB position is dicey at best. Junior Justin Willis , a two-year starter, was suspended for spring camp because of poor grades. Sophomore Zach Rhodes also missed time because of poor grades.
TCU
Last season's record: 8-5 (4-4 Mountain West)
Coach: Gary Patterson
No problem
Even with leading rushers Joseph Turner and Aaron Brown coming off injuries, the Horned Frogs are loaded in the backfield. QB Andy Dalton set a TCU freshman passing record with 2,459 yards, and backup Marcus Jackson brings a great change of pace. The top six rushers return, led by power back Turner (597 yards).
Problem solved
No Tommy Blake and Chase Ortiz on the defensive line? It's possible that won't be a problem. The key will be returning DT James Vess, who recorded 8 ? tackles for losses in 2006 before missing last season for a violation of university policy. DE Matt Panfil had 2 ? sacks subbing for Blake. DE Jerry Hughes takes over for Ortiz.
Still searching
Patterson must replace S Brian Bonner and S David Roach in the 4-2-5 defense. Steven Coleman, who was inconsistent last season, exited spring No. 1 at free safety. Corderra Hunter takes over at weak safety. Their development will be crucial before September games against Stanford and Oklahoma.
NORTH TEXAS
Last season's record: 2-10 (1-6 Sun Belt)
Coach: Todd Dodge
No problem
UNT adapted remarkably after switching from a run-based offense to the spread in its first season under Dodge and should continue to improve. UNT averaged 24.8 points per game in 2007, up from 12.8 the year before. Eight offensive starters return, including QB Giovanni Vizza and WR Casey Fitzgerald. Vizza threw for 2,388 yards in eight starts and was named the Sun Belt Conference freshman of the year. Fitzgerald caught 111 passes for 1,322 yards and 12 TDs.
Problem solved
UNT's defense finished last in the country, allowed an average of 45.1 points per game and lacked confidence in its scheme. Dodge brought Gary DeLoach back for a second stint as defensive coordinator, a move that began to pay off in spring practice.
Still searching
The defensive front struggled last season and was short-handed all spring without all-conference DE Jeremiah Chapman, who completed his career. DE Eddrick Gilmore and T Joseph Miller are solid, but the Mean Green will head into an uncertain fall. T Isaac Thomas and T Jonathan Stewart will return from injuries and join junior college DE Alonzo Horton in a reconstituted unit that has much to prove.
BIG 12 NORTH
Colorado: The offense should be better than last season's with the addition of RB Darrell Scott, the nation's top freshman recruit at that position. The defense has a lot of work to do following the losses of NFL draft picks Jordon Dizon, a playmaker at linebacker, and CB Terrence Wheatley of Plano East.
Iowa State: After losing QB Bret Meyer, coach Gene Chizik is starting over with sophomores Austen Arnaud and Phillip Bates . Arnaud completed just seven of 21 passes in the spring game. The defense lost LB Alvin Bowen, the leading tackler, but has talent in other spots.
Kansas: The Jayhawks took a couple of hits in the offensive line and lost WR Marcus Henry, TE Derek Fine and RB Brandon McAnderson. Coach Mark Mangino worries that QB Todd Reesing of Austin Lake Travis, coming off his super sophomore year in 2007, will try to do too much. The defense lost NT James McClinton and CB Aquib Talib but should be more than OK at linebacker.
Kansas State: Coaches moved Ian Campbell back from linebacker to defensive end, where he had 11 ? sacks in 2006. When QB Josh Freeman is on, he's tough to beat. Just ask Texas, which lost to the Wildcats in 2006 and 2007.
Missouri: If the Tigers can find a few key replacements on the offensive line, they could be hard to stop with QB Chase Daniel, WR Jeremy Maclin and TE Chase Coffman all back. On defense, the Tigers return most of their starters, including S William Moore, who had six interceptions in the second half of last season.
Nebraska: First-year coach Bo Pelini is serious about rebuilding the program ? right down to having his coaches do random checks in classrooms and dorms at night. The defense needs a lot of work, but QB Joe Ganz could be an upgrade over Sam Keller. RB Marlon Lucky is also talented.
KEY NATIONAL PLOTLINES
Florida: Former Coppell star Emmanuel Moody, a transfer from Southern California, ran for more than 100 yards in the spring game but won't play unless he avoids fumbles, coach Urban Meyer said.
Georgia: Coming off a strong finish and with Highland Park's Matthew Stafford at quarterback, the Bulldogs emerged as the trendy early-preseason No. 1 pick.
LSU: The defending national champions must replace troubled but talented QB Ryan Perrilloux, who was dismissed from the team.
Michigan: The ugly public divorce shows no signs of ending between Wolverines coach Rich Rodriguez and West Virginia.
Penn State: Expect much focus on 81-year-old Joe Paterno, who will not receive a new contract after his current one expires this year. Things could get tense between the coaching legend and school president Graham Spanier.
UCLA: New coach Rick Neuheisel and incoming offensive coordinator Norm Chow lost their top two quarterbacks, Patrick Cowan (knee) and Ben Olson (broken foot). Cowan is out for the season, but Olson is expected back for the fall.
