Academic losses hurt Army football
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Brassey's Inc.'s Blue Ribbon College Football Forecast profile for Army
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Running Backs
When it comes to running backs, the Cadets are loaded.
Sophomore Ardell Daniels (5-9, 193) was slotted as the No. 1 tailback at the start of spring practices, but by no means is he guaranteed the job for the season opener.
Junior C.J. Young (5-10, 201) and senior Josh Holden (6-1, 215) have the most game experience.
Holden, who split time between football and baseball in the spring, was the starter when the 2001 season started. He was the team's second-leading rusher with 515 yards and four touchdowns, despite playing only nine games. His 6.2-yard average per carry was tops for a regular back.
Young, who has good speed and quickness, led the team in rushing with 556 yards and in touchdowns with nine. He averaged 3.5 yards per carry. He got the majority of the carries in the middle of the season and started eight games.
After battling injuries early in the season, Daniels emerged as a big-play guy in the backfield. He was third on the team in rushing with 212 yards in seven games, averaging 4.4 yards per carry, and scored one touchdown. His rookie season ended with a 131-yard game against Navy.
Young also caught 19 passes for 104 yards. Holden had 15 catches for 120 yards and Daniels one catch for 12 yards.
Junior Marcellus Chapman (5-9, 193) missed the entire 2001 season with an injury after earning the starting job during the spring last year. Sophomore La'Berrick Williams (5-11, 188) was sidelined with injuries early in the season but finished strong.
It's going to be nice to have Chappy back in the mix, Berry said of Chapman. He came out of last spring as the starter and it will be interesting to get him back at full strength. La'Berrick is another talented young man that could figure into the picture. He missed most of last season with a foot injury but he returned to practice the week of the Navy game and was extremely impressive. We'll also bring in a few freshmen that will immediately upgrade our speed at the position this summer.
In the spring game, Chapman rushed for 43 yards on eight carries for the Black team. Young led the Gold with 18 yards on 10 carries. Young scored on an 11-yard run.
We've got a great stable of backs, Berry said after spring practices. I felt good about that going in. That doesn't mean we'll be a run-oriented offense, but in the same sense we can run the football.
Army ranked second in C-USA in rushing last season, averaging 164.7 yards per game. Young was ninth in rushing yards per game (57.2).
Blue Ribbon Analysis
Despite losing six starters on offense and five on defense, the Cadets should be as good or better than a year ago. Third-year coach Berry has his system in place and has improved the talent, adding more speed and athleticism.
Offensively, the biggest losses were at the skill positions. Three quarterbacks entered spring practice vying for the job vacated by Jenkins, and Silva may have emerged as the frontrunner after a good spring game. However, Silva will have competition for the job, and Berry likes it that way.
The running backs appear to be the strength of the offense, but that doesn't mean the Cadets will employ a grind-it-out attack. Not at all. Berry, whose 2001 team ranked second in Conference USA in rushing, wants to throw the ball better than last season when the Cadets ranked eighth in the league in passing.
There is some talent on the defensive line, but depth could be a problem. There isn't much game experience beyond the starters. The secondary should be vastly improved, and needs to be. Last season, the Cadets ranked ninth in C-USA in pass efficiency defense. They were only slightly better against the run and ranked eighth in total defense.
Linebacker Zickefoose, the team's leading tackler the last two seasons, is the biggest loss on defense, but Berry believes he has players who can fill that void.
Army opens the season with winnable games against Holy Cross and Rutgers before opening the C-USA season against league-favorite Louisville. That starts a three-game run against title contenders with Southern Miss and East Carolina looming after Louisville.
If the Cadets can maintain some confidence through that stretch, they should be a tough bunch. Army could be flirting with .500 as the 2002 season gets to its late stages.
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Running Backs
When it comes to running backs, the Cadets are loaded.
Sophomore Ardell Daniels (5-9, 193) was slotted as the No. 1 tailback at the start of spring practices, but by no means is he guaranteed the job for the season opener.
Junior C.J. Young (5-10, 201) and senior Josh Holden (6-1, 215) have the most game experience.
Holden, who split time between football and baseball in the spring, was the starter when the 2001 season started. He was the team's second-leading rusher with 515 yards and four touchdowns, despite playing only nine games. His 6.2-yard average per carry was tops for a regular back.
Young, who has good speed and quickness, led the team in rushing with 556 yards and in touchdowns with nine. He averaged 3.5 yards per carry. He got the majority of the carries in the middle of the season and started eight games.
After battling injuries early in the season, Daniels emerged as a big-play guy in the backfield. He was third on the team in rushing with 212 yards in seven games, averaging 4.4 yards per carry, and scored one touchdown. His rookie season ended with a 131-yard game against Navy.
Young also caught 19 passes for 104 yards. Holden had 15 catches for 120 yards and Daniels one catch for 12 yards.
Junior Marcellus Chapman (5-9, 193) missed the entire 2001 season with an injury after earning the starting job during the spring last year. Sophomore La'Berrick Williams (5-11, 188) was sidelined with injuries early in the season but finished strong.
It's going to be nice to have Chappy back in the mix, Berry said of Chapman. He came out of last spring as the starter and it will be interesting to get him back at full strength. La'Berrick is another talented young man that could figure into the picture. He missed most of last season with a foot injury but he returned to practice the week of the Navy game and was extremely impressive. We'll also bring in a few freshmen that will immediately upgrade our speed at the position this summer.
In the spring game, Chapman rushed for 43 yards on eight carries for the Black team. Young led the Gold with 18 yards on 10 carries. Young scored on an 11-yard run.
We've got a great stable of backs, Berry said after spring practices. I felt good about that going in. That doesn't mean we'll be a run-oriented offense, but in the same sense we can run the football.
Army ranked second in C-USA in rushing last season, averaging 164.7 yards per game. Young was ninth in rushing yards per game (57.2).
Blue Ribbon Analysis
Despite losing six starters on offense and five on defense, the Cadets should be as good or better than a year ago. Third-year coach Berry has his system in place and has improved the talent, adding more speed and athleticism.
Offensively, the biggest losses were at the skill positions. Three quarterbacks entered spring practice vying for the job vacated by Jenkins, and Silva may have emerged as the frontrunner after a good spring game. However, Silva will have competition for the job, and Berry likes it that way.
The running backs appear to be the strength of the offense, but that doesn't mean the Cadets will employ a grind-it-out attack. Not at all. Berry, whose 2001 team ranked second in Conference USA in rushing, wants to throw the ball better than last season when the Cadets ranked eighth in the league in passing.
There is some talent on the defensive line, but depth could be a problem. There isn't much game experience beyond the starters. The secondary should be vastly improved, and needs to be. Last season, the Cadets ranked ninth in C-USA in pass efficiency defense. They were only slightly better against the run and ranked eighth in total defense.
Linebacker Zickefoose, the team's leading tackler the last two seasons, is the biggest loss on defense, but Berry believes he has players who can fill that void.
Army opens the season with winnable games against Holy Cross and Rutgers before opening the C-USA season against league-favorite Louisville. That starts a three-game run against title contenders with Southern Miss and East Carolina looming after Louisville.
If the Cadets can maintain some confidence through that stretch, they should be a tough bunch. Army could be flirting with .500 as the 2002 season gets to its late stages.
Army Football Preview
7.8.2002
Spring football practice always excites Todd Berry. But the third-year Army football mentor never looked upon a spring session with as much anticipation as he did this past year.
While the spring provides a tremendous opportunity to preview the rising talent in a football program at any institution, Berry and his staff were very anxious to observe the evolution of the younger players in his unit this spring. Nearly 50 sophomores dot the roster, a group that represents Berry?s first full recruiting class at West Point. Much of the program?s future success has been tied to the development of this contingent and the recruiting classes that follow.
?Generally speaking, freshmen experience a huge growth rate during the period between the end of their first season and the beginning of that first spring practice,? Berry explains. ?After a year in the weight room, those young men are looking good physically. They possess a confidence and a comfort level within our schemes.
?We expected to have a great spring and we did. Our players? mentality was strong and they had a good attitude. Our players recognized the necessary steps that needed to be taken in order for us to become a better football team.?
Even more importantly, Berry views the spring as the crucial period of time when a team begins to define its own character, a time when the leadership of a squad takes hold. That was a critical area of focus for the Black Knights during the spring as Berry?s burgeoning program looks to replace a graduating senior class that delivered stout leadership on and off the playing field.
?One of the things that I was really pleased with last year was the leadership of the senior class,? Berry says. ?They really bought into what we were talking about. For the first time since we?ve been here, I believe the players took ownership in the team. They believed in the concept of winning championships rather than winning games. Rather than coming here to play, our young men are coming here to win. That?s part of their expectation now. We received great leadership out of our senior class, and they established a legacy that is being passed down during the offseason.
?We had some unbelievable efforts by our players during the offseason. We?re getting leadership from different classes, not just our upperclassmen. We feel that is very significant in the development of this program. I wanted to see leadership come forth this spring, and I saw that. I wanted to see chemistry begin to form within the team, and I saw that.
Berry and his staff will enter preseason camp looking to replace 37 lettermen and 15 starters from last year?s squad. By contrast 34 lettermen and 12 starters return to the fold. One of the most visible openings resides at the quarterback position, where two-year starter Chad Jenkins and backup Curtis Zervic have moved on.
Talented sophomore Reggie Nevels enters preseason as the lone signal caller on Army?s roster boasting any game experience at the position. Nevels saw extensive field duty on special forces last fall, and also shouldered reserve duty at quarterback in three games. He is a highly regarded performer with plenty of ?big-play? ability and provides Berry with the type of athlete necessary to excel in the Black Knights? one-back multiple offensive set. Classmates Matt Silva and Corey Sherk fill spots behind Nevels, but neither appeared in a varsity game a year ago.
?The quarterback position will be important for us to follow closely due to the fact that we do not have any upperclass players at the position. We have three young men returning to the program and a number of incoming recruits that will battle for playing time once they arrive at the Academy.?
In addition to the unsettled situation at quarterback, there promises to be interesting skirmishes for playing time at running back, defensive end, inside linebacker, cornerback and safety as well. Berry stresses that every starting job remains open for competition each and every day. With that in mind, no player will enter preseason camp with a lead role assured. Those battles for position will be played out each day on the practice field throughout the fall. As Berry and his staff continue to inject talented newcomers into the Army program, those competitions will become more and more heated.
?We?ve had some issues from a depth standpoint the past couple of years,? Berry explains. ?We have a much more talented team and we are much deeper than we have been in the past. With that added depth, we are better suited to duplicate game speed in practice. We have improved our team speed dramatically. I feel really good about the athleticism on our football team. We have more players now that fit our systems. In the past, we have not been able to be as aggressive as we would like because of the fact that we did not match up very well athletically. This team can really run and that will allow for us to be more aggressive on both sides of the football.?
While Berry will have a physically gifted talent stable at his disposal, the group will not be battle-tested as a whole. That fact is not lost on Army?s mentor as he continues his efforts toward returning the Black Knights? program to the state of its former riches.
?While we have a number of players returning with game experience, we are still very young in relation to most college football teams,? Berry says. ?Consequently, you don?t know how young people will react when adverse situations arise in a game. That will be the true test of this team. ?After two years, I think we?re right on track to where we expected to be. We knew that with the dramatic changes we were making on both sides of the ball, we would experience some difficulties early on. The third year is always an important year in turning a program around.? The excitement in Todd Berry?s voice will tell you that.
Offensive Overview
Quarterback
For the first time in recent memory, Army will return a very inexperienced group at the quarterback position. In fact, the only signal caller listed on the Black Knights? preseason roster boasting any varsity game experience is sophomore Reggie Nevels. A gifted athlete skilled at making defenders miss in the open field, Nevels carries a dynamic presence into every huddle. He is an accomplished scrambler capable of wreaking havoc outside the pocket, and enters fall as the favorite to replace Chad Jenkins at the helm of the Black Knights? high-powered offense.
The native of Marion, Ind., shouldered a significant special teams role last fall, drawing field duty in 10 of 11 contests. He also appeared in three games under center, rushing for 80 yards while completing 4 of 10 pass attempts. One of those completions was a 50-yard scoring aerial against TCU.
?It was important for Reggie to gain a better feel for the offense this spring,? Berry explains. ?but it was also important for him to perform knowing that he was the frontrunner for the job. It was important for him to establish credibility with the older guys on the team and he was able to accomplish that.
?I was really pleased with the way that he stepped in the huddle and led the team. We knew when we recruited him that he was the type of quarterback we would like to have in our system. He has gained arm strength and is very creative. I like having creative quarterbacks. He has a great understanding of what we do on offense and is a threat in the pocket and in a scramble situation. His growth rate has been tremendous over the past year.?
Fellow sophomores Matt Silva and Corey Sherk received a large portion of snaps this spring with only three quarterbacks listed on the roster. That number will rise dramatically when Berry?s second full recruiting class enters the Academy during the summer.
?Matt had a better spring than most of us had expected,? Berry adds. ?He must continue to work on his consistency. Corey has improved dramatically as well. He tended to be a real ?gamer? and really shined in our scrimmages this spring.
?I?m also really pleased with our incoming group of players. It was a position of need. We felt like our depth at the position was not great and that we needed to bring in young men that could challenge immediately. I feel really good about the athleticism of the group as a whole and the leadership that they have displayed.?
7.8.2002
Spring football practice always excites Todd Berry. But the third-year Army football mentor never looked upon a spring session with as much anticipation as he did this past year.
While the spring provides a tremendous opportunity to preview the rising talent in a football program at any institution, Berry and his staff were very anxious to observe the evolution of the younger players in his unit this spring. Nearly 50 sophomores dot the roster, a group that represents Berry?s first full recruiting class at West Point. Much of the program?s future success has been tied to the development of this contingent and the recruiting classes that follow.
?Generally speaking, freshmen experience a huge growth rate during the period between the end of their first season and the beginning of that first spring practice,? Berry explains. ?After a year in the weight room, those young men are looking good physically. They possess a confidence and a comfort level within our schemes.
?We expected to have a great spring and we did. Our players? mentality was strong and they had a good attitude. Our players recognized the necessary steps that needed to be taken in order for us to become a better football team.?
Even more importantly, Berry views the spring as the crucial period of time when a team begins to define its own character, a time when the leadership of a squad takes hold. That was a critical area of focus for the Black Knights during the spring as Berry?s burgeoning program looks to replace a graduating senior class that delivered stout leadership on and off the playing field.
?One of the things that I was really pleased with last year was the leadership of the senior class,? Berry says. ?They really bought into what we were talking about. For the first time since we?ve been here, I believe the players took ownership in the team. They believed in the concept of winning championships rather than winning games. Rather than coming here to play, our young men are coming here to win. That?s part of their expectation now. We received great leadership out of our senior class, and they established a legacy that is being passed down during the offseason.
?We had some unbelievable efforts by our players during the offseason. We?re getting leadership from different classes, not just our upperclassmen. We feel that is very significant in the development of this program. I wanted to see leadership come forth this spring, and I saw that. I wanted to see chemistry begin to form within the team, and I saw that.
Berry and his staff will enter preseason camp looking to replace 37 lettermen and 15 starters from last year?s squad. By contrast 34 lettermen and 12 starters return to the fold. One of the most visible openings resides at the quarterback position, where two-year starter Chad Jenkins and backup Curtis Zervic have moved on.
Talented sophomore Reggie Nevels enters preseason as the lone signal caller on Army?s roster boasting any game experience at the position. Nevels saw extensive field duty on special forces last fall, and also shouldered reserve duty at quarterback in three games. He is a highly regarded performer with plenty of ?big-play? ability and provides Berry with the type of athlete necessary to excel in the Black Knights? one-back multiple offensive set. Classmates Matt Silva and Corey Sherk fill spots behind Nevels, but neither appeared in a varsity game a year ago.
?The quarterback position will be important for us to follow closely due to the fact that we do not have any upperclass players at the position. We have three young men returning to the program and a number of incoming recruits that will battle for playing time once they arrive at the Academy.?
In addition to the unsettled situation at quarterback, there promises to be interesting skirmishes for playing time at running back, defensive end, inside linebacker, cornerback and safety as well. Berry stresses that every starting job remains open for competition each and every day. With that in mind, no player will enter preseason camp with a lead role assured. Those battles for position will be played out each day on the practice field throughout the fall. As Berry and his staff continue to inject talented newcomers into the Army program, those competitions will become more and more heated.
?We?ve had some issues from a depth standpoint the past couple of years,? Berry explains. ?We have a much more talented team and we are much deeper than we have been in the past. With that added depth, we are better suited to duplicate game speed in practice. We have improved our team speed dramatically. I feel really good about the athleticism on our football team. We have more players now that fit our systems. In the past, we have not been able to be as aggressive as we would like because of the fact that we did not match up very well athletically. This team can really run and that will allow for us to be more aggressive on both sides of the football.?
While Berry will have a physically gifted talent stable at his disposal, the group will not be battle-tested as a whole. That fact is not lost on Army?s mentor as he continues his efforts toward returning the Black Knights? program to the state of its former riches.
?While we have a number of players returning with game experience, we are still very young in relation to most college football teams,? Berry says. ?Consequently, you don?t know how young people will react when adverse situations arise in a game. That will be the true test of this team. ?After two years, I think we?re right on track to where we expected to be. We knew that with the dramatic changes we were making on both sides of the ball, we would experience some difficulties early on. The third year is always an important year in turning a program around.? The excitement in Todd Berry?s voice will tell you that.
Offensive Overview
Quarterback
For the first time in recent memory, Army will return a very inexperienced group at the quarterback position. In fact, the only signal caller listed on the Black Knights? preseason roster boasting any varsity game experience is sophomore Reggie Nevels. A gifted athlete skilled at making defenders miss in the open field, Nevels carries a dynamic presence into every huddle. He is an accomplished scrambler capable of wreaking havoc outside the pocket, and enters fall as the favorite to replace Chad Jenkins at the helm of the Black Knights? high-powered offense.
The native of Marion, Ind., shouldered a significant special teams role last fall, drawing field duty in 10 of 11 contests. He also appeared in three games under center, rushing for 80 yards while completing 4 of 10 pass attempts. One of those completions was a 50-yard scoring aerial against TCU.
?It was important for Reggie to gain a better feel for the offense this spring,? Berry explains. ?but it was also important for him to perform knowing that he was the frontrunner for the job. It was important for him to establish credibility with the older guys on the team and he was able to accomplish that.
?I was really pleased with the way that he stepped in the huddle and led the team. We knew when we recruited him that he was the type of quarterback we would like to have in our system. He has gained arm strength and is very creative. I like having creative quarterbacks. He has a great understanding of what we do on offense and is a threat in the pocket and in a scramble situation. His growth rate has been tremendous over the past year.?
Fellow sophomores Matt Silva and Corey Sherk received a large portion of snaps this spring with only three quarterbacks listed on the roster. That number will rise dramatically when Berry?s second full recruiting class enters the Academy during the summer.
?Matt had a better spring than most of us had expected,? Berry adds. ?He must continue to work on his consistency. Corey has improved dramatically as well. He tended to be a real ?gamer? and really shined in our scrimmages this spring.
?I?m also really pleased with our incoming group of players. It was a position of need. We felt like our depth at the position was not great and that we needed to bring in young men that could challenge immediately. I feel really good about the athleticism of the group as a whole and the leadership that they have displayed.?
Running Back
While senior Josh Holden possesses a tremendous amount of game experience, junior Marcellus Chapman broke spring drills listed atop the depth chart at running back for the second consecutive year. Head coach Todd Berry utilized a ?running back by committee? formula last fall, spreading the workload among several individuals. He will be well-suited to subscribe to a similar philosophy if desired this fall thanks to the presence of this talented duo and a promising group of incoming freshmen.
Holden, who split time between baseball and football for the second consecutive spring, began last season as the starter and finished second on the team with 515 ground yards and four rushing touchdowns. For the second straight year, Chapman put forth an outstanding spring performance, soaring to the top of the depth chart after being sidelined last fall due to injury. The shifty scatback boasts a penchant for ripping off long gains and enters preseason camp listed as the starter at the position.
?We will have an interesting competition for playing time at running back,? Berry states. ?I?d like to see someone separate from the pack, but we were functional operating by committee last season. I like playing a lot of running backs, but you?d like to have one starter and the others receiving quality snaps. We are still looking for that one individual to assert himself and move to the front of the pack.?
Berry will have other options at his disposal as well, most notably sophomore La?Berrick Williams, who has been hounded by injuries since arriving at the Academy last fall. Williams, who missed the majority of last season due to various physical ailments, was off to a great start this spring before being felled by a major knee injury. He could return by October, further enhancing the Black Knights? backfield depth.
?I saw good things out of our running backs this spring. I feel very good about that group as a whole,? Berry says. ?The incoming running backs could challenge for playing time as well. We have some freshmen running backs that could potentially figure into the mix.?
Wide Receiver
In addition to losing starters Omari Thompson (22 catches) and Brian Bruenton (19 catches) to graduation, Army absorbed another major setback during the winter months with the sudden and tragic death of junior standout Anthony Miller. A special teams stalwart poised for a starting wideout berth this fall, Miller possessed the ability to make big plays at crucial times and was a tremendous team leader on and off the field.
Senior Aris Comeaux heads the list of returning wide receivers after blossoming into an impact player for Berry?s squad last fall. Army?s second-leading receiver with 35 catches, Comeaux topped all ballcatchers with five touchdowns and is expected to rank among Conference USA?s elite performers at his position, despite missing spring practice due to injury.
?Aris had a great year for us,? Berry says. ?We expect to see him build on that performance this fall. Because of his track record, we did not feel that he needed a tremendous amount of work in the spring. This was an important spring for him to get completely healthy. He possesses the speed to take the ball a long distance and has great hands.?
There should be heated competition at the other two wide receiver slots with sophomore Aaron Alexander and junior Clint Woody battling for the lead role at one spot, and sophomore William White and senior Chris Pestel fighting for a starting berth at the other.
Alexander and Woody enter preseason camp holding down the top two positions on the depth chart at ?X? receiver, a spot where Berry prefers to employ tall, rangy targets. Both Alexander and Woody fit that bill, carrying similar 6-5 body frames to the fray. Alexander impressed throughout the spring, leaping to a starting spot following a ?breakout? showing. Woody has displayed flashes of brilliance during his first two seasons and expects to battle for the lead role throughout the fall. Another member of Berry?s skilled sophomore class, White elevated his stock dramatically this spring and brings a ?game-breaking? aura into every snap.
He features soft hands, blazing speed and a vast reservoir of untapped potential. Pestel injects valuable speed on the perimeter and boasts significant game experience. He registered five receptions last year, hauling in a 50-yard touchdown pass against TCU.
?While William White missed a portion of spring practice, he still showed that he could be a truly special player during the time he was on the field,? Berry expresses. ?He is much more comfortable in our offense and is one of the best athletes on our team. He can truly be an impact player for us. Alexander is another guy that continually made big plays this spring. He got stronger and faster during the offseason, and has a knack for catching the ball in traffic.
?Our top three receivers have a greater ability to impact a game than any starting group that we?ve had in the past two years. But we need to develop some depth at the position. You want to be able to keep your receivers fresh during the course of the season so we really need some of the younger players in our program to show that they can contribute at this level.?
Some of those younger players include junior George Feagins, and sophomores Lamar Mason and Austin Wilson.
?I think we have some freshmen entering the program that can legitimately challenge for playing time,? Berry adds. ?The group features very good speed and excellent athleticism. These players also come from offenses that are very similar to our style of play.?
Tight End
While all-league standout Clint Dodson has departed at tight end, head coach Todd Berry welcomes back veteran letterwinner Alton McCallum. McCallum was shifted from running back to tight end during spring drills a year ago, but sat out the fall in order to concentrate on academics. He returns as the projected starter at tight end after flashing the potential to become an impact player at the position during the spring. Steady senior letterwinner Michael Schwartz, experienced junior Brandon Johnson and promising sophomores Doug Horaist and Christian Montagliani fill in behind McCallum, providing Berry with quality depth at the position.
?We felt the move of Alton to tight end was a good one for both he and the team last spring,? Berry offers. ?He possesses excellent strength and soft hands. The interesting thing about Alton is that when he catches the ball, he is still a running back and can make people miss. Mike has a great understanding of the offense and has performed well in the past. He might have the best set of hands on the entire team. We think Horaist and Montagliani have the ability to develop into outstanding players for us.?
Horaist arrived at West Point as a highly regarded tight end, while Montagliani was shifted from quarterback to tight end last fall. Both feature outstanding physical builds for the position. Johnson will also be granted an excellent opportunity to vie for playing time this fall. While not an area of concern, Berry and his staff will closely monitor the development of the unit during preseason camp.
While senior Josh Holden possesses a tremendous amount of game experience, junior Marcellus Chapman broke spring drills listed atop the depth chart at running back for the second consecutive year. Head coach Todd Berry utilized a ?running back by committee? formula last fall, spreading the workload among several individuals. He will be well-suited to subscribe to a similar philosophy if desired this fall thanks to the presence of this talented duo and a promising group of incoming freshmen.
Holden, who split time between baseball and football for the second consecutive spring, began last season as the starter and finished second on the team with 515 ground yards and four rushing touchdowns. For the second straight year, Chapman put forth an outstanding spring performance, soaring to the top of the depth chart after being sidelined last fall due to injury. The shifty scatback boasts a penchant for ripping off long gains and enters preseason camp listed as the starter at the position.
?We will have an interesting competition for playing time at running back,? Berry states. ?I?d like to see someone separate from the pack, but we were functional operating by committee last season. I like playing a lot of running backs, but you?d like to have one starter and the others receiving quality snaps. We are still looking for that one individual to assert himself and move to the front of the pack.?
Berry will have other options at his disposal as well, most notably sophomore La?Berrick Williams, who has been hounded by injuries since arriving at the Academy last fall. Williams, who missed the majority of last season due to various physical ailments, was off to a great start this spring before being felled by a major knee injury. He could return by October, further enhancing the Black Knights? backfield depth.
?I saw good things out of our running backs this spring. I feel very good about that group as a whole,? Berry says. ?The incoming running backs could challenge for playing time as well. We have some freshmen running backs that could potentially figure into the mix.?
Wide Receiver
In addition to losing starters Omari Thompson (22 catches) and Brian Bruenton (19 catches) to graduation, Army absorbed another major setback during the winter months with the sudden and tragic death of junior standout Anthony Miller. A special teams stalwart poised for a starting wideout berth this fall, Miller possessed the ability to make big plays at crucial times and was a tremendous team leader on and off the field.
Senior Aris Comeaux heads the list of returning wide receivers after blossoming into an impact player for Berry?s squad last fall. Army?s second-leading receiver with 35 catches, Comeaux topped all ballcatchers with five touchdowns and is expected to rank among Conference USA?s elite performers at his position, despite missing spring practice due to injury.
?Aris had a great year for us,? Berry says. ?We expect to see him build on that performance this fall. Because of his track record, we did not feel that he needed a tremendous amount of work in the spring. This was an important spring for him to get completely healthy. He possesses the speed to take the ball a long distance and has great hands.?
There should be heated competition at the other two wide receiver slots with sophomore Aaron Alexander and junior Clint Woody battling for the lead role at one spot, and sophomore William White and senior Chris Pestel fighting for a starting berth at the other.
Alexander and Woody enter preseason camp holding down the top two positions on the depth chart at ?X? receiver, a spot where Berry prefers to employ tall, rangy targets. Both Alexander and Woody fit that bill, carrying similar 6-5 body frames to the fray. Alexander impressed throughout the spring, leaping to a starting spot following a ?breakout? showing. Woody has displayed flashes of brilliance during his first two seasons and expects to battle for the lead role throughout the fall. Another member of Berry?s skilled sophomore class, White elevated his stock dramatically this spring and brings a ?game-breaking? aura into every snap.
He features soft hands, blazing speed and a vast reservoir of untapped potential. Pestel injects valuable speed on the perimeter and boasts significant game experience. He registered five receptions last year, hauling in a 50-yard touchdown pass against TCU.
?While William White missed a portion of spring practice, he still showed that he could be a truly special player during the time he was on the field,? Berry expresses. ?He is much more comfortable in our offense and is one of the best athletes on our team. He can truly be an impact player for us. Alexander is another guy that continually made big plays this spring. He got stronger and faster during the offseason, and has a knack for catching the ball in traffic.
?Our top three receivers have a greater ability to impact a game than any starting group that we?ve had in the past two years. But we need to develop some depth at the position. You want to be able to keep your receivers fresh during the course of the season so we really need some of the younger players in our program to show that they can contribute at this level.?
Some of those younger players include junior George Feagins, and sophomores Lamar Mason and Austin Wilson.
?I think we have some freshmen entering the program that can legitimately challenge for playing time,? Berry adds. ?The group features very good speed and excellent athleticism. These players also come from offenses that are very similar to our style of play.?
Tight End
While all-league standout Clint Dodson has departed at tight end, head coach Todd Berry welcomes back veteran letterwinner Alton McCallum. McCallum was shifted from running back to tight end during spring drills a year ago, but sat out the fall in order to concentrate on academics. He returns as the projected starter at tight end after flashing the potential to become an impact player at the position during the spring. Steady senior letterwinner Michael Schwartz, experienced junior Brandon Johnson and promising sophomores Doug Horaist and Christian Montagliani fill in behind McCallum, providing Berry with quality depth at the position.
?We felt the move of Alton to tight end was a good one for both he and the team last spring,? Berry offers. ?He possesses excellent strength and soft hands. The interesting thing about Alton is that when he catches the ball, he is still a running back and can make people miss. Mike has a great understanding of the offense and has performed well in the past. He might have the best set of hands on the entire team. We think Horaist and Montagliani have the ability to develop into outstanding players for us.?
Horaist arrived at West Point as a highly regarded tight end, while Montagliani was shifted from quarterback to tight end last fall. Both feature outstanding physical builds for the position. Johnson will also be granted an excellent opportunity to vie for playing time this fall. While not an area of concern, Berry and his staff will closely monitor the development of the unit during preseason camp.
Offensive Line
Army returns three-fifths of its starting cast from a year ago along the offensive line, a unit that must account for the loss of all-league standout Paul Henderson at left tackle. Head coach Todd Berry and his staff have moved veteran Craig Cunningham from right tackle to left tackle in an effort to help cushion that blow. He is slated to play alongside starting guard Aaron Burger, providing the Black Knights with a seasoned pair of performers on the left side of the front wall.
There should be plenty of experience on the right side as well, where Alex Moore returns at guard after starting 10 of 11 games last fall. Big Jon Green is slated to fill the void at right tackle after seeing extensive field duty a year ago. Senior Steve Schmidt enters preseason camp as the heir apparent to Dustin Plumadore at center following a successful shift from guard during the spring. Schmidt, who retains the ability to fill a guard slot if needed, adapted well to the center position and should help anchor a group that progressed nicely this spring.
?I am really pleased with the overall development of our offensive line,? Berry offers. ?Our offensive linemen do not necessarily need to be huge. They need to be athletic. Having mobile guards like Aaron Burger and Alex Moore opens up a lot of different things for us, and the move of Steve Schmidt to center makes us even more athletic. Steve has the ability to utilize his athleticism at the center position and was very comfortable there. He did a wonderful job of acclimating to the spot this spring. I was also pleased with the way Craig Cunningham performed following his shift from right tackle to left tackle and with the way Jon Green adjusted to his transition to the starting group.?
There promises to be heated competition for playing time behind the lead cast thanks to the presence of a host of talented young linemen in Army?s program. Berry and his staff placed special emphasis on attracting skilled front wall players to the program a year ago. They began to reap the rewards of those efforts this spring. Andy Dytrych (6-3, 278), Joel Glover (6-5, 275), Jake Holly (6-3, 277), David Evetts (6-1, 280), Regan Tatford (6-4, 300) and Seth Nieman (6-4, 320) are just a few of the intriguing prospects helping to comprise Berry?s standout sophomore talent pool that began to make noise during spring drills. While Glover (LT), Dytrych (LG) and Holly (RG) enter preseason camp listed as top reserves at their respective positions, Evetts, Tatford and Nieman are expected to compete for playing time this fall. Senior Mike Hastings holds down the backup job at center and junior Adam Wojcik heads to preseason listed as the chief understudy to Green at right tackle.
?There?s great competition between our second group and our starters,? Berry offers. ?Our third group of offensive linemen can also be special. Competition is a wonderful thing because it allows for significant improvement each day in practice.?
Defensive Overview
Defensive Line
It was just a year ago that Army head coach Todd Berry possessed serious concerns with his squad?s depth at the defensive end position. The third-year mentor harbors no such worries this fall after netting a number of skilled athletes in his first full recruiting class. Several of those young players shouldered key roles on last year?s squad, garnering critical game experience that will prove fruitful in the days ahead. Heading the list of standout sophomores are Keenan Beasley, Will Sullivan and Mike Clark. One of Berry?s most pleasant surprises during spring drills, Beasley rose to the top of the depth chart with an impressive showing. He enters preseason camp as the projected starter opposite all-league candidate Clarence Holmes, providing the Black Knights with a pair of dominant bookend forces on the edge. Holmes spent time at defensive tackle and defensive end last fall, displaying all-star ability at both spots. He could emerge as one of the top defensive ends in the East, and is expected to wreak havoc with enemy ground and air attacks.
?Clarence has always possessed the physical tools to be a standout player, but he needed to mature mentally,? Berry explains. ?He has really accomplished that. He is very athletic and his motor runs hot all the time. He can be a really fine player in this league and has set himself up for an excellent senior season. ?Keenan entered the spring as a third-team player. But he really matured during the offseason and put it all together during spring practice. He is capable of making big plays. He?s a good pass-rusher off the edge and has gotten stronger physically which helps him defend the run.?
The position is also bolstered by the return of sophomore Odene Brathwaite. An exciting physical specimen cut from the same mold as Holmes and Beasley, Brathwaite landed a spot on Conference USA?s All-Freshman team two seasons ago, but sat out last fall to concentrate on academics. During his time away, Brathwaite added 40 pounds to an already imposing physical frame and could flourish in his return campaign. He broke spring drills listed as the backup to Beasley, but expects to push for the lead role during the months ahead.
?Odene could really develop into a special player for us,? Berry offers. ?He is a 270-pound guy that still moves around as if he weighed 230 pounds. During the spring, he showed signs of being the player he was as a freshman, but he needs to get more repetitions.?
While Sullivan and Clark serve as the top reserves behind Holmes, steady senior Alan Maszarose figures to see playing time behind Beasley and Brathwaite.
?I feel very good about our depth. The young men we brought into our program last year have all gotten so much stronger with a year in the weight room. We should have very good competition within that group. I would feel comfortable putting any of our top six defensive ends on the field at any time.?
Berry entered the spring determined to create that same type of quality depth at defensive tackle to support veteran starters Seth Langston and Paddy Heiliger. Thanks to the successful shift of Doug Meyer from end to tackle, the emergence of Trey Landry as a quality reserve and the return of veteran Brian Horvath, the Black Knights appear to have accomplished that goal.
?Seth and Paddy are very solid at defensive tackle,? Berry adds, ?but depth was a bit of an issue entering the spring. I feel good about our tackles right now. Seth and Paddy have a lot of snaps behind them and they have a tremendous comfort level within our scheme. They both give us excellent height inside and possess the ability to distract a quarterback.
?Trey Landry also had a great spring. He matured in the offseason and has an aggressive nature about him. He plays the game the way it should be played. We think Meyer is similar to Trey. He is a tenacious performer and responded real well to his move inside.?
Other players that could contend for playing time at defensive tackle include sophomores Myron Toles, William Pyant and Greg Isham. Isham was moved from offense to defense in the spring.
Army returns three-fifths of its starting cast from a year ago along the offensive line, a unit that must account for the loss of all-league standout Paul Henderson at left tackle. Head coach Todd Berry and his staff have moved veteran Craig Cunningham from right tackle to left tackle in an effort to help cushion that blow. He is slated to play alongside starting guard Aaron Burger, providing the Black Knights with a seasoned pair of performers on the left side of the front wall.
There should be plenty of experience on the right side as well, where Alex Moore returns at guard after starting 10 of 11 games last fall. Big Jon Green is slated to fill the void at right tackle after seeing extensive field duty a year ago. Senior Steve Schmidt enters preseason camp as the heir apparent to Dustin Plumadore at center following a successful shift from guard during the spring. Schmidt, who retains the ability to fill a guard slot if needed, adapted well to the center position and should help anchor a group that progressed nicely this spring.
?I am really pleased with the overall development of our offensive line,? Berry offers. ?Our offensive linemen do not necessarily need to be huge. They need to be athletic. Having mobile guards like Aaron Burger and Alex Moore opens up a lot of different things for us, and the move of Steve Schmidt to center makes us even more athletic. Steve has the ability to utilize his athleticism at the center position and was very comfortable there. He did a wonderful job of acclimating to the spot this spring. I was also pleased with the way Craig Cunningham performed following his shift from right tackle to left tackle and with the way Jon Green adjusted to his transition to the starting group.?
There promises to be heated competition for playing time behind the lead cast thanks to the presence of a host of talented young linemen in Army?s program. Berry and his staff placed special emphasis on attracting skilled front wall players to the program a year ago. They began to reap the rewards of those efforts this spring. Andy Dytrych (6-3, 278), Joel Glover (6-5, 275), Jake Holly (6-3, 277), David Evetts (6-1, 280), Regan Tatford (6-4, 300) and Seth Nieman (6-4, 320) are just a few of the intriguing prospects helping to comprise Berry?s standout sophomore talent pool that began to make noise during spring drills. While Glover (LT), Dytrych (LG) and Holly (RG) enter preseason camp listed as top reserves at their respective positions, Evetts, Tatford and Nieman are expected to compete for playing time this fall. Senior Mike Hastings holds down the backup job at center and junior Adam Wojcik heads to preseason listed as the chief understudy to Green at right tackle.
?There?s great competition between our second group and our starters,? Berry offers. ?Our third group of offensive linemen can also be special. Competition is a wonderful thing because it allows for significant improvement each day in practice.?
Defensive Overview
Defensive Line
It was just a year ago that Army head coach Todd Berry possessed serious concerns with his squad?s depth at the defensive end position. The third-year mentor harbors no such worries this fall after netting a number of skilled athletes in his first full recruiting class. Several of those young players shouldered key roles on last year?s squad, garnering critical game experience that will prove fruitful in the days ahead. Heading the list of standout sophomores are Keenan Beasley, Will Sullivan and Mike Clark. One of Berry?s most pleasant surprises during spring drills, Beasley rose to the top of the depth chart with an impressive showing. He enters preseason camp as the projected starter opposite all-league candidate Clarence Holmes, providing the Black Knights with a pair of dominant bookend forces on the edge. Holmes spent time at defensive tackle and defensive end last fall, displaying all-star ability at both spots. He could emerge as one of the top defensive ends in the East, and is expected to wreak havoc with enemy ground and air attacks.
?Clarence has always possessed the physical tools to be a standout player, but he needed to mature mentally,? Berry explains. ?He has really accomplished that. He is very athletic and his motor runs hot all the time. He can be a really fine player in this league and has set himself up for an excellent senior season. ?Keenan entered the spring as a third-team player. But he really matured during the offseason and put it all together during spring practice. He is capable of making big plays. He?s a good pass-rusher off the edge and has gotten stronger physically which helps him defend the run.?
The position is also bolstered by the return of sophomore Odene Brathwaite. An exciting physical specimen cut from the same mold as Holmes and Beasley, Brathwaite landed a spot on Conference USA?s All-Freshman team two seasons ago, but sat out last fall to concentrate on academics. During his time away, Brathwaite added 40 pounds to an already imposing physical frame and could flourish in his return campaign. He broke spring drills listed as the backup to Beasley, but expects to push for the lead role during the months ahead.
?Odene could really develop into a special player for us,? Berry offers. ?He is a 270-pound guy that still moves around as if he weighed 230 pounds. During the spring, he showed signs of being the player he was as a freshman, but he needs to get more repetitions.?
While Sullivan and Clark serve as the top reserves behind Holmes, steady senior Alan Maszarose figures to see playing time behind Beasley and Brathwaite.
?I feel very good about our depth. The young men we brought into our program last year have all gotten so much stronger with a year in the weight room. We should have very good competition within that group. I would feel comfortable putting any of our top six defensive ends on the field at any time.?
Berry entered the spring determined to create that same type of quality depth at defensive tackle to support veteran starters Seth Langston and Paddy Heiliger. Thanks to the successful shift of Doug Meyer from end to tackle, the emergence of Trey Landry as a quality reserve and the return of veteran Brian Horvath, the Black Knights appear to have accomplished that goal.
?Seth and Paddy are very solid at defensive tackle,? Berry adds, ?but depth was a bit of an issue entering the spring. I feel good about our tackles right now. Seth and Paddy have a lot of snaps behind them and they have a tremendous comfort level within our scheme. They both give us excellent height inside and possess the ability to distract a quarterback.
?Trey Landry also had a great spring. He matured in the offseason and has an aggressive nature about him. He plays the game the way it should be played. We think Meyer is similar to Trey. He is a tenacious performer and responded real well to his move inside.?
Other players that could contend for playing time at defensive tackle include sophomores Myron Toles, William Pyant and Greg Isham. Isham was moved from offense to defense in the spring.
Inside Linebacker
Replacing rugged Brian Zickefoose will be a chore for head coach Todd Berry and his staff. Army?s top tackler each of the past two seasons, Zickefoose played the game with a tremendous amount of passion and boasted invaluable leadership intangibles. But the return of three-year letterwinner Jason Frazier should help compensate for the loss. One of the club?s most experienced warriors, Frazier has emerged as a ?big-play? performer in head coach Todd Berry?s aggressive 4-4 defensive scheme and provides the young, inexperienced players with a steadying influence.
Poised for his third straight year in the Black Knights? starting cast, Frazier ranked second on the club with a career-high 99 tackles last season and lends veteran leadership to a youthful Army defense. Senior Mike Lennox, who received the bulk of his field duty on special teams last season, and junior Brian Hill will provide the depth behind Frazier.
?I am very pleased with Jason?s development,? Berry expresses. ?His mentality has changed dramatically, and he has become one of the team?s leaders on defense. He will face competition from Lennox and Hill, both of whom had great springs.?
Impressive sophomore Greg Washington sports ?all-league? potential at the other inside ?backer spot. An outstanding athlete with sharp ball instincts and a knack for making plays, Washington adapted nicely to his midseason move from ?sniper? to inside linebacker last fall. He enters preseason practice as the top choice to replace Zickefoose and could make his presence felt in the starting lineup immediately.
?We feel that Greg Washington has the chance to be a dynamic ?sam?
linebacker in this defense,? Berry lauds. ?He possesses excellent physical attributes and can really fly to the ball. We are very athletic at the spot, but we lack game experience.?
Should Washington require additional seasoning, Berry will call upon seniors Joe Martinez and Warren Stewart.
?I?m pleased with the athletes we have slotted at the position,? Berry
explains, ? but I?d like to see more consistent play out of them. That?s an important position in our defense.?
Outside Linebacker
Depth remains a concern at the ?sniper? position following the departure of starter Ben Woodruff and chief reserve Ben Edgar. Junior Ryan Kent returns to a starting berth at one of the two outside spots, having been shifted to the ?bandit? position. Kent turned in a solid showing in his debut at outside linebacker last season, ranking fourth on the team with 80 tackles.
A converted quarterback, Kent added four tackles for loss and four pass breakups, listing among team leaders in both categories. The top candidate to fill Kent?s starting job at ?rover? is exciting sophomore Mikel Resnick. Another member of head coach Todd Berry?s gifted ?yearling? class, Resnick shouldered a significant special forces role last fall, in addition to seeing spot duty on defense. Like Greg Washington at inside linebacker, Resnick features outstanding football instincts, packs a wallop and is always around the ball. He sat out spring drills due to injury, and will be counted on to progress quickly throughout preseason camp.
Seniors Brian Todd, Shane Radtke and Martin Pierce, and sophomore Curt Daniels will also vie for playing time at outside linebacker. Daniels enjoyed an outstanding spring session and enters preseason listed as the top reserve behind Kent, while Todd and Radtke will battle Resnick for field duty at ?rover.? Todd sat out spring drills due to injury, allowing Radtke to shoulder a heavy workload, aiding his cause. Additional depth will be provided by several talented incoming freshmen that could make an immediate impact.
?By moving Ryan Kent to ?bandit? and inserting Mikel Resnick into the lineup at ?rover,? we continue to improve our overall team speed on defense,? Berry explains. ?Ryan has developed into a very fine player. He is aggressive, possesses a great understanding of the game and sees the entire field very well. Ryan has shown the ability to make plays. He?ll be backed up by Curt Daniels, who was a surprise this spring. Curt is extremely intelligent, runs well and improved a great deal during the offseason.
?Mikel is going to be an awfully good football player. He is a tremendous athlete and runs exceptionally well so I am anxious to get him back out on the field. Brian Todd also sat out the spring due to an injury, but we feel he can be a productive player for us. We also have several freshmen coming in that may help quickly. The ?plebe? class features several individuals that can run very well. That group could impact the program dramatically this year.?
Secondary
The theme of emerging young players also resonates in Army?s secondary with a trio of skilled sophomores entering preseason camp expected to challenge for starting berths. Head coach Todd Berry and his staff elected to shift Maurio Smith from cornerback to free safety during the offseason, clearing a path for Delente Brewer in the lead cast. Brewer received increased field duty as his freshman year progressed and displayed the ability to assume a top role this fall. The same can be said for classmate Jonathan Lewis. Lewis worked his way into Army?s starting rotation late last year and should remain there for many years to come. Both boast outstanding physical tools and possess the ability to flourish in press coverage, an immensely valuable element in Berry?s blitzing defensive scheme.
Letterwinner Mike Sehzue is expected to push the youngsters for a starting role, with Smith owning the ability to shift over from free safety to lend support at cornerback if needed.
?So much of our defensive philosophy is predicated by the play of the
secondary,? Berry states. ?If you don?t have guys back there that can play man-to-man, it really limits what you can do up front to try and stop somebody. I feel really good about our secondary right now. While we are going to be really young and we?ll have some inexperience, I feel good about our athleticism back there. It allows for us to truly get into our defensive package.?
?Despite having so many young players in key roles, we return a lot of game experience to our defensive secondary,? Berry mentions. ?Brewer and Lewis are two very talented young players and both have improved a great deal during the offseason. Lewis is going to be a great one and Brewer has the potential to be just as good. Sehzue is a veteran player that gives us quality depth. We also recruited exceptionally well at the cornerback position and those young players could certainly find their way onto the field this year.?
Smith turned in one of the most impressive performances of any Army player this spring, completing a smooth transition to free safety. An aggressive run-stopper who boasts the ability to lock up and play man coverage, Smith developed into one of the club?s defensive leaders and provides tremendous flexibility from the back line.
?Maurio Smith had maybe the best spring of anyone on the team,? Berry claims. ?He is a smart, heady player that covers an awful lot of ground and is one of the best tacklers on the team. His solid play will allow us to apply extra pressure up front.?
Lucius Weaver, yet another standout member of the sophomore class, also made great strides this spring and figures to receive a steady portion of field duty behind Smith. Weaver is an impressive physical specimen possessing the speed and quickness to roam the back line. He features the same type of ?star? quality displayed by Brewer and Lewis at cornerback.
?We think Lucius Weaver can be a very good player. He is an intimidating factor at free safety because he?s big, physical, and can run. And whenever he gets some place, he gets there in a bad mood. I?m anxious to see if Lucius will challenge Maurio for the starting job. He certainly has the ability to do so. We also have two outstanding free safety prospects that can really take over a game. They are heavily recruited players that could help immediately. With the young players we are bringing into the program in this recruiting class, our depth and athleticism will improve tremendously.?
In Berry?s defensive scheme, the outside linebackers and free safeties are virtually interchangeable parts, helping to form a hard-hitting triangle that engulfs enemy offenses. The increased depth gained by the addition of a highly regarded incoming group of freshmen at those positions should greatly enhance Army?s overall team speed on defense.
Replacing rugged Brian Zickefoose will be a chore for head coach Todd Berry and his staff. Army?s top tackler each of the past two seasons, Zickefoose played the game with a tremendous amount of passion and boasted invaluable leadership intangibles. But the return of three-year letterwinner Jason Frazier should help compensate for the loss. One of the club?s most experienced warriors, Frazier has emerged as a ?big-play? performer in head coach Todd Berry?s aggressive 4-4 defensive scheme and provides the young, inexperienced players with a steadying influence.
Poised for his third straight year in the Black Knights? starting cast, Frazier ranked second on the club with a career-high 99 tackles last season and lends veteran leadership to a youthful Army defense. Senior Mike Lennox, who received the bulk of his field duty on special teams last season, and junior Brian Hill will provide the depth behind Frazier.
?I am very pleased with Jason?s development,? Berry expresses. ?His mentality has changed dramatically, and he has become one of the team?s leaders on defense. He will face competition from Lennox and Hill, both of whom had great springs.?
Impressive sophomore Greg Washington sports ?all-league? potential at the other inside ?backer spot. An outstanding athlete with sharp ball instincts and a knack for making plays, Washington adapted nicely to his midseason move from ?sniper? to inside linebacker last fall. He enters preseason practice as the top choice to replace Zickefoose and could make his presence felt in the starting lineup immediately.
?We feel that Greg Washington has the chance to be a dynamic ?sam?
linebacker in this defense,? Berry lauds. ?He possesses excellent physical attributes and can really fly to the ball. We are very athletic at the spot, but we lack game experience.?
Should Washington require additional seasoning, Berry will call upon seniors Joe Martinez and Warren Stewart.
?I?m pleased with the athletes we have slotted at the position,? Berry
explains, ? but I?d like to see more consistent play out of them. That?s an important position in our defense.?
Outside Linebacker
Depth remains a concern at the ?sniper? position following the departure of starter Ben Woodruff and chief reserve Ben Edgar. Junior Ryan Kent returns to a starting berth at one of the two outside spots, having been shifted to the ?bandit? position. Kent turned in a solid showing in his debut at outside linebacker last season, ranking fourth on the team with 80 tackles.
A converted quarterback, Kent added four tackles for loss and four pass breakups, listing among team leaders in both categories. The top candidate to fill Kent?s starting job at ?rover? is exciting sophomore Mikel Resnick. Another member of head coach Todd Berry?s gifted ?yearling? class, Resnick shouldered a significant special forces role last fall, in addition to seeing spot duty on defense. Like Greg Washington at inside linebacker, Resnick features outstanding football instincts, packs a wallop and is always around the ball. He sat out spring drills due to injury, and will be counted on to progress quickly throughout preseason camp.
Seniors Brian Todd, Shane Radtke and Martin Pierce, and sophomore Curt Daniels will also vie for playing time at outside linebacker. Daniels enjoyed an outstanding spring session and enters preseason listed as the top reserve behind Kent, while Todd and Radtke will battle Resnick for field duty at ?rover.? Todd sat out spring drills due to injury, allowing Radtke to shoulder a heavy workload, aiding his cause. Additional depth will be provided by several talented incoming freshmen that could make an immediate impact.
?By moving Ryan Kent to ?bandit? and inserting Mikel Resnick into the lineup at ?rover,? we continue to improve our overall team speed on defense,? Berry explains. ?Ryan has developed into a very fine player. He is aggressive, possesses a great understanding of the game and sees the entire field very well. Ryan has shown the ability to make plays. He?ll be backed up by Curt Daniels, who was a surprise this spring. Curt is extremely intelligent, runs well and improved a great deal during the offseason.
?Mikel is going to be an awfully good football player. He is a tremendous athlete and runs exceptionally well so I am anxious to get him back out on the field. Brian Todd also sat out the spring due to an injury, but we feel he can be a productive player for us. We also have several freshmen coming in that may help quickly. The ?plebe? class features several individuals that can run very well. That group could impact the program dramatically this year.?
Secondary
The theme of emerging young players also resonates in Army?s secondary with a trio of skilled sophomores entering preseason camp expected to challenge for starting berths. Head coach Todd Berry and his staff elected to shift Maurio Smith from cornerback to free safety during the offseason, clearing a path for Delente Brewer in the lead cast. Brewer received increased field duty as his freshman year progressed and displayed the ability to assume a top role this fall. The same can be said for classmate Jonathan Lewis. Lewis worked his way into Army?s starting rotation late last year and should remain there for many years to come. Both boast outstanding physical tools and possess the ability to flourish in press coverage, an immensely valuable element in Berry?s blitzing defensive scheme.
Letterwinner Mike Sehzue is expected to push the youngsters for a starting role, with Smith owning the ability to shift over from free safety to lend support at cornerback if needed.
?So much of our defensive philosophy is predicated by the play of the
secondary,? Berry states. ?If you don?t have guys back there that can play man-to-man, it really limits what you can do up front to try and stop somebody. I feel really good about our secondary right now. While we are going to be really young and we?ll have some inexperience, I feel good about our athleticism back there. It allows for us to truly get into our defensive package.?
?Despite having so many young players in key roles, we return a lot of game experience to our defensive secondary,? Berry mentions. ?Brewer and Lewis are two very talented young players and both have improved a great deal during the offseason. Lewis is going to be a great one and Brewer has the potential to be just as good. Sehzue is a veteran player that gives us quality depth. We also recruited exceptionally well at the cornerback position and those young players could certainly find their way onto the field this year.?
Smith turned in one of the most impressive performances of any Army player this spring, completing a smooth transition to free safety. An aggressive run-stopper who boasts the ability to lock up and play man coverage, Smith developed into one of the club?s defensive leaders and provides tremendous flexibility from the back line.
?Maurio Smith had maybe the best spring of anyone on the team,? Berry claims. ?He is a smart, heady player that covers an awful lot of ground and is one of the best tacklers on the team. His solid play will allow us to apply extra pressure up front.?
Lucius Weaver, yet another standout member of the sophomore class, also made great strides this spring and figures to receive a steady portion of field duty behind Smith. Weaver is an impressive physical specimen possessing the speed and quickness to roam the back line. He features the same type of ?star? quality displayed by Brewer and Lewis at cornerback.
?We think Lucius Weaver can be a very good player. He is an intimidating factor at free safety because he?s big, physical, and can run. And whenever he gets some place, he gets there in a bad mood. I?m anxious to see if Lucius will challenge Maurio for the starting job. He certainly has the ability to do so. We also have two outstanding free safety prospects that can really take over a game. They are heavily recruited players that could help immediately. With the young players we are bringing into the program in this recruiting class, our depth and athleticism will improve tremendously.?
In Berry?s defensive scheme, the outside linebackers and free safeties are virtually interchangeable parts, helping to form a hard-hitting triangle that engulfs enemy offenses. The increased depth gained by the addition of a highly regarded incoming group of freshmen at those positions should greatly enhance Army?s overall team speed on defense.
Specialists
While the losses of all-league punter Dan MacElroy and starting placekicker Derek Jacobs remain significant, head coach Todd Berry appears more concerned with his team?s ability to replace standout long snapper Reid Finn.
MacElroy enjoyed an outstanding senior showing as he authored a booming punting average of 44.4 yards per kick, just shy of the Academy?s single-season record. Despite putting forth one of the finest punting campaigns in school annals, MacElroy was never guaranteed of a starting berth from week to week last fall, thanks to the presence of backup Chris Castelli. Though he did not appear in a single varsity game last season, Castelli challenged for the starting job every day in practice. Jacobs, meanwhile converted 8 of 11 field goal tries last season, but had been overtaken by senior Paul Stelzer during the spring. Stelzer handled kickoff duties last fall and displayed increased range and consistency during the offseason. His emergence should nulify the loss of Jacobs.
?I don?t really have a concern with our punting situation? offers Berry, who personally oversees Army?s specialty units. ?Chris Castelli pushed Dan hard in practice all season long. I really don?t expect there to be a drop-off this season in our production in the punting game. Chris had a great spring. I?ve coached punters all my life and I think Chris has the mentality and leg strength to be one of the best I?ve worked with. ?Paul Stelzer had a great spring. He always had the strongest leg on the team, but he lacked consistency. He worked hard in the weight room during the offseason and has become more accurate. We are very comfortable with Paul handling both kickoff and field goal duties this season.?
Finn was the unsung star of Army?s special forces, handling both short and long snapping duties with a high degree of efficiency. Finn not only delivered the ball with great speed and accuracy, he also blocked extremely well and was active in kick coverage.
?As we enter preseason, we have some concerns about our long and short snapping areas. Reid Finn was outstanding. You can take that area for granted, but an efficient long snapper allows you to do so much with your special teams. Everything is controlled by the long snapper.?
Berry will audition several players at both spots during the summer months with a strong likelihood of utilizing separate specialists for each specific snapping duty. Heading into preseason, Jason Frazier appears in line to handle long snapping chores, while Justin Troy could snap on placement tries.
The picture is much more settled at holder with the return of Wesley Willard, who Berry describes as ?the best holder I?ve ever been around.? Willard possesses excellent hands and lends a tremendous comfort level to the kicking game.
Uncovering a suitable replacement for all-league return specialist Omari Thompson remains a main focus area during the offseason. Several players will audition for the role with William White and Lamar Mason shaping up as the early favorites to handle kickoffs. Ryan Kent and Chris Pestel appear best suited to return punts.
While the losses of all-league punter Dan MacElroy and starting placekicker Derek Jacobs remain significant, head coach Todd Berry appears more concerned with his team?s ability to replace standout long snapper Reid Finn.
MacElroy enjoyed an outstanding senior showing as he authored a booming punting average of 44.4 yards per kick, just shy of the Academy?s single-season record. Despite putting forth one of the finest punting campaigns in school annals, MacElroy was never guaranteed of a starting berth from week to week last fall, thanks to the presence of backup Chris Castelli. Though he did not appear in a single varsity game last season, Castelli challenged for the starting job every day in practice. Jacobs, meanwhile converted 8 of 11 field goal tries last season, but had been overtaken by senior Paul Stelzer during the spring. Stelzer handled kickoff duties last fall and displayed increased range and consistency during the offseason. His emergence should nulify the loss of Jacobs.
?I don?t really have a concern with our punting situation? offers Berry, who personally oversees Army?s specialty units. ?Chris Castelli pushed Dan hard in practice all season long. I really don?t expect there to be a drop-off this season in our production in the punting game. Chris had a great spring. I?ve coached punters all my life and I think Chris has the mentality and leg strength to be one of the best I?ve worked with. ?Paul Stelzer had a great spring. He always had the strongest leg on the team, but he lacked consistency. He worked hard in the weight room during the offseason and has become more accurate. We are very comfortable with Paul handling both kickoff and field goal duties this season.?
Finn was the unsung star of Army?s special forces, handling both short and long snapping duties with a high degree of efficiency. Finn not only delivered the ball with great speed and accuracy, he also blocked extremely well and was active in kick coverage.
?As we enter preseason, we have some concerns about our long and short snapping areas. Reid Finn was outstanding. You can take that area for granted, but an efficient long snapper allows you to do so much with your special teams. Everything is controlled by the long snapper.?
Berry will audition several players at both spots during the summer months with a strong likelihood of utilizing separate specialists for each specific snapping duty. Heading into preseason, Jason Frazier appears in line to handle long snapping chores, while Justin Troy could snap on placement tries.
The picture is much more settled at holder with the return of Wesley Willard, who Berry describes as ?the best holder I?ve ever been around.? Willard possesses excellent hands and lends a tremendous comfort level to the kicking game.
Uncovering a suitable replacement for all-league return specialist Omari Thompson remains a main focus area during the offseason. Several players will audition for the role with William White and Lamar Mason shaping up as the early favorites to handle kickoffs. Ryan Kent and Chris Pestel appear best suited to return punts.
i dont care how u put it in ......i for one appreciatte all the info u let us read.....posts like this will help the "team" out !!!!! thanks again my friend :toast:
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i dont care how u put it in
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hope your not of the female gender......lmao!......j/k
good luck this season!
IE
i dont care how u put it in
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hope your not of the female gender......lmao!......j/k
good luck this season!
IE
