Post by Aggie One on Apr 15, 2008 23:24:53 GMT -5
One More Time From the Top
by Craig R. Turner
buedeathvalley.com
Spring practice almost always means breaking new ground and breaking in new additions. Both were in abundance this past Saturday as North Carolina A&T held its Blue-Gold Scrimmage under two new coordinators and a basket of new players that may just help the Aggies break out of a five year doldrum that has hovered around mediocrity at best until falling into a complete abyss the last two seasons without a win.
We will attempt to break down both sides of the football into a pair of capsule summaries and point out the off season changes that have taken place during the winter months and what it may mean for this fall for Aggie football.
Coaching Changes -
Gone is former defensive coordinator Demetrius Adams, who now coaches the defensive line at Louisiana-Monroe. Enter Tyrone Odom, the former head coach at Clark Atlanta. Until a month or so ago he was the defensive line coach at rival MEAC foe Bethune Cookman.
Prior to joining up with Alvin Wyatt’s Wildcats, he sharpened his teeth with three seasons as the linebacker and defensive end coach at perennial Southern Conference power Georgia Southern during its last national championship run in 1-AA in 2000.
A native of Shelby, North Carolina, Odom played his high school football as a standout defensive lineman with the Chargers of Crest High School in Shelby. Behind the efforts of Odom and the defensive unit, mixed with their patented use of five (5) wide receivers, the Chargers made numerous State and Semifinal appearances in the North Carolina Class 4-A (AAAA) football playoffs/championships. Odom would later serve as linebacker coach for the Chargers from 1997-98 before stepping up to the collegiate level.
So credentials are not in question here and neither is his experience in the least bit with this NCCU alumnus. So what can A&T fans expect?
More of a traditional four man front but with some very active linebackers and often times with an extra defensive back. Speed will be a major component and so will physicality especially on the edges.
Of course that is what he may like to do and what he may actually do will depend on the players available to him. But on the surface, the Aggies may have those type players in place for the first time in Head Coach Lee Fobbs tenure.
Offensively, enter former Delaware State Coach John McKenzie to take over the reigns from Fobbs as the offensive coordinator. McKenzie had been the guru behind some extremely potent offenses at Jackson State, Alabama State, and Alcorn in the Southwestern Athletic Conference.
McKenzie developed a very strong coaching reputation for developing some of the SWAC’s best quarterbacks and was a finalist recently for the Grambling, Jackson State and the Florida A&M jobs. His offenses have always been efficient using the pass and the run in some unusual formations including the wishbone look he unveiled this past weekend at Aggie Stadium.
But make no mistake about, “J-MAC” as he was dubbed a new nickname by the 300 or so fans at Aggie Stadium is not a conservative by any stretch in his offensive philosophy.
What he will have working for him is big and quick young talent along the front line, a large group of tall physical receivers and five established running backs who can get it done when called upon.
What he doesn’t have at this point is an established number one quarterback and that will be the key to any success A&T’s offense will have this fall.
DEFENSE -
A stringent off season training weight training program by Strength Coach Cedric Walthaw has made giant strides with not only this team in general but with both the offensive and defensive linemen.
Keep in mind, A&T lost only eight seniors from last year’s team and red shirted most of its freshman class which usually translates into more physicality in the trenches.
Fobbs was fortunate to have several of his transfers enrolled for spring practice and it has changed the dynamics of what A&T will be doing this fall on the field. Gone is the 3-3-5 configuration and in comes a active “50” defense because of the availability quality defensive linemen this spring.
Juniors Kelvin Jackson (6-4,290) and Adam Beal (6-2,285) lost considerable weight around their middle and gained a huge amount of much needed quickness at defensive tackle.
The Aggies also went bigger along the end spots with new junior college transfer Jarrell Herring (6-3,265) and Tyre Glasper (6-2,270). There will most likely be some changes with this spring line up especially with the arrival of eight defensive linemen in August but these four had made enough major strides over this time last year and moved to the top of the depth charts at least coming out of spring camp.
Linebackers, linebackers and more linebackers. A&T has an overflow of really good ones and the increased quickness and physical enhancements were easy to spot.
Junior Andre Thornton, the team’s leading tackler, finally filled out his frame during the winter at an imposing 6-3, 239 pounds and matches well with seniors Tommy Russell (6-0,240), Jamison Hedgepeth (6-2,240), Brandon Long (6-1,238),and Joe Taylor (6-3,230) who moves from his end spot to outside backer.
The Aggies will be adding four more linebackers from this recruiting class plus five more that were red shirted a year ago so depth is not a problem here at all.
The secondary is settled coming out of spring practice with starting corners Simeon Platt (5-10,185) and Deshawn Graham (5-11,180), safeties Brandon Croley (6-0,205) and Brandon Colbert (6-2,195). Veterans Mike Pace, Ishan Shaheed, Joe Peek, Don Dorsey, Quinten Caple, and Lamont Mercer will give Odom a lot of experienced depth, and speed to back his starting contingent.
Here again, a strong recruiting class will add four more defensive backs with size and speed that will be available but won’t have to be called on right away to play immediately as they have been the last two years.
OFFENSE-
If ever there was a distinct change on offense, it has been in the offensive line with a class of red shirt freshmen and sophomores that performed as you would expect after a year of a true weight development and adjusting to the college game.
This new group of young turks include Jason Valmont (6-4,300), Adrian Carter (6-4,290), Alex Harper (6-4,285), Matthew Hamler (6-3,305) and Enoch Cohen (6-3,280) all who made a huge impression with their pass protection and trap execution with the new offensive brain trust.
The holdovers from a year ago kept pace with Chad Wiley, Nate Anderson, Tim Bess, Juan Williams, and Jonathan Carter. No doubt they are being pushed to the limit to retain their jobs but more importantly it now means A&T will have fresh legs up front heading into the fourth quarter when it turns to its power running game.
There is a lot of size in this group but they will pale in comparison to the incoming class of five offensive linemen led by the enormous Donald Pollock (6-7,370).
Michael ”Iron Mike’ Ferguson is an returning all-MEAC back and a 1,000 yard plus rusher so there isn’t a whole lot to talk about here because its self explanatory. Who will back him is the interesting question?
Most would bet on junior Dion McNair or Speedy Robinson or even perhaps Demerrick Chancellor who is still working back from both shoulder and knee surgeries during the off season.
No question that Graham native Justin Kearney (6-0,252, R-soph) is a real beast at fullback who can carry the ball, catch the short pass, and block like a guard. His top fifty reputation by Rivals.com after coming off a 1-A championship team was well deserved and a true steal for Fobbs.
But a new face emerged in the spring in red shirt sophomore Nigel Tomlin (6-1, 210) who showed a great deal of power and speed. Impressive as he was, there will be a lot of running backs that McKenzie can turn too after Ferguson but Tomlin might be the one guy that might rise to the top the heap.
Receivers are in abundance and if you like them tall, then you’ll like what A&T has put together. There is a boatload of “six something” wide outs ranging from 6-3 Lavonte Kendrick, 6-4 Cedric Bryd, 6-5 Andre Garth, 6-5 Giorgio Lowrance, to 6-7 Thahern Chaplain.
Fobbs also signed a group of receivers in this year’s recruiting class that is one of the best at A&T ever led by 3-star New Jersey star recruit Derek Gould. The Aggies also have its speedy smurf-like, do everything wide out in reliable Chaz Dawson.
Tight ends haven’t been used in A&T’s offense in nearly seven years but it is very important part of McKenzie’s passing game. Such a large part so, that Mike Christian (6-1,240) who appears to be the leader and Brett Fisher (6-3,230) will need to develop some pass catching skills coming off the slant and work a little less on their run blocking techniques.
Now the quarterback position is the one that gets all the fan attention, and rightfully so since you have to have someone capable of making plays, making smart decisions, and even coach on the field from time to time in crucial situations.
Herb Miller is the incumbent and has had the most experience and has had great moments and to be honest some terrible ones as well.
Entering his junior year, it is frankly put up time or shut time for him as a starter, to now step up and use his experience, stop making ill advised throws, understand that he has ten other players looking to him to make decisions that involve them as a team and not necessarily try to win a football game by himself.
He has the physical tools to be a college quarterback, he needs now to finally to address the mental aspects of being a college quarterback.
Carlton Fears, the 6-1, 195 pound junior college transfer, had the better of the two performances this past weekend hitting two touchdown passes and being extremely accurate in the intermediate passing game, demonstrating some excellent play fakes, and most importantly did so without any turnovers.
Sophomore Shelton Morgan spent most of the spring at wide out in team move for some off the field considerations but expect him back at quarterback once summer camp starts and he has time to incorporate the new playbook.
Whomever emerges from the dust, including incoming freshman Terrance Webb, it will be who McKenzie will trust the most to execute the passing game, that wins this role, first and foremost.
Overall not a bad spring camp, battle tested and proven coordinators, a lot better execution, bigger and stronger athletes after a year of mandatory weight training, and some good looking additions along the defensive and offensive fronts, running back, and quarterback.
By no means are the Aggies anywhere near “being there” but a lot of ground has been made up in the off season in trying to advert five heartbreaking last minute collapses from 2007 from occurring again.
by Craig R. Turner
buedeathvalley.com
Spring practice almost always means breaking new ground and breaking in new additions. Both were in abundance this past Saturday as North Carolina A&T held its Blue-Gold Scrimmage under two new coordinators and a basket of new players that may just help the Aggies break out of a five year doldrum that has hovered around mediocrity at best until falling into a complete abyss the last two seasons without a win.
We will attempt to break down both sides of the football into a pair of capsule summaries and point out the off season changes that have taken place during the winter months and what it may mean for this fall for Aggie football.
Coaching Changes -
Gone is former defensive coordinator Demetrius Adams, who now coaches the defensive line at Louisiana-Monroe. Enter Tyrone Odom, the former head coach at Clark Atlanta. Until a month or so ago he was the defensive line coach at rival MEAC foe Bethune Cookman.
Prior to joining up with Alvin Wyatt’s Wildcats, he sharpened his teeth with three seasons as the linebacker and defensive end coach at perennial Southern Conference power Georgia Southern during its last national championship run in 1-AA in 2000.
A native of Shelby, North Carolina, Odom played his high school football as a standout defensive lineman with the Chargers of Crest High School in Shelby. Behind the efforts of Odom and the defensive unit, mixed with their patented use of five (5) wide receivers, the Chargers made numerous State and Semifinal appearances in the North Carolina Class 4-A (AAAA) football playoffs/championships. Odom would later serve as linebacker coach for the Chargers from 1997-98 before stepping up to the collegiate level.
So credentials are not in question here and neither is his experience in the least bit with this NCCU alumnus. So what can A&T fans expect?
More of a traditional four man front but with some very active linebackers and often times with an extra defensive back. Speed will be a major component and so will physicality especially on the edges.
Of course that is what he may like to do and what he may actually do will depend on the players available to him. But on the surface, the Aggies may have those type players in place for the first time in Head Coach Lee Fobbs tenure.
Offensively, enter former Delaware State Coach John McKenzie to take over the reigns from Fobbs as the offensive coordinator. McKenzie had been the guru behind some extremely potent offenses at Jackson State, Alabama State, and Alcorn in the Southwestern Athletic Conference.
McKenzie developed a very strong coaching reputation for developing some of the SWAC’s best quarterbacks and was a finalist recently for the Grambling, Jackson State and the Florida A&M jobs. His offenses have always been efficient using the pass and the run in some unusual formations including the wishbone look he unveiled this past weekend at Aggie Stadium.
But make no mistake about, “J-MAC” as he was dubbed a new nickname by the 300 or so fans at Aggie Stadium is not a conservative by any stretch in his offensive philosophy.
What he will have working for him is big and quick young talent along the front line, a large group of tall physical receivers and five established running backs who can get it done when called upon.
What he doesn’t have at this point is an established number one quarterback and that will be the key to any success A&T’s offense will have this fall.
DEFENSE -
A stringent off season training weight training program by Strength Coach Cedric Walthaw has made giant strides with not only this team in general but with both the offensive and defensive linemen.
Keep in mind, A&T lost only eight seniors from last year’s team and red shirted most of its freshman class which usually translates into more physicality in the trenches.
Fobbs was fortunate to have several of his transfers enrolled for spring practice and it has changed the dynamics of what A&T will be doing this fall on the field. Gone is the 3-3-5 configuration and in comes a active “50” defense because of the availability quality defensive linemen this spring.
Juniors Kelvin Jackson (6-4,290) and Adam Beal (6-2,285) lost considerable weight around their middle and gained a huge amount of much needed quickness at defensive tackle.
The Aggies also went bigger along the end spots with new junior college transfer Jarrell Herring (6-3,265) and Tyre Glasper (6-2,270). There will most likely be some changes with this spring line up especially with the arrival of eight defensive linemen in August but these four had made enough major strides over this time last year and moved to the top of the depth charts at least coming out of spring camp.
Linebackers, linebackers and more linebackers. A&T has an overflow of really good ones and the increased quickness and physical enhancements were easy to spot.
Junior Andre Thornton, the team’s leading tackler, finally filled out his frame during the winter at an imposing 6-3, 239 pounds and matches well with seniors Tommy Russell (6-0,240), Jamison Hedgepeth (6-2,240), Brandon Long (6-1,238),and Joe Taylor (6-3,230) who moves from his end spot to outside backer.
The Aggies will be adding four more linebackers from this recruiting class plus five more that were red shirted a year ago so depth is not a problem here at all.
The secondary is settled coming out of spring practice with starting corners Simeon Platt (5-10,185) and Deshawn Graham (5-11,180), safeties Brandon Croley (6-0,205) and Brandon Colbert (6-2,195). Veterans Mike Pace, Ishan Shaheed, Joe Peek, Don Dorsey, Quinten Caple, and Lamont Mercer will give Odom a lot of experienced depth, and speed to back his starting contingent.
Here again, a strong recruiting class will add four more defensive backs with size and speed that will be available but won’t have to be called on right away to play immediately as they have been the last two years.
OFFENSE-
If ever there was a distinct change on offense, it has been in the offensive line with a class of red shirt freshmen and sophomores that performed as you would expect after a year of a true weight development and adjusting to the college game.
This new group of young turks include Jason Valmont (6-4,300), Adrian Carter (6-4,290), Alex Harper (6-4,285), Matthew Hamler (6-3,305) and Enoch Cohen (6-3,280) all who made a huge impression with their pass protection and trap execution with the new offensive brain trust.
The holdovers from a year ago kept pace with Chad Wiley, Nate Anderson, Tim Bess, Juan Williams, and Jonathan Carter. No doubt they are being pushed to the limit to retain their jobs but more importantly it now means A&T will have fresh legs up front heading into the fourth quarter when it turns to its power running game.
There is a lot of size in this group but they will pale in comparison to the incoming class of five offensive linemen led by the enormous Donald Pollock (6-7,370).
Michael ”Iron Mike’ Ferguson is an returning all-MEAC back and a 1,000 yard plus rusher so there isn’t a whole lot to talk about here because its self explanatory. Who will back him is the interesting question?
Most would bet on junior Dion McNair or Speedy Robinson or even perhaps Demerrick Chancellor who is still working back from both shoulder and knee surgeries during the off season.
No question that Graham native Justin Kearney (6-0,252, R-soph) is a real beast at fullback who can carry the ball, catch the short pass, and block like a guard. His top fifty reputation by Rivals.com after coming off a 1-A championship team was well deserved and a true steal for Fobbs.
But a new face emerged in the spring in red shirt sophomore Nigel Tomlin (6-1, 210) who showed a great deal of power and speed. Impressive as he was, there will be a lot of running backs that McKenzie can turn too after Ferguson but Tomlin might be the one guy that might rise to the top the heap.
Receivers are in abundance and if you like them tall, then you’ll like what A&T has put together. There is a boatload of “six something” wide outs ranging from 6-3 Lavonte Kendrick, 6-4 Cedric Bryd, 6-5 Andre Garth, 6-5 Giorgio Lowrance, to 6-7 Thahern Chaplain.
Fobbs also signed a group of receivers in this year’s recruiting class that is one of the best at A&T ever led by 3-star New Jersey star recruit Derek Gould. The Aggies also have its speedy smurf-like, do everything wide out in reliable Chaz Dawson.
Tight ends haven’t been used in A&T’s offense in nearly seven years but it is very important part of McKenzie’s passing game. Such a large part so, that Mike Christian (6-1,240) who appears to be the leader and Brett Fisher (6-3,230) will need to develop some pass catching skills coming off the slant and work a little less on their run blocking techniques.
Now the quarterback position is the one that gets all the fan attention, and rightfully so since you have to have someone capable of making plays, making smart decisions, and even coach on the field from time to time in crucial situations.
Herb Miller is the incumbent and has had the most experience and has had great moments and to be honest some terrible ones as well.
Entering his junior year, it is frankly put up time or shut time for him as a starter, to now step up and use his experience, stop making ill advised throws, understand that he has ten other players looking to him to make decisions that involve them as a team and not necessarily try to win a football game by himself.
He has the physical tools to be a college quarterback, he needs now to finally to address the mental aspects of being a college quarterback.
Carlton Fears, the 6-1, 195 pound junior college transfer, had the better of the two performances this past weekend hitting two touchdown passes and being extremely accurate in the intermediate passing game, demonstrating some excellent play fakes, and most importantly did so without any turnovers.
Sophomore Shelton Morgan spent most of the spring at wide out in team move for some off the field considerations but expect him back at quarterback once summer camp starts and he has time to incorporate the new playbook.
Whomever emerges from the dust, including incoming freshman Terrance Webb, it will be who McKenzie will trust the most to execute the passing game, that wins this role, first and foremost.
Overall not a bad spring camp, battle tested and proven coordinators, a lot better execution, bigger and stronger athletes after a year of mandatory weight training, and some good looking additions along the defensive and offensive fronts, running back, and quarterback.
By no means are the Aggies anywhere near “being there” but a lot of ground has been made up in the off season in trying to advert five heartbreaking last minute collapses from 2007 from occurring again.
