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Post by Aggie One on Aug 31, 2009 8:04:18 GMT -5
Stepping In: Freshman being counted on to plug hole in the offensive line for Winston-Salem State
By John Dell
JOURNAL REPORTER
Published: August 31, 2009Jonathan Crawley is one of the youngest players on Winston-Salem State's football team, but he's also the biggest. Crawley turned 18 in January but at 6-7 and 320 pounds he is throwing around defensive players at will in the preseason. It became apparent that the Rams were going to use his talent on the offensive line early in camp. "He's kind of a chump right now, we have to break him in," said Coach Kermit Blount, who loves to needle young players at every turn. "I'm not sure what he can really do, but I guess we'll find out this week." Blount, who is proud of his hometown of Richmond, Va., is also proud that the Rams recruited and signed Crawley, also a Richmond native. Crawley was being recruited by much bigger schools such as West Virginia and Liberty, but he chose the Rams, partly because he would get a chance to play right away. "Coach told me he was going to throw me into the wolves when I got here," Crawley said. "I'm just taking things one day at a time and learning as much as I can." For the rest of the story: www2.journalnow.com/content/2009/aug/31/freshman-being-counted-on-to-plug-hole-in-the-offe/sports/
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Post by Bornthrilla on Aug 31, 2009 9:29:37 GMT -5
The Motown Connection is gonna eat that kid alive ....
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Post by jslee850 on Aug 31, 2009 21:33:13 GMT -5
The Motown Connection is gonna eat that kid alive .... haha i hear he aint even all that from what ppl are building him up to be haha  |
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Post by numberonebrave on Sept 3, 2009 4:54:00 GMT -5
After one of its worst seasons since the early 1980s, Winston-Salem State can't sink much lower.
The Rams went 3-8 with a young team in 2008. They're even younger this season, but optimistic Coach Kermit Blount is ready for improvement in his 17th season at his alma mater.
"There's no doubt we were better than a 3-8 team last year," Blount said. "This year we have to stay healthy, stay focused, and they have to play up to their abilities. If they do that, we should improve."
WSSU had turmoil early last season when offensive coordinator Nick Calcutta was fired after making a racial comment in a team meeting. That forced Blount to take on the coordinator's duties after the first game, and the Rams changed philosophies on the fly, eventually returning to the power-running game Blount has used most of his career.
"We have to stay healthy, and we've been stressing this to our players," said Blount, who has a record of 90-77-3 and is WSSU's career leader in wins. "Last year was a tough year because of some of the things that transpired in losing our offensive coordinator … and I think we had 14 serious injuries...."
The offense struggled with 25 turnovers and averaged just 16.1 points.
The defense carried the load in 2008 and probably will again. The linebackers have the most experience, and starters Juan Corders, Chedrick Marshall, Mario Dawson and Marcus Coates are all seniors. Shawn Kearney, another senior, is in a rotation that could include two freshmen.
Coordinator Mike Ketchum's attack-style defense returns nearly intact, with rover Jermaine Mack and cornerback David Irizarry the lone losses from a unit that allowed 22.7 points a game.
"I think we have to be more aggressive on third down," Ketchum said. "We want to go three and out, and that's the goal. I thought at the end of the season, I could have been more aggressive in my play-calling .…"
Another bright spot is the defensive line, led by sophomores Stephen Young, Akeem Ward and Josh Newkirk and senior Kevin Dorsey. The unit is athletic and did well getting to the quarterback last season.
"We better have them ready to play," Blount said of the defense. "We like to think that all the young guys we threw into the fire on defense will play better this year."
Coates and Corders combined for 118 tackles last season and have been leaders in preseason camp.
"With the veterans we do have back on defense, it's not that much of a learning process for us anymore, it's all about just executing plays," Coates said.
Khendra Reid and Ricky Rozier, freshmen inside linebackers, have done well in camp.
The projected starters in the secondary are seniors Marvin Bohannon and Alex Chandler, junior Jaquin Sessoms and sophomore Tienne Jefferson, a converted quarterback and one of the team's best athletes. Cameron Demps, Alex Keaton, Wayne Noble and Jared Mitchell also saw action last season.
The offense has a new coordinator in Alan Hall, who came from Savannah State, and he wishes he had the experience Ketchum has on defense. It's possible that quarterback Jarrett Dunston will be the only senior starter on offense Saturday against N.C. A&T.
"We're young everywhere," said Hall, who put in a spread offense in the spring.
Dunston seems to have held off redshirt freshman Branden Williams and freshman Jordan Reid of High Point for the starter's job, but Hall said that Williams, who has missed several practices with a foot injury, also will see playing time. Reid could be redshirted, depending on how the season goes.
The running game lost Nic Cooper, a redshirt sophomore who led the Rams in rushing last season (488 yards, 92 carries, 4 touchdowns) but is academically ineligible.
Senior Brandon McRae is listed as the starter at running back but is still not 100 percent after surgery for a wrist injury. That leaves freshman John Harris (5-10, 190) as the likely starter, but Ced Hickman, a transfer from N.C. State, was cleared to play by the NCAA this week.
Center Nazir Levine, Travis Taylor and Julian Gray return to the offensive line, and Corey Land and freshman Jonathan Crawley (6-7, 320) are the other likely starters.
"Crawley's going to play," Blount said with a smile. "And Marcus Lawrence, another freshman, is also going to play. We think both of those guys will really help us."
For the spread offense to work, the receivers will have to produce. Sophomore Dominique Fitzgerald (16 catches, No. 3 on the team) is the lone receiver who saw extensive action, but Blount said he expects him to have a breakout year.
Fitzgerald has changed jersey numbers and will wear his favorite, No. 1, even though it has been retired. Blount wore No. 1 as the Rams' quarterback in the 1970s and allowed running back Jed Bines to wear it several years ago. "Coach said I could wear it if I did my part during spring ball, and I worked hard," Fitzgerald said.
Fitzgerald says that the Rams will be a much different team this season.
"That was our whole demeanor this offseason -- we knew we were better than 3-8 so we became closer in the summer, so as a team on the field we can trust each other better," he said.
The other receivers are senior Jonathan Kinzer (missed 2008 with an injury), junior Omar Kizzie, and freshmen Lamar Whidbee, Jarrin Wooten and Melquan Weston.
Landen Thayer, a freshman from West Forsyth, is expected to punt and kick.
Blount said that limiting turnovers has been emphasized in camp and that he hopes a no-huddle approach that speeds up the game will help.
"I'm really pleased with what we are doing offensively," he said. "It's going to be a different look for the opponents, and Coach Hall's knowledge of the spread offense is so vast it's going to keep a lot of teams off balance."
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Winston-Salem State at a glance
• Last year's record: 3-8
• Coach: Kermit Blount (90-77-3 in 16 seasons, all at WSSU)
• Last bowl appearance: 2000 Pioneer, lost to Tuskegee 12-9.
• Strengths: Senior-dominated group of linebackers is one of the deepest at the position in 15 years. The defensive line, with three sophomores, is young, but they all played often last season, and the unit should be even better.
• Weaknesses: Untested offensive line and yet another new offensive scheme. QB Jarrett Dunston, although more of a drop-back passer, will try to run the spread offense under new coordinator Alan Hall. The running game is suspect after the loss of Nic Cooper (academics).
• Best returning players: WR Dominique Fitzgerald, DL Stephen Young, DL Akeem Ward, LB Juan Corders, LB Marcus Coates, OL Julian Gray, CB Marvin Bohannon
• Best newcomers: OL Jonathan Crawley, OL Markus Lawrence, PK Landen Thayer, WR Jarrin Wooten, LB Ricky Rozier, RB Ced Hickman
• Key losses: WR Brent Thomas, WR Bryant Bayne, RB Nic Cooper, KR David Irizarry, P Jamaine Mack, OL Joe Blanks
• Keys to the season: If the offensive line can come together and Dunston can limit turnovers, the Rams could surprise some teams. If Dunston isn't the answer at QB, Branden Williams could be because of his familiarity with the spread. However, Williams already has missed practice time with injuries. The defense must play above its head, much like it did last year, for the Rams to be successful.
• Big games: Sept. 5 vs. N.C. A&T; Nov. 14 vs. N.C. Central
• They'll beat… N.C. A&T, Howard and N.C. Central.
• They'll lose to… Florida A&M, Morgan State, S.C. State, UC Davis, Bethune-Cookman, Hampton, Delaware State and Norfolk State.
-- John Dell
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Post by aggielove on Sept 3, 2009 14:59:54 GMT -5
After one of its worst seasons since the early 1980s, Winston-Salem State can't sink much lower. The Rams went 3-8 with a young team in 2008. They're even younger this season, but optimistic Coach Kermit Blount is ready for improvement in his 17th season at his alma mater. Folks at A&T thought the same thing. we couldn't be worse than 3-8, right??? 2 straight winless seasons later, that thinking was erased!! |
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