Conference USA Post Spring Thoughts

Conference USA Post Spring Thoughts

NCAA analyst Brock Murphy looks at Conference USA with his post-spring thoughts on some of the teams in the conference.

EAST CAROLINA:  Skip Holtz' Pirates quietly put together a successful season in 2007. Their 6-2 conference mark was a school-best mark and they beat No. 22-ranked Boise State 41-38 in the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl to close out the season.

Last year's starting tailback, Chris Johnson, had 1,438 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns last year (including a 301-yard, 4 touchdown effort against Memphis). The 4.24 40-yard time Johnson posted at this spring's NFL Combine is the stuff that legends are made of. 

Neither ECU (nor any other team for that matter) has another player with that kind of speed available to the pain of Johnson's loss. However, the Pirates do have four solid players to plug into the tailback spot and, while none of them made clear separation from the pack this spring, they are all capable playmakers.

As a true freshman last year, Jonathan Williams (6-1, 196--) was often listed as Johnson's back-up and he led all rushers with 44 yards in a weather-shortened spring game.  However, seniors Dominique Lindsey (5-11, 210) and Brandon Simmons (6-1, 223) are listed as co-starters on the team's official preseason depth chart.

A starting quarterback must be found and, at spring's end, senior Patrick Pinkney (6-0, 198) found himself atop the depth chart and named the most improved quarterback. Pinkney's mobility gives the unit an extra dimension but it is no secret that "backup" Rob Kass (6-4, 255) is the better passer and will probably see more than a few snaps next season.

Holtz's crew was unabashed this spring in praising its defensive line. The 4-man front is anchored by two 300-pound tackles (Brandon Setzer [6-6, 335] and Jay Ross [6-3, 306]). Senior defensive-end Zack Slate (6-5, 227) is skilled at using his long and lean frame to develop pressure (or clog passing lanes) on the perimeter and he finished with a team-high 11.5 tackles for loss in 2007. Slate's bookend, junior C.J. Wilson (6-4, 271), led the team in sacks with seven.

HOUSTON: Overall, Houston has a combined 17 returning starters from last year's 8-5 team and has to be considered a front-runner in the Eastern Division of C-USA when the 2008 season begins. Their biggest losses were the combined 3,000+ yards of offense and 24 touchdowns produced last season by the speedy and elusive duo of tailback Anthony Aldridge (1,597 rushing yards; 14 touchdowns) and receiver Donnie Avery (91- 1,436; 7 touchdowns).

Even with the graduations of Avery and Aldridge, all is not lost on offense for the Cougars. Their new coaching staff knows a thing or two about that side of the ball.  Former Oklahoma receivers coach and co-offensive coordinator, Kevin Sumlin, was hired as Houston's new head man last December and Sumlin promptly hired Dana Holgorsen, Texas Tech's offensive coordinator the past three seasons, to help mold Houston's new offensive attack.

Guess what?  Sumlin and Holgorsen sort of know how to run that passing-game thing.  They installed a spread system this spring which found the starting candidates - sophomore Case Keenum (C-USA's freshman of the year in 2007) and junior Blake Joseph - licking their chops in preparation for 2008. As a true freshman, Keenum led the team to a bowl victory last year and appeared comfortable in the new Cougar offense. Joseph has a rocket arm he struggled to control last season.
Many expected Keenum to emerge from spring as the starter but Joseph had a more impressive spring game. Combined, the two tossed 76 passes for 626 yards and no interceptions but Joseph's numbers (37-41-421; five scores) bested those posted by Keenum (28-35- 205, two touchdowns).  Joseph's numbers appeared to reveal a less plodding approach than the 7.3 yard-per-completion average posted by Keenum in the spring game.

The Texas Tech scheme does not make much room for the run and it puts an emphasis on the blocking ability of the starting tailback. Sophomores Terrance Ganaway (6-0, 199) and Andre Kohn (5-11, 200) should see the most snaps next season though Kohn appeared to have the most productive spring.

In addition to returning, intact, its entire starting defensive backfield from last year, Houston sports a player who may very well become the preseason C-USA defensive player of the year.  Senior defensive-end, Phillip Hunt (6-2, 250), led the conference with 10.5 sacks last season but his most impressive stat in 2007 may have been his 10 broken-up passes. He is already on the Lombardi Award and Bronco Nagurski watch lists for 2008.
 
MEMPHIS:  As a team, the Tigers were much-improved in 2007, as their 7-6 record can attest. However, the defense was a liability (100th, nationally, in total defense) so, for the third time in three years, a new defensive skipper was brought on board this offseason. Ohio State alum, Tim Walton, led the Miami Hurricane defense last year and, since 1999, has led secondaries at Miami, LSU, Syracuse, Bowling Green and, in 2000 and 2001, right here in Memphis. The Tiger defense returns nine starters from last year and those starters seemed to take well to Walton's scheme and forced five turnovers in the spring game.

Every one of the ten players listed in the defensive line of the New Orleans' Bowl depth chart returns this season, including defensive tackle, Clinton McDonald (6-3, 265), whose teammates named him a captain last season as only a junior. The returning experience is important but, as Harmon is well-aware, the line must be more productive for 2008. McDonald led the team with four sacks last season and only eight teams collected fewer than the 15 sacks the Tigers produced by year's-end.

Heading into last season, head coach Tommy West emphasized the critical nature of turnover margin and the Tigers responded by being one of the stingiest teams in the nation (16 turnovers lost).  Their +10 margin was good for 15th in the nation.

One year removed from relying upon the big-play ability of DeAngelo Williams, Memphis became a plodding ground attack in 2007 (1,792 yards; 13 touchdowns). Joseph Doss became the primary back but he managed only two 100-yard games and scored only five times. TJ Pitts tallied 481 yards and a score in 2007 but he missed this spring recovering from a broken ankle. Pitts' absence opened the door to JUCO-transfer, Curtis Steele, who put together a strong spring. His 38-yard touchdown run in the spring game evidenced his big-play ability and was the feature carry for his 94-yard performance.

Last year's back-up, Matt Malouf (6-3, 212), and JUCO-transfer Arkelon Hall (6-3, 220) head a cast of candidates to take over the quarterback spot for the departed Martin Hankins. Neither separated from the other this spring and coach West was clear in his demand that each take care of the football to keep turnovers low in 2008.

Whoever takes over under center will have the benefit of a solid line and a very good set of receivers. Duke Calhoun (6-4, 195) entered 2007 with much promise but injuries limited his production. Even so, he was the team's leading receiver (62-890; five touchdowns). Calhoun missed the spring recovering from knee surgery but is expected to be back in the fall.

Calhoun's fellow-receiver, Carlos Singleton, turned 11 of his 51 catches into scores. His big-play productivity matched his big, six-foot-eight, frame. Maurice Jones (six-foot-four) and Stephen Black (six-foot-three)  joined Calhoun and Singleton as last year's top four receivers and they all return for 2008.  Needless to say, their collective height produces match-up problems for smaller defensive backfields.

RICE:  Have you folks heard of quarterback Chase Clement and wide-receiver Jarrett Dillard? You should have. Were they on the rosters of Texas or Oklahoma, these seniors would be household names.

Together, Clement (6-1, 208) and Dillard (5-11, 185) have rewritten Rice's offensive records. Clement, alone, broke 18 Rice records, including passing yards in a season (3,377 in '07) and, already, the school's career passing record (6,741 yards). Last year, he was responsible for 37 touchdowns (29 passing; 8 rushing).

Dillard posted 1,057 receiving yards and 14 scores last season, which was actually a drop-off from his 2006 numbers (1,247 yards, 21 touchdowns). He already holds the school's career touchdown reception mark (40). He is only 10 touchdowns away from the NCAA career mark.

James Casey (6-4, 245), a former minor-league pitcher who will turn 24 in September, was a fantastic addition to the Rice offense last year. An all-conference all-freshman selection in '07, he played primarily as a tight-end (46-585, four touchdowns). However, Casey refused to be type-cast and, by season's-end, had played no fewer than seven positions, including running back (45-121, five touchdowns), quarterback (2-7-32) and, uh, defensive-end  (2.5 tackles; one-half sack).

Senior Linebacker Brian Raines (6-1, 222) was named to the all-conference team in 2006 and was a Butkus candidate last year. However, he was injured last season and missed spring camp to recover from surgery. In typical fashion, Raines threw his all into recovery and has so far posted personal bests in three weight-room categories. 

While Raines was recovering, junior Terrance Garmon (6-2, 220) took full advantage of increased spring snaps. He often shined in a linebacking corps which suffered its share of struggles throughout the spring. Having opened 2007 as a starter before being injured, Garmon is not completely inexperienced and fans should not be surprised to see he and Raines on the field together in 2008.

SMU: Following a 1-11 season, SMU fired head-coach Phil Bennett and hired Hawaii's June Jones. Needless to say, the Mustangs will be passing in 2008. Unfortunately, the player who stood to gain the most from the system change - quarterback Justin Willis - got off to a bad start when academic problems and missing team functions led to his spring suspension from the team. His name was removed from the official roster and remains missing though Jones claimed that he has not ruled out Willis joining the team in the fall.

Logan Turner (6-0, 180) may have capitalized the most on the opportunity provided by Willis' suspension. He completed 10 of 14 passes thrown in the spring game.  With the development of Turner (and Daniel Miller), depth has been achieved and Jones can rest somewhat assured, regardless of whether Willis returns (or returns but fails to perform).  

Defense was SMU's Achilles heel in 2007. Only three teams gave up more passing yards and total yards than the Mustangs last year. The backfield had problems but they were exacerbated by injuries which caused flux in the lineup throughout the season.

The scheme changed this spring and the defensive backfield seemed to come alive. Safety Bryan McCann had an outstanding spring to follow his 59 tackles, eight broke-up passes and four interceptions. Cornerback Derrius Bell (5-10, 165) is small in stature but has a big heart. He saw limited action but showed great cover skills this spring. While not the current blue print, depending on whether more talent is developed at safety, McCann could end up starting at cornerback opposite of Bell next season.

UTEP:  Three Miners were drafted in April - offensive tackle Oniel Cousins (Baltimore - 3rd Round), safety Quintin Demps (Philadelphia - 4th Round) and tailback Marcus Thomas (San Diego - 5th Round).  Their departures created obvious holes but there were others. Offensively, the Miners must also replace their starting right guard, tight end and receiver Joe West, who had 93 career receptions.  On defense, UTEP must also find new starters at both outside linebacker positions.

The project to replace Thomas at tailback became complicated by injuries. At the end of 2007, Terrell Jackson seemed the most likely candidate but he was unable to pick up valuable experience this spring due to an ankle injury.  Worse, in their spring game, the Miners lost their next best candidate, junior Jason Williams, to a fractured and dislocated ankle - an injury which will rob Williams of his 2008 season (he is expected to redshirt) and which erased whatever gains were made by his claiming the majority of snaps during spring camp. 

The line seemed to gel in the spring and will be able to further consolidate this offseason. So, if Jackson is able to return from his ankle injury for fall camp, there is hope for an effective ground game.  Without one, however, pressure will certainly build to produce a productive passing attack and that will exacerbate the impact of West's graduation at receiver. Adding the early spring injury to last year's leading receiver, Joe Moturi, (891 yards, 13 touchdowns), was another blow but Moturi is expected to return this fall and head coach Mike Price labeled his receivers as the most improve unit when spring camp came to a close.  Keep an eye on Tufrick Shadrawy (6-2, 190), who claimed more than 100 yards and the touchdown in the spring game.

Demps' graduation was the most critical defensive loss (although the spring ACL injury to fellow-safety Braxton Amy was substantial).  However, even with Demps at safety last year, only Central Michigan and Rice allowed more passing yards than the 302 which the Miners gave up, on average, each game.  And since UTEP gave up an average of over 200 rushing yards per game to their competition, it is easy to see how their overall defense ranked 117th in the nation when 2007 came to a close. 

Clearly, something had to change and it did. Coach Price brought in three new defensive coaches last winter, including a new coordinator (Osia Lewis), and the result was a switch to a 3-3-5 alignment. While it came against a struggling offense which was forced to deal with an unfamiliar front, the fact is the defense looked generally effective this spring.

To post a comment, you need to login or sign up.	Fan Comments