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Defensive front, linebackers should again be Bulldogs' strength
08/26/02
By REGGIE BENSON
Times Sports Staff reggieb@htimes.com
Alabama A&M coach Anthony Jones admits he doesn't know what to make of his football team. What coach would after just a few months on the job?
Jones was hired late, got a slow start on recruiting and late start in putting his first A&M team together.
None of that will matter Saturday night when A&M visits Jacksonville State in the season opener for both teams.
Jones says progress has been made despite the late start.
''We've gotten better in every phase of the game,'' he said as two-a-days ended Friday.
How much progress has been made will be determined Saturday night and throughout the rest of the season.
Here is a position-by-position look at the Bulldogs as they begin game-day preparations:
Quarterback: Junior Chris Gunn edged redshirt freshman Tim Robinson to win the job, but Jones, who coaches the quarterbacks, says Robinson will play. One, or both of them, will have to be effective if A&M is to have any success. Johnny Keith, a talented true freshman, is the third-string quarterback but is likely to redshirt.
Tailback: Fifth-year senior Melvin Gideon will finally get a chance to start. Although under sized - Gideon is 5-foot-5 and 181 pounds - he has been one of the highlights of preseason practice. Jeremiah Bonds, a transfer from Memphis, also will see plenty of action. Bonds (5-9, 179) has blazing speed. Junior college transfer Rory Palmer and Lanier Bush, who is battling back from knee surgery, could figure into the mix. Palmer (5-10, 207) and Bush (5-9, 212) give the Bulldogs more of a power running back opposed to the speedy and shifty Gideon and Bonds.
Fullback: Junior Jonathan Rowland is as solid as any player on the team. He can run, block and catch the football. Tony Wallace, a converted linebacker, has been impressive during preseason practice. If necessary, Tim Boyd could play some, too.
Wide receiver: Without a doubt the most talented position on offense, but also the one with the most question marks.
Nick Wells, Lee Jackson and Neal Lindsey are good players, but none of them have dominated. Coach David Arnsparger says he plans to play six receivers. That means Ray James, Travis Martin and newcomer Durrell Weekley will play some, too. Weekley, a junior college transfer, has been impressive during practice and could play a huge role with his speed and athleticism.
Tight end: No proven player here. Jake Wilson, a converted quarterback, will start. He could be dangerous if he gets his hands on the ball because of his running ability. Wilson was A&M's second-leading rusher last season. Seldom-used senior Anthony Strickland is second team.
Offensive line: Three starters are back from last season, which should bode well for the offense. Tackles Robert Louis and Ronald Wilson are All-Southwestern Athletic Conference caliber players, along with right guard Jonathan Woodard. Left guard Corey Nolen, a converted defensive lineman, and center Grant LeCroix, who has played sparingly throughout his career, round out the starters. The return of Ben Moore and Robert Cole, both seniors, could be huge. They are currently trying to work out some eligibility problems.
Defensive line: There is talent and depth at every position. Right end Robert Mathis, an All-America candidate, is as good as any defensive end in Division I-AA. He led the SWAC in sacks last season despite missing three games. On the opposite side, senior Desmond Hardy, who has played a number of positions, has been solid. Brian Evans, a transfer from Southern Miss, Fernandez Shaw and Lieutenant Dukes are more than capable. The tackles will be Ali Hassan and Mac Hampton, but there is plenty of depth. Deandre Washington, Harold Penn, Curry Calloway and Jerald Harris give line coach Cedric Calhoun several options.
Linebacker: Along with the defensive line, this is the strongest and most talented position on the team. Senior Jamaal Ware is back after missing the last nine games of 2001 with a shoulder injury. Ware was as good as any linebacker in the SWAC before his injury. Travoris Nunn is solid, while Lionel Macklin, last year's leading tackler, is a vicious hitter. The addition of Jeremy Collins, a transfer from Louisville, gives A&M one of the best inside linebacking corps in the SWAC. Outside linebackers Wesley Bynam, Germaine Mobley, Martel Holt and John Garrett can run, cover and blitz.
Secondary: This has been an area of concern for some time. Junior cornerback Henry Freeman was a second-team preseason All-SWAC selection and could blossom into a star. Reggie Johnson, also a junior, returns at the other corner. Sophomore free safety Levernonte Turner will miss 3 to 4 weeks after recently undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery. There is minimal experience beyond them. Backup free safety Adrian Williams played sparingly last season at cornerback. The other cornerbacks - Derrick Franklin, Thad Cribbs and Jamerson Baker - have yet to play in a game for the Bulldogs.
Kicker/punter: Junior Rashad Cylar will handle both duties this season. He edged Jose Osorio to win the place-kicking job. Cylar won the job last season before losing it to Tom Bambauer after missing 5-of-6 attempts
08/26/02
By REGGIE BENSON
Times Sports Staff reggieb@htimes.com
Alabama A&M coach Anthony Jones admits he doesn't know what to make of his football team. What coach would after just a few months on the job?
Jones was hired late, got a slow start on recruiting and late start in putting his first A&M team together.
None of that will matter Saturday night when A&M visits Jacksonville State in the season opener for both teams.
Jones says progress has been made despite the late start.
''We've gotten better in every phase of the game,'' he said as two-a-days ended Friday.
How much progress has been made will be determined Saturday night and throughout the rest of the season.
Here is a position-by-position look at the Bulldogs as they begin game-day preparations:
Quarterback: Junior Chris Gunn edged redshirt freshman Tim Robinson to win the job, but Jones, who coaches the quarterbacks, says Robinson will play. One, or both of them, will have to be effective if A&M is to have any success. Johnny Keith, a talented true freshman, is the third-string quarterback but is likely to redshirt.
Tailback: Fifth-year senior Melvin Gideon will finally get a chance to start. Although under sized - Gideon is 5-foot-5 and 181 pounds - he has been one of the highlights of preseason practice. Jeremiah Bonds, a transfer from Memphis, also will see plenty of action. Bonds (5-9, 179) has blazing speed. Junior college transfer Rory Palmer and Lanier Bush, who is battling back from knee surgery, could figure into the mix. Palmer (5-10, 207) and Bush (5-9, 212) give the Bulldogs more of a power running back opposed to the speedy and shifty Gideon and Bonds.
Fullback: Junior Jonathan Rowland is as solid as any player on the team. He can run, block and catch the football. Tony Wallace, a converted linebacker, has been impressive during preseason practice. If necessary, Tim Boyd could play some, too.
Wide receiver: Without a doubt the most talented position on offense, but also the one with the most question marks.
Nick Wells, Lee Jackson and Neal Lindsey are good players, but none of them have dominated. Coach David Arnsparger says he plans to play six receivers. That means Ray James, Travis Martin and newcomer Durrell Weekley will play some, too. Weekley, a junior college transfer, has been impressive during practice and could play a huge role with his speed and athleticism.
Tight end: No proven player here. Jake Wilson, a converted quarterback, will start. He could be dangerous if he gets his hands on the ball because of his running ability. Wilson was A&M's second-leading rusher last season. Seldom-used senior Anthony Strickland is second team.
Offensive line: Three starters are back from last season, which should bode well for the offense. Tackles Robert Louis and Ronald Wilson are All-Southwestern Athletic Conference caliber players, along with right guard Jonathan Woodard. Left guard Corey Nolen, a converted defensive lineman, and center Grant LeCroix, who has played sparingly throughout his career, round out the starters. The return of Ben Moore and Robert Cole, both seniors, could be huge. They are currently trying to work out some eligibility problems.
Defensive line: There is talent and depth at every position. Right end Robert Mathis, an All-America candidate, is as good as any defensive end in Division I-AA. He led the SWAC in sacks last season despite missing three games. On the opposite side, senior Desmond Hardy, who has played a number of positions, has been solid. Brian Evans, a transfer from Southern Miss, Fernandez Shaw and Lieutenant Dukes are more than capable. The tackles will be Ali Hassan and Mac Hampton, but there is plenty of depth. Deandre Washington, Harold Penn, Curry Calloway and Jerald Harris give line coach Cedric Calhoun several options.
Linebacker: Along with the defensive line, this is the strongest and most talented position on the team. Senior Jamaal Ware is back after missing the last nine games of 2001 with a shoulder injury. Ware was as good as any linebacker in the SWAC before his injury. Travoris Nunn is solid, while Lionel Macklin, last year's leading tackler, is a vicious hitter. The addition of Jeremy Collins, a transfer from Louisville, gives A&M one of the best inside linebacking corps in the SWAC. Outside linebackers Wesley Bynam, Germaine Mobley, Martel Holt and John Garrett can run, cover and blitz.
Secondary: This has been an area of concern for some time. Junior cornerback Henry Freeman was a second-team preseason All-SWAC selection and could blossom into a star. Reggie Johnson, also a junior, returns at the other corner. Sophomore free safety Levernonte Turner will miss 3 to 4 weeks after recently undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery. There is minimal experience beyond them. Backup free safety Adrian Williams played sparingly last season at cornerback. The other cornerbacks - Derrick Franklin, Thad Cribbs and Jamerson Baker - have yet to play in a game for the Bulldogs.
Kicker/punter: Junior Rashad Cylar will handle both duties this season. He edged Jose Osorio to win the place-kicking job. Cylar won the job last season before losing it to Tom Bambauer after missing 5-of-6 attempts