Flashes Look to Return to Winning Ways with Veteran Offense, Revamped 'D'
6/27/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
That's the indset of the Kent State University football team as the Golden Flashes prepare for the 2003 season. Gone are any memories of last fall's injury-plagued season when starters and key reserves missed 96 games. In their place is a "can-do" attitude of returning to the form of the 2001 campaign when the Flashes produced their first winning season in 14 years. And that has head coach Dean Pees more than a little excited for the start of the season. "We had one of the best off-seasons we've had in my six years, and the players are very focused," said Pees, who now boasts the longest tenure of any KSU football coach since the legendary Trevor Rees' 18-year run from 1946-63. "If we stay healthy, this can be the best team we've put on the field since we've been here." The Golden Flashes return 39 letterwinners, including 14 starters and an equal number of seniors, from last year's squad as they aim for a Mid-American Conference East Division championship and berth in the 2003 MAC Championship Game. And they'll do so with new coordinators on both sides of the ball. Pees returns to his roots and takes over as the defensive coordinator, while Doug Martin assumes control of the offense following seven seasons in the same capacity at East Carolina University. Six starters are back on offense, highlighted by athletic and multi-talented quarterback Joshua Cribbs, All-MAC running back David Alston and preseason all-league center Steve Smith. On defense, five starters return led by a trio of veterans up the middle in tackle Alan Williams, linebacker Eric Mahl and free safety Shannon Davis."Our attitude is very good," said Pees. "Not that last year's was bad, but I think there was a thought that since we won in 2001, it was automatically going to happen in 2002. Nothing happens automatically. You've got to work for it. We've got that drive back." Following is a position-by-position breakdown of the 2003 Golden Flashes:
Offense boasts new look, new options
Under new offensive coordinator Doug Martin's direction, Kent State's offense will have a different look this season, one which features three wide receivers and should lead to more open-field opportunities."Our biggest goals on offense are getting balance between our running and passing games and creating more big-play opportunities," said Pees. "This offense offers a lot of options and hopefully will manufacture long-yardage plays for us."At the heart of the offense is the highlight-reel tandem of junior quarterback Joshua Cribbs and senior tailback David Alston. Both should prosper in the new single-back, spread attack that relies on open-field speed and cutting ability.Cribbs enters his third season as a starter as one of the nation's top run-pass quarterbacks after rushing for 1,057 yards and passing for 1,014 more last fall, despite missing two full games and parts of three others due to a pulled hamstring. He led all Division I-A players a year ago with 7.72 yards per carry and was the leading rushing quarterback in the nation (105.7 ypg). Through the air, he was 91-of-186 for 101.4 yards per game.This season Cribbs has a chance to become the first player in NCAA Division I-A history with three "double-1,000" seasons, more than a thousand yards both rushing and passing. Reducing his touchdown-to-interception ratio (4:14) from a year ago will go a long way toward making him even more dangerous with the ball."We need Josh to have a great season, and he has to be a leader on and off the field," said Pees. "He also needs to be able to throw the ball better than what he's done in the past. But, make no mistake, he's still one of the best running backs in the league."And he knows now that he doesn't have to do it by himself. He's got other players around him that can win the game, too."Junior Darryl Polk, who started three games in Cribbs' absence last season, gives the Flashes the experienced backup they've lacked in recent years. Polk completed 46-of-91 attempts for 428 yards and two touchdowns in his first collegiate season. Redshirt freshman Antwan Smith and fifth-year senior Adam Frederick also will compete for playing time.Alston, meanwhile, hopes to bounce back from an injury-riddled 2002 when he played in just four games due to a persistent ankle sprain. As a sophomore in 2001, he earned second-team All-MAC honors after rushing for 633 yards on 5.3 yards per carry."David was in unbelievable shape before last season," Pees said, "but we never got to see it. If he has the kind of year we think he can, he's going to be a big catalyst in our success because he's very capable of having a 1,000-yard year."Redshirt freshman Elijah Brooks, the team's Outstanding Offensive Scout last fall, and junior Charles Newton - at a fullback-sized 6-foot-1 and 245 pounds - are the backups. A number of incoming freshmen also could figure into the mix."Even though we might seem a little young at running back, the returnees and a talented group of young players make it a real solid position for us," said Pees.In terms of veteran players, wide receiver likely is the deepest position on the team entering preseason camp. Martin figures to use both the experience and the depth in the new, three-receiver set.Four of the Flashes' top five receivers are back from a year ago, including junior split end Darrell Dowery Jr., who led the team with 34 catches for 348 yards. A high school teammate of Cribbs, he is a thin but ultra-effective passcatcher in the mold of Eugene Baker and Jurron Kelly, Kent State's top two all-time leading receivers. Senior flanker Daryl Moore was much-improved last season with 14 receptions for 178 yards and appears poised for a breakout year.The wildcard at wideout is sophomore Derrick Bush, who enters the fall as the starter at the new H-back position. The speedy Bush made 20 catches for 209 yards as a true freshman, including a game-winning 35-yard grab in the final minute to beat Cal Poly. An-twan Smith also will contribute at H-back as an athletic, sure-handed playmaker.Kent State boasts a wealth of depth on the outside, led by 6-foot-6 fifth-year senior Maurio Medley. An Academic All-America candidate with a perfect 4.0 grade point average, he was fifth on the team with 13 catches for 134 yards last season. Additional depth lies in sophomore DeMarkus Robinson plus Najah Pruden and Brian Bell, a pair of 6-foot-3 redshirt freshmen."We don't have someone you might call a marquee player at receiver but we have a number of guys who will compete for playing time," said Pees. "There's not a Eugene Baker in the group at this point but as a unit it's the best group we've had top-to-bottom."Tight end is another position with a lot of depth but only senior Neil Buckosh has played a down. He has 13 career starts and 28 receptions to his credit. Behind Buckosh are redshirt freshmen Jim Alexander and Austin Novak and sophomore Nick Bigrigg.Two starters and two other experienced upperclassmen return to anchor Kent State's offensive line this fall.Headlining the group is senior center Steve Smith, who will be in his third season as a starter. Both Athlon's and Lindy's have named him to their preseason All-MAC Teams for 2002. For his career, Smith has played in 29 games with 19 starts and has been a major reason why the Golden Flashes have ranked among the top 15 in the nation in rushing each of the past two seasons. He also is an Academic All-America candidate after graduating magna cum laude in technology this past spring."Steve is the mainstay of the offensive line and the glue that holds the group together," said Pees. "He has to do things right because the whole offensive attack starts with him. He'll be worthy of postseason honors."Junior Jason Andrews is back at left tackle to protect Cribbs' blind side. He made eight starts there last season and can play any position along the line. The right tackle spot belongs to fellow junior Chad Bandiera, who has seen significant time at both tackles in his first two seasons, including three starts on the left side a year ago.A former starter, senior Shaun Sarrett has reclaimed his role at right guard, while sophomore Daniel Carter is the favorite to fill the vacancy at left guard. "The starting five is our most athletic line yet," said Pees. "But we don't have a lot of depth entering the season so those guys need to stay healthy."Other candidates along the line are sophomore Luke McKenzie, redshirt freshmen Nate Manning, Frank Isenberg and Craig Rafdal and true freshman Tony Geohagan.
Defensive emphasis on speed
Defensively, Kent State will switch from a 4-3 defense to a 3-4 under Pees' watchful eye in hopes of taking advantage of a deep and talented linebacking corps as well as putting more pressure on the opposing quarterback."The defense will be a lot faster and a little different style than what we've played," said Pees. "We're not going to be very big, but I'd rather have the speed than the size. We need guys to come off the edge and really cause havoc."The Golden Flashes may boast the best pair of inside linebackers in the MAC in senior Anthony Henriquez and junior Eric Mahl. Both missed more than half of the 2002 season due to injury but showed in spring practice that they are ready for a big season.Henriquez, who led Kent State in total tackles with 101 as a sophomore in 2001, is the fiery ball-hawking type, while Mahl is a big-play maker who averaged a team-leading 8.6 tackles per game a year ago."Eric has the potential to be a really outstanding linebacker," said Pees. "He has the size, the speed, the strength and the smarts that tells me he should be a great one."Sophomore Jon Sessler, a part-time starter as a true freshman last season, and fifth-year senior Jeff Jensen will be the primary reserves on the inside along with redshirt freshman Joe Crivella.The play of the outside linebackers may be of the greatest importance in the defense's improvement in 2002. Junior Antonio King, who ended last season as the team's starting running back, enters fall camp as the starter at "sam" linebacker, where he can take advantage of his speed and fierce hitting ability. Sophomore Marcus Robinson's move to the outside from inside 'backer also should pay dividends.At the other outside "buck" linebacker, junior Damian Stolowski gives the Flashes a player who can rush the quarterback and drop into coverage, which is a key to the new 3-4 defense. Redshirt freshman Bruce Rice showed signs of contributing at the position with a solid performance in the spring.Sophomore Tomas Rodriguez will line up on the opposite end of the line after moving across the ball from tight end. The 2003 MAC wrestling heavyweight champion as a freshman, he has good speed and a nose for the quarterback. Behind Rodriguez are sophomore Justin Parrish and true freshman Justin Latimer."One of the keys to this defense is being able to run, and these guys at buck and end can do that," said Pees.Fifth-year senior tackle Alan Williams will be the key cog in the middle of the defensive line at tackle after making 11 starts and a line-leading 36 tackles a year ago. Sophomore Daniel Muir should provide a big presence alongside Williams at the other tackle. He was the team's Outstanding Defensive Scout last fall when he sat out due to NCAA eligibility guidelines.Tom Crock, another fifth-year senior, was the Flashes' Outstanding Defensive Lineman despite not starting until the end of the 2002 season. Also listed as backups at tackle are sophomore Roger Attieh and true freshman Colin Ferrell.Free safety Shannon Davis is the lone returning starter in the secondary. That's a big difference from last season when the Flashes featured four returning starters, including three seniors. But Davis, a Jim Thorpe Award candidate is a good one to build around with 22 career starts to his credit. Last season he made a team-leading 86 tackles and ranked second on the team to NFL free-agent signee Nashville Dyer with two interceptions and eight pass breakups."Shannon is a great player at free safety," said Pees. "He had a strong spring, and we'll need him to lead the secondary both against the pass and against the run."Junior Vashawn Patrick, a nickelback and special teams stalwart his first two years, gained the starting nod at strong safety in spring practice. Des-mond Turner, who was a starter in 2000, has earned back his fourth year of eligibility and can play either safety spot.There's not a lot of game experience returning at the cornerback spots but that should lead to a good competition in preseason drills. Junior Andre Ashley and sophomore Barry Drakeford are the leading candidates for the starting spots. Ashley is the most experienced of the group, while Drakeford sat out last season due to NCAA eligibility guidelines.Other cornerback possibilities include sophomore Tyrell McElroy, sophomore newcomer Mike White and fifth-year senior Ray Coley, who has switched back to his original position after a season at wide receiver.
Special teams has chance to be that
On special teams, sophomore Travis Mayle returns as one of the nation's top young placekickers after receiving Freshman All-America honorable mention last season from rivals.com. He converted 12-of-14 field-goal attempts with a long of 42 yards and also made 22-of-24 extra-point tries. A Lou Groza Award candidate this season, Mayle is on pace to challenge Kent State's career records for points and field goals.Sophomore Joshua Brazen will enter preseason camp as the top candidate at punter. He was redshirted in 2001 and spent last fall as a backup to three-year starter Jared Fritz."Travis has a chance to be one of the best kickers ever at Kent State," said Pees. "Josh has a strong leg and a lot of potential but is an unknown right now because of his lack of game experience."Senior Jerami Hodgkinson will be in his fourth season as the team's short snapper and second as the long snapper.
Six home games, two BCS road games highlight 2003 schedule
The Golden Flashes will kick off the season Aug. 28 at Akron (4-8 in 2002) in a special Thursday night game at the Rubber Bowl. That is a change from the past four years when the teams met in the final week of the season in late November and will mark the first time Kent State has opened with a Mid-American Conference game since 1997 at Ohio University. In 2004, the Flashes and Zips will face each other in the season opener at Kent. The Golden Flashes' first home game is Sept. 13 against northeast Ohio rival Youngstown State University (7-4) at Dix Stadium, which will feature a new grandstand on the east side this season. The game with YSU originally was scheduled to be both teams' opener but was rescheduled to accommodate the Akron game. Sandwiching the home opener are non-conference road games versus the University of Pittsburgh (9-4) Sept. 6 at Heinz Field and Penn State University (9-4) Sept. 20 at 107,000-seat Beaver Stadium in State College. Kent State then begins a stretch of four home games in five weeks, starting with the MAC home opener Sept. 27 versus the University of Central Florida (7-5) and followed by a cross-divisional matchup with Ball State University (6-6) Oct. 4 in the annual Homecoming/Varsity "K" Day game. After a road game at defending MAC champion Marshall University (11-2) Oct. 11, the Golden Flashes return home to play host to the University of Connecticut (6-6) Oct. 18 and Miami University (7-5) Oct. 25. The Flashes have a bye week Nov. 1 and then play back-to-back MAC road games at Ohio (4-8) Nov. 8 and Bowling Green State University (9-3) Nov. 15. Kent State's regular-season finale is scheduled for Nov. 22 at home against the University at Buffalo (1-11) on Senior Recognition Day and Fan Appreciation Day.
