ACU wraps up strong spring
4/14/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
Wildcats wrap spring drills
Improved ACU offense shines in annual spring game
ABILENE -- The ACU Wildcats wrapped up two weeks of spring training drills Saturday with a performance that showcased a vastly improved offense and a more confident quarterback at its controls.
The ACU offense was the highlight of the spring, and it showed during the spring game at Shotwell Stadium as the offense moved the ball consistently against the new-look ACU defense. The ACU defense is moving back to a 4-3 scheme under new defensive coordinator Jason Johns.
While the Wildcat defense made some strides during the spring, it was the offensive improvement that pleased second-year head coach Chris Thomsen the most.
"We made great strides towards becoming a much more efficient offensive unit," said Thomsen, whose Wildcats were 4-6 in 2005. "Our quarterbacks and wide receivers have a much better understanding of what we're doing in the passing game. I really believe we'll be a lot better next season throwing the ball and catching it."
The Wildcats were third in the Lone Star Conference in passing offense in 2005, averaging 244.1 yards per game through the air, and Thomsen believes that number will be higher in 2006. Wildcat quarterbacks, however, threw 14 interceptions (second-most in the LSC) and only 18 touchdown passes. The Wildcats also failed to produce consistently in the red zone (inside the opponents' 20-yard line), scoring on only 26 of 43 possessions (60.5 percent) and finishing 12th in the 13-team league in red zone offense.
"We really weren't where we needed to be offensively last year, but I really believe we made some moves toward our goals this spring," Thomsen said. "If we can be more efficient, especially in the red zone, we'll be a better offense and in turn a better team."
Last year, a pair of redshirt freshman quarterbacks (Billy Malone and Nick Bird) each started games with Malone starting the majority of the season. Malone was sixth in the league in passing yards per game (194.3 yards per game), and he was fifth in the league in total offense per game (204.3 ypg). He threw 14 touchdowns, but also threw 11 interceptions.
However, Thomsen said Malone separated himself from the rest of the field of quarterbacks and will be the clear-cut starter going into the season.
"He sat out for two years, and that really played a role in how he played last year," Thomsen said. "Billy is still young and he's still learning. Plus, this offense is different than what he's used to running. But he's really been committed through the offseason and the spring to becoming the quarterback and leader that we need him to become. He knows he didn't perform at his best last year, and he's committed himself to becoming a better player."
Malone will again have a talented group of receivers to work with, starting with returning all-LSC South Division first team selection Jerale Badon. The Abilene High product will be a junior in 2006, and at the pace he's on right now, he'll leave ACU as the school's all-time leader in both career receptions and career yards. Last year he caught 59 passes for 783 yards and four scores.
He'll be joined at wide receiver by junior college transfer Turtle Conner of Abilene High and Cisco Junior College, as well as Tyjuan Manning, Chris Morris and Jonathan Ferguson. Thomsen, though, said senior John Brock might have had as impressive a spring training as anyone on the roster. He made a circus catch in the back corner of the end zone for a score in the spring game that punctuated his two-week performance.
"John's been here two years and he's really still trying to prove himself," Thomsen said. "Injuries have really played a role in keeping him from being the player that everyone thinks he can be for us. But I'm really proud of him because he's committed himself to becoming a better player."
The Wildcats also appear to be in good shape at running back where sophomore-to-be Taber Minner returns after a solid redshirt freshman season. Minner led the Wildcats in rushing last year with 577 yards and four touchdowns on 120 carries. He also caught 30 passes for 253 yards and one touchdown out of the backfield.
Minner will be joined at the tailback position by junior-to-be Chancy Campbell, who last year ran for 1,250 yards and 15 touchdowns and caught 34 passes for 350 yards and three touchdowns. Former Abilene High standout Sneezy Beltran will return for his senior season, and should be the third tailback after suffering an achilles tendon injury last year.
"Taber and Chancy are both exactly what we thought they would be for us," Thomsen said. "They should both be very productive for us next season. Chancy has shown us exactly what we thought he would, and Taber has committed himself to becoming an even better player for us."
The offensive line appears to be in solid shape with returning starters in Joseph Thompson, Nathan Young, Sam Collins and Devorias Jackson. Cody Savage is fully recovered from a 2005 injury, and he'll push for a starting spot, as will transfer Isaac Morales (Wyoming).
Defensively the Wildcats will have to replace the irreplaceable in all-America safety Danieal Manning and all-America defensive end Clayton Farrell. Manning is projected to be drafted somewhere between the end of the second round and the end of the third round, and Farrell has had talks with several NFL and Canadian Football League teams about signing as a free agent.
The secondary returns a pair of starters in cornerback Corey Jordan and safety Landon Kinchen, and transfer Bobby Tatum (Texas) had a strong spring. Junior college transfers Jamond Hawkins, Demarcus Robinson and Quentin Wilson also figure into the picture in the secondary, as does senior Mark Gaines, who moves to the secondary from the running back position.
"We lost the best safety in the country, but we've got good players coming back in the secondary," Thomsen said. "Bobby Tatum had a good spring, and he capped it with an interception in the spring game. We'll be fine back there because we have good athletes who can make plays."
ACU returns a pair of linebackers in senior Marcus Brown and junior Cody Stutts who were each named all-LSC South Division in 2005. Brown will man the middle linebacker spot for ACU, while Stutts will play on the outside. The other outside spot is up for grabs with Jody Walker, Mike Kern, Marion Harris and incoming freshman Obinna Ononobi (North Garland HS) competing for the spot.
The Wildcats' biggest question mark going into the season will be on the defensive line where the Wildcats not only lost Farrell, but also part-time starter Mark Malunowe. ACU returns a pair of former all-conference defensive tackles in seniors Joe Edwards and Alonzo Wines, but both end spots are wide open.
Thomsen said Will Cones and Travis Carpenter had solid springs as they each played at defensive end. The Wildcat head coach did say, though, that the coaching staff will be working hard to try and find either Division I or junior college transfers over the summer to fill in some of the gaps on the defensive line.
They'll also be doing that to find a punter after all-conference punter Chase Fishback graduated. However, sophomore-to-be Matt Adams had a good spring after a solid freshman season, and he's entrenched as the Wildcats' placekicker.
ACU will open the 2006 season on Thursday, Sept. 7, when it hosts Central Oklahoma at 7 p.m. at Shotwell Stadium.
