Bring on the big play
With the implement of the spread offense at USU, one of the most visible changes to the causal eye may be at the wide receiver position. The spread incorporates multiple formations and receivers in order to work, and the sheer number of wideouts on the field will be something new for the Aggies.
“In this offense the wide receivers are very, very important,” said offensive coordinator Dave Baldwin. “Not only do they have to be able to catch the ball and get open, but they have to make blocks and any big play downfield on runs should have to be established by wide receiver blocks.”
With the departure of senior Otis Nelson this year’s wide receiving corps has some new faces and is relatively inexperienced. However, with the implementation of the new system, pretty much every receiver is on the same page.
“A lot was put on their plate early, but instead of knocking all the peas and corn and everything off the plate … finally this last week they were able to digest it and understand it,” Baldwin said. “I felt much better with their understanding, and once you understand I think you can play to your level of ability.”
Xavier Bowman, Nnamdi Gwatcham and Omar Sawyer are the senior receivers, but both Bowman and Gwatcham have been limited this spring with injuries – Gwatcham especially, with a wired jaw.
Bowman did play well in the Blue and White game, and talked about the benefit of the new offense after.
“From a receiver’s standpoint it’s just enabled us to make more plays, and put us in a position to better benefit the team,” he said. “It basically puts the offense in attack mode now.”
One of the strongest contributing classes could be the sophomore class. Austin Alder, Eric Moats and tight end Tarren Lloyd have all looked impressive in spring drills and should provide competition and depth at their positions.
Baldwin expressed excitement about his sophomore group and their abilities, as well as the things they need to work on.
“Eric Moats came out of nowhere as a walk-on and is very talented, he won a starting position this spring. No one’s guaranteed in the fall that they’re starting, but he will start as the No. 1. He just does everything right, is a bright kid and just has the capable hands to make the catch in traffic. Stanley Morrison has explosive speed but just has to play consistent. I really like his abilities, but now we’re challenging him to play on a daily level of what his abilities are,” he said.
Baldwin was especially impressed with Alder.
“In the first two weeks he was not even on the depth chart and the last two weeks he showed up to compete. He continued to make plays, and he was one of those guys that didn’t comprehend everything … once he did, his abilities started to take over. He’s faster than I thought and makes the catch in traffic and that’s what we need,” he said.
The ability of these receivers to step in and contribute will be important because opposing defenses will be unable to focus on one specific player, therefore opening up the running game for both the running backs and quarterback Diondre Borel.
“(The spread offense) just makes it so much harder for defenses in all aspects, especially with the run,” Bowman said. “It’ll create a lot more space for our running backs and one-on-one situations.”
Having a stable of capable receivers will not only allow the Aggies to flourish in the spread system, but will allow them to rotate throughout the game, staying fresh while wearing out opposing defenses.
“I do know that the wide receivers are very vital in this offense. In the spread you want to run the football as you spread them out, but you also want to throw the ball vertically,” Baldwin said. “I think that’s important for our wideouts, and I hope they notice that we will have some vertical shots.”
Another wrinkle the spread offense brings to the wideout position is the ability to run and throw the ball via end-arounds, reverses and similar plays. These new plays were given a preview most recently in the annual Blue and White game. Alder scored on a 49-yard touchdown run off a reverse, and Morrison connected with Moats for a 44-yard reception on the Blue team’s first play from scrimmage.
“From the beginning to the end there was a tremendous improvement, I’m excited they came up with big plays – in the last scrimmage especially,” Baldwin said. “There’s four catches over 60 yards for touchdowns, so when the receivers can do that type of thing you’ve got big play potential. So I was excited about their play.”
–t.olsen@aggiemail.usu.edu
Defensive back’s
When looking at this year’s secondary compared to last year the main that has changed is pressure. Cornerbacks coach Corey Raymond said there will be a lot more man defense with blitzing and trying to force the ball out. He is expecting his cornerbacks to be a big part of this.
“We are going to be putting a lot more pressure on the corners, which is good,” Raymond said. “If they can match their intensity every weekend and play great they can make us a good defense.”
A big part of what will make or break this “good defense” will be how the players that Raymond calls his top three right now will perform. Senior Kejon Murphy, junior Chris Randel and junior Curtis Marsh all are expected to be the core of the cornerbacks this year.
Marsh moved from running back to cornerback in hopes to bring more speed and athleticism to the defense. Raymond said he feels that Marsh is making a good transition.
“The transition went good for him,” Raymond said. “He still has a little way to go but his progression has been real good. I am really pleased with his progression and getting out there and competing, and I think he is becoming a good cornerback.”
Nothing is for sure, though.
There are many young players that had a very good spring that might just give the top guys a run for their money.
“Chris Harris has made a great stride, he came from receiver over to cornerback and he has done real well,” Raymond said.
Raymond said all of his cornerbacks that have been on campus and participating in spring ball have been competing well, and that any of them have a chance at playing this fall.
On top of all the cornerbacks that are already here in Logan, two more will be joining the Aggies this June. Jamain Olsen and Rajric Coleman are both junior college transfers that will be playing for USU this fall.
“I expect them to come in and enhance us and make us better, to make us a better secondary,” Raymond said.
Another important part to the secondary is the safeties. The safeties are led by senior James Brindley, who was a main factor on the defense last year. Brindley has big goals for this season.
“A goal would be to go to a bowl game – that’s my biggest thing, just to win as many games as possible,” Brindley said. “I want to be the best safety in the WAC, and to be the leader in tackles and interceptions.”
Defensive coordinator and safeties coach Bill Busch is also excited about Brindley.
“We have an established player in James Brindley. He is someone that has a lot of playing time at Utah State and has done a tremendous job,” Busch said. “He has done a great job for us during the spring also. We are very excited about him and where he’s at.”
Busch says after Brindley it is a work in progress, but there are a lot of bright spots among them.
“There is Cache Morgan who is someone that had a great spring and is competing for a position and doing a great job for us, also Joey Schrader who is a junior college transfer came here from Snow and has done some great things for us also. Walter McClenton is also someone that has done a very good job and had got himself into some playing time,” he said. “We moved Sheldon Armstrong from corner to safety and I really, really like the way he came along. He is just a redshirt freshman and has a chance to be a good football player for us. We are looking forward to those guys. Washington Igboeili also made some strides for us this spring.”
As with the cornerbacks, the safeties are planning on playing a lot more pressure defense this year. Busch said they want to have a very aggressive style of play.
“The safeties fit into it obviously in a lot of ways – sometimes they are in coverage on receivers or tight ends, they’re sometimes in the middle of the field with certain things we are doing and a lot of times they are involved in the pressures,” Busch said.
–p.d.k@aggiemail.usu.edu