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Rice University Athletics
Finding Answers to Pressing Questions
8/14/2009 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 14, 2009
By MOISEKAPENDA BOWER
Before freshman cornerback Phillip Gaines was sidelined by a left ankle injury late Thursday evening, Owls cornerbacks coach Jason Washington had devised a foolproof system for rotating the four freshmen vying for spots on the depth chart behind veterans Chris Jammer and Jarrett Ben.
If Washington required the services of Gaines and Kevin Gaddis, he barked, `The two G's are next!' When the time came for Alex Francis and Corey Frazier to get live repetitions and undergo extensive evaluation, Washington requested the `two F's.' Washington, who completed an NFL Internship Program with the Minnesota Vikings earlier this month, clearly learned a thing or two about efficient and effective management.
For every position where the depth chart appears relatively stable, there is another unit so in flux that Saturday's scrimmage, the first of three during fall camp, is direly needed to set straight the record on who will end up where on the depth chart when the Owls travel to Birmingham, Ala., to open their season against UAB on Sept. 5.
"Hopefully there will be some clarity at some of these positions," Owls coach David Bailiff said. "We're not drawing conclusions yet, but we're starting to get information. Saturday will help.
"We know what (junior defensive end Scott) Solomon and (senior free safety Andrew) Sendejo (can do). We've got to get other people in there to develop the depth for the season. While at the same time getting the team better, (the staff has to) look at some of these young (players) like (freshman tailback) Charles Ross."
Determining the starter at quarterback is the Owls' most glaring need, but settling the depth chart at receiver, cornerback and defensive tackle are pressing priorities.
RECEIVER
As senior Corbin Smiter continues his rehab from early-July hernia surgery, the race to fill the available slots behind fellow seniors Toren Dixon and Taylor Wardlow took an unexpected turn when redshirt freshman Denzel Wells was lost to a shoulder injury. Wells and Derek Clark had been the most impressive members from the Class of 2008 receivers, so with Wells out of the mix, the depth chart needs revamping.
"You'll know pretty fast on who can help," Bailiff said. "You don't only have to catch but you've got to block, and physically we're going to have to get some of those guys bigger than they are right now to contribute this year. We've got to filter through that."
Juniors Patrick Randolph, Taylor Dupree and Pierre Beasley have a decided edge in experience over the other receivers signed last year (Roddy Maginot and Michael Patterson) and this past February (Andre Gautreaux, Donte Moore and Paul Porras), but with two freshmen tight ends (Vance McDonald and Luke Willson) also longing for the attention of the unnamed quarterback, experience isn't the deciding factor.
"We keep charts on every catch and every drop, and so you know who's producing for us," Bailiff said. "With a lot of those, you don't have to wait for the scrimmage.
"You saw the type of camp (Wells) was already having. You knew he was going to help us this year. Now, you've got to reshuffle the deck again and make decisions."
CORNERBACK
One season after throwing a pair of true freshmen (Jammer and Ben) out on the island to defend against Conference USA's cadre of capable quarterbacks, Washington will have to do so again this season. Jammer and Ben gained valuable experience through their trials by fire, but their post-spring backups (converted receiver John Welch and walk-on Martin Uwah) necessitated the pressing of the freshmen. Through a week of practice, the quartet has been expectedly inconsistent.
"It's about who I trust. That's going to be the determining factor," Washington said. "Assignment sound, technique, and just making sure that they are in position to do things right. That's 95 percent of it -just understanding what you're doing out there, and the other five (percent) is technique. That's going to be my evaluation."
All four have had their moments, and each seems to have an innate ability to play the position. Of course, the biggest hurdle for cornerbacks is the psychological task of forgetting the previous play - good or bad - and focusing on the next snap. Add to that burden an avalanche of details involving hip flips, feet placement and receiver splits, not to mention memorizing the defensive calls, and the challenge is significant.
"I feel kind of nervous because I give them a little too much information," Washington said. "I have to sit back and say, `Hold on. They're true freshmen.'
"They're trying to gain all this knowledge right now of a variety of different things that are going on, plus learning our defense. I try to make sure they're learning the big things first, and then we'll start getting on down to the little things after that."
DEFENSIVE TACKLE
The pall cast over the defensive line last spring and this summer appears to be gradually lifting. Senior tackle Chance Talbert (ankle) is showing steady signs of progress and remains irrepressibly determined to return by the season opener. Sophomore nose guard Michael Smith (knee) looked spry on Thursday evening, and given the positive news regarding his series of MRIs, his future seems less bleak.
And with Solomon taking to playing tackle with his customary tenacity, the Owls just might overcome the unexpected loss of sophomore end Arnaud Gascon-Nadon, who has yet to return from his native Canada due to personal reasons. However, everything must fall perfectly for the Owls to mask the gaping hole on their interior defensive line, and even with sophomore John Gioffre making surprising strides during the offseason, at least one freshman will factor into the rotation in September.
"Our young guys know that they are going to have to play this season, and it might be the first game," defensive line coach Darin Eliot said. "They came into this training camp with that mindset; we set that into them during recruiting and throughout the summer. I've had a couple young guys that have made some mistakes and they're starting to panic. We've got 24 more practices; (they need to) take it one practice at a time."
Freshmen Alex Lowry and Hosam Shahin have experienced ups and downs, but that isn't surprising. Even if Talbert and Smith are back against the Blazers, and even if sophomore Brian Stacey continues to develop, either Lowry or Shahin will play.
"If there is a highpoint of those guys (Talbert and Smith) being out, it's getting other people reps," Eliot said. "You always need depth, and the only way you develop depth is guys getting playing time."
Bailiff and his assistants have been hammering home that point throughout camp. On Saturday, they'll discover whether anyone has taken their exhortations to heart.
"We talk to them daily about the importance of growing up and the young guys taking it from the meeting to the field," Bailiff said. "The depth chart really starts forming. After Saturday there could be some shuffles."
