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Bulls hope to bounce back |
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Written by Mike Smith
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Tuesday, August 30 2011 |
 To call the 2010 Buffalo Bulls “offensively challenged” would be something of an understatement. The Bulls not only finished last among MAC teams in scoring, they were last among 120 Football Bowl Subdivision teams. With an offensive-minded new head coach and spread offense principles, the struggles were surprising and disappointing. So was a 2-10 record, with just one win over an FBS team.
Although UB finished the season on a six-game losing streak and fell to previously winless Akron (22-14) in the finale, the MAC Media picked Buffalo to move up a spot to sixth place in the seven team division. Akron slipped to last in media balloting. With a year’s experience in the system and a potentially helpful transfer, the Bulls hope to improve the offense. Any progress there could pave the way for more wins.
OFFENSE
One potentially big step in improving the offense was the hire of Alex Wood as offensive coordinator. Just last season, Wood was part of a Miami RedHawks staff that helped engineer one of the biggest turnarounds in Football Bowl Subdivision history. He has over 30 years of coaching experience at the Division I level and also served as a coordinator in the National Football League.
Buffalo also landed another quarterback candidate in Chazz Anderson. The 6-1, 222-pound senior previously played for UB head coach Brady Quinn at Cincinnati . Andeson saw action in all three seasons with the Bearcats and made a pair of winning starts during UC’s 2008 Big East championship season. Last year, he completed 23-of-45 passes for 206 yards while rushing 19 times for 80 yards in a backup roll. Due to NCAA rules regarding post –graduate transfers, he is available this fall.
Returning quarterbacks Jerry Davis and Alex Zordich handled starting duties last year. Davis started six games as a sophomore before giving way to Zordich. Then a true freshman, Zordich was at the controls for four games before sustaining a season-ending rib injury. Davis returned to the helm, finishing the campaign with 1,753 passing yards on 142-of-298 attempts. He threw 16 touchdown passes but also tossed 16 interceptions. Zordich threw for 428 yards and a score in his time behind center.
“It’s open competition at the quarterback position,” said Quinn, who believes any Bulls QB will have plenty of targets.
“We have a solid unit of wide receivers who have playmaking ability. Our system has the capability for us to be in (anything from) five wide receivers all the way to one receiver.”
Sophomore Alex Neutz emerged late in the season, earning team offensive MVP honors. Even as a freshman, he showed an ability to make use of his 6-3 frame to make some spectacular catches. His 15.9 yards per catch average was the best since former Bulls standout Bill Naaman back in 2006.
Another big receiver is senior Marcus Rivers (6-5, 218). He led UB with 50 receptions for 690 yards and tied for the team lead with five TD receptions. Classmate Terrell Jackson , meanwhile, contributed 43 receptions (397 yards, 3 touchdowns) and was named first team All-MAC as a returner (17.7 yards per punt return). Ed Young, also a senior, reached caught 20 passes while reaching the end zone five times.
“This is a unit of strength for us,” Quinn said.
Just how strong tight end can be remains to be seen, but there are several candidates to step into the multi-faceted position.
Whoever lines up at tight end will join a line that held its own in the passing game but struggled in run-blocking. Buffalo ranked ninth (MAC) in rushing and was 101st nationally. UB also lost a four-year starter in Peter Bittner. “”Losing him to graduation is going to have to be absorbed by our veteran players,” Quinn said. “This group made tremendous strides in the spring and have put in the time, dedication and effort to potentially be the strength of the team.”
Senior’s Josh Violanti (6-2, 283, C) and Matt Ostrowski (6-6-320, RT) are two year starters, although the latter made just three starts last season before suffering a broken leg. Sophomore left tackle Pat Wilson now has a year under his belt. Junior Graham Winery can play a variety of spots on the line, while junior Gakhan Ozkan (6-7, 322) has the size and experience to help him in competition for a spot.
Several running backs are options for hitting any holes the line can create.
Brandon Oliver (5-8, 200) led the Bulls in carries last year (102 carries, 298 yards) but averaged 2.9 ypc and failed to score a touchdown. Of course, the Bulls totaled just three rushing touchdowns last season, and two came from the quarterback position.
Jeffron Gill is a bigger back (6-0, 219) and averaged 4.3 yards on 64 carries. Redshirt freshman James Potts (6-0, 190) has good speed and should get some opportunities to show what he can do.
“The running back position is a real critical spot for us. We need to get back to moving the ball on the ground,” Quinn said. “It will come down to Oliver, Gill and Potts, and whoever is the best prepared and most productive will get the majority of playing time. Our running backs must be dynamic runners; they have to protect our quarterback and be a threat in our passing game.”
DEFENSE
The Bulls 2010 defensive numbers were more palatable than those posted by the offense. Buffalo ranked eighth in opponent scoring and was fifth in the MAC overall (total defense). Defending the pass was a particularly strong area as UB yielded 181.4 ypg (second in MAC, all games).
Unfortunately, some new starters will have to step up to duplicate or improve on last year’s results. The entire secondary has to be replaced as five senior defensive backs departed with graduation. Safeties Davonte Shannon and Dominic Cook were first team All-MAC performers. Cornerback Josh Thomas, a three-year starter, was drafted in the fifth round by the Dallas Cowboys.
Two starting linebackers and a couple spots on the (3-4) defensive line also must be replaced.
Senior nose guard Richie Smith (6-3, 300) has a wealth of experience – a particularly valuable commodity for this year’s defensive unit. Steven Means (6-3, 260) brings two years of starting defensive end experience to the group. He registered 50 tackles, including 8.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks last year. Senior Gordon DuBois and JUCO transfer Wyatt Cahill are among others who are in the defensive line mix.
“We have to … control the line of scrimmage and put pressure on the quarterback,’ Quinn said. “They are fully capable of doing that. Even though we lose a few guys, Steven Means has seen a lot of playing time and has some great football ahead of him. DuBois has done a nice job, and we should expect a lot of things out of Richie Smith this year. … He is very reliable.”
Khalil Mack (6-3, 248, So.) and Jaleel Verser (6-6, 245, Jr.) return at the outside linebacker spots after impressive 2010 seasons. The two inside positions must be restocked.
Mack, who made several national All-Freshman teams, had a team-leading 14.5 tackles for loss among his 68 tackles (40 solos). His credits also included 4.5 sacks, eight quarterback hurries and two forced fumbles.
“Mack and Verser are dynamic players. They are big, strong and explosive players that should give us a lot of mismatches,” Quinn said.
Senior John Syty, UB co-special teams player of the year, has experience both inside and outside in his career – a definite plus. Scott Pettigrew, meanwhile, is returning from an injury that cost him last season. He was a starter most of his first two seasons, with 55 tackles and three fumble recoveries in 2009.
Senior Fred Branch, when healthy, has provided depth in the past and could be another plus for a linebacking corps with significant potential.
“Several players stepped up in the spring to get us solidified on the inside, and we have great depth and flexibility at outside linebacker,” Quinn said.
“Stepping up,” indeed, will be the magic words concerning this year’s UB secondary. Senior Josh Copeland had an impressive spring and will be moving from linebacker to his high school position of safety. Okoye Houston, who was pressed into service last year as a freshman, figures into the safety competition along with junior Isaac Baugh, co-special teams player of the year in 2010.
Senior Joe Petit has been a solid backup at corner. Carlos Lammons, also a cornerback, played in 10 games last year, recording 19 tackles and a pass breakup.
“Josh Copeland really stepped up his play and leadership this spring, and we need that from him and others,” said Quinn,
who also brought a couple wide receivers (Cortney Lester and Adam Redden) over to the defensive backfield to add depth and strengthen competition. “We wanted to move the most talented guys we have to positions where they can help us,” Quinn said.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Kicker A.J. Principe, now the Bulls career scoring leader, is gone. Freshman Patrick Clarke and senior Peter Fardon are potential replacements.
Fardon, a native of Australia, earned a starting job as a freshman in 2008. He had 65 punts that year, with a career long of 57 against Ball State in the MAC championship game.
Fardon had 22 punts last year and averaged 34.1 yards per boot. He dropped six punts inside the 20 and allowed just two touchbacks during 2010. He showed good range in placekicking duties during spring drills. Jacob Schum also saw action in the punt game last year, averaging 38.5 yards per kick and leaving 13 inside the 20.
While the Bulls struggled moving the ball from scrimmage, they excelled in punt returns. UB was first in the MAC (all games) with a 14.4 yards per return average. Jackson ’s 17.7 yards per return also led the MAC and was among national leaders. He averaged nearly 20 yards per return on kickoffs. “I expect our return game to be even more explosive this year,” Quinn said.
SCHEDULE AND NOTES
- The Bulls open play against Pittsburgh Sept. 3 and then host Stonybrook before playing an early MAC game at Ball State. Big East foe Connecticut comes to Buffalo Sept. 24. The most well-attended game should be Oct. 1 when UB plays at Tennessee. Neyland Stadium holds 102, 455, and they do like their football in Tennessee.
- One of the keys for improving this year will be to improve turnover margin. The Bulls ranked 11th of 12 MAC teams (all games) with a minus-eight.
- While league leaders Miami and Kent State recorded 35 sacks last year, Buffalo managed 16 to rank 11th in that category. The Bulls, however, were eighty in sacks allowed (27).
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