2010 Football Season Preview

The Adrian College football program enters 2010 with questions that will be answered throughout the season. The first question is how will first-year head coach Jim Deere handle the transition from defensive coordinator to the man in charge. Deere has been with the Bulldogs going on 18 years this fall, and his defensive units have ranked among the best in Division III over the past three seasons. Now he has a group of players looking for his guidance as he enters his first season as a head coach at the collegiate level.

“I am looking forward to leading this year’s group of guys,” said Deere. “I know that the expectations will be high for our program, but that is why I wanted this challenge. The coaching staff and I will be pushing the limits of what our players can do both mentally and physically. I want to instill a measure of toughness that may have been lacking in the past. We want to play hard and give ourselves a chance to win every game. If we can put ourselves in a position to win, then that is what fuels me as a coach. I want our young men to succeed between the lines and after they walk across the stage every May with a diploma. If I can accomplish that then the rest will fall into place.”

Another question that looms is what does this year’s group need to do to get over the hump and claim a MIAA title after two years of finishing as runner-up?

“We have the ability to compete for a conference title, but it is never easy to finally climb that mountain,” said Deere. “In the past we have had the talent, but to put everything together for six league games requires a lot of factors to go your way. Our first conference game against Trine is a bit of a change because we have played them late in the season over the past few seasons. We need to be ready to compete right from the start and hopefully carry any momentum into the rest of the conference season. The MIAA is always a grind and the champion will have definitely earned it.”

This year’s non-conference slate of four games is also arguably the toughest in school history. The team opens the season at Division III defending national champion Wisconsin-Whitewater and also includes games with Defiance and playoff-tested teams Augustana and DePauw. The question about being a tougher football team after that stretch of games is a definite yes.

“Our focus is going to be on day-to-day improvement early in the season,” said Deere. “We are going to have to get good fast. The non-league schedule matters to the point where if we go out there and beat some teams then people will take notice. I like playing the best because it brings more out of your players. They see what it takes to be the best. They will see a national champion and experience first-hand what they do to get the job done. You can’t be scared of anyone and once the conference portion hits, let’s hope we are healthy and ready to use that experience against our opponents.”

In order to accomplish any goal, you need the pieces to put together and that also means filling some holes on both sides of the ball. The Bulldogs return 10 players with starting experience from a year ago, but also must replace 14 players who led the team into a position to fight for a league title.

“Our pre-season camp will be critical because we are introducing guys into a bigger role with this year’s team,” said Deere. “We know that depth will be a problem for us until we can get some more guys into pressure-packed situations. I know that our guys will be prepared to play every Saturday. The coaching staff and I believe in the talent on this team. The public may not know names yet, but hard work and results will be staples of guys who will wear a Bulldog uniform with pride and give all they can to help us win.”

Offense
The offense will be run by first-year coordinator Tyler Haines, who begins his third year with the Bulldog coaching staff. Haines  will be tweaking the offense and operate under a multiple scheme this year as opposed to a shotgun-heavy look over the past few seasons. Last year, the Bulldogs ranked 119th in Division III in rushing offense (136.6 ypg), 52nd in passing offense (246.3 ypg) and 65th in total offense (382.9 ypg).

“We want to establish a physical style of play on offense,” said Haines. “We need to improve the running game and keep possession of the ball. I think once we establish a running game, then the passing game, options will open up for us.”

The Bulldogs have a lot of experience returning at quarterback this season led by senior Mike McGee. The Columbus, Ohio native has been a steady performer under center with three years and 30 career games under his belt. McGee is a proven passer who has accumulated 4,341 yards and 30 touchdowns. He ranked second in the MIAA a year ago in passing efficiency with a rating of 139.99. In 2009, McGee threw for 1,939 yards and 15 touchdowns which were both career bests. He simply tore apart the Kalamazoo defense in a 62-15 win which garnered him with MIAA Player of the Week honors. He set a school record with 386 passing yards going 27-of-39 with four touchdowns. In addition, McGee also had a seven-yard touchdown run in the second quarter.

Also returning will be sophomore Justin Hemm (Piqua, Ohio/Piqua H.S.) who played in all 10 games after transferring from Ball State. Hemm is a multi-purpose athlete who can throw, run and catch the ball which he did last season. Hemm completed 30-of-46 passes for 430 yards and five touchdowns. He also ran the ball 69 times for 295 yards (4.3 ypr) and two more scores. He even caught 17 passes for 227 yards when McGee was in the game at quarterback. Hemm’s breakthrough game came in the regular season finale against Olivet. He threw five touchdowns which tied the school record and also ran for another in a 45-20 win over the Comets. He was 16-of-18 passing for 300 yards and also gained 48 yards on 16 carries.

The running back situation took a hit during the offseason when Myke Johnson decided to not return for his senior season. Johnson led the team last year with 454 yards and tied for the team lead with three touchdowns. He carried the ball 141 times which was 34.5 percent of the team carries and started in every game.

Junior Jared Edwards (Bellbrook, Ohio/Bellbrook H.S.) will have the opportunity to be the featured back this season and has shown flashes of great athletic ability during his two first seasons. He carried the ball 82 times for 439 yards (5.4 ypr) a year ago and scored three times. He has carried the ball 126 times in his career for 816 yards and eight touchdowns. Edwards must stay healthy to fulfill his full potential as injuries have slowed him over the past two years.

“Jared is an electrifying runner with unlimited potential,” said Deere. “I fully expect him to excel with a full season and put up very good numbers. His key is to work hard and learn how to carry a heavier workload this season.”

Junior Jeremy Southworth (Hillsdale, Mich./Reading H.S.) is another guy who impressed in the spring after recording 10 carries for 55 yards in 2009. Southworth did score two touchdowns in limited duty and has strong legs and a low center of gravity.

“After Jared and Jeremy we have a few question marks,” said Deere. “We recruited possibly the best freshmen class of running backs since I’ve been here and I expect a few of those guys to compete for time right away. You need to have a stable of backs with constant fresh legs in order to keep possession of the ball and keep the chains moving forward.”

The offensive line is a group that sees the whole right side of the line gone as Fred Keena, J.R. Hauch and Scott Ross combined for 29 starts a year ago. Finding quality replacements for those guys will be the challenge heading into preseason camp. The depth of this group might be the thinnest until more guys get the chance to impress in the weeks leading up to the season opener. Two guys who have definitely made a spot for themselves on the left side are junior Nick Ross (Manchester, Mich./Manchester H.S.) and senior Demetrius Jackson (Waterford, Mich./Mott H.S.). Ross, the youngest member of the offensive line core last year, played all 10 games at left tackle and did an outstanding job.

“Nick is one of the best lineman we have had around here in a long time,” said Deere. “He has a nasty streak on the field and is a great competitor. He proved that he belonged last year and this offense will showcase his ability even more.”

Jackson missed last year due to injury and he is hoping to regain the form which put fear in the eyes of opposing defensive lineman. Jackson will be a force at one of the guard spots and is the biggest physical presence.

“Demetrius coming back is such a blessing,” said Deere. “He has the ability to take over a game and use his strength to open big holes for our backs. We are looking for his leadership to be elevated and be a vocal presence inside the huddle. I think he will play with extreme passion after missing 2009 and end his career on a high note.”

A few guys who will vie for starting spots will be junior Jared Babcock (Alma, Mich./Alma H.S.), sophomore Nick Mighion (Sterling Heights, Mich./Warren Cousino H.S.), junior Spencer Whittington (Paw Paw, Mich./Lawrence H.S.) and junior Trey Searles (Tecumseh, Mich./Tecumseh H.S.).

Babcock appeared in five games as a sophomore and was on the depth chart as a backup at left guard. Mighion played in seven games as a freshman and saw time at right guard. Whittington appeared in eight games as a sophomore and could earn a spot at right tackle. Searles has seen time at both tackle spots and tight end in running formation. He played in nine games a year ago and might be moving to center after senior Josh Holmes, last year’s backup, is also gone.

The wide receiving group lost Joe Beehler and Eric Suttie who both combined for 79 catches out of 181 team catches in 2009. Beehler led the team with 51 catches for 565 yards while Suttie averaged 20.3 yards per grab with four touchdowns.

The exodus of the top three receivers means that the competition for playing time will be wide open during camp. Sophomore Mitch Gabriele (Hillsdale, Mich./Hillsdale H.S.) played on special teams as a freshman and will look to contribute in the passing game. Gabriele has good hands and is a competitive guy who showed toughness on the kickoff and punt return crews.

Sophomore Chad Allemon (Casco, Mich./Marine City H.S.) is also another option who played himself into the rotation with a good spring. He has good speed and will be a slot receiver who can make a tough catch in traffic. Sophomore Shuan Hladki (Montague, Mich./Montague H.S.) is a good sized target at 6-1 and played some defensive back on the junior varsity level last year. He could transition into a deep threat possibility for the Bulldogs.

Senior Ben Houtteman (Brighton, Mich./Brighton H.S.) is a big target at 6-4 and has played tight end in the past. Houtteman made five catches for 96 yards in nine games a year ago. Senior Brad Czerniak (Toledo, Ohio/Central Catholic H.S.) played in six games and had one catch as a junior. Sophomore D’ante Thompson (Detroit, Mich./Henry Ford H.S.) returns after making three catches for 54 yards with one touchdown in 2009.

Defense
The Adrian College defense will still be under the direction of Deere and for good reasons after looking at the numbers since he took over that role on the coaching staff. In 2009, Deere’s unit led the MIAA in eight different defensive categories including total defense (280.9 ypg), scoring defense (16.2 ppg), rushing defense (118.0 ypg), turnover margin (+0.7), pass defense (162.9 ypg), sacks per game (2.8) and tackles for loss per game (8.0). In addition, the defense ranked 10th nationally in pass defense efficiency (93.55) and in the top 40 in Division III in six categories.

The defensive line has been a strength for the Bulldogs over the past few seasons, but this group lost a lot of talent and must fill big shoes in 2010. Gino Panza won MIAA Defensive Player of the Year honors and fellow teammates Justin Judd and Bronson Gonzales are both gone. Panza had 10.5 tackles for loss and three sacks in 2009 while Judd and Gonzales combined for 77 tackles, 16.5 tackles for loss and nine sacks.

One holdover who has big time experience at defensive end is senior Austin Fritz (Ayersville, Ohio/Ayersville H.S.). Fritz tied for the team lead with 11.5 tackles for loss and ranked second on the squad with six sacks a year ago. He had 36 tackles and two interceptions including a potential game-changer at Trine and was named Second Team All-MIAA. He has played in 28 career games for the Bulldogs and recorded 80 tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks.

Senior Ryan Stamper (Walled Lake, Mich./Lakeland H.S.) will return at defensive tackle after playing in eight games and making five starts in 2009. Stamper made five tackles and will need to increase his production. Junior Steve Mauk (China, Mich./St. Clair H.S.) played in seven games at defensive end and recorded three tackles. Senior Clint Chapman (Rockwood, Mich./Carleton Airport H.S.) played in eight games a year ago and had five tackles at defensive end.

The linebackers might be the best collective unit on the team as they return several guys who elevated their game in 2009. Senior Danny Taylor (Commerce Twp., Mich./White Lake Lakeland H.S.) is this year’s team captain and led the squad with 70 tackles last season. He had 39 solo stops and nine tackles for loss with four pass breakups. Taylor was named Second Team All-MIAA and also was MIAA Defensive Player of the Week after a 15-tackle performance in week one against Capital.

“Being a captain means that there is a lot of pressure on my shoulders,” said Taylor. “I want that role of being the guy that needs to lead by example. I would not have it any other way.”

One of the unsung heroes from last year was current senior Jarred Kwiatkowski (Warren, Mich./Cousino H.S.) who really stepped up his game. Kwiatkowski ranked second on the team with 66 tackles and tied for the team lead with 11.5 tackles for loss. He had 3.5 sacks, one interception, one fumble recovery and one forced fumble. Kwiatkowski was named First Team All-MIAA in 2009.

Senior Sam Pinkerton (Millbury, Ohio/Genoa H.S.) has good size at 6-2, 220 but just has not done enough to crack the rotation in the past. Pinkerton is looking to find a role at linebacker and end his career on a high note. Junior Darren Walter (Muskegon, Mich./Orchard View H.S.) played in nine games a year ago as a reserve linebacker and registered seven tackles and one sack. Senior Jeff Bien (Lansing, Mich./Catholic Central H.S.) will convert to linebacker after sending time at fullback during his first three seasons. Bien played on special teams and recorded nine tackles last year. Junior Bryan Garbarino (Shelby Twp., Mich./Utica H.S.) will serve as a backup at outside linebacker and played nine games a year ago with two tackles.

The secondary adds Freeman to the mix at cornerback and also brings back junior Jeff Makowski (Maple Heights, Ohio/Garfield Hts. Trinity H.S.). Makowski played in all 10 games and made six starts. He had 23 tackles, three interceptions and tied for the team lead with seven pass breakups. Adding depth to the cornerback spot will be senior Scott Normandin (Lansing, Mich./Grand Ledge H.S.). Normandin played in eight games as a junior and made three starts. He registered 14 tackles and one pass breakup.

The 4-4 alignment on defense usually leaves just one safety spot on the field and junior Chris Cook (Hartford, Mich./Hartford H.S.) fills that role quite nicely. Cook recorded 46 tackles last year and tied for the team lead with seven pass breakups. He had a 68-yard interception return at Kalamazoo while forcing and recovering one fumble on the season.

Senior Vinnie Ives (Oxford, Mich./Oxford H.S.) returns to the safety spot and backed up Cook a year ago. Ives played in all 10 games and recorded nine tackles and one interception.

Special Teams
The Bulldogs will have a solid punter back in senior Kevin Allaer (Wallaceburg, Ont./Wallaceburg H.S.) who has been handling those duties since his freshman year. Allaer has been named MIAA Special Teams Player of the Week numerous times including twice in 2009. He ranked second in the MIAA with a 36.6 yard average on 52 attempts and also pinned 13 punts inside the 20-yard line.

The kicking game needs to be improved as the team made just 8-of-17 field goals a year ago. Senior Logan Mitseff (Shelby Twp., Mich./Pontiac Notre Dame H.S.) is the incumbent since Justin Warner and Zach Scoville are gone. Mitseff attempted just one field goal last season which was over 50 yards. He has a strong leg and will be the likely candidate to handle the placekicking duties.