• Hi Guest, want to participate in the discussions, keep track of read/unread posts, upgrade to remove ads and more? Create your free account and increase the benefits of your BigSkyFans.com experience today!

2009 Recap Part 3 of 4

SDHornet

SDHornet

Moderator
Staff member
Offense

The Hornet offense had to endure a lot of injuries during the 2009 season. The injuries started early as Bryan Hilliard had surgery on both of his shoulders in the offseason which caused him to miss the entire 2009 season. The Hornets added Terrence Dailey, a transfer from Washington, to help ease the loss of Hilliard. However, as the season progressed, the running back position took hit after hit. Evander Wilkins was lost midway through the year with a hamstring; and Dailey had some shoulder problems that sidelined him towards the end of the season. By the end of the season, Sperbeck put any healthy capable player in the backfield.

Fortunately, the offensive line was able to step up and anchor the offense. Whether it was Sam McCowan, Jake Croxdale, Wilkins, Dailey, or even Jeff Badger; the offensive line was able to open some holes, control the line of scrimmage and get the running game moving. Dailey and McCowan were the leading rushers for the Hornets. The offensive line did a solid job providing enough time for the quarterback; however they did allow 21 sacks.

The quarterbacks struggled all season long. Neither Jason Smith nor McLeod Bethel-Thompson was able to sustain consistent success during the season. Fortunately, MBT showed some life during the second half of the last game of the season when he had the game of a lifetime against “the farm extension”. Smith entered the season with a strong finish of the 2008 season and many had hopes that his progression and development would reach a new level in 20009. Unfortunately this wasn’t the case as Smith struggled to get things going and didn’t show noticeable improvement upon the previous year. There was continuous change at the quarterback position between the two but I think the starting spot is MBT’s to lose heading into the 2010 season.

The wide receivers took some time to get going and sync up with the offense. The addition of Brandyn Reed and John Hendershott proved to be a formidable attack for the offense this season. The WR’s improved and were able to get open and make some plays as the season progressed. Reed, Hendershott, and Dylan Lane were the leading receivers for the Hornets.

Tight ends Brian Heath and Jon Krebs saw a lot of playtime this past season. Sperbeck runs a double TE set often and having both Heath and Krebs was an advantage. They both played well and made significant contributions on the offensive side of the ball in both receiving and blocking. Having capable TE’s near the goal line is key to scoring TD’s in the redzone.

The Hornets have a lot of holes to fill in the offensive line. They will lose 3 of 5 starters to graduation. Center John Taylor and right tackle Nate Doverspike are the returning starters. The good news is with Taylor being a center, will provide some guidance as he will be straddled by new starters on either side of him. Also they have a handful of freshman offensive linemen that have some size. I would think that David Born, the 3 star 325 pound recruit out of Bakersfield will be the leading candidate for the left tackle starting role. I’m going to go out on a limb here and predict (barring injury) that Born will be a 4 season Big Sky All-Conference Team member and start every game for the next four years.
 
Players Leaving

  • •LT Clint Lessard will be lost to graduation. The 300 pound tackle started 10 games this season and had 22 starts in his career. He was responsible for protecting the blind side and his presence will be missed.
    • LG Peter Lenz will be lost to graduation. The 300 pound guard started seven games this season and 15 games in his career.
    • LG Patrick Walsh will be lost to graduation. The 260 pound guard served mainly as a backup but did have 5 starts this season and 11 starts in his career. He played in 9 games this season.
    • RG Matt Lemley will be lost to graduation. The 265 pound guard started 10 games this season and had an impressive 31 starts in his career with Sac State.
    • TE/LS Brian Heath, as mentioned in the special teams write-up, will be lost to graduation. Not only was he a solid long snapper, but he started 10 games at tight end this season and had 30 starts in his career.
    • QB Jon Loeliger will be lost to graduation and appeared in 10 games this season. I was a little surprised that with all the injuries at running back, Sperbeck didn’t try to use him there at all; either way he was willing to contribute wherever he was asked.
    • WR Anthony Fletcher and TE Mark Lavey will be lost to graduation. Fletcher played in 1 game and Lavey played in 7 games this season.

Players Returning

  • • QB McLeod Bethel-Thompson returns for his senior season. He started 2 games this past season but finished the last half game of the season with an amazing performance. I think the starting position is his to lose. MBT will need to step up and play consistently and lead the offense next season.
    • QB Jason Smith will return for his senior season. He never really seemed to turn the corner this season and struggled mightily at times. He will need to be prepared to play if MBT goes down or under performs.
    • QB Dominic Carmazzi is the only underclassman returning at quarterback. I think he redshirted this season and will be a redshirt freshman for 2010. It will be interesting to see if Sperbeck can get him some reps during some games to prepare him for the 2011 season.
    • WR Brandyn Reed will be a senior next season. Reed took a few weeks to get in sync with the offense, however he made many clutch plays and proved to be a down the field threat. My only complaint is the occasional drop that he had this season, but other than that I thought he had a tremendous season. Reed only started 5 games this season but did see action in 10 games. Barring injury, he will start all 11 games next year.
    • WR John Hendershott will be a senior and will be coming off of a solid season. Hendershott and Reed proved to be a potent receiving combo. Hendershott started 5 games and really picked up towards the latter half of the season. He played in all 11 games. It will be interesting to see how they can build off of this season and continue their success in the 2010 season.
    • WR Dylan Lane will be entering his senior season next year. He had some significant playing time and will undoubtedly see quite a bit of action next season. He started 11 games in 2009 and 18 in his career.
    • WR Ron Richardson will be entering his senior season next season. He has some receptions and has the potential to make big plays. He started 7 games in 2009 and 14 in his career.
    • WR Brett Willis and WR Matt Larson will be entering their senior season. Willis started 1 game and Larson started 3 this season. Both played in 10 games this season.
    • TE Jon Krebs will return for his senior season. He got in on some plays this year and saw some considerable playing time when Sperbeck lined up with 2 TE formations. Krebs started 2 games this season and will be the starter at TE with the graduation of Heath. He played in all 11 games.
    • TE Matt Carter will be entering his senior season. Current freshman TE James Bobak and TE DJ Maciel will be returning as well. It will be interesting to see which one steps up to fill in the back-up TE role behind Krebs. I imagine all of these guys will see time on special teams.
    • RB Bryan Hilliard will be coming off of a redshirt year and will be a junior next season. He spent the 2009 season rehabbing from two shoulder surgeries. He will have an immediate impact when he returns. Hilliard has started 14 games in his career.
    • RB Evander Wilkins will return for his senior season next year. He started 4 games this season before going down with a hamstring injury. Wilkins started all 4 games this season and 7 in his career.
    • RB Terrance Dailey finished his sophomore season after transferring in from Washington. He had some good and bad moments. It will be interesting to see if the coaches will allow him to return, and if he does, will they redshirt him so that he can rehab his shoulder injuries. If he can get his attitude under control, he could be dangerous. Dailey started 4 games this season and played in 7 games.
    • RB Jake Croxdale will be a junior next season. He stepped up big during the latter half of the season when the running backs were ravaged by injuries. Croxdale started 2 games this season and played in 5 games.
    • RB Sam McCowan had an impressive season. He will return for his sophomore season next year. He showed that he has the potential to break a big play. McCowan started 1 game this season but played in all 11 games.
    • RB/LB Jeff Badger will return for his sophomore season. He helped fill the void in the backfield when players were lost to injury.
    • RB Kenslow Smith redshirted last season and will be a junior next season.
    • RB Markell Williams finished his freshman season. I assume he redshirted and will be a redshirt freshman next season.
    • C John Taylor will anchor the offensive line next year as he returns for his junior season. The 300 pound center started all 11 games this season and has 23 total starts in his career.
    • RT Nate Doverspike will return for his junior season. The 250 pound tackle started all 11 games this season and will continue to improve as the returning starter. I would like to see him add some weight in the offseason.
    • C Dustin Pfaff will return for his senior season next year. The 290 pound back-up center didn’t see any playing time this season. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Sperbeck move him to guard to fill a spot left by one of the graduating linemen. (If a player is listed on the 2-deep, but doesn’t see any playing time, can the season be counted as a redshirt year for said player?)
    • LT Vince Weaver will return for his sophomore season. The 275 pound tackle started 1 game this season and saw action in 5 games.
    • RG Clay DePauw will return for his sophomore season. The 265 pound guard did not start any games this season but saw action in 2 games.
    • Offensive linemen Matt Shinn (295 pounds), Aaron Gasper (275 pounds), Chad Tannenbaum (300 pounds), Kevin Galindo (260 pounds), Justin Hill (290 pounds), and last but certainly not the least, David Born (325 pounds) all came into the season as freshmen. I am not sure which ones were redshirted, but there are three open spots on the offensive line which are up for grabs. May the best men win.
 
Conference Rankings

  • • Sac State ranked 6th in the Big Sky (83rd FCS) in rushing offense with 121.9 yards per game.
    • Sac State ranked 6th in the Big Sky (31st FCS) in passing offense with 228.1 yards per game.
    • The Hornets were 7th in the Big Sky (49th FCS) in total offense with 350.0 yards per game.
    • The Hornets were 5th in the Big Sky (48th FCS) in scoring offense with 24.9 points per game.
    • The Hornets were 6th in the Big Sky (55th FCS) in sacks allowed with 1.91 allowed per game and a total of 21 sacks allowed on the season.

Individual Stats

  • • Smith: 142/247 (57.5 %) for 1,707 yards, 12 TD’s and 9 INT’s; 30 rushes for -73 yards and 1 TD.
    • MBT: 64/110 (58.2 %) for 746 yards, 4 TD’s and 5 INT’s; 25 rushes for 1 yard and 1 TD; 2 receptions for 7 yards.
    • Dailey: 118 rushes for 617 yards, 3 TD’s; 1 reception for 4 yards.
    • McCowan: 83 rushes for 344 yards, 4 TD’s; 11 receptions for 80 yards.
    • Croxdale: 55 rushes for 199 yards, 3 TD’s; 9 receptions for 88 yards.
    • Wilkins: 33 rushes for 131 yards, 1 TD; 8 receptions for 48 yards.
    • Reed: 46 receptions for 731 yards, 7 TD’s.
    • Hendershott: 38 receptions for 558 yards, 2 TD’s.
    • Lane: 40 receptions for 409 yards, 3 TD’s; 1 rush for 10 yards.
    • Richardson: 19 receptions for 187 yards.
    • Heath: 12 receptions for 122 yards, 2 TD’s; 1 rush for 18 yards.
    • Willis: 8 receptions for 112 yards, 3 TD’s.
    • Krebs: 8 receptions for 87 yards, 1 TD.
    • Badger: 29 rushes for 107 yards, 1TD; 1 reception for 7 yards.
    • Larson: 3 receptions for 29 yards.
    • Fletcher: 1 reception for 29 yards.
    • Carter: 1 reception for 9 yards.
    • Loelinger: 2 rushes for 2 yards.
    • Lavey: 1 reception for 2 yards.

Inconsistency was the name of the game for this offense. Just when they would get moving and playing well, everything seemed to fall apart the offense would lose its momentum. The play calling was predictable at some points, but given the injuries and struggles they held their own. The offense had way too many turnovers; they had 18 fumbles with 11 of them lost, and 14 INT’s for a total of 25 turnovers.

The Hornets will return all of its skilled positions for the 2010 season. There will be no excuse for a slow start as everyone should be in sync right out of the gate. The offensive line will have holes to fill but I think with the recruits Sperbeck has brought to the program, there will be players to fill the voids. It will just be a matter of if those players can step up and execute. The ability of the offense to execute starts with the offensive line. Given the way that MBT finished the season, I would have to think that at this point, the starting position is his to lose. What I like about MBT over Smith is that MBT has the arm strength to fully utilize the down the field threat that Reed and Hendershott possess. This stretches the defense vertically and can keep a defense on its heels which will in turn open up the run. The running game should be fine so long as the offensive line can control the line of scrimmage and open up holes for the running backs. With Hilliard coming back, the power running game will be in play next season. The combination of Hilliard/McCowan/Wilkins should provide a potent rushing attack. This doesn’t include Dailey as his status on the team is unknown at this time.

The bottom line is the Hornets have a lot of its offensive playmakers returning and there will be no excuse for not making plays. I honestly think that offensively, the Hornets should be able to make a playoff push for the 2010 season. They have the wide receiver’s that can make big plays down the field, and running back’s who have shown that they are more than capable of contributing. The missing pieces of the puzzle will be to see a quarterback step up and lead this team; and to have the holes in the offensive line filled. Neither of which are unattainable. I would also like to see the Hornets get some sizeable leads against the inferior opponents so some of the younger players can get some experience; specifically at WR and QB.
 
Overall, this is VERY good. The ONE thing I don't like about it is the absolute absence of the QB of the future. But we do have some good things in store for next year.

Thanks a bunch for doing this.
 
Super Hornet said:
Overall, this is VERY good. The ONE thing I don't like about it is the absolute absence of the QB of the future. But we do have some good things in store for next year.

Thanks a bunch for doing this.
Click to expand...

My bad, I didn’t mean to leave your boy off the list. I edited it and Carmazzi is now listed in the returning players section. :oops:
 
I heard once that Carmazzi was born in a Manger.

SD, great work. I hope to contribute such quality when I'm done with that there book learnin' we's do at Sac State.
 
SactoHornetAlum said:
Kadeezy said:
Can anyone tell me why all my posts show up twice everytime now!
Click to expand...

Dont know...have u gone and done something to anger the Hornet gods...like mess around with someone from davis :lol:
Click to expand...

Wouldn’t that please them? :lol:
 
Kadeezy said:
I heard once that Carmazzi was born in a Manger.

SD, great work. I hope to contribute such quality when I'm done with that there book learnin' we's do at Sac State.
Click to expand...

I agree, great job! I can only hope TD can get it straight- because with all the horses we have in the stable- it will make for a powerful run game.

As an aside, my physical therapist played at Davis-he keeps telling me that they will beat us and go to the playoffs next year....i do like a good laugh during PT..
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Back
Top