2011 Recap - Part 3 of 4 – Offense
The expectations of the Hornets offense were high this season as virtually every starter returned for the 2011 season. Unfortunately everything that could have gone wrong did. The offense was changed to implement the pistol, and the offensive coordinator who was installing it was hired away to SJSU. The returning players struggled to adjust to the new system and that coupled with injuries as well as questionable and predictable play calling resulted in complete disaster for this unit. The offense had a decent first half of the season but completely broke down for the ever important back half of the season.
The offense got off on a great start with a gutsy performance in the upset win over Oregon State, however the offense only played up to that level one other time and that was at home against Montana. The passing game had too many struggles given the returning group of receivers and returning QB. Fleming struggled to get in sync with the receivers and then missed most of the last half of the season due to injury. The receiving group had a lot of talent returning and big things were expected from Reed, Deadder, and Hendershott. However the passing attack was never able to get on track and aside from a few big games here and there, the passing attack was a huge disappointment for much of the season. Deadder went down with an injury in the latter half of the season; Reed had a big game here and there but had an inconsistent season. Hendershott was consistent all season long but he was mainly used for the short underneath routes. Safron and Edwards filled in for an injured Fleming and neither QB looked good passing the ball. Safron saw most of the playing time from the backup role but he didn’t show much improvement passing the ball as the season came to a disappointing end.
The OL had a few voids entering the season but the OL was the only consistent aspect of the offense over the course of the season as it was anchored by returning starters Doverspike, Worthley, and DePauw. Going into the season, the Hornets were looking at a “smash and dash” rushing attack featuring Hilliard and Shaw. However this was quickly negated by a week 1 season and career ending injury to Shaw. Due to the failures of the passing game, opposing defenses were able to stack the box and focus on stopping the run. This made it tough going on the ground as Hilliard, McCowan, and Croxdale struggled to get the rushing attack going. Hilliard saw limited touches as the season wore on. He had an amazing career as a Hornet and his tough rushing style will be hard to replace. McCowan had a good play every now and then but saw a limited amount of touches. Croxdale saw increased playing time as the season concluded.
All in all it was a completely disappointing offensive season considering the amount of talent and experience that was returning. The inconsistencies and failure to execute on the offensive end combined with poor play calling and game planning derailed any chance for this program to take it to the next level. Switching offensive schemes this past offseason obviously had an impact but with no offensive coordinator on staff, play calling and game planning would have been an issue for this program yet again. The injuries had an impact as well but this program has the depth to overcome this issue. Coach Sperbeck has his work cut out for him to remedy these offensive shortcomings this offseason. There is no excuse for the deplorable offensive performance of this past season.
Team Rankings/Stats
Players Leaving
QB’s
Players Returning
QB’s
Individual Stats
QB’s
2012 Outlook
There will be nothing but question marks surrounding this offense heading into the offseason. First and foremost Coach Sperbeck needs to decide what he plans to do offensively for next season. It’s clear that an offensive coordinator is needed and the pistol offense was a total disaster. An OC needs to be brought in sooner rather than later so that an offense can be decided upon and players who best fit into the new scheme can be recruited. The predictability and lack of effective game planning needs to be addressed and the addition of a competent OC should address those issues.
The starting QB spot will be wide open and it will be up for grabs between Safron, Edwards, Geringer, and whoever else will be brought in via recruiting. Neither of the returning QB’s that saw action was impressive so it’s safe to say that the best and most impressive player in spring and fall camp will be given the nod.
A handful of WR’s will be returning and the sliver lining of the injuries this season was that it allowed the younger receivers to see playing time. These returning players will need to step up and fill the huge void left by the talented WR’s that are departing. Norrise and Carter showed flashes of play making ability and Broadnax showed improvement throughout the year. There is a handful of WR’s coming off of redshirts and hopefully a couple of them can step up and contribute. Knowles’ size can present coverage problems and it would be nice to see the Hornets use this to their advantage next season. The Hornets will return all of their TE’s so there should be some consistency seen at that position next season.
At RB, depth may be an issue and it will be interesting to see the recruits that can be brought in to reload at this position. McCowan is a capable RB but he is not a between the tackles runner. His strength is getting the ball in the open field and letting his speed and agility generate a big play. McCowan won’t make it through an entire season if he is used between the tackles. Ferman is the biggest back available for returning next season so maybe he will be used for the power run game. The offense has been RB by committee the past few seasons so multiple RB’s will no doubt see plenty of playing time next season.
The strength of this offense will be the OL. With a lot of size and experience returning, the Hornets will have a capable and reliable OL to anchor the offense next season. A couple of voids will need to be filled but multiple players saw significant playing time and they should be capable of doing so. Worthley will anchor this line at RG along with Stickney at RT and DePauw at LG (I wouldn’t be surprised to see DePauw moved to C). Weaver has experience at T and Martin saw considerable playing time as well. Again, plenty of size and experience is available to fill the two open spots.
The cupboard isn’t bare heading into next season. There are a lot of talented players returning at multiple positions but finding a reliable and consistent QB this offseason will be crucial. As of now a lot of things are up in the air and a lot of questions will hopefully be answered when an OC is brought in. The offense needs to see wholesale improvement next season or Coach Sperbeck will be in even hotter water.
As always my recaps are up for discussion. If I missed something feel free to point it out.
GO HORNETS!!!
Next: Part 4 of 4 - Defense
The expectations of the Hornets offense were high this season as virtually every starter returned for the 2011 season. Unfortunately everything that could have gone wrong did. The offense was changed to implement the pistol, and the offensive coordinator who was installing it was hired away to SJSU. The returning players struggled to adjust to the new system and that coupled with injuries as well as questionable and predictable play calling resulted in complete disaster for this unit. The offense had a decent first half of the season but completely broke down for the ever important back half of the season.
The offense got off on a great start with a gutsy performance in the upset win over Oregon State, however the offense only played up to that level one other time and that was at home against Montana. The passing game had too many struggles given the returning group of receivers and returning QB. Fleming struggled to get in sync with the receivers and then missed most of the last half of the season due to injury. The receiving group had a lot of talent returning and big things were expected from Reed, Deadder, and Hendershott. However the passing attack was never able to get on track and aside from a few big games here and there, the passing attack was a huge disappointment for much of the season. Deadder went down with an injury in the latter half of the season; Reed had a big game here and there but had an inconsistent season. Hendershott was consistent all season long but he was mainly used for the short underneath routes. Safron and Edwards filled in for an injured Fleming and neither QB looked good passing the ball. Safron saw most of the playing time from the backup role but he didn’t show much improvement passing the ball as the season came to a disappointing end.
The OL had a few voids entering the season but the OL was the only consistent aspect of the offense over the course of the season as it was anchored by returning starters Doverspike, Worthley, and DePauw. Going into the season, the Hornets were looking at a “smash and dash” rushing attack featuring Hilliard and Shaw. However this was quickly negated by a week 1 season and career ending injury to Shaw. Due to the failures of the passing game, opposing defenses were able to stack the box and focus on stopping the run. This made it tough going on the ground as Hilliard, McCowan, and Croxdale struggled to get the rushing attack going. Hilliard saw limited touches as the season wore on. He had an amazing career as a Hornet and his tough rushing style will be hard to replace. McCowan had a good play every now and then but saw a limited amount of touches. Croxdale saw increased playing time as the season concluded.
All in all it was a completely disappointing offensive season considering the amount of talent and experience that was returning. The inconsistencies and failure to execute on the offensive end combined with poor play calling and game planning derailed any chance for this program to take it to the next level. Switching offensive schemes this past offseason obviously had an impact but with no offensive coordinator on staff, play calling and game planning would have been an issue for this program yet again. The injuries had an impact as well but this program has the depth to overcome this issue. Coach Sperbeck has his work cut out for him to remedy these offensive shortcomings this offseason. There is no excuse for the deplorable offensive performance of this past season.
Team Rankings/Stats
- • Rushing Offense: 6th in BSC (48th FCS) with an average of 164.6 ypg.
• Passing Offense: 9th in BSC (81st FCS) with an average of 176.0 ypg.
• Total Offense: 7th in BSC (73rd FCS) with an average of 340.6 ypg.
• Scoring Offense: 7th in BSC (75th FCS) with an average of 23.7 ppg.
• Penalty Yards: 6th most in BSC, 72 penalties for 684 yards lost; 62.5 ypg.
• Time of Possession: 4th in BSC, averaged 29:53 per game.
• Sacks Allowed: 4th fewest in BSC (27th fewest FCS), allowed 16 sacks for 85 yards lost.
• Redzone Offense: 9th in BSC, 26/41, 63.4%: 23 TD’s (14 pass, 9 rush), 3/7 FG’s, 11 TO’s (3 fumbles, 1 INT, 7 downs)
• Turnovers: T-3rd fewest in BSC, 18 turnovers (6 INT’s, 12 fumbles lost)
Players Leaving
QB’s
- • Jeff Fleming will be lost to graduation. He had a great 2010 season and completely saved it from disaster. This season held high expectations and I felt he would have been able to handle the implementation of the pistol offense. He had a great knack at creating plays with his feet but had an inconsistent season passing the ball. Injury knocked him out from playing most of the last half of the season. A successful 2011 season relied heavily on a healthy Fleming and that didn’t happen as he only played in and started 7 games. Fleming was voted offensive MVP nonetheless.
- • Bryan Hilliard will be lost to graduation. His Hornet career was a great one and he will finish near the top for career rushing statistics in multiple categories. His touches declined towards the end of the season and he could have reaggravated an old injury. His departure will be near impossible to replace. Hilliard played in all 11 games.
• Jake Croxdale will be lost to graduation. Jake was a tough and dedicated player that saw a lot of playing time on special teams and increased reps at RB the last few weeks of the season. He’ll be best remembered for stepping up and making plays when the RB’s were ravaged by injuries 2 seasons ago. His toughness and mentality is a model that every player should try to emulate. Jake was awarded the Ray Clemons Award for his hard work and effort through the 11 games that he played in this season.
• Curtis Shaw has exhausted his eligibility. His speed and agility were going to compliment Hilliard’s power and strength but it never materialized as Shaw was lost for the season in week 1. Injuries completely limited his impact as a Hornet. A medical redshirt could be an option and we might see him back next season.
• Stephen Tezanos-Pinto will be graduating. He saw some actions this season but it was limited. He was used in goal line situations and was starting to be used regularly until he put the ball on the ground. He played in 6 games this season.
- • Brandon Reed will be lost to graduation. He started the season on a huge note with the game winning TD & 2-point conversion catches at Oregon State and had a few other big games as well. A lot was expected from him and it was unfortunate that the passing game struggled as much as it did. Reed is a vertical threat that will be tough to replace. Reed played in 9 games, 3 of which were starts.
• Chase Deadder will be graduating. Another big and athletic game changing WR who had his season cut short due to injury. Deadder had an impact while at Sac State. He was a down the field threat that could make physical plays with both his hands and his feet. His loss will be a huge void to fill. Deadder only played in 6 games, which were all starts.
• John Hendershott will be graduating. He didn’t put up big numbers but he had good hands and caught a lot of his passes on shorter routes. He provided his biggest impact on special teams returning kickoffs. His reliability and consistency will be missed. He played in all 11 games, 8 of which were starts.
• Keonte Howard transferred in from New Mexico State but was mostly quiet for most of the season and saw limited action. He played in all 11 games and started in 2.
- • Nate Doverspike will be lost to graduation. The 280 pound BSC 2nd team left tackle was solid for his entire career as a Hornet. He anchored the left side of the line where he started all 11 games this season and an impressive 33 straight starts to conclude his Hornet career.
• Dustin Pfaff will be graduating. This 270 pound lineman filled the void at center and started all 11 games this season. He earned the Most Improved Player Award.
Players Returning
QB’s
- • Garret Safron will return for his SO season. He saw some significant playing time when Fleming went down but was inconsistent passing the ball. He has great running abilities and was able to make some plays with his feet. He played in 5 games this season and will look to challenge for the starting QB spot next season.
• Tommy Edwards will return for his JR season. He too saw some playing time when Fleming went down but struggled to connect with the receivers as well. He doesn’t have the running ability Safron possesses but will look to challenge for the QB spot as well. He played in 3 games.
• Colin Burnett will return for his SO season, FR season if he was a redshirt (NCAA website lists him as playing in 2 games). He too will be looking to challenge for the starting QB spot.
• Jake Geringer redshirted this season after suffering an injury in fall camp and will return for his FR season. The QB spot is wide open and he will no doubt be looking to win the starting role.
- • Sam McCowan will be returning for his SR season. He had a few big plays here and there that showcased his breakaway speed. Hopefully the coaches can design some plays to get him in open space with the ball where he can exhibit his skills. He played in all 11 games and should be the front runner for the starting spot.
• Gary Ferman and Jordan Mantanane redshirted and will return for their FR seasons. There should be plenty of opportunities for both of them to get a chance to show what they can do as there isn’t a lot of returning RB’s on the roster.
- • Morris Norrise will return for his JR season. He saw some considerable playing time and had some big plays and earned all BSC honorable mention. His role will increase significantly next season with the graduation of the SR WR’s but it appears he is ready to step up and fill the role. He played in all 11 games, 8 of which he started.
• DeAndre Carter will return for his SO season. He showed glimpses of his talent as he made some plays deep down the field as well as with his speed off of the bubble screens. Carter has a lot of potential which hopefully can be harnessed next season. He played in 8 games, 4 of which were starts.
• Chris Broadnax will return for his SO season. He saw increased playing time as the season progressed and will most likely see even more playing time next season. He played in 9 games this season, 4 of which were starts.
• Justin Chastain will return for his SR season. He saw some playing time and will look to get more involved in the offense. He played in 8 games.
• TJ Knowles will return for his SR season. He transferred from South Florida and presents a huge matchup problem for defenses, especially when put in the slot. I am surprised he did not see more playing time as it is difficult to defend his size. It’ll be interesting to see how he is incorporated into the offense next season. He played in 5 games.
• Shane Harrison and Blake Robertson both played in 1 game this season and both will be SO next season if they couldn’t use a redshirt this season.
• Nnamdi Agude, Ashton Collins, Justin Cox, and Jamal Smith all redshirted and will be FR next season with the exception of Smith who was a transfer from Utah and will be a JR.
- • DJ Maciel will be returning for his JR season. He stepped up and filled in for McKeon who missed the season. Maciel played in all 10 games and started 7 of them.
• Reese Heaslet will return for his SR season. He also saw a lot of playing time. He played in all 11 games and started 4 of them.
• Brian McKeon will be returning from a redshirt for his JR season. He was slated to a key player this season but it will have to wait until next.
• James Bobak will be returning for his SR season. He played in 11 games at long snapper on special teams.
• Jon Kirkman will be returning for his SO season. He played in 2 games.
• Marcus Mosi redshirted and will be returning for his FR season.
- • Tyler Worthley will be returning for his JR season. This massive 320 pound lineman started at RG in all 11 games and currently has a streak of 22 straight starts.
• Clay DePauw will be returning for his SR season. The 280 pound lineman started all 11 games at left guard and has a streak of 14 straight starts.
• Derek Stickney will be returning for his SO season. This impressive 280 pound redshirt freshman saw action in 10 games and played well enough to earn the starting RT spot. He started the last 8 games of the season.
• Vince Weaver will be returning for his SR season. The 285 pound lineman started the first 3 games at right tackle and played in 8 games this season.
• Devonte Martin will return for his SO season. The 325 pound lineman saw action in 10 games this season.
• Aaron Gasper will be returning for his SR season. The 285 pound guard played in 2 games.
• William Fukofuka will be returning for his SO season. The 300 pound lineman played in 1 game this season.
• Matt Shinn will be returning for his JR season. The 270 pound lineman didn’t see any playing time this season and may have redshirted.
• Julio Regla will be retuning for his SO season. The 265 pound lineman didn’t see any playing time this season.
• Tyler Blank, Chauncey Centeno, Lars Hanson, Spencer Klew, and Aleksandar Milanovic most likely redshirted as they didn’t see any playing time. They will all be FR next season.
Individual Stats
QB’s
- • Fleming: 105/193 (54.4%) for 1,138 yards, 7 TD’s, 5 INT’s; 82 carries for 382 yards, 5 TD’s.
• Safron: 24/57 (42.1%) for 394 yards, 3 TD’s; 53 carries for 286 yards, 3 TD’s.
• Edwards: 29/56 (51.8%) for 365 yards, 2 TD’s, 1 INT; 1 carry for 4 yards.
- • Hilliard: 167 carries for 660 yards, 7 TD’s.
• McCowan: 53 carries for 307 yards, 1 TD; 7 catches for 54 yards, 1 TD.
• Croxdale: 35 carries for 158 yards; 5 catches for 22 yards, 1 TD.
• Tezanos-Pinto: 8 carries for 14 yards, 1 TD.
• Shaw: 1 carry for 4 yards; 1 catch for 34 yards.
- • Reed: 26 catches for 542 yards, 6 TD’s; 1 carry for -6 yards.
• Norrise: 38 catches for 471 yards; 5 carries for 20 yards; 1/1 for 39 yards, 1 TD.
• Hendershott: 31 catches for 264 yards.
• Carter: 12 catches for 161 yards; 1 carry for 14 yards.
• Deadder: 15 catches for 152 yards, 4 TD’s; 2 carries 0 yards.
• Howard: 7 catches for 80 yards.
• Chastain: 4 catches for 33 yards.
• Broadnax: 3 catches for 29 yards.
• Knowles: 1 catch for 22 yards.
- • Macial: 6 catches for 53 yards, 2 TD’s.
• Heaslet: 3 catches for 19 yards.
- • Couldn’t find a pancake counter anywhere.
2012 Outlook
There will be nothing but question marks surrounding this offense heading into the offseason. First and foremost Coach Sperbeck needs to decide what he plans to do offensively for next season. It’s clear that an offensive coordinator is needed and the pistol offense was a total disaster. An OC needs to be brought in sooner rather than later so that an offense can be decided upon and players who best fit into the new scheme can be recruited. The predictability and lack of effective game planning needs to be addressed and the addition of a competent OC should address those issues.
The starting QB spot will be wide open and it will be up for grabs between Safron, Edwards, Geringer, and whoever else will be brought in via recruiting. Neither of the returning QB’s that saw action was impressive so it’s safe to say that the best and most impressive player in spring and fall camp will be given the nod.
A handful of WR’s will be returning and the sliver lining of the injuries this season was that it allowed the younger receivers to see playing time. These returning players will need to step up and fill the huge void left by the talented WR’s that are departing. Norrise and Carter showed flashes of play making ability and Broadnax showed improvement throughout the year. There is a handful of WR’s coming off of redshirts and hopefully a couple of them can step up and contribute. Knowles’ size can present coverage problems and it would be nice to see the Hornets use this to their advantage next season. The Hornets will return all of their TE’s so there should be some consistency seen at that position next season.
At RB, depth may be an issue and it will be interesting to see the recruits that can be brought in to reload at this position. McCowan is a capable RB but he is not a between the tackles runner. His strength is getting the ball in the open field and letting his speed and agility generate a big play. McCowan won’t make it through an entire season if he is used between the tackles. Ferman is the biggest back available for returning next season so maybe he will be used for the power run game. The offense has been RB by committee the past few seasons so multiple RB’s will no doubt see plenty of playing time next season.
The strength of this offense will be the OL. With a lot of size and experience returning, the Hornets will have a capable and reliable OL to anchor the offense next season. A couple of voids will need to be filled but multiple players saw significant playing time and they should be capable of doing so. Worthley will anchor this line at RG along with Stickney at RT and DePauw at LG (I wouldn’t be surprised to see DePauw moved to C). Weaver has experience at T and Martin saw considerable playing time as well. Again, plenty of size and experience is available to fill the two open spots.
The cupboard isn’t bare heading into next season. There are a lot of talented players returning at multiple positions but finding a reliable and consistent QB this offseason will be crucial. As of now a lot of things are up in the air and a lot of questions will hopefully be answered when an OC is brought in. The offense needs to see wholesale improvement next season or Coach Sperbeck will be in even hotter water.
As always my recaps are up for discussion. If I missed something feel free to point it out.
GO HORNETS!!!
Next: Part 4 of 4 - Defense
