2008 Woodie Awards
Football returns 20 starters
Jack Nicholl
Issue date: 8/17/08 Section: Sports
The running attack averaged 3.5 yards a carry last year and 114.3 yards a game. With Cunningham gone, as many as four or five running backs could see playing time this year.
"Our main focus is to run the ball better," Currier said. "And we're going to have more productive passing than we've had the last four years. But hopefully we can get our running game going and then our play-action game will become better. We're taking more time off the clock, keeping our defense off of the field."
New to the program is defensive coordinator Ryan Nourse, who will try to turn around a defense that was ranked 137 out of 144 Div. II teams last year. He is coming off a season during which he was named the NAIA's assistant coach of the year.
Nourse will stick with the basic 3-4 format. He has the starting front seven returning from last season, which will include three all-MIAA players: senior defensive end Les Hammers, senior linebacker Mike Phillips and senior nose tackle Andy Swedenhjelm. Phillips was the team leader in tackles and Hammers fought off double-teams to record 6.5 sacks last year. According to the Media Guide depth chart, sophomore John Brandon Crawford and junior Derek Rodriguez will replace team leaders Jesse Cooper and James Thabuteau in the secondary.
"The biggest thing [Nourse has] done has just made everything more simple," Phillips said. "Everything is a lot easier for guys to remember. Part of the problem last year was not being on the same page, but this year there's no reason why we shouldn't be."
Nourse will have his work cut out for him as the defense gave up 241.9 yards rushing and 37.1 points per game last season, including three games in which it gave up more than 50.
Junior kicker and second team all-MIAA Mickey Masucci, who was 10 for 13 in field goals last season, will return for special teams. The punting duties will go to redshirt freshman Max Kleckner. Junior Albert Coker and senior Phil Kenney return for punt and kick returns.
"Our main focus is to run the ball better," Currier said. "And we're going to have more productive passing than we've had the last four years. But hopefully we can get our running game going and then our play-action game will become better. We're taking more time off the clock, keeping our defense off of the field."
New to the program is defensive coordinator Ryan Nourse, who will try to turn around a defense that was ranked 137 out of 144 Div. II teams last year. He is coming off a season during which he was named the NAIA's assistant coach of the year.
Nourse will stick with the basic 3-4 format. He has the starting front seven returning from last season, which will include three all-MIAA players: senior defensive end Les Hammers, senior linebacker Mike Phillips and senior nose tackle Andy Swedenhjelm. Phillips was the team leader in tackles and Hammers fought off double-teams to record 6.5 sacks last year. According to the Media Guide depth chart, sophomore John Brandon Crawford and junior Derek Rodriguez will replace team leaders Jesse Cooper and James Thabuteau in the secondary.
"The biggest thing [Nourse has] done has just made everything more simple," Phillips said. "Everything is a lot easier for guys to remember. Part of the problem last year was not being on the same page, but this year there's no reason why we shouldn't be."
Nourse will have his work cut out for him as the defense gave up 241.9 yards rushing and 37.1 points per game last season, including three games in which it gave up more than 50.
Junior kicker and second team all-MIAA Mickey Masucci, who was 10 for 13 in field goals last season, will return for special teams. The punting duties will go to redshirt freshman Max Kleckner. Junior Albert Coker and senior Phil Kenney return for punt and kick returns.
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