Spring Football Preview
2/27/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
Feb. 27, 2003
Q: What are the primary objectives for the team during the spring drills?
GP: "Offensively, we have to be able to play our young players this spring and really find out what we have. Probably the biggest objective will be to grow up on the offensive line and at the wide receiver position. We also have to find a starting fullback and a backup quarterback. Defensively, we have to find a boundary cornerback to replace Jason Goss, a free and a strong safety and a fourth linebacker. We do so much rotation on the defensive line that we need to gain experience for the younger players on the second team."
Q: There were no changes on the coaching staff from 2002 to 2003. What impact does that have on the team?
GP: "It makes a big difference. It was a big difference keeping seven out of the nine coaches a year ago. This year, everyone is back, including the GAs. Anytime you're in a positive working relationship, you know how the other guy is going to react and that makes you better. Having the entire staff back also helps with the relationships with the players. The coaches aren't worried about themselves, they are focused on doing what's best for the players and helping them become better."
Q: The 2002 team exceeded most everyone's expectations and was maybe able to sneak up on some people. The 2003 squad will have a target on its back as the defending league champions. How will that have an impact?
GP: "That team may have exceeded expectations outside these walls, but inside, we felt we had a chance to be pretty good. We will try to treat this year just like we did going in a year ago when we were coming off a 6-5 season. We'll work like we're an underdog. As always, it starts with our off-season program. No one is given a job. We have to create great chemistry, accountability and togetherness to be a champion. The way we look at it, spring ball is the beginning of what happens in the fall. This is where we do a lot of evaluations and move people around to the find the right spots for them to contribute. I've always felt like it comes down to how well you prepare your second team. Those guys play a lot on your special teams, plus when someone goes down, you have to have someone ready to step in. We had people like Lonta Hobbs, Tye Gunn, Jeremy Modkins, Ranorris Ray, Mark Walker and Cody McCarty, who weren't starters when the season began last year, step up and and make plays."
Q: What are the strengths of this year's squad?
GP: "Overall team speed and the defensive line. Although overall this is a young team, we do have some experience. On defense, we have nine guys who have played a lot of football coming back. Offensively, we have about seven returning starters. Two out of three in the kicking category are back - the placekicker and the snapper. We'll have to find a punter."
Q: How do you feel about the offense?
GP: "It will be a challenge this spring. It has to be a growing up process for our top 22 on offense. We have to find somebody to play fullback and figure out who will be the backup quarterback behind Tye Gunn. Someone has to fill Jamal Powell's spot on the offensive line.We have to find out how well-rounded we can get our three young wide receivers to become. They all do a great job of catching the ball, but the question is - can they block, can they play special teams and can they become four-quarter guys. The younger group of offensive linemen needs to continue to show progress." Q: How do you feel about the defensive side of the ball?
GP: "We're talented, but communication will be the key. Certainly our front four, and probably even our front six are as good as anybody's in the conference. Even Richard Evans, the only one of that group who did not start last season, is a talented player, a very smart player. All four starters are good pass rushers. We have holes to fill in the secondary at the boundary corner and the free and strong safety positions. Those are three key positions for us. That's where we're different than other teams. We put our boundary corner on an island and our free safety and strong safety are usually on the field side. That's where they'll make most of the plays. It will be very important to see how those people play and how they do things. The young defensive line group is very talented, they're just very raw. We have to grow them up and get them ready to play."
Q: What about special teams?
GP: "We have players returning at two of the three positions, in all-conference kicker Nick Browne and in snappers Andy Boerckel and Clif Alexander. We're looking to see if John Braziel can step up as the punter to replace Joey Biasatti."
Q: What are areas that concern you heading into spring ball?
GP: "We basically have three question marks on both sides of the ball. On offense, the question marks are at wide receiver, fullback, and finding a backup quarterback. On defense, boundary corner and free and strong safety are the major concerns. A secondary concern on the defense would be finding a fourth linebacker."
Q: Do you anticipate any position changes?
GP: "We will try both Corey Connally and Kenny Hayter at fullback. They could still play tailback if we run into a problem there, but they might get more playing time by filling our need at fullback. Kenny Boyd will move from fullback to weak safety. We'll find out if that might be a better fit for him. Stephen Simmons moves over from defensive tackle to the offensive side of the ball at guard. Ryan Schlenger, a walk-on who impressed us some last fall, has gotten bigger and will move to linebacker from a safety position."
Q: This team lost 23 seniors including six all-conference performers. Where will your leadership come from?
GP: "That was an impressive class of young men who really matured over their five years at TCU. But we have had some guys already take on that leadership role during our off-season work. On offense, Chase Johnson, John Glud and Kevin Brown are leaders. Tye Gunn has to play an important part in that as well. Defensively, seniors Bo Schobel and Bobby Pollard on the line and Josh Goolsby at linebacker have been around. Marvin Godbolt has been a two-year starter. He and Tyrone Sanders have shown great leadership in the secondary."
Q: Fill us in on Tye Gunn's progress back from his knee injury and what are the plans for him this spring?
GP: "Tye is really progressing well, but will be limited in the spring. He will probably throw pass skelly and one-on-one drills during spring practice. He will not participate in anything that can even closely be construed as a contact-type situation. He's ahead of schedule. He's jogging at three-and-a-half months. Usually coming off that injury, a player could be cleared between four and six months after the injury."
Q: Will anyone else be held out of spring practice?
GP: "Anthony Alabi will miss the spring after undergoing shoulder surgery in mid-February. We hope that he will be back to full strength by the middle of the summer. Corey Connally has been limited still with some pains in his legs. Hopefully he can overcome that lingering problem and put together a solid senior year."
Q: You had some youngsters like Gunn and Lonta Hobbs really step up last year. Who are some of the young players you expect to play a significant role in 2003?
GP: "Defensively, you have to look at guys like Elvis Gallegos and Eric Buchanan in the secondary. It will be interesting to see how the four young defensive lineman - Maurice Bouldwin, Marvin Pearson, Terence James and Jared Retkofsky - come on this spring. Offensively, (tackle) Herbert Taylor's up to 270 pounds. Tailback Robert Merrill is a youngster we're excited about. It will be interesting to see the three young wide receivers - Cory Rodgers, Quentily Harmon and Michael DePriest - and how they progress." Q: How do you replace the likes of All-American LaMarcus McDonald?
GP: "This is what I'll say about the "Sam" position. Two years ago, Chad Bayer played that position and led the team in tackles. That position is usually covered up by one of our best defensive linemen, which gives them a chance to make a ton of plays. We'll move Martin Patterson over to that position this year. Over the last four games of last season, Patterson was a guy who really came on and probably played a lot better bowl game than LaMarcus did. In the off-season, all three linebackers - Patterson, Josh Goolsby and Devon Davis - have shown to be very good leaders. We need to try to find a fourth linebacker, but may not settle on that until this fall when Logo Tevaseau joins the squad."
Q: How important is the off-season work in the weight room?
GP: "We feel like our off-season work is the secret behind our success. The off-season work not only improves our strength and speed, but really helps build our team chemistry. That's where it all begins at TCU."
Q: The Frogs finished in the nation's top 25 last season. Can this team be a top 25 team as well?
GP: "I think we may be ranked higher going in to this season than last season because of the quarterback and some of the "profile" people we have coming back. I think with what we have returning in the kicking game and on defense, you have to feel that we are a team deserving of some mention. Whether we are a top 25 team or not remains to be seen, but we have the capabilities and potential to be that good. Last season, I think we were judged on the quarterback position. This year we have a quarterback returning along with a tailback and a strong defense."
Q: Who are some of the players that are honors candidates?
GP: "Our kicker, Nick Browne, was a fourth-team all-American a year ago and a first team academic all-American. Defensively, I think linemen Bo Schobel and Chad Pugh have all-America possibilities along with Marvin Godbolt, who was a freshman all-American two years ago. All four starting defensive lineman - Schobel, Pugh, Richard Evans and Robert Pollard - are worthy of all-conference mention. Linebacker Martin Patterson, safety Jeremy Modkins and cornerback Mark Walker have the potential to be all-conference picks. Tye Gunn, Reggie Harrell and Lonta Hobbs stand out in the skill positions on offense. On the offensive line, I think Chase Johnson and Anthony Alabi have a chance to be all-conference performers. If tight end Cody McCarty keeps improving like he has been, he has that potential as well. That's a lot of players who we feel are capable and why we feel good about this team."
Q: Any final thoughts?
GP: "The keys coming out of spring ball are how much we grow up at the wide receiver position and then the corner and safety positions. The spots where we have holes to fill based on our graduation losses are at punter, strong safety and fullback. Those are key positions to fill because we didn't have anyone play a lot behind those seniors. Our defensive line should be even better than last year. If we can keep Martin Patterson and Josh Goolsby healthy, we should be strong at linebacker. Devon Davis must play better as a senior. I believe Tyrone Sanders will step up this year at cornerback. One of the strengths of our coaching staff is we recognize the people that you have to work on the most are your backups and prepare them accordingly. We have guys ready to step in and we're not afraid to move people around."
