2013 Kent State Football Preview
Last year was considered a failure for Kent State, a 4-8 season that also included a losing conference record (3-5). Going into 2013, the team now has to replace 15 players to graduation, 12 of which were starters last season. With constant turnover, Billy Gonzales' job isn't getting any easier. As Head Coach, he has gone 9-15 in two seasons, the best record of a Kent State coach in his first two years since Glen Mason. This season, the team is young with 70% of the players being Freshman or Sophomores.
The offense has since found its' rhythm, although struggled to score points at times last season. Now, that offense has only three returning starters and will have five new starters on the offensive line. A crucial position, especially to the offense Gonzales runs. Assistant Head Coach and Offensive Line Coach Greg Studrawa is anxious to see how the new line plays and how they will react to challenges.
The defense, returns some experience with six returning starters. Although they have a new Defensive Coordinator and new strategy brought in by former Ohio State defensive coach and player at Kent State, Paul Haynes. Haynes is abandoning multiple sets in favor of a 4-3 base. He also is bringing in more blitz packages and less zone coverage.
2013 is expected to be another transition year, as Kent State still seems light years away from competing for the MAC Conference title. Although, they do feature some talent, a good Quarterback, solid coaching, and low expectations that catch some teams off guard. The coaches believe they will break the 40 year bowl drought this season, although they know a .500 year might not be good enough. To put together a winning season, a lot will need to go right, before Head Coach Gonzales has to start answering questions about how warm the seat under him is.
Offense
Returning Starters: 3
The Scheme: The offense will be run primarily from the shotgun. It will use short passing routes, along with motion in the backfield and the option to open up the running game. It is an offense that relies on the strength of its personnel. Similar to what Gonzales coached at Utah, it will pass to set-up the run, being a balanced spread attack.
Star Power: Quarterback
Chris Finley. Finley has a 9-9 record as a starter and has battled injuries in his first two years since coming from South Florida Community College. Finley has high expectations for his Senior season that include more than beating Akron for a third time. With back-up Spencer Keith graduated, there are questions about what happens if Finley is injured again. Currently
Cedric McCloud is the back-up, while many fans are excited about newcomber
Dustin Johnson, who has arguably the best arm of any Quarterback on the roster.
Impact Newcomers: The entire Offensive Line. Losing five starters and two quality back-ups, the line will be entirely new in 2013. Last year, they allowed only 20 sacks, but still struggled in run blocking. Coach Studrawa feels better about the run blocking this season and realizes the myriad of questions. Besides five new starters, three are true freshman.
Matt Barrow starts at left tackle, a pass blocker who seems the perfect fit to protect Finley's blind side.
Ryan Cox, seems undersized but is a great lead blocker and is still bulking up (6'0" 254). He starts next to true frosh Barrow and another, new center
Mike Scott. While size isn't an issue with Scott (6'4" 324), footwork and run blocking have been. A battle between Scott and
Kyle Johnson came down to Scott's work at the point of attack. On the right side, Senior
Max Plunkett gives the line experience in his first year as a starter. He will play next to the most skilled player on the line, sophomore
Justin Boone.
Keep An Eye On: Who replaces Tyshon Goode. Junior
Will Jones steps in as the top receiver, but it seems the approach will be to spread around the targets. It will be tough to replace the program's career leader in receptions. While Jones should see more work, Sophomore
William McKinney and
Terrance Johnson were both named starters. Johnson, a true freshman, has the makings of a top receiver, while McKinney is a big play threat and can stretch the field.
Strongest Area: Receiving core. The position with the most depth, lost its two best players and still is the strength of the team. Tight end
Danny Gress returns from an injury that held him out for most of last season. A physical beast, the former linebacker wants to lead the team in touchdowns.
Dwayne James might have something to say about that, as the 6'7" back-up tight end is a endzone target with reliable hands. The receivers, outside the starters, include players that give Chris Finley some interesting weapons.
Lee Dotson and former running back
Nate Johnson are still fighting for the fourth receiver spot. In a spread offense that is designed to pass to set-up the run, both players could find success in that spot.
Biggest Problem: Too many questions and too little experience. Three returning starters and a new offensive line don't yield much confidence for an offense that made major strides last season. The running back positions seems to be a microcosm of the entire offense.
Dri Archer, back after an injury plagued season, enters his senior year looking to improve his under 4 yards a carry average and his fumbleitis (5 fumbles in '12). Putting pressure on him as a starter is
Jabari Davis, a north-south runner, and
Dominique Thomas an all-around player with the best receiving skills.
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Defense
Returning Starters: 6
The Scheme: New Defensive Coordinator Paul Haynes is currently transforming a defense he considers could become "one of the best in the [MAC]." The team will use a base 4-3 defense and will often use a nickel corner, even on non-passing plays. Haynes wants to install an aggressive, tough defense and will use multiple blitz packages to confuse opponents and put pressure on the Quarterback. He will also get away from zone coverage that former Coordinator D.J. Durkin used frequently. Instead, he will use more man coverage and Tampa-two style zones.
Star Power: Without a star, returning starters step up. Sophomore
Dylan Harrison had a fast start last season before he became ineffective late in the season. He has worked on his cover skills and plans for an improved second season. Two other returning starters that could become stars are junior end
Robert Kearney and senior tackle
Terrell Johnson. In Johnson's third year as a starter, he wants to be the interior force and pocket collapser the coaching staff believes he can become. Kearney stepped in half way through last season as a starter and led the team in tackles after becoming the starter at defensive end. Both expect better seasons, thanks in part to the arrival of Paul Haynes and focus on getting pressure on the Quarterback.
Impact Newcomers: True freshman
Jason Pleasant and
Shawn Mays. Pleasant came into Kent expected to be a pass rusher at end or outside linebacker. After bulking up and improving his strength, Chris Hauser moved him inside and Pleasant flourished at the spot and stuck. He was named the starter over
Pat Wells, who started four games last season. Mays, currently the back-up to
Jake Dooley, expects to see time in run situations. Dooley lost his starting spot to Robert Kearney, but now starts opposite Kearney. To keep his spot, he will need to not disappear on plays and not be dominated by blockers at times.
Keep An Eye On: Captain
Chris Jackson. Captain Jackson was voted to be team captain after the spring game. After his first year as a starter, the junior became a vocal leader and took major strides in the off-season. He now leads a secondary that is replacing two starters, but doesn't plan to skip a beat. At the other corner spot,
Brian Stanley gets his shot, also a junior who is a tough player that Paul Haynes has put faith in. He beat out sophomores
Cornell Higgins and
Lawrence Humphrey. Stanley was the best open field tackler and has excelled in man coverage.
Strongest Area: Linebackers. With two returning starters, including the team's leading tackler and Defensive Player of the Year
Brandon Hazzard, it looks to be the strength of what should be an improved defense. Stopping the run has been the focus of the team, which is partly why
Mark Fackler gets another chance to start. Three juniors, who are all starters, include
Calvin Tiggle, who moved from safety to linebacker after starting two games at linebacker last year. Tiggle has been an impact player in the off-season, and thinks he could lead the team in tackles. Tiggle and Fackler have to hold off
Jim Gray, who is listed as the back-up linebacker at each position. His blend of speed and field vision make him a great special teams player, but they think he could be a starter sooner rather than later.
Biggest Problem: Untested depth. While the starters seem ready to improve one of the worst defenses in the nation, there are questions of depth. Weaker recruiting classes have led to questions at every position, with unproven freshman and sophomores filling the depth chart. The defense plans to improve, but might struggle as the team continues to gel and work with a new strategy and Defensive Coordinator.
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Special Teams
The special teams lost its' best player, Freddy Cortez. Cortez finished his career hitting 80% of his field goals, and also was the team's starting punter and handled kickoff duties. Replacing him in every position is gifted true freshman
Chad Brown. Brown was the team's best recruit and comes from Missouri where he will take over kicking and punting duties.
David Wilson was supposed to be the starting punter, but after an injury in training camp, it allowed Brown to step in at punter as well. In the return game,
Ed Casenave will take kick return duties, while Jabari Davis starts the year as punt returner. He will have to hold off starting free safety
Luke Wollett and Lee Dotson to stay the team's returner. Special Teams is another focus of Billy Gonzales and Coach Jim Fleming expects a much improved season.
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Report Card: Offense - D // Defense - D // Special Teams - B-
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Schedule:
What is considered the team's toughest schedule in years features a difficult non-conference slate, tough road game, and no "guaranteed" wins. Last year, the team had only five home games, but had some road games they thought would be winnable. This year, they get six home games, with a few being real tests. The season starts at Big XII opponent Missouri. The Tigers will start the season outside the Top 25, but former Kent alum and Mizzou Head Coach Gary Pinkel thinks they can contend for more than a Big XII North title. The home opener is against South Alabama, who is starting to win at the FCS level after only starting to play football in 2011. Two road games against Ohio and Eastern Michigan open MAC play. Then the first of two "Flash Flood" games as Kent will host SEC foe Kentucky. The other Flash Flood game will be their final home game against Buffalo. Before they dive into MAC play entirely, the team will also travel to play another bowl team from last year, Marshall. After the Thundering Herd, the team will play three home games against Northern Illinois, Miami University, and rival Bowling Green. They end the year, on the road, against rival Akron.
