April 28, 1998
Optimism always reigns around a Dick Tomey football program, but entering 1998 there's a bit more substance to the feeling -- a by-product of the four-game winning streak to end the 1997 season, considerable success in recruiting and some keen competition in spring ball.
"I like the way we went about the business of spring ball," coach Dick Tomey said the day after drills ended. "Actually, from the day after the Washington game (58-28 loss in October) to right now, I've never been around a more positive and hard-working football program since I've been coaching. We fought ourselves back to being a team that commanded some respect."
"Right now we're a shadow of what we will be and we have an awful lot to do, but we all feel that we got a lot out of spring. We identified some people who can play and we have nearly a full month more time before fall drills -- and that will pay tremendous dividends. It will give some guys more time to get stronger and some others more time to rehabilitate any injuries," Tomey said.
"We started and ended spring ball earlier because we knew we weren't going to change either our offensive or defensive systems and we felt ready to go, even with two new coaches and a different offensive coordinator," he said
Offense
Arizona will be a talented offensive team in 1998 -- on the heels of a season in which the Wildcats put up the
school's highest offensive average since it joined the Pacific-10 Conference in 1979, history, 402 yards per game. Its
passing yards per game were more than a couple of unlikely teams -- BYU, Syracuse and ASU, for example, and would
have rated second in the so-called pass-happy WAC.
Junior Keith Smith and sophomore-to-be Ortege Jenkins at quarterback, junior tailback Trung Canidate, senior fullback Kelvin Eafon, and junior wide receivers Dennis Northcutt and Brad Brennan will be rejoined by sophomore tailback Leon Callen and senior wide receiver Jeremy McDaniel (both redshirts because of injury in 1997) to form one of the most explosive skill-position groups Arizona has fielded.
Jenkins threw 19 touchdown passes in seven starts in '97 -- No. 2 on the UA charts. Smith was the 1996 QB on Sporting News' freshman All-America team. Canidate had a 96-yard touchdown run and was headed for a 1,000-yard season before an ankle injury knocked him out of three games. Northcutt caught 58 passes for nine touchdowns, Brennan had six scoring receptions. Eafon proved his mettle as Insight.com Bowl Most Valuable Player. McDaniel was the Cats' leading receiver in 1996 and set a school record with 14 receptions for 283 yards in a single game. Callen's speed is impressive and he was the top contender for the starting role before a spring '97 injury. Redshirt freshman A.J. Brown had a solid spring and figures as the fourth receiver (but also enters fall practice with a shot at the starting free safety job). At tight end, spring ball revealed a highly competitive battle between senior Mike Lucky and sophomore Brandon Manumaleuna. Several incoming perimeter players have impressive credentials, too.
The quarterback situation is as good as it's been at Arizona. "If we played tomorrow, Keith would start. If we played right after last season, O.J. would have started. But we can't do either of those, so we're going into fall and the job will be decided in games on the field," Tomey said. The competition will be nothing but a plus for the team, he added.
"The quarterback position will be played 'well,' regardless of who plays. There are a lot of scenarios and a lot can happen. It could be that one of them is so much better than the other that he'll play. It could be that they play a quarter in the first half and whoever is hot plays the second half. All the scenarios are good. It's one of the strongest positions on the team and that's a really great thing," Tomey said.
Callen and Eafon had most of the running back work during spring because Canidate was sidelined rehabilitating an injury, but "going on last year, Trung is the guy," Tomey said. "His capabilities are known and he's the leading returning rusher in the conference in yards per attempt (5.8)." Eafon will be the short-yardage and goal-line tailback, most likely, and in Callen the Cats have another option. "We run a lot of single-back formations and that basically gives us three guys you can win with," Tomey said.
UA's offensive line was a slight surprise during spring ball. Three starters graduated, but the unit came together nicely and outperformed the defense in the spring game. Junior college transfer "Manu Savea did as nice a job as any junior college player we've had," Tomey said. Sophomore center Bruce Wiggins "showed a real grasp of our offense and we all feel better" about that position, he said. Returning starters Edwin Mulitalo (LT) and Yusuf Scott (RG) anchor the unit with the most experience. Redshirt freshman Steven Grace and sophomore Marques McFadden will battle for the left guard job and Tomey said redshirt freshman guard Bryan Kula is an emerging young player.
But incoming talent may play a role on the front line with the fall arrival of Aaron Higgenbotham (6-6, 280), Makoa Freitas (6-4, 280) and Chris Redding (6-4, 319). "I would be surprised if two of those freshmen linemen don't make a bid to play. Not necessarily start, but be capable of playing right away," Tomey said.
Lucky's work at tight end impressed coaches in spring practice and the reason is a good one in terms of depth, Tomey said. "Mike had a terrific spring and the reason was Brandon Manumaleuna. The guy did a lot of good things but he can see that Brandon was doing the same. He really pushed Mike." Manumaleuna provides some additional versatility, He plays some H-back and also may play at defensive tackle "if we can afford to do that on occasion," Tomey says.
Wide receiver Dennis Northcutt had a superlative spring game, catching four passes for 136 yards and two scores, and running a reverse for 35 yards. "He is just so god-awful quick. He can dart," Tomey said of the junior, whom he feels has team leadership qualities to go with his athletic talents. McDaniel "is the real deal" and "the best receiver our defense played against" last year when he was a scout teamer after an early fall hamstring injury caused him to redshirt," Tomey says. Brennan showed in '97 that despite his 5-foot-11, 170-pound specs, he's not an easy tackle. He made plenty of yardage after catching the ball and scored six times. Those three give UA a solid group.
Defense
The Cats led the Pac-10 in total defense in 1997 and do not expect to give up the mantle easily.
Senior cornerback Chris McAlister, a two-time first-team All-Pac-10 player, figures to be one of the top defensive backs in the nation. "He's improved this spring as much as anyone on our defense," Tomey said in April. "There aren't too many two-time, first-team all-league defensive backs returning in any conference in the country," he added.
On the other side the Cats expect to start junior Kelvin Hunter, who missed spring while recovering from a serious left ankle injury, plus have penciled in senior LaChaux Rich at strong safety and either junior Rafell Jones or redshirt freshman A.J. Brown at free safety. Junior college transfer Greg Payne can play all four positions and was "very exciting" early in spring before being slowed by nagging injuries. Redshirt freshman Manuel Golden appears capable of a strong push behind Hunter, plus return junior letterman Leland Gayles behind McAlister for good depth entering fall camp.
At defensive line, Arizona will spend some offseason time getting stronger. UA's scheme always has been built around quickness, and that's evident. Senior tackle Daniel Greer is the only true returning starter up front, though Joe Tafoya (DE) and Idris Haroon (DT) and Anthony Thomas (DT) started some games in 1997. Redshirt freshman Eli Wnek and redshirt junior Ash Burrow (a converted tight end) will contend at the other end spot and junior Dolphin Tillman has bulked up from his previous role as a linebacker to move inside and battle with Greer in the interior. Juco redshirt J.J. Joppru had knee surgery in early April but should be recovered in time to make a bid for interior play in the fall.
Help might be coming in the form of juco ends Terrell Jurineack and Mike Robinson, each of whom earned acclaim. "I'd be surprised if those two don't make some impact," Tomey says.
Tomey put it this way after spring ball: "The defensive line is an area where we have a lot of guys who can play a little. We need to find out who can play a lot."
The coach said of inside linebacker Marcus Bell, a junior in '98, "I thought he was our best defensive player last year. If you looked at the whole season and asked who was the most consistent defensive player, it was Marcus Bell." He and junior lettermen Stadford Glover or Scooter Sprotte enter fall with a leg up on the inside roles. Sprotte has been a running back and safety for the Cats and a consistent special teams player. Redshirt freshman Mike Wilson is a backup and the Cats will take a very close look at incoming junior transfer Antonio Pierce early in fall drills.
Junior DaShon Polk is the returning starter at the "flex" or whip linebacker and made 46 tackles last season including nine for a loss. He has the ability and experience to play inside if needed, too.
Kicking Game
"Mark McDonald did not miss an extra-point (31-31) and kicked two game-winning field goals. He's a good one,"
Tomey said of the junior placekicker who figures to hold that job. Juco transfer Michael Johnson might be the designated
50-yard attempts guy, but clearly earned praise for his spring kickoffs -- an area the Cats were weak in during the 1997
season.
"We'll be better on kickoffs, and we certainly need to be," Tomey said. Despite holding opponents to only 16.4 yards per return, average starting field position was between the 25 and 30 yard-lines due to short kicks which didn't reach the goalline. Johnson was recruited with goal-line kicks in mind and earned some ovations from fans during the spring game for doing just that.
The punting chores will likely be handled by senior Ryan Springston (39.4), with competition from sophomore Chris Palic (37.6) but either will be called on to improve on UA's '97 net punting average of 33.2 yards. "Net punting is our main concern. We want a guy who can kick it 39 to 42 yards with good hang time, to allow the coverage unit to get there and stick people," Tomey said. "A 39-yard average is fine if you end up with 38 net," he said.
Cornerback Chris McAlister, who has a 100-yard kickoff return to his credit (vs. UCLA in 1996), figures on another special team as well. He blocked a punt in spring ball. "McAlister is going to block some kicks this year," Tomey said.
Dennis Northcutt (enters fall as the primary punt return man, and Tomey has identified he, McAlister (23.9), Jeremy McDaniel and junior transfer Greg Payne as other return specialists for 1997.
Walk-on snapper Nate Campbell will launch it to either of the two guys who wins the punting job and thereby becomes the holder as well -- Springston or Palic, who each served as holder last year. Campbell did a nice job as a true freshman in '97 when called on nine games into the season after regular Dale Whitmore was injured. Makai Freitas also worked at snapper during '97 and spring ball.
Coaching
Tomey had praise after spring ball for offensive coordinator Dino Babers, who assumed the role in March after
coaching wide receivers or running backs for his first three seasons on the staff. "Dino surpassed my expectations and
really warmed to the task. I expected him to be capable, but he really impressed me. Of course, we haven't played yet and
he hasn't called a play in a game, but he's going to do really well," Tomey said.
Two other newcomers also impressed the coach. "To get those guys when we did was tremendous for our staff," Tomey said of the additions of Bob Wagner (linebackers, special teams) and Jeff Woodruff (running backs) to the coaching staff just prior to spring ball.
Wagner succeeded Tomey as head coach at Hawaii and spent nine years in Honolulu. He had spent the last two falls on a "football sabbatical," traveling around the country to visit with various college and professional programs. Woodruff, a former offensive coordinator at the University of Washington, coached high school ball in Tucson the past two seasons but was ready to return to the college ranks.
"They're both used to the pressure of games. Wagner has such a thorough command of our defensive scheme and the kicking game and Woodruff is an outstanding addition. You just can't easily get someone with their backgrounds to join your staff -- but we did."
Marc Lunsford, who has been on UA staffs for 19 years and coached tight ends a year ago, took over a new position in February as director of football operations. He had hip replacement surgery on April 7 and faces a long rehabilitation. "The new position is really important to us and Marc did a good job of it from the start," Tomey said.
Schedule
Pac-10 schools finished 23-7 against non-league opponents in 1997 and then went 4-1 in bowl games, so there's
little question the competitive nature of the league will return intact.
Arizona opens its year with four of its first five games on the road, then closes with five of six at home, so a fast start would surely be advantageous.