Defense to utilize strengths with 4-3
8/27/2008 1:00:00 AM | Football
From The Huntsville Item
By Cody Stark
All it took was 19 seconds to change the course of the 2007 football season for Sam Houston State.
That doesn't seem like a lot of time, but on Sept. 15, 2007, 19 seconds felt like an eternity. The Bearkats had scored with 26 seconds left to go up 38-34 and put themselves on the verge of an upset of No. 4 North Dakota State in front of a packed house at the Fargodome.
The Bison had 26 seconds left to pull off a comeback. They didn't need that much time. It just took 19 seconds. Three plays, 54 yards capped by a 27-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Steve Walker to Kole Heckondorf made the final score 41-38 North Dakota State.
It was a heartbreaking loss for Sam Houston State and the nightmare still lingers.
“That was definitely a turning point in our season,” SHSU cornerback Stanley Garrett said. “If we would have won that game, it could have changed the whole year. We definitely would have built something off that. We got our heads down after that. And it's still in the back of my head.”
The loss began a four-game losing streak for Sam Houston including the Kats' first two Southland Conference contests to Central Arkansas and McNeese State. By the time the Bearkats got things back in order, closing the season with a five-game winning streak to finish 5-2 in league play, it was too late for post-season playoff hopes.
But the way the Bearkats stepped up down the stretch in 2007, and with a new defensive scheme, switching from the 4-2-5 to the 4-3 which utilizes the team's strengths, things look promising for Sam Houston in 2008.
“I think the way we closed out the season really helped boost us heading into the off-season,” Kat head coach Todd Whitten said. “We had a record number show up in the weight room and hang around during the summer. By winning five games to finish last season, they know what it takes. We have a chance to be a good football team.”
With the potential to be explosive on offense, the Bearkats' title hopes rest on how quickly the defense can adjust to the new scheme.
Sam Houston State has a talented and deep linebacking crew featuring starters Nolan Bucek (an All-Southland selection in 2007), Luke McCall and Derrick Raymer and backups Patrick Robinson, Frank Simon and Brandon Bruce.
With three linebackers now in the starting lineup as opposed to two in the past, those guys are going to be counted upon to make more plays this season.
“I think the 4-3 really fits us well as far as the linebacking corps because we have a lot of aggressive linebackers,” McCall said. “With the 4-3, it puts a lot more responsibility on us and that frees us up to do more. Overall I really like it more, I think everybody else does too.”
The Kats should also be strong on the defensive line with two All-SLC returning starters in tackle Eric Mikolajchak and end Chris Brown.
Brown's backup in 2007, Ryan Gloston, and tackle Kevin Smith will hold down the other two starting spots. They combined to make 31 tackles last season.
Things won't change much for the Bearkats up front, but the extra linebacker should help stopping the run and putting more pressure on opposing quarterbacks.
“I think the new defense is really going to help us with the run,” Mikolajchak said. “We have a lot more experience now with Raymer stepping in at bandit. He has been playing well. We are playing well as a defense. I think we have had a great preseason camp and are adjusting to the 4-3.”
With Garrett and fellow cornerback Wonseleh Brewer having a year of starting experience under their belts, Sam Houston will be able to run more coverage packages this season.
“We understand more what is going on up front and that allows us to read the ball better,” Garrett said. “We just feel a lot more comfortable this season and have a better understanding of what we need to do.”
