Pro Day Rewind: 'Canes, Owls & Cardinals

By ANDREW GARDA

Welcome to week two of Pro Day Rewind where we’ll catch you up on the previous week of Pro Days.

The news from the NFL Scouting Combine wasn’t even cold yet and schools were getting their guys into the spotlight immediately. At this point, it’s largely smaller schools that kick off the post-Combine workout schedule, but from those humble beginnings some mighty stars emerge.

So while the week after the Combine was pretty slow, we’ll talk a little about those few who got us kicked off.

Five schools had their Pro Days last week: Bethune-Cookman, Florida-International, Ball State, Florida Atlantic and a big school as well – the University of Miami. At the end of the week, it was the Florida schools which had made the biggest noise, though Ball State had its say as well.

MIAMI: On the 27th of February, 11 players showed off their skills to the representatives of ten NFL teams including Miami, Philadelphia, Tennessee and Atlanta. CB Bruce Johnson improved upon his Combine performance in the 40 (4.42 and 4.45) and vertical (38.5 inches), and posted a 4.03 shuttle and a 6.92 three cone drill. Fellow CB Carlos Armour made up for not being in Indianapolis by running a 4.55 and 4.59 in the 40 and jumping a 37.5 vertical, but was only able to bench press 10 times. However, none of the players looked good enough to go in the first round, which would end a 14-year streak for the 'Canes. In fact, it’s likely nobody will go the first day with Johnson possibly the lone 'Cane drafted.

Florida-Atlantic: The Owls got an unusual level of interest this year as representatives from 16 teams traveled to the school’s Pro Day, for the most part to see senior linebacker Frantz Joseph. Joseph, one of the players highlighted in last week’s column, was not invited to the NFL Scouting Combine but his body of work certainly made him an attraction to scouts. He did not disappoint, running a 4.83 in the 40, benching 225 pounds 19 times, and measuring in at 6’1” and 242 pounds. Joseph also ran a 4.41 shuttle and a 7.34 three-cone drill. Overall, he continued to build heat and while Joseph is assuming he will need to fight for a spot on someone’s practice squad, he may hear his name called on the second day of the Draft. Of the other 17 players who put on a display for the visiting NFL dignitaries, the one who stood out the most was safety Carldayle Brantley. While he only started two games this past season, Brantley put on an eye-opening exhibition, running a 4.40 time in the 40 yard dash, jumping a 38 _ vertical and a 10’7” broad jump – all of which were tops on the day. Charles Pierre, the team’s 1,000 yard rusher, led the weight room, lifting the bar 26 times. Still, while the exposure may garner his fellow teammates a chance at a practice squad, if anyone is to be drafted it will most likely be Joseph and last week’s effort solidified that.

Ball State: Representatives from 14 teams came to Scheumann Stadium on a rainy day to see what Ball State’s players had to offer, but quarterback Nate Davis and offensive tackle Robert Brewster (both of whom participated in the Combine) sat out, although Davis threw for receivers working out. Both athletes will be working out for teams on March 20th instead and will be joined by punter Chris Williams, who could not work out because the event was held indoors due to the inclement weather. Of those who did participate, the most impressive was tight end Darius Hill. Hill ran a career-best 4.71 time in the 40 and did well in the pass-catching drill. The Cardinal tight end had been highly rated going into the 2008 season, but his stock dropped over its course. He is now hoping for at least a shot as a rookie free agent.

2.23.09 - Pro Day Rewind: Combine Edition


Photo Credit: University of Miami Sports Media Relations Office

Texas Bowl: Western Michigan vs. Rice

By J.J. Pesavento
December 30 * 8:00 PM * NFL Network

The Rice Owls have not won a bowl game since 1954 and will look to end that streak with their record-breaking offense led by quarterback Chase Clement. Clement accounted for a total of 52 touchdowns in 2008. His primary weapons will be Jarrett Dillard and James Casey, who combined for 183 receptions, over 2,400 yards receiving and 31 touchdowns. Casey is also a threat in the running game (six scores), as is Clement (11 scores), who had nearly as many carries as leading rusher C. J. Ugokwe. If there is a concern for Rice, it lies on the defensive side of the ball. The Owls rank near the bottom in every major category on defense. Western Michigan will also be looking to end a streak. The Broncos have only appeared in three bowl games and they’ve never won one. They also live by the pass with quarterback Tim Hiller leading the aerial attack. Hiller has a number of targets in Jamarko Simmons, Schneider Julien and Juan Nunez. The Broncos also have a solid back to tote the rock in Brandon West, who can be a threat coming out of the backfield as well as returning kickoffs. The Broncos’ defense is also weak against the pass, but they defend the run better and allow fewer points per game than Rice.

Inside the Numbers – Pass, Run & Catch

Western Michigan Broncos (9-3, 6-2)
Pass: Tim Hiller – 2,527 yards, 34 TDs
Run: Brandon West – 970 yards, 8 TDs
Catch: Jamarko Simmons – 98-1,184-7 TDs

Rice Owls (9-3, 7-1)
Pass: Chase Clement – 3,812 yards, 41 TDs
Run: C.J. Ugokwe – 755 yards, 2 TDs
Catch: Jarett Dillard – 79-1,224-19 TDs

Photo Credit: Rice University

MOTOR CITY BOWL NOTES: FAU 27, CMU 24

Big Game Russ

“When pressure rises, it’s one of my strong points not to crack under the pressure,” Florida Atlantic quarterback Rusty Smith told CFI Radio after his first practice in Detroit for the Motor City Bowl. “I don’t really know where I got it from. It’s just something where I’ve been able to stay calm whenever the pressure builds up.”

Smith, or Big Red as he is known (his father is Bigger Red), was at his big game best once again. It wasn’t the five-touchdown performance he had a year ago at the New Orleans Bowl, but it wasn’t too shabby either. Smith completed 20-of-35 passes for 306 yards and two touchdowns (zero interceptions).

Throughout the game, Smith did a nice job going through his progressions and the Jacksonville native made throws outside the hash marks with relative ease, working the sidelines on several occasions. His arm doesn’t warrant comparison to Matthew Stafford’s, but it appears to strong enough to “make all the throws” – there was more than enough zip on his passes.

The FAU signal caller shows good pocket presence and steps up when pressured--he doesn’t panic.

Smith has an unorthodox throwing motion, which seems to impact his accuracy more than his arm strength. Several passes sailed on him, particularly when he stepped up in the pocket. Rolling to his right, Smith looked good, displaying a strong arm when he was able to square his shoulders on a pretty 53-yard touchdown pass to Chris Bonner.

His completion percentage was also hurt by drops – leading receiver Cortez Gent dropped two passes – a problem all year for the Owls.

Smith also needs to work on his ball security. Twice he fumbled the football (lost one) and the second time he wasn’t even hit that hard by the defender. Protecting the football should be a point of emphasis for the soon-to-be senior quarterback.

A second straight bowl win adds another building block for the FAU program, a piece that didn’t appear would come this season when they were 1-5 and Smith had only five touchdown passes to go with nine interceptions. With the win over Central Michigan, the Owls ended the year on a 6-1 run with Smith’s touchdown-to-interception ratio improving to 19-to-5.

What was different?

“Not taking everything into my own hands,” was Smith’s answer. “Early on in the season I was trying to do a little too much, trying to force passes that really weren’t there. I realized it’s not really helping the team if I’m trying to do too much, so I decided I should take what the defense gave me and not try and force a 20-yard throw that wasn’t there. I realized if I could hit a five-yard route, the receiver would catch it and get 15 yards.”

Killer Hankies

Number One: With the score tied at 10 in the third quarter, it appeared CMU were going to force Florida Atlantic to punt…until they were flagged for roughing the passer. So instead of giving up the ball, the Owls had a first down on the 48-yard line, setting up Rusty Smith’s 52-yard scoring strike for a 17-10 lead. IMPACT: Minus seven points

Number Two: Antonio Brown breaks off a 78-yard scoring scamper to take a 20-17 lead…until a face mask penalty brought it all the way back. On the next play, they ran the same exact reverse to Brown, but this time he lost six yards and CMU had to punt the football. IMPACT: Minus seven points (Total = 14 points lost)

Number Three: Down 24-13, the Chippewas drove to the FAU one yard line with a chance to pull within one-score…until a false start penalty pushed them back to the six-yard line. There is not a worse spot on the field to commit a false start penalty. Dan LeFevour threw incompletions on the next two plays and they turned the ball over on downs. IMPACT: Minus eight points potentially (Total = 14-22 points lost)

Of course, one might ask, WHY ARE THEY GOING FOR IT? Inexplicably, Coach Butch Jones went for it on fourth-and-goal from the six-yard line with over 5:00 remaining. A field goal would have cut it to an eight-point game. Jones’ decision added insult to penalty.

Defensive Studs

Senior inside linebacker Frantz Joseph was all over the field, recording a team-high 13 tackles. Joseph is a big time hitter who takes names later and possesses good timing in open field when looking to lay the wood.

You can’t run right at Joseph – he’s a very sure tackler. He has excellent footwork and does a good job of sliding by potential blockers and squaring up to the ball carrier.

Joseph stays on the field in passing situations – he’s a legit three-down linebacker. He made an excellent open field tackle on Central Michigan’s playmaking wide out/return man Antonio Brown, allowing zero yards after the catch. Later in the game, Joseph knocked down a fourth down pass in the end zone, preserving the Owls’ 11-point lead.

Effort is not an issue, as Joseph doesn’t give up on plays. Even when he doesn’t make initial play, he cleans up a lot.

A couple of times, Joseph was pushed around by the Chippewas offensive line; disengaging is something he needs to work on, but it’s nothing to be too concerned about. He also can get a little too deep penetrating the offensive backfield, losing sight of the football.

Not as explosive as Joseph, but solid in his own right was CMU’s middle linebacker Nick Bellore, who recorded 12 tackles. The junior displayed good closing speed in zone coverage and quickness when he pounced on a Smith fumble. Bellore was active throughout the contest.

Unsung Heroes

Fullback Willie Rose was one of the top prospects on either team, paving the way for many of FAU’s rushing yards with his excellent lead blocks and providing solid pass protection to boot. Not just an extra offensive linemen, Rose saw some time as the lone running back in one-back sets. He showed good vision and showed toughness inside when asked to run the football. Coming out of the backfield, he can catch the ball and make yards once he gets the ball in his hands.

Following Rose’s blocks much of the time was senior tailback Charles Pierre, a physical runner who possesses good size. Pierre runs hard and is not afraid to put his hat down. Even when he was heading out of bounds, the tailback put his head down to get a little hit in on defender. He gained most of his yards (16 carries, 77 yards) running between the tackles, using his center of gravity and balance. Even when contact is made, Pierre keeps his legs churning.

He played his final game with passion and tremendous poise, so it was no surprise that headman Howard Schnellenberger went to his senior runner to milk the final minutes to secure the win. The Owls took over with 3:09 remaining in the game and Pierre touched the ball on five straight plays, converting three first downs before Smith took a knee on the final two plays of the game.

In the Trenches

Several of the top players and pro prospects will not see their name in the box score, but FAU guard Ryan Wischnefski and CMU tackle Andrew Hartline each made his presence felt. Wischnefski, just a sophomore, did an excellent job of run blocking which is where Pierre did most of his damage. Most of the Chippewas’ productive runs came when they ran behind senior Hartline, who made his 51st straight start.

On the first play of the game, Central’s defensive end Frank Zombo read screen pass, got his hands up and deflected the pass. He was quiet for most of the day, but did record a half a tackle for a loss and his pressure on Smith set up a sack for a teammate. For the Owls, their most productive defensive lineman was senior Jervonte Jackson. The defensive tackle was able to get penetration, as well as a couple of big hits on the Chippewas’ quarterback Dan LeFevour. A bit undersized to play on the inside, Jackson can get beat up physically, but has the quickness to make impact plays.

Stars of Tomorrow

Central Michigan: WR Kiro Poblah, Sophomore; LB Matt Berning, Sophomore; DT Sean Murnane, Sophomore; Florida Atlantic: CB Tarvoris Hill, Sophomore

Motor City Bowl: FAU vs. Central Michigan

By J.J. PESAVENTO

December 26 * 7:30 PM * ESPN

All eyes will be on quarterback Dan LeFevour as he leads his 8-4 Chippewas against Florida Atlantic. LeFevour can hurt a defense with his arm or his legs and led the MAC Conference in total offense in 2008. When he looks downfield, LeFevour will be targeting Antonio Brown and Bryan Anderson. When LeFevour is not moving the offense himself, look for running back Ontario Sneed to tote the rock for the Chippewas. Central Michigan has two standout defensive performers in Nick Bellore and Frank Zambo, but the defense ranks near the bottom of the pack in both pass defense and total defense. During the second half of the 2008 season, quarterback Rusty Smith threw 17 of his 22 touchdown passes and led the Owls to five wins in six games to gain a spot in the Motor City Bowl. The Owls have allowed only 12 sacks all season which has given Smith more than enough time to find receivers Cortez Gent and Jamari Grant, as well as tight end Rob Housler. The Owls live by the pass, but when they do run, Charles Pierre will get the call. The Owls have a stud defender in linebacker Frantz Joseph who ranks second in the nation in tackles. But like CMU, the defense as a whole is a weakness.

Inside the Numbers – Pass, Run & Catch

Central Michigan Chippewas (8-4, 6-2)
Pass: Dan LeFevour – 2,531 yards, 19 TDs
Run: Dan LeFevour – 536 yards, 6 TDs
Catch: Antonio Brown – 82-906-6 TDs

Florida Atlantic Owls (6-6, 4-3)
Pass: Rusty Smith – 2,918 yards, 22 TDs
Run: Charles Pierre – 937 yards, 8 TDs
Catch: Cortez Gent – 53-837-8 TDs

Photo Credit: Central Michigan University

This Date in College Football History

December 8, 1914: Representatives from the University of Oklahoma and Rice Institute (now Rice University) attend the Southwest Conference meeting at the Rice Hotel in Houston. The two new colleges joined as charter members of what was called the Southwest Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

Credit: The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame

BCS Buster Players of the Week - Week Fourteen

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

TE James Casey, Rice
The 24-year old sophomore hauled in 12 passes for 172 yards and three scores in the Owls’ 56-42 win over Houston, giving the Rice product 104 reception for 1,217 yards and 12 touchdowns on the season. The versatile talent also ran for a score (sixth of the season) and threw his second touchdown pass of 2008.

Honorable Mention: Andy Schmitt, QB, Eastern Michigan: 58-of-80, 516 yards, five touchdowns

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

DE Ben Calderwood, Utah St.
The senior defensive lineman turned a three-sack performance. Calderwood’s tackles for loss played a major role in the Aggies holding New Mexico St. to minus-seven yards rushing.

Honorable Mention: Gerald McRath, LB, Southern Miss: eight tackles, forced fumble

SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK

PR Kyle Wilson, Boise St.
Wilson returned three punts for a total of 136 yards, including a 90-yard touchdown.

Honorable Mention: Swayze Waters, PK, UAB: five-for-five on field goals, all 15 points

Photo Credit: College Press Box (Rice University)

This Date in College Football History

Nov. 25, 2006: Rice clinches its first bowl berth since 1961 by toppling SMU 31-27 in Houston. Freshman All-America WR Jarrett Dillard grabs three touchdown receptions, denying the Mustangs their first bowl bid since 1984.

Credit: The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame

BCS Buster Players of the Week

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

QB Chase Clement, Rice
Yet another record setting day for the Owls’ signal caller – Clement’s three touchdown passes gives him 87 in his illustrious career, two more than the previous Conference USA career record holder Kevin Kolb of Houston. His 109 total touchdowns match that of Tulsa product Paul Smith. On the day, Clement threw for 386 yards and ran for another 87, including a career best 61-yard scoring scamper in Rice’s 38-31 victory over Army.

Honorable Mention: Via Taua, RB, Nevada: 28 carries, 263 yards, one touchdown

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

LB Ward Dobbs, Wyoming
The Cowboys pulled off the upset over Tennessee with Dobbs playing a leading role. The senior returned an interception for a touchdown and recorded four tackles for a loss, including a sack, among his game-high 13 tackles.

Honorable Mention: Emanuel Davis, DB, ECU: six tackles, two interceptions (31 return yards)

SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK

KR A.J. Jefferson, Fresno St.
The junior return specialist turned in his third career kickoff return for a touchdown when he broke loose for 92 yards. In all, Jefferson accounted for 241 yards in kick returns.

Honorable Mention: Deante’ Purvis, KR, UNLV 140 return yards, blocked punt

Photo Credit: College Press Box (Rice University)

This Date in College Football History

Sept. 2, 1989: Having not beaten an SMU team in over a decade, Rice beats the Mustangs 35-6 in Dallas ending an 18-game losing streak. Owls quarterback Donald Hollas throws for 222 yards and two touchdowns, while rushing for 82 yards and two touchdowns. The Mustangs, returning after two years of not having a football program, started 18 freshmen and only had 41 scholarship players.

Credit: The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame