Breaking down the Bulldogs
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BY CURT McKEEVER / Lincoln Journal Star
THE OFFENSE
Base formation: Multiple one-back
2005 per-game averages:
Points: 28.7
Total yards: 366.6
Rushing yards: 147.5
Passing yards: 219.1
Turnovers lost: 1.6
Time of possession: 31:34
THE DEFENSE
Base formation: 3-4
2005 per-game averages:
Points: 25.5
Total yards: 381.3
Rushing yards: 133.2
Passing yards: 248.1
Turnovers gained: 2.8
THE COACH
Jack Bicknell
Years at Louisiana Tech: Eighth.
Record: 40-42.
Worth noting: Saturday will mark the fourth time that a Bicknell-led Tech team will open the season against a Top 25 opponent. In previous attempts, against No. 10 Florida last season, No. 3 Miami in 2003 and No. 1 Florida State in 1999, the Bulldogs never came closer than 34 points. ... Bicknell is 3-17 against Top 25 teams. The wins — against No. 18 Alabama in 1999, No. 17 Fresno State in 2004 and No. 23 Fresno State last year — are the only ones Tech has had facing Top 25 competition. ... Bicknell was Tech’s offensive line coach for two seasons prior to being promoted. His father is coach of NFL Europe’s Barcelona Dragons.
THE GAMERS
Eric Newman
Position: WR
Year: Senior
Height: 6-0
Weight: 190
Worth noting: Tech’s leader last season in receptions (30), yards (566) and TDs (8). He’s caught at least one TD pass in five straight games.
Brannon Jackson
Position: LB
Year: Junior
Height: 6-2
Weight: 260
Worth noting: Tech’s top returning tackler (54). Solid all-around skills with the kind of size to be able to control the middle zone.
Danny Horwedel
Position: K
Year: Junior
Height: 6-2
Weight: 200
Worth noting: Leads all kickers in the Western Athletic Conference with 26 field goals. He’s on the watch list for the Lou Groza Award.
Quarterbacks: Junior Zac Champion beat out junior college transfer Joe Danna and redshirt freshman Michael Mosley and will be making his first career start. Champion, who completed 6 of 8 passes while playing in five games during his first two seasons, can expect to be under heavy fire from the Huskers. Champion played eight-man ball his first two years in high school, but as a senior led Bessemer Academy to the Alabama Independent Schools Association state championship.
Running backs: Sophomore Patrick Jackson has been impressive enough that Tech moved its top two rushers from last season, Mark Dillard and Freddie Franklin, to different positions. Jackson was one of only 24 true freshmen last season to score at least six TDs. Franklin, a starting wide receiver, also should receive some carries. True freshman William Griffin, injured much of the preseason, was recruited by Nebraska.
Receivers: Champion has a big group to call upon, starting with WRs Eric Newman, John Holland (a WAC indoor track champion) and the converted Franklin. Josh Wheeler, a Texas state high school track champion, contributed as a true freshman last season. TE Anthony James (6-6, 265) had 11 catches for 157 yards and two TDs over the final five games last year. He and sophomore Anthony Harrison (6-3, 235) should be easy for Champion to spot.
O-line: This group is big, but needs game seasoning. Right tackle Bill Jones and left guard David Accardo will be making their first starts, and center Jacob Peeler his second. Accardo and Peeler are replacing players who were three- and four-year starters. Left tackle Tyler Miller and right guard Ryan Considine started all 11 games in 2005. Considine, however, has moved from right tackle.
D-line: This is another area of big turnover, as five of the top six from last year are gone. Nose guard Josh Muse (6-3, 310) will be a load. But Tech’s ends — Ben McGilten and Wes Day — need to rely on speed rather than size. The recent loss of first-team end Jared Parten to a season-ending knee injury was a major blow.
Linebackers: In the middle, Brannon Jackson is one of two returning defensive starters. Tech believes it has plenty of athletes here, but there’s little experience. In his only start last season, Quin Harris had two interceptions in the season-ending upset of Fresno State. He’ll team with junior college transfer Marquis McBeath on the outside, while Chad Beverage will support Jackson in the middle.
Secondary: Free safety Dez Abrams is the only returning starter in this group, so his leadership will be critical. Former running backs Weldon Brown, who’s been moved around five times in less than a year, and Mark Dillard are now starters. Brown moved from safety back to cornerback on Aug. 21. Dillard, now the starting strong safety, led Tech in rushing last season. The other corner, Tony Moss, played in all 11 games in 2005.
Specialists: No changes in this department from last year. Danny Horwedel is back after earning second-team All-WAC honors by connecting on 18 of 26 field goals. Brad Oestriecher will handle kickoff duties again and sophomore punter Chris Keagle, who averaged 37.4 yards and didn’t have a kick blocked, also is back. Patrick Jackson, whose 27.7-yard kickoff return average last year ranked 12th-best nationally, gives Tech someone capable of going the distance. And that hasn’t happened in the past 194 games. Freddy Franklin is back to handle punts after averaging just 4.5 yards per return a year ago. Tech has gone 87 games since its last punt return TD.
Scouting report: Comments by Fresno State coach Pat Hill after his 23rd-ranked team was upset at home 40-28 in Tech’s final game of 2005. The loss cost Fresno a WAC co-championship. Tech rolled up 398 yards, but took control by converting four first-half turnovers into 23 points. Fresno also was called for four personal fouls.
“I can’t begin to find the words to explain what happened. Obviously, we did not finish the job. We played so poorly with so much on the line and so much to play for — I can’t begin to understand why. We had more turnovers in the last three games than we had in the first eight. I don’t understand that.
“I give La Tech credit. Jack (Bicknell) did a great job. They were well prepared and well coached and really took it to us. I’ve been saying that they have great athletes, and you saw that.”
The result was Fresno’s third straight loss and came two weeks after Hill’s team took top-ranked Southern Cal to the wire before falling 50-42. It left Bicknell flabbergasted.
“For us to come in here and do what we did is just incredible. I was watching the tape of the USC game and how well they played so I knew what we were up against. ... I knew that with this game being on the road and against their crowd, you better do something early. Once we settled down in the second quarter, we were able to execute and ended up making plays.”
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