Head Coach Jerry Glanville will look for continued development in the Vikings' offensive and defensive systems as Portland State football begins spring practice on Monday, April 14.
Approximately 65 players will hit the field at 7 a.m. on Monday morning. Portland State will have 38 returning letterwinners, including six starters on offense, six on defense and two on special teams. Nineteen redshirts, a few of the 30 national letter of intent signees and a handful of walk-ons will make up the spring roster.
“Ordinarily the biggest improvement is your second spring, but we are kind of unusual in that most of the people who played last year graduated, so you are going to miss that second improvement,” said Glanville. “But, I have seen, the people who are here, even if they weren't playing a lot are so much farther ahead than they were a year ago. We don't have lot of starters returning, but even the backups have a real good idea of what we are doing. I think there will be a big improvement with the quarterbacks.
“A lot of kids that will come in in August will have to get caught up in a hurry, because we will play them. We've got a lot of people in August we are going to have to line up and go to war with, so we aren't going to have much time.”
Key injuries to last year's starters Tygue Howland (JR QB, broken foot), Bobby McClintock (JR FB, ACL tear) and Jordan Brown (JR CB, ACL tear) will have some affect on the spring as well. Those three, although they are recovering well, will not be able to take part in any contact. Howland and McClintock should be able to take part in drills, while Brown will not.
“Jordan Brown physically is not able to take part, but mentally he will be a free safety,” said Glanville. “So, he will be physically watching, but mentally taking reps and in the meetings as a free safety. He will make us a better secondary. He is a big-time hitter with good strength and good tackling skills. He won't be live until August, but that will be a big move as to where we can go and what we can be.”
Another starter missing from the spring will be SR RG Clayton Rios, who had off-season back surgery.
On defense, Glanville points to his defensive line and linebackers as strengths for 2008. Glanville is excited about his defensive line recruits and will get a chance to see two junior college signees this spring.
“I think the three down linemen we have pegged for next year can be better than the three we had, and I think (SR ILB) Andy (Schantz) is really, really improved and should be great,” said Glanville.
“We have to get the two defensive ends up to speed with what we are doing, because they are real athletes. Joe (Ma'aseia) and (John) Shackford are not normal.
“We've had massive improvement with the three linebackers who started last year (Schantz, SO Ryan Pederson and SR KJ McCrae). It's just unbelievable where they are right now.”
The coaches are high on JR Reggie Jones, who will get a chance to earn a starting role at cornerback after redshirting last year as a wide receiver. They also like redshirt freshman Deshawn Shead. Both players will get a lot of reps at cornerback in the spring.
Spring practice dates are April 14, 16, 18, 19, 21, 23, 25, 26, 30, May 2, 3, 5, 7, 9. All practices are 7-9 a.m. at Stott Community Field. The spring football game is scheduled for May 10 at PGE Park at 1 p.m.
QUICK NOTES FOR 2008
? The 2008 season will be the second go-round for Viking Head Coach Jerry Glanville, and he plans on making it a much more enjoyable journey. Glanville took over the program in Feburary 2007, and after a change of offenses, defenses and a remarkable number of injuries to key players, PSU managed just a 3-8 record, 3-5 in the Big Sky Conference. Glanville, who was a head coach in the NFL from 1986-1993, is in his first collegiate head coaching position. He was the defensive coordinator at Hawai'i during the 2005-06 seasons.
? Viking coaching legend Mouse Davis returns as offensive coordinator for the second year at Portland State. The Portland State head coach from 1975-80, Davis introduced the innovative Run-and-Shoot offense to a mass audience in those days. He has brought it back to PSU, and the result was an NCAA FCS leading 360.9 passing yards per game in 2007 despite season-ending injuries to the Vikings' top two quarterbacks. Portland State also scored nearly 31 points per game - the most at PSU since the 2001 season.
? Linebackers Andy Schantz and KJ McCrae, both seniors, and sophomore Ryan Pederson, will lead the defense in 2008. They combined for 210 tackles, 32 for losses and 13 sacks. Schantz, an inside LB, and McCrae and Pederson, both outside LBs, were honorable mention All-Big Sky Conference in 2007.
? There will be a battle for playing time at quarterback once again in 2008 as SO Drew Hubel and JR Tygue Howland both return. Howland, the first game starter in 2007, was injured in the opener and missed the final 10 games. Hubel took over as a starter later in the year, and set a national record with nine touchdown passes in one game. A thumb injury limited Hubel late in the year, and JR Jimmy Collins came on for effective playing time.
? The return of JR FB Bobby McClintock should have a tremendous impact on the Viking offense. McClintock, who was a first team All-Big Sky Conference selection as a freshman, missed virtually the entire 2007 season after suffering a knee injury in the opener at McNeese State. His blocking, running and receiving abilities combined with the prominent role of fullbacks in the Run-and-Shoot offense have McClintock poised for a successful 2008 season.
? A few Vikings will switch sides of the football in 2008. Included are: SR Ronnie Fa'avae who moves from fullback to linebacker (his original position); JR Matt Bramow, who moves from wide receiver to free safety; JR Reggie Jones, a redshirt wide receiver, moves to cornerback. Also, JR Jordan Brown will move from cornerback to free safety; SR Aaron Dickson moves from linebacker to strong safety; SO Jake Fetzer moves from free safety to outside linebacker.
? SR P/K Danny Urrego was one of the Vikings' top players in 2007, averaging 41.8 yards per punt - the best mark by a Viking in seven years - to rank 18th in the nation. Urrego also made 8-9 field goals with his only miss from 50 yards. His field goal percentage (.889) and set a new record at Portland State.
? The 2008 Portland State football schedule features eight Big Sky Conference games and three regional non-conference opponents, including Washington State of the Pac-10. PSU will have five home games and six road contests. Portland State opens on Aug. 30 when the Vikings host NCAA II Western Oregon at PGE Park. On Sept. 20, Portland State goes to Pullman, WA for a first-ever meeting with WSU. The Viking program has previously played Oregon, Oregon State and California from the Pac-10. The other non-conference game is a road meeting at UC Davis (Sept. 13). Big Sky home opponents in 2008 include Idaho State (Oct. 25), Montana (Nov. 8) and Northern Colorado (Nov. 22). The Big Sky Conference road schedule includes Sacramento State (Sept. 27), Northern Arizona (Oct. 11), Weber State (Nov. 1) and Montana State (Nov. 15). PSU has an open weeks on Sept. 6 and Oct. 18.
? PGE Park, which has a reestablished capactiy of 19,566, will have a new playing surface in 2008. FieldTurf, the same surface on which Portland State practices at Stott Community Field, was installed over the winter.
