Complete football notes in pdf format
The Portland State Vikings will begin their 2008 football campaign with a season-opening practice on Aug. 4 at Stott Community Field. The Vikings will practice from 7 to 9:30 a.m., with a media day event to immediately follow from 9:30-10:30 a.m.
The Vikings will practice six days a week leading up to a season-opening home contest against Western Oregon on Aug. 30 at PGE Park.
Head Coach Jerry Glanville begins his second season at Portland State. The well-known, former NFL coach and commentator will try to improve the Vikings' fortunes in 2008 following a 3-8 season in 2007. PSU was 3-5 in Big Sky Conference play, with wins over Sacramento State, NCAA-playoff participant Eastern Washington and Northern Colorado. The Vikings have been picked to place sixth this season in the nine-team Big Sky in preseason coaches and media polls.
PRESEASON PRACTICE SCHEDULE
Single Days: Aug. 4-9, 11, 13, 15, 18, 20, 22 - 7-9:15 a.m.
Double Days: Aug. 12, 14, 16, 19, 21, 23 - 7-9:15 a.m. and 1-3:30 p.m.
2008 PERSONNEL
Portland State will have to overcome a number of players losses, and integrate many new players into vital roles in 2008. The Vikings lost 13 starters from the 2007 squad. Four starters on offense, six on defense and one on special teams return for 2008.
The biggest areas of concern are the offensive and defensive lines. Also gone are PSU's top eight receivers - in terms of catches - from 2007. The Vikings have 29 returning letterwinners and 16 redshirts. In all, more than 40 players on the day one roster are new to the program for 2008, including 32 true freshmen.
RETURNING STARTERS
Offense (4): QB Drew Hubel/Tygue Howland (5 total starts, Howland injured in first game of 2007), LG Moses Punzal, RG Clayton Rios, FB Bobby McClintock (1 start, 12 career, injured in first game of 2007)
Defense (6): OLB KJ McCrae, OLB Ryan Pedersen, ILB Andy Shantz, FS Jordan Brown, CB Stanley Jackson, DE Josh Evans
Special Teams (1): K/P Danny Urrego
Other players returning with starts: WR Mario D'Ambrosio (1), OLB Jake Fetzer (1).
KEY PLAYERS LOST
Offense: QB Brian White, FB Olaniyi Sobomehin, WR Tremayne Kirkland, WR Kenneth Mackins, WR David Lewis, C Brennen Carvalho, RT Daren Heerspink, LT Cody Feakin, WR Reggie Joseph, WR Matt Smith
Defense: DE Casey Tyler, DT Philip Humphrey, DE Cole Smith, LB Jordan Senn, FS Micheal Dorsey, FS Damion Porter, CB Condrew Allen, LB Branden Brooks, FS Benny Schenk, LB Christian Carlson
2008 SEASON PREVIEW
The second year of the Jerry Glanville era figures to be much better than a more-than-challenging and injury-plagued first season at Portland State.
Glanville expects that the new offensive and defensive philosophies instituted in 2007 are now in-grained in the program and the results should bear that out in 2008.
In fact, the Run-and-Shoot offense proved to work very well for a program that lost its top two quarterbacks and a first team All-Big Conference fullback for the season in 2007. Despite not dealing with the full deck he was handed, offensive coordinator Mouse Davis engineered the Vikings to the top passing game in the nation (360.9 yards per game), as well as more than 30 points per game (28th in the nation) and 423 yards of total offense (17th in the nation).
The Viking defense struggled at times but began to show the big-play capability of Glanville's 3-4 scheme with 23 forced turnovers, 29 sacks, four blocked kicks and three safeties.
And while both sides of the ball should have much better knowledge of the playbook, they will also have to overcome a loss of more than 30 letterwinners from 2007. The Vikings have 29 returning letterwinners and 11 returning starters.
The Vikings' had a signing class of more than 30, and have a total of more than 40 newcomers overall entering camp. Portland State's biggest areas of need were at wide receiver and on the lines. Heavy recruiting in those areas have met the needs, and many of those newcomers will have to contribute right away. When including redshirts returning and walk-ons to the program, some two-thirds of the roster consists of new players in 2008.
“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 with 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 a 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.”
OFFENSE
If the Viking offense can just stay relatively healthy in 2008, it will be a huge step in the right direction and should be very successful once again.
Last year, starting quarterback Tygue Howland (12-24-0, 124 yards, 0 TD) was lost in the first game of the season. His backup, Brian White, went down after the seventh game. Then, Drew Hubel (123-217-11, 1,470 yards, 15 TD) suffered through a thumb injury in the final two contests.
This year, Howland (a junior), Hubel (a sophomore) and Jimmy Collins (a junior, 18-28-0, 203 yards, 3 TD) are all healthy heading into the season. They are joined by RS FR Connor Kavanaugh and true FR Kramer Hagan on the depth chart, giving the quarterback position the most talent and depth of any position on offense. That, of course, is a key in the Run-and-Shoot offense, and should lead to even bigger and better production than last year's national leading passing game.
Howland and Hubel figure to battle for the starting spot throughout fall camp, but Davis is pleased with the abilities of all of his QBs.
“They all have a little different thing,” said Davis. “Right now if we have to start, Tygue and Drew are ahead of the game. Both have overcome their injuries and are doing well. I really feel like quarterback is a strength of our team right now.”
Strong words from a man who mentored June Jones and Neil Lomax in his head coaching days at Portland State from 1975 to 1980.
“We are trying to get some routes we can count on from our receivers. And when we do, (the quarterbacks) will deliver the football,” said Davis.
Ah, receiver... an extremely important role in the Run-and-Shoot, and a spot where the Vikings lost the top three performers from last season to graduation. In fact, the top eight receivers - in terms of total catches - are gone.
JR Mario D'Ambrosio, who had 11 catches for 132 yards and one touchdown last season, is the most experienced wide receiver returning to the program. D'Ambrosio was also the Vikings' leader in kick return average at 26.4 per return.
A host of transfers and redshirts figure to battle for playing time in 2008. Among them as top candidates are JRs Ray Fry and Tracy Ford (both from Idaho), Aaron Woods (Santa Rosa JC), Deric Davis (City College of San Francisco), Daniel Wolverton (Moorpark JC) and SR Ty Coleman (Eastern Washington). Another redshirt, Reggie Jones, is likely to get double duty as he is slated to be a cornerback, but also is preparing to play at wide receiver.
Four true freshmen (Cory McCaffrey, Zach Brown, Josh Foley and Zach Todd) will also get a look. Todd's speed will get him on the field, while McCaffrey - one of the most decorated running backs in Oregon high school history - will need to make the transition to slotback.
On the offensive line, the Vikings return two starters, JR LG Moses Punzal and SR RG Clayton Rios. Both are big, talented athletes who should anchor the group in 2008.
Davis was pleased with the advancement of some returning players who he thinks will compete to start: SR OG Landan Laurusaitis, JR OT Matt Leunen and FR OT Jasper Croome. But, he also looks for help from the newcomers in August.
“We've got to get them ready. I think some of our freshmen are going to have to help us on the o-line and in the receiving corps as well.”
Junior college transfers who figure to help right away include Zach Dias and Tyler Staley. Meanwhile, five freshmen should have a great future in the program. The question is, ?how soon will that future come for some of them?' They are Dustin Waldron, Kyle Ritt, Dalton Jasso, Cole Giandomenico and Manuel Rojas.
That leaves the vital role of fullback, and Davis is pleased with the return to health of Bobby McClintock (41-181 rushing, 10-112 receiving in 12 career games) , who missed virtually the entire 2007 season.
“Bobby looks to me like he is fine,” said Davis. “He runs well and he benches like 500 pounds. He does need more flexibility, because he is so big and strong. He is running as fast as he did before the knee injury.”
PSU added three talented fullbacks in its letter of intent class: JR Austin Curran and FR Josh Nakamoto and Nick Kalpin. Those three will compete for backup duty initially.
“We got a long-ball hitter from junior college - a 10.6 100 guy (Curran). The first high school guy, is a guy who can dart and cut (Nakamoto), and the other high school guy (Kalpin) is for when there are four minutes left in the game, and you're not blocking anybody, you can still end up with second-and-7. You got a guy that is going to get yardage without any blocking. You got a guy that if he hits air is going to go the distance. Then, you got a bob-and-cut guy, who can handle our spit pass or shuffle pass.”
DEFENSE
On defense, Glanville points to his defensive line and linebackers as strengths for 2008. Glanville is excited about his defensive line recruits and had a chance to see two junior college signees last 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.
Along with Ma'aseia and Shackford, JC signee Jermaine Jacobs is expected to battle for a starting role at nose tackle. Returners Josh Evans (17 tackles, 2.5 TFL, 1 FR), Travis Beckley (8 tackles, 1 sack), Jordan Spence and Lloyd Talakai (1 tackle) all have game experience and will compete to play as well.
Three freshmen (Kyle Van Arden, Nick Gale and David Gertson) should have time to develop but could get into the mix in 2008.
“We've had massive improvement with the three linebackers who started last year (SRs Andy Schantz (85 tackles, 9 TFL, 5 PBU, 3 SK, 1 INT) and KJ McCrae (70 tackles, 12.5 TFL, 5 SK, 1 INT) and JR Ryan Pedersen (55 tackles, 10.5 TFL, 5 SK, 1 INT)). It's just unbelievable where they are right now,” said Glanville.
After combining for 210 tackles, 32 tackles for loss and 13 sacks in 2007, those three should anchor the defense with Schantz as the team's inspirational leader.
Several Vikings will compete for the fourth inside linebacker spot, including JR TR Erik Pedersen from Hawai'i. SO Jake Fetzer (22 tackles), who has moved up from the safety positon, true FR phenom Eloka Anyaorah and JC transfer David Pedersen, are all primed to compete at OLB, though Fetzer has a back injury that will keep him off the field initially.
JR FS Jordan Brown (35 tackles, 2 INT, 6 PBU in eight games) returns from injury and should be a key player in the defensive backfield, while SO SS Michael Wightman (9 tackles) will provide speed and hitting ability as he vies for a starting role.
Although he has played in 33 games the last three years, SR Aaron Dickson (15 tackles) has yet to be a starter. He moves back to a safety spot after playing his first two seasons there and will battle to start this year.
The coaches are high on SR Reggie Jones, who will get a chance to earn a starting role at cornerback after redshirting last year as a wide receiver. In fact, he could be a two-way player in 2008.
A returning veteran at cornerback, SR Stanley Jackson (15 tackles, team-high 5 interceptions) is likely to compete for a starting role again this year. The Vikings also have four underclassmen at cornerback. RS FR Onu Onu and Deshawn Shead will be counted on to step up their games and contribute.
SPECIAL TEAMS
SR K/P Danny Urrego will handle special teams duties again in 2008 after an excellent junior season. He averaged 41.8 yards per punt - the best by a Viking in seven years. Urrego also hit eight of nine field goals with his only miss from 50 yards after taking over that role early in the season.
FR Braedyn Eagle should take over the vital role of long snapper.
QUICK NOTES FOR 2008
THE MAN IN BLACK RETURNS
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, last season. 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.
ARCHITECT OF THE RUN AND SHOOT
Viking coaching legend Mouse Davis returns as offensive coordinator for the second year at Portland State. The Portland State head coach from 1975-80 (42-24 record), 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.
WELL-STOCKED AT LINEBACKER
Linebackers Andy Schantz and KJ McCrae, both seniors, and junior Ryan Pedersen, will lead the defense in 2008. They combined for 210 tackles, 32 for losses and 13 sacks. Schantz, an inside LB, and McCrae and Pedersen, both outside LBs, were honorable mention All-Big Sky Conference in 2007.
DEPTH AT QUARTERBACK
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.
BOBBY MAC IS BACK IN BLACK
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... despite being injured in 2007, McClintock was selected as to the 2008 preseason All-Big Sky Conference team.
LATE STARTS
Two returning players will get late starts to their seasons as injuries have slowed them down. JR ILB Logan Dose, who was a special teams star for the Vikings in 2007, is still recovering from a hand injury he suffered in the spring game. Dose is out until at least early September. SO OLB Jake Fetzer has a back injury that will keep him off the field for most of August. He will be reevaluated later this month.
POSITION SWITCHES
A few Vikings will switch positons in 2008. SR Reggie Jones, a redshirt wide receiver, moves to full-time cornerback, but is likely to play at both positions this year. 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.
SPECIAL TEAMS LEADER
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.
CAMP GLANVILLE: VIKING FOOTBALL JOINS THE REALITY TV GENRE
“Camp Glanville: Tackling PSU Football” premiered on May 5, just prior to the conclusion of Portland State's spring football practice on Comcast SportsNet in the Portland area. It was the first episode in a 20-week series prepared by CSN about Viking football. Each new episode premieres on Mondays at 9:30 p.m. as the show follows the Viking team's preparation from the start of spring practice, through the summer, to the start of fall practice and into the first game.
SCHEDULE WATCH
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 that will be televised on Fox Sports Net. 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).
ON THE SURFACE
PGE Park, which has a reestablished capacity 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.
PLAYING ON SUNDAYS
Seven members of the 2007 Portland State Viking football team signed free agent contracts with NFL teams following the National Football League draft last April. It marks the most Vikings ever to sign NFL contracts in a single season. Among the seven who signed were LB Jordan Senn (Indianapolis), FB Olaniyi Sobomehin (New Orleans), RT Daren Heerspink (Miami), C Brennen Carvalho (Green Bay), QB Brian White (Oakland), DE Casey Tyler (New England) and DB Condrew Allen (Green Bay).
