Experience, potential, and execution are just a few of the buzzwords being thrown around the football team's preseason practices this fall. That's because the Jumbos', whose season begins Saturday at Wesleyan, are more experienced than they were a year ago. While they have the potential to improve on last year's 2-6 record, to do so will require execution at a higher level.
It is rare to find so much confidence in a team that finished so poorly last season, but that's the way Tufts is. Their final game of 2000 was a 27-0 debacle at Middlebury, but that has done little to diminish the team's expectations for this year. "We were 2-6, but we were in every game except the Middlebury one," senior co-captain and offensive guard Mike Willey said. "A few plays go differently and we're 6-2 or 4-4. We are improved this year, we'll be alright."
The team had a number of close games last year, though the offense sometimes played like an inexperienced unit, coughing up turnovers and eliminating big gains with penalties. Of course part of the problem was the fact that coach Bill Samko's team was ravaged by injuries last season, which forced younger players into the lineup. Good things come from bad, though, and last year's injuries to veteran players allowed the youngsters to gain experience - experience they will use to eliminate mental mistakes this year.
To achieve that goal, Samko's team will rely on experience throughout the offense and a new defensive coordinator on defense. The team will use its strengths - talented wide receivers, offensive and defensive backfield speed, and a large, seasoned offensive line - to chip away at last year's disappointing mark. Whether those advantages will be enough to cover up the team's weaknesses - lack of a consistent passing game, a premier running back, and defensive size - and topple a tough NESCAC is still to be determined.
Quarterback
As Al Pacino said in Any Given Sunday, the quarterback is the top spot, the one that has to make the rest of the team believe. After splitting time with junior Todd Scalia last year, classmate Scott Treacy will be the starter this season. Last season's flip-flopping of quarterbacks was viewed as a quarterback controversy, but the two are friends, and Treacy got the job due to health problems that are holding Scalia out the game.
Regardless, Treacy has done enough in the preseason to make his team believe. The quarterback went 10-25 in limited service last season with five interceptions and one touchdown, but has impressed teammates with his play thus far.
"I'm very confident in [Scott]," Willey said. "He is a great player who can do a lot of different things."
This is where statistics don't tell the whole story. Treacy's passing may not jump off the stat sheet, but a closer inspection shows that he's a quarterback who can hurt you with his feet as well. He rushed for 77 yards and one of the team's three rushing touchdowns last year. In a preseason scrimmage this year, he ran for big gains on an option and bootleg.
In that scrimmage, though, the passing game, as it did most of last year, appeared stagnate. Treacy has a trio of talented receivers to throw to, and if his arm can become as effective as his legs, he will be leading a dangerous offense.
Running backs
Speed, slash, bruise. This is going to be the motto of the Tufts running game this year, as it will come at opponents with three running backs, each of whom specialize in a specific style of scampering. In an offense that plans on running the ball for approximately 60 percent of its plays, it is crucial that this unit lives up to its billing. Samko insists that it will be a unit, and not an individual carrying the ball, as neither senior Renato DePaolis, junior Keven Kelly, nor junior Chuck McGraw will see 30 carries a game.
DePaolis, the speedy one of the group, is a familiar name at Tufts, as he led the team in rushing two years ago before transferring to Bentley, where he ran for over 500 yards last season. He has transferred back, adding quickness and depth to the backfield.
The slasher is McGraw, the most experienced runner from last year's squad. The junior ran for 180 yards and two scores - Tufts' only rushing touchdowns by a running back last season - and caught six passes for another 61 yards. He's also worked the most with Treacy, which could give him the edge in close games.
Kelley, the bruiser, should serve as a perfect compliment to the other two, as he will come at teams with his 220-lb frame, an uninviting proposition late in games.
"We have a great mix at running back," Willey said.
Wide Receiver
This could be the team's most talented unit, as sophomore Matt Cerne and junior Bryan Pitko will start, with sophomore Tim Mack coming in during three receiver sets. Cerne was twice the NESCAC Rookie of the Week, and won the conference Rookie of the Year award last season, pulling down 284 yards and a touchdown. His unit mate, Pitko, kept teams from focusing too much on Cerne, as the junior caught 198 yards and earned a score himself. Mack had five catches for 60 yards, and adds another weapon for this group.
"We gotta throw the ball this year," Samko said. "We have to take advantage of our players' capabilities, and we have three real good receivers."
At tight end, sophomore Ryan Papi, one of the few individuals Samko has praised in the preseason, should get the starting nod.
Offensive Line
If the receivers are the most talented, then the linemen are the most dependable. It is the only unit where Samko has known all along exactly who will start. Juniors Andy Dickerson and Adam Collete - the heaviest and tallest of the linemen, respectively - will be starting at tackle. Seniors Jim Higgins and Willey will be the guards, while sophomore Justin Kelley is the center.
Everyone in this group played last season, which means they know how each other plays, a huge advantage on an offensive line.
"We work real well together," Dickerson said. "We don't have to talk that much, we know how each person will react."
The line, according to Willey, is the focal point to the offense, as every play requires precision blocking. And this group, he feels has the talent to bolster the entire offense.
"With us, it is easier for Samko to call different plays," Willey said. "He can mix it up more."
The entire offense has experience on its side, which means mental mistakes no longer can be excuses.
"We don't have to rely on new guys," Willey said.
Defensive Line
Eligibility rules will allow graduate student Everrett Dickerson to hold down this year's defensive line one more time. He will be joined in the middle of the line by sophomore Caleb Hudak, who was NESCAC Rookie of the Week once last year, and sophomore Matt Keller, who impressed as a reserve last year. Dickerson and Hudak combined for nine sacks last season. Junior Brian Burbank, who had 45 tackles last season, and sophomore Reid Palmer could start at the end spots.
Overall, the defensive line is a deep group, as junior Justin Nottingham and senior Jeff Ryan are also quality replacements. One of the goals of the defense this season is to control the tempo of the game, a goal that can only be achieved if this unit dominates the line of scrimmage.
Linebackers
The new defense, installed by first year defensive coordinator John Walsh, will rely heavily on this talented unit, and specifically on senior co-captain, middle linebacker Scott Mittenthal. The linebacker led the team with 73 tackles last season, and will be used a lot on blitzes this year.
"We have great talent at linebacker with Scott," junior cornerback Evan Zupancic said. "He's going to use his speed to blitz now and then to keep the offense honest."
The defense is hoping that Mittenthal and first time starters, junior Sean Kennedy and sophomore Matt Depaolis, can get into the offensive backfield, creating long second and third down situations, and possibly turnovers.
Defensive Backs
This group will be hurt most by the loss of free safety, junior Greg Devine, who quit the team in the offseason due to injuries and track. However, Zupancic, a preseason All-American will lead this quick, if undersized group. He will start at corner across the field from senior Howie Rock, who will double as the punter and kicker.
While Zupancic is certainly one of the most talented covermen in the conference, he and Rock are going to be tested in man-to-man coverage while the safeties and linebackers blitz. What will make their job, and that of the entire defense even more difficult, is that they are calling audibles on the field, rather than running a set play, regardless of what the offense shows.
The job of calling the audibles will fall upon the two safeties, sophomore Mark Tilki and George Rodriguez, who can see the field better. It means the two will have to constantly be thinking and reacting even before the play starts.
Special Teams
In addition to being the starting corner back, Rock is the kicker and punter again this year. He was solid last season - perfect on PAT's and a 37.6 yards per punt average - and will be called upon for a similar season this year.
Cerne handled the majority of the returning duties last season, and did so admirably, averaging 17.1 yards per kick return and 8.9 per punt return. Tilki and Zupancic both saw time as returners as well.
Coaching
Coach Samko is in his eighth season with the Jumbos, and has seen both extremes in his career, even recently. The team went 7-1 in 1998, only to drop to 2-6 last season.
The biggest news in the coaching department is at defensive coordinator, where Walsh has installed a defense based around movement and adjustments. The team has had little difficulty adapting to the change, though.
"He's a great coach with a hard work ethic, and we respect him," Zupancic said. "We are willing to try something new, so there have been no problems."
A new defensive scheme and an optimistic offense look good on paper, but that will all get tested on Saturday, as the Jumbos head to Wesleyan for their first test of the season.
