WAC Spring Outlook

[50's PONY]

Spring Preview 2004 ... WAC
Quick looks at each team as they go into spring ball


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Boise State | Fresno State | Hawaii | Louisiana Tech | Nevada | Rice | San Jose State | SMU | Tulsa | UTEP
The WAC schedules and analysis

Boise State
Spring Practice Starts: March 17 Spring Game: April 16
What needs working on ... Getting all the new starters in sync. The Broncos lose a ton of talent on both sides of the ball, but not a crippling amount. Last year's biggest problem was pass defense, but the statistics are worse than the actual performance (at least at times) since most teams had to throw in comeback mode. The loss of some corners will hurt the cause.
The most important position to watch is ... Quarterback. So how do you replace Ryan Dinwiddie? That'll be the big question all spring long as big senior Michael Sanford and sophomore Jared Zabransky will give it the first shot with more prospects to enter the mix.
Spring attitude... As the two-time defending WAC champions, the Broncos have to plan on reloading with the attitude that they can still win the title despite some big losses. It's not going to be easy, but this spring is key to getting all the new skill players working together properly.

Fresno State
Spring Practice Starts: March 8 Spring Game: April 2
What needs working on ... Scoring points again. What was supposed to be one of the baddest offenses in the WAC thanks to a lethal receiving corps and Paul Pinegar at quarterback turned positively stagnant scoring a mere 23 points per game. The defense should be tremendous, so it'll be up to the offense to prove it can keep up this spring.
The most important position to watch is ... Receiver. The Bulldogs lose 101 catches, 1,166 yards and six touchdowns with the departure of Bernard Berrian and Marque Davis. It'll be up to Jermaine Jamison and others to show that the Bulldogs can shine through the air.
Spring attitude... When is the program planning on getting around to winning the WAC? This is a good program with excellent players and the makings of a tremendous defense, but it has to find a way to get by Boise State and Hawaii after allowing 86 points to the two rivals. This spring is important to get the attitude that this will be a league title-winning season.


Hawaii
Spring Practice Starts: April 6 Spring Game: May 1
What needs working on ... Hanging on to the ball. Hawaii's offense is a high-risk, high-reward attack with its passing game, so 27 interceptions thrown isn't a shock. What hurts were the ten fumbles added to the mix. The Warriors must find a way to quit giving it up so much.
The most important position to watch is ... All the playmakers on the defense. Few teams lose as many defensive starters as Hawaii does, but the biggest concern is on the defensive line where NFL-bound tackle Isaac Sopoaga and WAC Defensive Player of the Year, DE Travis LaBoy, are both gone.
Spring attitude... QB Timmy Chang is back for what seems like his 14th year, and its time for him to finally make the team his. Injuries and ineffectiveness have allowed other quarterbacks to get their shot at playing time over the last few years, so now Chang has to come out this spring and show that he's going to be the signature star and the leader in the WAC race all year long.

Louisiana Tech
Spring Practice Starts: March 29 Spring Game: April 24
What needs working on ... The defense. Even by WAC standards Louisiana Tech was horrible finishing last in the nation in total defense giving up 510.5 yards per game and 115th against the run allowing close to 238 yards per outing. It's not likely that things will get better in a hurry, but the Bulldogs have no hope of improving this year until the front seven tightens up against the run.
The most important position to watch is ... Receiver. The loss of QB Luke McCown hurts, but it's made far tougher with the departure of most of the receiving production. The Bulldogs lose four of their top five receiver with Tramissian Davis needing to become the team's new top pass catcher.
Spring attitude... This has to be a physical spring practice session. The defense has to get tougher while the offense needs to revolve around the running game with Aaron Lips and the offensive line coming together to pave the way for star RB Ryan Moats.

Nevada
Spring Practice Starts: March 25 Spring Game: April 17
What needs working on ... Kick returns. Nevada has been one of the WAC's better running teams, so field position is always a key to the success of the offense. It hurts that the Wolf Pack were the worst team in the WAC when it came to returning punts and second to last at kickoff returns. The kick coverage wasn't exactly stellar either.
The most important position to watch is ... Linebacker. There are losses on the line with star end Jorge Cordova and tackle Derek Kennard gone, but the bigger concern is at linebacker losing all the starters. Chris Bailey split time in the middle and needs to lead the way for the new Nevada defensive front seven.
Spring attitude... Where does Nevada football want to fit in to the WAC mix? With a bowl game in its sight, the Wolf Pack gagged losing five of its final six games inexplicably losing to Louisiana Tech and Rice. The program has to get over the ugly second half of 2003 and get in the race from the word go. This spring, the team has to be motivated and angry.

Rice
What needs working on ... Kick returns. Rice was dead last in the nation in passing, but that's always going to be the nature of this team. What the Owls need to be more successful is better field position and they didn't get it averaging a mere 17.06 yards per kickoff return and 6.96 yards per punt return.
The most important position to watch is ... Fullback. The Owls are always going to find small, speedy running backs and quarterbacks to properly run the attack, but it's harder to find a bruising powerback that can fit this offense as perfectly as Robbie Beck did. Until Rice can find a way to replace him, the attack won't be as potent.
Spring attitude... Build on the momentum of the end of last year. Rice was red hot as 2004 went on ripping through the final three games with frightening efficiency. If the team can continue to keep that sort of attitude and believe that the ground game can work on anyone in the WAC, the Owls will go far..

San Jose State
Spring Practice Starts: April 5 Spring Game: April 24
What needs working on ... Punting. San Jose State always seems to have problems with defense giving up yards and points in bunches again, but the D didn't get much field position help with the WAC's worst punting game averaging a mere 30.48 yards per kick. Considering the lousy field position the Spartans were always in, it's impressive that the Spartan pass defense was as bad as it was.
The most important position to watch is ... Quarterback. There are wholesale changes everywhere as San Jose State will once again rely too heavily on JUCO players and other newcomers, but the toughest player to replace will be QB Scott Rislov. Beau Pierce is a big, strong quarterback and the heir apparent, but he's going to have to show right away that he can handle the job.
Spring attitude... San Jose State will never have any continuity with the way the program restocks the shelves each year, so spring is important for the parts to come together in a hurry. It's also important for the player in camp to shine with so many JUCO player coming in this summer.

SMU
Spring Practice Starts: March 18 Spring Game: April 17
What needs working on ... Finding a way to put the biscuit in the basket. The Mustangs have to establish some consistency in the passing game finishing last in the nation in passing and painfully last in scoring offense averaging a stunning 11.17 points per game. The team needs to find something that works to start putting points on the board.
The most important position to watch is ... Running back. Keylon Kincade was all the offense had going for it last year rushing for 1,280 yards and four touchdowns. The second leading rusher was a quarterback, and the third was big freshman Johnnie Fitzgerald. Considering the passing game might not become Texas Tech's yet, someone has to rise up and run the ball.
Spring attitude... The only way to get over a bad streak is to win, but there are still several months to go before SMU gets a chance to try and get a victory again. This spring, the team needs to keep working on improving from week to week. As Tulsa proved last year, it's possible to become a success in the league in a hurry, so the Mustangs have to hope that hard work and doing the little things right will pay off.

Tulsa
Spring Practice Starts: March 2 Spring Game: April 3
What needs working on ... The run defense. After the performance against Georgia Tech in the Humanitarian Bowl, the Golden Hurricane's biggest issue was exploited once again. It's not like the WAC (outside of Rice) is full of great rushing teams, so there's no excuse for the Golden Hurricane to have so many problems.
The most important position to watch is ... Running back. QB James Kilian might be the team's best runner, but a back needs to emerge to take the place of Eric Richardson and his 811 yards and 12 touchdowns from last year. Uril Parrish is a quick, small back who provided a nice change of pace last year, but he's going to have to play more of a role.
Spring attitude... Keeping the love going. Yeah, the last time we saw Tulsa it was getting destroyed in the Humanitarian Bowl, but that loss to Georgia Tech shouldn't diminish the great season the team had. The program has to keep working to try and keep the positive winning attitude that worked so well last year, and head coach Steve Kragthorpe has to keep his team believing it can succeed.

UTEP
Spring Practice Starts: March 29 Spring Game: April 24
What needs working on ... New head coach Mike Price is known for his ability to improve offenses, and UTEP's needs some help, but he and his staff have to focus on the abysmal defense that allowed over 38 points per game last year. The Miners also have to work harder on keeping the ball losing it an amazing 40 times last year.
The most important position to watch is ... The offensive line. Everything needs work and all the positions are pretty much up for grabs, but the biggest losses come on the line hurt most by the departure of OT Trey Darilek. If the line isn't working, the rest of the offense won't either.
Spring attitude... It's time for a breath of fresh air. Price isn't going to turn things around right away, but he should changed the losing attitude the program has had over the last few years as it seemed like no one on the team actually believed it could win. Price will reenergize things and make spring practice interesting..









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