Muleriders keep their option open
Posted on Thursday, August 21, 2008
First in a series of articles previewing Arkansas’ Gulf South teams. MAGNOLIA — When nothing else seems to be working, sometimes a healthy dose of nonconformism is in order. Southern Arkansas’ Steve Quinn is all for it. Quinn presides over a Gulf South Conference misfit. It’s a program that builds with defense as the conference piles up higher and higher point totals and hangs its hat on the triple option when the rest of the GSC (and practically the nation ) sides with the Spread. Quinn took the Muleriders to the NCAA Division II playoffs in 2003. But the results since then, including five victories over the past two seasons, make that postseason run seem like a distant memory. There are plenty of theories and suggestions as to what’s gone wrong, be it the run-oriented offense, older facilities or a smaller athletic budget. “You analyze it as a coach,” said Quinn, 37-39 in seven seasons as head coach. “Probably overanalyze it.” Quinn will stick with what he knows in 2008. That means SAU’s recovery effort starts with defense, and with nine starters returning on that side of the ball, the Muleriders should be stingier if nothing else, after yielding an average of 33. 3 points per game.
Improvement on defense would give the Muleriders a chance to stand apart in a conference where even some of the top teams are used to surrendering 30 points per game or more. SAU returns a preseason All-GSC cornerback in senior Roland Perkins, and another preseason selection in defensive end Ryan Terry.
Terry will anchor a defensive line that remains virtually the same from 2007. Sophomore Simeon Oston will lead the linebacker corps after a strong freshman season.
It’s a defense that would be good for any team. But for SAU, it might have to be perfect.
The bad news for SAU is that only three starters return on offense, none of them seniors and none at the skill positions.
SAU’s Flexbone attack — similar to the package Paul Johnson ran at Navy and has brought to Georgia Tech — almost requires experience to run effectively.
Not only must the offensive line be mobile enough to attack in unison, but the quarterbacks and running backs must establish the rhythm necessary to execute pitch plays.
“We’re probably going to be more simplistic offensively,” Quinn said. “You worry about things like missed reads and motions, because we use a lot of motions. Those are things you’d like to have ironed out by now, but we’re still working on.” Quinn tends to platoon at the quarterback position, simply because of the added punishment QBs take in running the option. Junior Quintin Porter started one game last season and saw action in six other games while spelling Josh SanFilippo, whose eligibility has expired. Porter, the likely starter, will be backed up by redshirt freshman Ryan Mc-Combie.
One drawback of a run-first offensive philosophy is that passing tendencies can become predictable, which allows the defense to blitz and take chances in anticipation of a pass. Nothing illustrated this better than SAU’s 2007 game against eventual Division II national champion Valdosta State, when the Muleriders trailed by a touchdown with 10 minutes left in the game before interceptions — SanFilippo had four in the game — allowed the Blazers to coast to a 33-21 victory.
SAU quarterbacks threw more interceptions (14 ) than touchdown passes (13 ) in 2007, though none of those interceptions came from the returning Porter.
“It makes you antsy going into your opener,” Quinn said. “Exactly what are you going to be able to do ?” SAU glance COACH Steve Quinn (seventh year, 37-39 at school ) LAST SEASON 3-7 (2-6 GSC ) PLAYERS TO WATCH Roland Perkins, Sr., defensive back; Ryan Terry, Jr., defensive end; Simeon Oston, So., linebacker; Clarence Wright, Sr., defensive back.
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