With signing day soon approaching, questions have been pouring in on the Golden Rams’ needs for next season. While most players’ names that will be announced in the coming weeks won’t see significant time on the field until the 2018 season, it is fair to examine what the 2015 squad might look like. Of course this is based on the guys on the current roster, since it’s extremely difficult to project the comings and goings of players which happen for a myriad of reasons.
Offense
Concerns – Receivers and offensive line
Quarterback
While Andrew Derr’s 2014 statistics – 15 of 27 for 243 yards and four touchdowns with one interception – look more typical for those of a single game, there’s little doubt that he will be the starter. While his role this past season was mainly mop up duty in games that had already been decided, he led West Chester’s comeback win at Shippensburg in 2013 as a redshirt freshman and played the fourth quarter in West Chester’s playoff game at Concord. He was also used as a wildcat, so unlike many quarterbacks, his ability to run isn’t a last resort. Although Pat Moriarty has yet to throw a collegiate pass, he’s only one year behind Derr in experience in the system and should prove to be a reliable backup.
Receivers
One of the potential obstacles to an effective passing game may be the receiving corp. The big three in 2014 – tight end Tim Brown, and wide receivers Mike Doty and Erick Brundidge - accounted for 55% of the receptions, 66% of the receiving yards and 78% of the receiving touchdowns. While Doty and Brown both appear to still have another season of eligibility left, it’s unclear if they will return. Both graduated high school in 2009 and they may be looking to get on with life. However, Brown has the size, skill, production and awards to be a legitimate pro prospect, so an additional stellar college season may further that cause for him.
So the top returning receivers are Shannon Mayer (25 catches, 247 yards, 3 TD’s), Adam Dempsey (21 catches, 171 yards, 1 TD) and Jim Hurley (6 catches, 143 yards). Only 5’9” Dempsey will be a senior and he’s best known for making the tough catches over the middle. Marcus Sydnor and Jordan Banks provide two more options, but neither has a catch and providing some size could be 6’2” Jr. A.J. DePietro and 6’3” R-Fr. Jared Reed., but they’re two more guys that have yet to register a collegiate reception. After recovering from an injury, DiPietro was in uniform at the end of the season, but did not receive any action.
Also at tight end is Shawn Driggins who is primarily used as a run blocker. Although he had six catches for 69 yards and three touchdowns, he’s not the downfield threat that Brown is. Further clouding matters at that position is the fact that Bill Ford doesn’t participate in spring football since he’s catching for the Golden Ram baseball team.
Running Backs
The story is much better at running back as the top three backs - Brandon Monk (first-team All-PSAC East), Eddie Elliott (second-team All-PSAC East) and Jarel Elder - are all back. So there’s plenty of talent, experience and depth at that position.
It will be interesting to see the evolution of the H-back position. That's technically how Driggins was listed on the depth chart, but this past season was the first one utilizing that position. But two players - John Derr and Ryan Fay - are actually listed as H-backs on the roster. They both took their redshirt year this past season and should be ready to play this fall. With their size - Derr is 6'4", 215 and Fay is 6'3" 230 - maybe the Golden Rams will have a new, power approach to those short yardage situations that have been troublesome in recent years. Time will tell.
Offensive Line
The story isn't as good on the offensive line which goes from young to younger. Like coming into 2014, the 2015 O-line will have only two starters returning. However, in 2014, those two returning starters were seniors and one of the new starters was a senior. This year, the “elder statesman” of the unit will be rising Jr. Doug Gilbert. Gilbert was first team All-PSAC East at left tackle and there’s no reason to think that he won’t be stationed there for the next two seasons. The other returning starter is right tackle Vince Lostracco. With so many of West Chester’s games last year getting decided before the clock hit triple zeros, the non-starting youngsters got a decent amount of playing time. Center Devan LaBau, left guard Alex Host and right guard Tyler Drob saw plenty of action, with Drob getting one start due to an injury to Antoine Bland. About the only depth of note going into 2015 is Michael Unger who saw time at tackle last season. Vying for time will be Evyn Stadulis, J Kraiza, Shane Kraynik and Jake Duncan.
Defense
Concerns – Linebackers and secondary
Defensive Line
Six of the eight guys who played in the four-man front rotation return. Defensive end Andrew Cohen has stated personal and team goals and is a player who has the determination to achieve them. He registered 10.5 sacks in 2014 which is the most by a Golden Ram defender since 1992 and just 2.5 off the single season of 13.0 last achieved by Pat Ellis in 1988. The likely Gene Upshaw Award nominee has 20.0 career sacks and the West Chester record is 21.5 set by Doug Jacobs from 1980-83. John Dubyk and George Shipp are the other returning defensive ends. Last season, the coaches moved Mike Culbreath from linebacker to a standup defensive end. If the coaches liked the role, Grant Garbutt might fill that same position. However, if the move was done strictly to get a senior playing time, then Garbutt will likely return to linebacker and 6’4” Ch'aim Smith might take the other end position. The good news at defensive end is Cohen is one of the best ever to play the position at West Chester, the bad news is that the other three ends have 33 tackles combined.
At the defensive tackle position, starters Barry Lyons and Shaquil Ryder return as does backup Josh Ganzelli. After that, are players that will be seeing the field for the first time in Ben Smith or Stephen Harrison. Joe Matcovich saw some action in 2014 and is listed as a defensive lineman, but his 6’2” 235 size appears better suited to linebacker.
Linebackers
With the two top tacklers for the past few seasons finally out of the way, Ralph Reeves gets to start. Next to him will likely be either Dan Sherry, who saw action in seven games last season, or the aforementioned Garbutt. Sean Steinmetz got pressed into action last year as a true freshman when Ronell Williams got hurt at Seton Hill, so it’s possible that he will redshirt this coming season. Depth at linebacker will rely on guys with little or no experience in Kevin Duggan, Steven Denby or Steve Marrazzo.
Secondary
First is the certain - Brandon Pepper at free safety, Blaise Schieler at one corner and Drew Formica at either free safety or shark or maybe both. After that, things appear to be wide open going into the spring. One thing is clear though, the balance of the secondary will be young and/or inexperienced. Hopefully Byron Cooper can return to shark after his season ending injury. And Brandon Spatz should be back after redshirting last season and Lehigh transfer Russhon Phillips should be ready. Pete Galiano, John McGilligan, Kevin Malone and Pat McCabe all saw time at safety and Jeremy Irving saw action at shark. But it’s not clear who among this large group will step up to start at the other corner position and complement Formica at shark or the other safety spot.
Special Teams
Concerns – Kicker, punter and punt returner
Last season’s recruiting class including three guys to kick or punt, but none saw the field. Prior to 2014, kicker Shawn Leo missed four PAT’s in his entire four year career. In last season alone, Rich Bruno missed nine PAT’s and he was the Golden Rams’ best option at kicker. Bruno was an effective punter throughout his entire time at West Chester, however. But as of now, the Golden Rams are without a player who has booted a ball in a college game in any way, shape or form. The good news is that it’s not a position that requires experience to learn the game plan, so it’s quite possible that someone not even on the roster might step right in.
Despite Monk’s punt return for touchdown at Indiana, that aspect of the special teams was a challenge. There was a lot of indecision and it cost West Chester valuable field position and sometimes possession of the ball. If a young player wants to get some action on the field, he should volunteer to catch every punt in every practice and scrimmage to prove that he’s willing and capable to do it in every game in 2015. Even fair catching every single punt would be an improvement and return yards will be a bonus. Kick returns may not change with Elder and Monk being the main two handling that task.
John Dubyk will have an expanded role (Photo Bert Garbutt)
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