While the end of every school year means that a group of players exhaust their playing eligibility, the 2015 Golden Rams will be one of the youngest teams in recent history. The preseason roster showed only ten seniors and the 2015 PSAC Preseason Football Notes indicated that West Chester lost more starters than any other team in the conference. Several of last year's games ended with a wide margin on the scoreboard, so plenty of guys received significant minutes. The primary adjustment for them will be shouldering a bulk of the load this season.
Defense
While last year’s defense struggled against the run (148 yards/game), the passing defense was tops in the PSAC (183 yards/game) and they kept opponents off the scoreboard, yielding 20 point per contest. Departed are five of the top seven tacklers from last season, including the two four-year linebackers who topped the list.
After a stellar season which earned him all-conference honors at defensive end, senior captain Andrew Cohen (65 tackles, 20.0 TFL's, 10.5 sacks) returns to tackle where he started all of the 2013 season. He's second on the West Chester career sack list with 20.0, only 2.0 shy from breaking the school record of 21.5 set by Doug Jacobs from 1980-83. Cohen's 35.0 career tackles for loss is tied for fourth on the school list. He'll line up next to senior Barry Lyons (31 tackles, 2.0 TFL's). Backing them up will be sophomores Josh Ganzelli (19 tackles, 3 TFL's) and Indiana (PA) transfer Dominic Toney who redshirted last season. Redshirt freshmen Sean Boylan and Ben Smith will be looking for their first collegiate action.
After missing most of last season with an injury, junior Byron Cooper (6 tackles, 1 TFL) moves from shark to one defensive end spot. Cooper will rotate with sophomore George Shipp (15 tackles, 3.0 TFL's) who played in every game last year. Also seeing plenty of time in 2014 is the other projected starting end John Dubyk (18 tackles, 2.0 sacks). Redshirt freshman Ch'aim Smith is expected to support Dubyk.
One of the biggest changes will come at the second level of the defense. Mike Labor and Ronell Williams are two 300+ career tacklers but are gone to graduation. This means junior Ralph Reeves (28 tackles, 2.5 TFL's) will become a full time starter after receiving three starts last season while Williams was injured. Also due to Williams' injury, Sean Steinmetz (18 tackles, 2.5 TFL's) saw his playing time increase as a true freshman last season. Dan Sherry (20 tackles, 2.0 TFL's) also was getting increased playing time last year prior to having his season cut short due to an injury. Among the other linebackers listed - Justice Smith, Steven Denby, Steve Marrazzo, and Zack Hockman - none registered a tackle for the Golden Rams last season.
Senior captain Brandon Pepper (39 tackles, 4 pass breakups) moves from free safety to shark this season. Redshirt freshman Nydair Rouse is listed as a shark and this is where Kevin Duggan (1 tackle, 1 TFL) will likely fit as well. Look for speedy Rouse in passing situations and Duggan as a run stopper.
While the most noticeable absence in the secondary is cornerback Al-Hajj Shabazz who is vying for a spot with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, keep in mind that the four projected starters played in every game last season, and there is only one senior among them. Strong safety Drew Formica (67 tackles, 4.5 TFL's, 2 interceptions) is the Golden Rams' top returning tackler and started every game last season as did junior cornerback Blaise Schieler (23 tackles, 2 interceptions, 5 pass breakups). Junior Pete Galiano (37 tackles, 3.0 TFL's) is expected to be the starting free safety while junior Ted Patton (5 tackles) will man the other corner after primarily playing on special teams last season. Juniors Kevin Malone (32 tackles) and Kyle Keyser (24 tackles) provide depth at the safety positions while redshirt freshmen Corey Kelley and Jaishan Thornton seek their first collegiate action at cornerback. It will be interesting to see if Shaquil James or true freshman Jarey Elder will contribute this season. The entire unit will have to rely on speed and not height. The tallest among them is Formica who, at 6', brings the average height of the secondary up to 5'9".
OffenseAfter a stellar season which earned him all-conference honors at defensive end, senior captain Andrew Cohen (65 tackles, 20.0 TFL's, 10.5 sacks) returns to tackle where he started all of the 2013 season. He's second on the West Chester career sack list with 20.0, only 2.0 shy from breaking the school record of 21.5 set by Doug Jacobs from 1980-83. Cohen's 35.0 career tackles for loss is tied for fourth on the school list. He'll line up next to senior Barry Lyons (31 tackles, 2.0 TFL's). Backing them up will be sophomores Josh Ganzelli (19 tackles, 3 TFL's) and Indiana (PA) transfer Dominic Toney who redshirted last season. Redshirt freshmen Sean Boylan and Ben Smith will be looking for their first collegiate action.
After missing most of last season with an injury, junior Byron Cooper (6 tackles, 1 TFL) moves from shark to one defensive end spot. Cooper will rotate with sophomore George Shipp (15 tackles, 3.0 TFL's) who played in every game last year. Also seeing plenty of time in 2014 is the other projected starting end John Dubyk (18 tackles, 2.0 sacks). Redshirt freshman Ch'aim Smith is expected to support Dubyk.
One of the biggest changes will come at the second level of the defense. Mike Labor and Ronell Williams are two 300+ career tacklers but are gone to graduation. This means junior Ralph Reeves (28 tackles, 2.5 TFL's) will become a full time starter after receiving three starts last season while Williams was injured. Also due to Williams' injury, Sean Steinmetz (18 tackles, 2.5 TFL's) saw his playing time increase as a true freshman last season. Dan Sherry (20 tackles, 2.0 TFL's) also was getting increased playing time last year prior to having his season cut short due to an injury. Among the other linebackers listed - Justice Smith, Steven Denby, Steve Marrazzo, and Zack Hockman - none registered a tackle for the Golden Rams last season.
Senior captain Brandon Pepper (39 tackles, 4 pass breakups) moves from free safety to shark this season. Redshirt freshman Nydair Rouse is listed as a shark and this is where Kevin Duggan (1 tackle, 1 TFL) will likely fit as well. Look for speedy Rouse in passing situations and Duggan as a run stopper.
While the most noticeable absence in the secondary is cornerback Al-Hajj Shabazz who is vying for a spot with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, keep in mind that the four projected starters played in every game last season, and there is only one senior among them. Strong safety Drew Formica (67 tackles, 4.5 TFL's, 2 interceptions) is the Golden Rams' top returning tackler and started every game last season as did junior cornerback Blaise Schieler (23 tackles, 2 interceptions, 5 pass breakups). Junior Pete Galiano (37 tackles, 3.0 TFL's) is expected to be the starting free safety while junior Ted Patton (5 tackles) will man the other corner after primarily playing on special teams last season. Juniors Kevin Malone (32 tackles) and Kyle Keyser (24 tackles) provide depth at the safety positions while redshirt freshmen Corey Kelley and Jaishan Thornton seek their first collegiate action at cornerback. It will be interesting to see if Shaquil James or true freshman Jarey Elder will contribute this season. The entire unit will have to rely on speed and not height. The tallest among them is Formica who, at 6', brings the average height of the secondary up to 5'9".
The strength of last year's team was its prolific offense - 500 yards per game, the highest ever in the Bill Zwaan era. While there is a stable of running backs, the passing game is almost a complete unknown as two-thirds of last year's receiving yards and 100% of the passing yards are no longer on the roster. Add a young offensive line on top of that and the concern of putting up points grows.
Running back is clearly the most deep part of the offense. Senior captain Brandon Monk (1,296 yards and 9 TD's rushing, 278 yards and 2 TD's receiving) was first team All-PSAC East and an honorable mention All-American last season and is expected to carry a bulk of the load this year. Sophomore Jarel Elder (452 yards and 3 TD's) will provide relief as will redshirt freshman Mike Class. While Eddie Elliott (639 yards and 5 TD's rushing, 328 yards and 1 TD receiving) earned second team All-PSAC East honors last season, expect him and Rhode Island transfer Eerin Young to line up as a slot receiver. They both may get some carries on speed sweeps, but a little dump pass means they get a five-yard head start downfield. Sophomore Anthony Brown saw a lot of late-game action last season and redshirt freshman Mark Dukes has been explosive in scrimmages.
Four of last season's offensive linemen received all-conference honors, but left tackle Doug Gilbert is the only one of those four returning. The junior started every game last season and was named first team All-PSAC East and second team Super Region One. Sophomore Vince Lostracco was also a starter last season at right tackle and was expected to be at left guard this year, but his status is unknown after suffering an injury in the team's final scrimmage of summer camp. Center Devan LaBau, right guard Tyler Drob and right tackle Michael Unger all got plenty of playing time last year as redshirt freshman, but will now be asked to shoulder the load. Sophomore Alex Host is the most likely replacement at left guard and redshirt freshmen Jake Duncan and Eric Morrison along with sophomore Evyn Stadulis will rotate on the offense line.
Last year's quarterback - Sean McCartney - was a sixth-year senior who led the country in touchdown passes with 42 and finished fifth in the Harlon Hill Award ballot as the best player in Division II football. This year's quarterback has yet to throw a pass as a Golden Ram. After last season, it was expected that Andrew Derr would quarterback the Golden Rams in 2015 and 2016, but after an off field incident in the spring, his name does not appear on the roster as of the end of August. Sophomore Pat Moriarty finished five of West Chester's blowout wins last season, including the first-round playoff victory over Slippery Rock, but didn't throw a pass in those contests. Junior Alec Werner started six games as a true freshman for Kutztown in 2013, throwing for 1,804 yards and 13 TD's, before transferring to West Chester prior to last season. Werner didn't play for the Golden Rams last year for what would be considered a redshirt season. Both Moriarty and Werner have seen plenty of playing time through camp and it will be interesting to see how the quarterback situation plays out between these two this season. Behind them are true freshmen Paul Dooley and Jordan Sadusky.
Besides quarterback, another unexpected void this year will be at tight end. Many might think, "it's only a tight end", but Tim Brown wasn't "only a tight end". He happened to be third in the country in receiving touchdowns last year with 17 to go along with his 1,059 receiving yards. He received numerous All-American honors after last season and more prior to this year. But the NCAA has since ruled he is ineligible to play further college football. While Shawn Driggins (6 catches, 69 yards, 3 TD's) is a senior, he is mostly used as a run blocker or as a receiver on short-yardage situations, not the downfield receiving threat that Brown was. Sophomore Bill Ford played in eleven games last year and sophomore Connor McGrath will be seeking his first collegiate playing time. Sophomore Brandon Spatz has been converted from a linebacker/defensive back to an H-back.
Among last year's pass catchers, the top two returnees are the aforementioned Elliott and Monk. Returning at the wide receiver position are junior Shannon Mayer (25 catches, 247 yards, 3 TD's), senior Adam Dempsey (21 catches, 171 yards, 1 TD), junior Jim Hurley (10 catches, 143 yards) and junior Dion Shaw (6 catches, 54 yards). Temple transfer Tyler Karpinski had two great performances in the scrimmages, and looks to be a dependable target. Junior A.J. DePietro and sophomores Marcus Sydnor and Danny Jackson are seeking their first collegiate reception.
Special Teams
Senior Charles Kuklinski is about to embark on his final season for West Chester, serving as the team's long snapper for the past three years. Like last year, Monk, Elliott, and Elder will serve as return men, although Anthony Brown has shown that he's a capable returner as well.
The direction of the kicking game wasn't obvious after the second scrimmage, but it looks like Ben Solis and/or Brendan Paulison will do the place kicking and Paulison or Connor Foley will do the punting.
The direction of the kicking game wasn't obvious after the second scrimmage, but it looks like Ben Solis and/or Brendan Paulison will do the place kicking and Paulison or Connor Foley will do the punting.
Conclusion
The Golden Rams have incurred a lot of change in the off season for a variety of reasons. The players need to look around the locker room and come to grips that this is the 2015 team and go after it. There's a lot of youth and inexperience on this team, but plenty of talent. If they can come together and realize their potential, the outcome could turn out quite well.
Here's a summary of where the Golden Rams are ranked in the national preseason polls and rating services:
|
Ratings Service |
Rank |
|
Lindy’s |
16 |
|
Hero Sports |
21 |
|
AFCA |
23 |
|
Massey |
29 |
|
D2Football.com |
22 |
|
Sporting News |
18 |
|
ComputerRatings.com |
24 |
D2Football - PSAC Columnist - PSAC East #2: West Chester
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