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Preseason Preview Part 2: A&T's best defense is a good offense?
 By Craig R. Turner
Bluedeathvalley.com
Date: August 20, 2007
Most coaches will tell you that “offense sells tickets and defense wins championships.” But for this season at least the reverse may have to come true for A&T to have a chance of breaking the winless cycle.
The Aggies gave up over 34 points per game last year, last in the NCAA in total defense. Taken on face value, that fact would suggest that the Aggie defense was porous to a fault on nearly every down, which at times it was.
But an even closer examination of those points allowed also reflected that 14 of those points on average were the direct result of offensive turnovers and outright scoring gifts that made it extremely easy for the opposition to jump out to big leads early and often in 2006.
A&T never had much luck in moving the ball with any consistency until late in the year when they appeared to find a semblance of a running game against S. C. State, one of the more talented teams in the MEAC.
Coach Lee Fobbs had long ago figured out before the off season began that the Aggies had to get faster at wide out and deeper at running back, light years better along the offensive line, and find a quarterback who could hang his hat on going into 2007.
The final answers are still unknown but the early indications during fall workouts have answered a couple of those questions in the affirmative, one in the maybe category, and the final one being anyone’s guess.
The best place to start is at quarterback, where Herbert (Herb) Miller is the unquestioned leader. The 6-2,190lb sophomore was the starter for the first half of 2006 before going down in game five with both a torn ACL and MCL. That's a double whammy of two of the worst knee injuries an athlete can suffer, let along on the same knee at the same time.
Despite being told his football playing days might be over, the Winston Salem native began one of the toughest rehab regiments imaginable. Miller was so intense in his rehab that he not only came back from an injury that normally takes a year to recover from, he made it back in less than six months to particpate in spring practice where he won the starting job outright.
Showing the same speed and elusiveness he did before his injury, Miller has worked on passing skills as hard as he did his rehab. If practice performance translates into game performance, Miller will be equally dangerous with his arm this fall.
While Fobbs is confident in Miller’s leadership and maturation as his starter, he will readily tell you that backup occupying the number two spot is a virtual unknown commodity at this point. In his own words, Fobbs suggests this isn’t exactly uncharted waters for him heading into year two.
“(Shelton) Morgan (6-1, 200, R-Fr) is exactly where Miller was this time last year, " Fobbs said. "He has lots of potential. Not quite where we want him to be throwing the football, but he works hard and learns quickly. They are very similar in style so that is a plus. We think he’ll be fine in time if we need to call on him."
There isn’t a shortage of pass catchers if the Aggies decide to put the ball into the air. Despite losing senior Andre Garth to academic woes before fall camp, there is an abundance of big, physical targets to choose from.
Sophomores Giorgio Lowrance (6-4, 205) and Cedric Byrd (6-5, 215) will be a pair of nightmares in the red zone for the average cornerback. Red-shirt freshmen Levonte Kendrick (6-2,180) and Vernon White (6-2,190) are promising possession receivers. A&T’s deep threat is a three-headed monster with returning leading receiver Curtis Walls (5-11,175, Sr.), Chaz Dawson (5-10,170, Jr.), and Mike Caldwell (5-9,175, Sr.). Caldwell will also double on punt returns and seemingly has a knack for making a big play whenever the ball is in his vicinity.
The tight end spot is shared between converted fullback Mike Christian (6-2,270, Jr.) and Brett Fisher (6-2, 230, So.).
Miller will need a rushing game to support him and Fobbs set out to beef up a backfield that was decimated by injuries last season. Incumbent Mike Ferguson (6-1, 210) ran for 728 yards despite missing four games behind a below average offensive line and is A&T’s bread and butter all-purpose back.
Immediate help came very quickly in January when highly touted rising sophomore Demerick Chancellor (6-2, 215, 4.44) decided to leave Clemson University and cast his future with A&T. The Florida track star didn’t get many opportunities as a freshman with the Tigers but in his only three appearances he rushed for well over a 100 yards in each contest and left no doubt he has a world of natural talent.
Fobbs added also added what coaches call a true game breaker with the arrival of junior college transfer David “Speedy” Robinson. The 5-9,180 pounder is by far the fastest of A&T’s backs (4.3) and has been electrifying in fall workouts. Robinson can also double as a return man and gives A&T the break-away threat it was missing a year ago.
Dion McNair, who played sparingly as a freshman, will be a major factor in 2007. The 6-0, 205 pound sophomore has shown vast improvement in practice and now runs with power.
Fullbacks normally don’t get many carries in most offenses but the Aggies have enough confidence in their trio of fullbacks to not only block but also be part of its regular offense. Seniors Trey Green (5-11, 255), Eugene Parnell (5-10,250), and Chaz Truesdale (5-10,225) are all stout powerful blockers and tough nosed inside runners.
Now that the Aggies have re-acquired the talent level in it's backfield to reclaim its former title of “Tailback U”, it's imperative that the offensive line begins to show the type of improvement necessary to properly utilize that kind of talent.
Tim Bess (6-3, 340, Jr.), who is a two year starter, will be the anchor of the offensive line at center and offensive line Coach Ken Ray is looking for him to be the catalyst to lead a starting lineup stocked with experience. Ray does have the luxury of having right tackle Juan Williams (6-4, 305, Jr.) back from an academic setback. Williams rated out as the team’s best offensive lineman coming out of spring practice. Senior Andre Sagote (6-3, 325) nailed down the guard spot beside Williams and looks ready to step up his game after a solid camp.
The left side is not quite as settled although veterans Jonathan Carter (6-4, 315, Jr.), and Des Ware (6-3, 300, Sr.) are doing battle at guard, while Chad Wiley (6-4, 280, So.) holds on to the left tackle post for now.
Lack of talent is not the real question along the offensive line but experienced depth is. No one wants to cast freshmen into a starting role too early but the Aggies may no choice if major injuries occur or if the production just doesn't materialze.
The top reserves will be all freshmen. However they have shown the physical ability in preseason practice to play at the next level. This is an impressive young group that includes Jason Valmont, an imposing 6-6, 315 pound tackle, Enoch Cohen (6-4, 285), Adrian Carter (6-4, 305), Alex Harper (6-5, 290), Matt Hamler (6-5, 315), and Nate Anderson (6-4, 310).
Ray knows that the offensive line has to step up for the Aggies to take advantage of their many new weapons at the skill positions and really be competitive in 2007. To quote him from an earlier press interview with the local paper -"No Excuses."
You can bet the Aggie faithful will hold him to his word.
The Good
Miller is now a legitimate quarterback who has matured mentally and physically, shown leadership skills both on and off the field and has the arm strength and foot speed to create problems for opposing defenses when given an opening.
The running back position is about as loaded as it has been since the glory Wing-T days under Bill Hayes in the early nineties. A&T is packing size, speed and power and has the depth and change of pace that offensive coordinators crave.
The receivers are large, fast and quick and can do some things with the ball after the catch. The question will be how many opportunities will they get to exercise those skills?
The Bad
The offensive line never really showed up in 2006. With a year of strength training you normally expect major improvements, but continued emphasis by the media and fans on how the new freshmen are impressive is not a good sign for the incumbents.
When Wayne Campbell failed to cut the mustard academically this past summer it put Fobbs in the same difficult situation for the second year in a row of having to depend on a backup quarterback with no game experience.
The Skinny
Miller and the running backs have to stay healthy to take the pressure off an undersized defense. A&T’s offense was always a classic case of three and out in 2006 and even when the defense did play well in stretches, no defense can stay on the field for 45 minutes per game and survive. The Aggies must control the line of scrimmage or least get its share of licks in, keep the ball off the ground and score points when in the red zone. They can do that only if the offensive line finally decides to come to play this season.
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