|
|
 |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
Mules
Report |
 |
|
I must apologize, I was hungry when writing this... Central Missouri Football Fans, I am honored to bring you the the "Preseason Edition" of season #2 of the "Mules Report." Before we sit down to DIGEST all the offseason has COOKED UP, allow me to first SET THE TABLE. Let there be no doubt, Coach Fritz, his staff, and his players have been COOKING UP a MULTI-COURSE MEAL for us Mules Fans that could very well turn into a BUFFET STYLE SMORGASBORD. The TABLE looks like this... ********* For us Mules fans who have been around from the outset of Coach Fritz becoming HEAD CHEF (err... Coach), a 5-6 season with several close losses doesn't mean the Mules are on the verge of a PATTY MELT (errr Meltdown), it means the Mules are three wins away from being 8-3. I mention this because for those of you who weren't here to DIGEST Willie's inaugural season as Head Coach, they really were just three plays away from being 8-3. The Mules lost three overtime games to finish as the best 5-6 team in the country. Very much like in 1997, in 2006 the Mules were less than one touchdown away in enough games to have ended up 9-2 last year. If one were to ask Coach Fritz what he wants to accomplish this fall, he would reply with one word: "Finish!" In fact that was his message to the players in the spring. The Mules are 19-1 in regular season non-conference play under Coach Fritz. While that record includes wins over the likes of UNO, St Cloud State, Winona State, and Adams State, of late the Mules' opponents outside the MIAA have been nothing more than tune up games, including teams like Dakota State, Langston, Sterling, and Lincoln. Most folks would agree that there were at least two years where the Mules' strength of schedule is likely the reason they were left out of the playoff picture despite finishing 9-2 in the regular season. So in looking at the TABLE (schedule), Willie has gotten back to the days of playing solid Division II teams from the NCC and NSIC which should do two things... 1. Go a long way in preparing the
Mules for conference play So, with that said, I believe the TABLE IS SET for a Great Season! Before anyone DIGS IN, allow me to offer up a prayer..... Lord, bless this football team. These young men have worked long and hard toward a goal they have set for themselves. Protect them from harm. Protect their opponents from harm. Guide them and direct them in Your ways. Give them the physical and mental strength to go on when the going gets tough. More importantly, give them the spiritual strength to see Your will in everything they do. ...and if it is Your will for them to meet with success on the gridiron, I ask that it be unprecedented success and also ask that You give them the intestinal fortitude to give You all the Glory and honor for the accomplishments. Amen. ...and now... DINNER IS SERVED. Before DIGGING IN, I must prepare the diner (fan) for proper consumption in in order to get the most out of this meal (report). Despite there being so many great foods (players) out there, for the sake of time and a pleasant (dining) reading experience, I've chosen to highlight a few and by no means want to limit Mules fans from a more in-depth perspective. The season is long and more reports will come out with opportunities to hear about more players who end up making a difference. If this report is not enough and you
truly want to go BUFFET STYLE from the outset on your information, I
suggest the following link, For the first course, an APPETIZER of quarterback. This one was a difficult choice. While Wyoming transfer (and former Blue Springs star) Stinson Dean was in some folks plans for the MENU, it appears Chef (Coach) Fritz has chosen, for now, to serve up a HEALTHY PORTION of one of the most decorated QBs in Missouri high school history in Eric Czerniewski. I don't believe we'll see a rotation at QB. It appears CZ is slated to take the reins this Thursday. Mules fans have longed for a 4 year recruit behind center and it appears they may have been granted their wish. I will venture to say, they would be just as well satisfied with Stinson Dean backing him up, as Dean is a local favorite/hero of sorts. Both are very capable starters. Beyond that, two red-shirt freshmen and a true freshman are all that's listed on the roster; Tommy Corwin being the most notable of the three. None of these guys have Arizona Cardinal QB Toby Korrodi's arm strength, but they all have one thing in common: they move faster than Korrodi. Even a decent arm will more than compliment the next course on the menu. Now, let's try some tailback SOUP. Could the next great Central running back be in Warrensburg? When I say great, I'm talking the likes of Elliott Eley or Kegan Coleman. Some folks believe transfer RB Glenn Milner has all the tools to be a great one. At 6'0, 220 lbs, he certainly has the size to satisfy those who prefer a punishing RB, but word on the street is he's shifty too? So he may just satisfy several football tastes? it should be noted that Central is not the only school in the MIAA with a potential impact transfer at RB; and another MIAA school has not only the top returning back in the MIAA but the top returning back in Division II. Regardless, Milner could quickly become every Mules fan's FAVORITE COURSE (player) on offense and possibly challenge for the top tier of the MIAA in rushing yards. From what I've heard, a 1,000 yard season is in order should Milner stay healthy. Before anyone gets too excited, Milner needs to prove himself in Division II play. We'll know a great deal about his abilities by September 22nd. If we run out of Milner on the MENU, he may be substituted by returning senior, Jeremy Braden, who Coach Fritz calls a "complete player" and speedy sophomore Justin Gore from Olathe (Ks) North HS. Up next, you guessed it, wide receiver SALAD. This course was practically skipped in last years meal. Expect to get a heaping helping of Damond Berry who transferred in after running track at Mississippi State and playing one year of football at the University of Kansas. To make Berry's flavor stand out, Oklahoma State transfer Anthony Parks will be mixed in along with incumbents Jason McCartney, Rolando Sawyer, Seth Mason, and Parks younger brother, freshman Adam Parks. Tim RIchmond, another transfer, will also see time. Championship teams have lots of offensive weapons to turn to. I must share a comment I heard last year from a very good friend of mine. "Bill, we need a playmaker". I believe my friend was serious about what he said. Who knows what havoc Korrodi could have wreaked with this crew, possible the best "overall" group in Willie's tenure? I wonder if Milner can catch out of the backfield? Then we could call him "Soup and Salad". He, he, he... Alright, now for the ENTREE... ...or as some would call it, THE MEAT & POTATOES. The main course will consist of grain-fed angus beef (O-line) and hand-picked jumbo baked potatoes (D-line). The O-line consists of three returning starters, all bigger, stronger, and more experienced than the year before. The key to this course being just right is in aging the beef and in picking and preparing the potatoes. The big question is will there be enough meat to go around? The O-line was the biggest topic of discussion in the off-season among fans and while both the starters and their backups have all grown into their roles, the Mules have suffered some injury's that could once again plague them. With 6'5' 290 lb Matt Oschner out for the start of the season, and a very recent injury to pre-season All-MIAA performer, 6'3", 304 lb Mike Gunsleman (who is awaiting word on a medical red-shirt), the Mules will need to fall back on the depth they've been building. Expect the Mules to be anchored and led by All-MIAA, 6'5", 290 lb lineman Jon Books, along with 6'3", 290 lb AJ Baugh, 6'3", 285 lb Brett Cavanah, 6'6", 280 lb Robert Hicklin, 6'5", 310 lb Kevin Maschmeyer. The quality of the entire meal (outcome of the season) could very well depend on this unit as it seems all other question marks have been addressed in the off-season; at least on paper. Two transfers, 6'6", 320 lb Craig Harrison and 6'2", 285 lb Kyle Shasteen may help. Despite the injuries, the Mules are now carrying 17 O-linemen on the roster. Lets include TEs Cody Raithel (as a blocking TE) and DeMarco Cosby (as a receiving TE) with this group as TEs just seem like meat and potatoes kind guys too. Personally, I'm a meat and potatoes kind of guy. So, for the POTATOES... The D-line returns some good experience in Layne Kreter (Hammer) and Dallas Bryant (Defensive End), but the big news on defense is DE transfer John Wood. Wood garnered the shortest write-up in the 2007 media guide, but no one I've talked to expects his results on the field to be proportionate with what's been written thus far. Expect lots of ink on Wood. I'm predicting he will have a bigger impact than RB Milner or WR Berry. A healthy course of VEGETABLES (LBs) is a must for any good meal. Expect Adrian Singletary, manning the weak-side, to be one of the top LBs in the MIAA in his junior year. He is complimented on the strong-side by fellow tough guy, Mike Dillon. Beefing up the the nutritional value of the LB corps is transfer 6'2", 240 lb Max Fairclough who coaches expect to step right in and play. Before I forget to mention it, the kicking game will CLEANSE OUR PLATE between courses. Some have Punter Matt Frankel as the pre-season #2 punter in the MIAA while I believe he is clearly the best punter in the conference and could vie for the national spotlight. He not only kicks 'em long and high, but he is very, very good at coffin corner punts. Frankel will handle kick-off duties while Spencer Webb may have found himself replaced by Truman State transfer Marcelo Velazquez for field goals. I will not go into Special Forces (Kick return, kick block, etc.) in any more detail, but suffice it to say the Chefs have made a point of the Mules returning to having the best special teams in the conference. Expect to see a couple of new faces representing here. Well, many folks think the best part of the meal is DESERT. In this case, our desert will be the best defensive backfield in school history. It couldn't be the best backfield in history without the best DB in school history, so would one FS Kendall Ricketts "come on down!" On pace to be the leading tackler in school history and already having tied the MIAA record for interception returns for touchdown through his junior campaign, folks are already debating the likelihood that he will be the next Central Missouri player to break into the NFL? Whether a 5'10", 195 lb safety is enough for the NFL or not, one thing's for sure, Ricketts will be more than enough to keep opposing offensive coordinators up at night. Ricketts will be even more dangerous this season, as he is surrounded by strength at every position in the backfield. The fastest man in the MIAA is at one corner in senior Bruce Williams. Some scouts think he may be a better NFL prospect than Ricketts. The other corner is manned by sophomore Randy Shepherd. Blue Springs natives Justin Brown, bandit, and John Samia, strong safety, round out the starting unit. Samia returns after sitting out last year with a medical redshirt, and if he returns to his 2005 freshman form, Samia could team with Ricketts to be the best tandem of safeties in Division II Football. I've eaten many a good meal in my day, but the best ones were when the entree and the desert were both memorable. I don't think anyone is questioning the defensive backfield in 2007 so the question is... How's the meat and potatoes gonna turn out? Bon Apetite! |
|
| Bill Steinke is a writer for MulesCentral.com. His Mules Report is published every Tuesday throughout the season. Bill resides in Knoxville, TN. | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
Want to see your company or business logo here? Click here to become a sponsor of MulesCentral.com! |
|
Copyright © 2007 MulesCentral.com. All rights reserved. This website is an independent source of news and information, and is not affiliated with UCM or the NCAA. |
