Tribe Football Spring Update No. 1

03/28/07 3:45PM

Williamsburg - Spring football kicked off at William and Mary on Saturday, March 24th, and the squad is in the midst of its first full week of practice. The Tribe is looking to rebound from an uncharacteristic 3-8 mark in 2006. The team has finished what has been a challenging off-season conditioning regiment and the spring drills promise to be filled with sharp competition at multiple positions.

Click to see the first images of the Spring

The following is a brief interview with Tribe Head Coach Jimmye Laycock on a few of the more pressing questions facing the program this spring.

Q: A quick glance at the spring two-deep shows the team as being dominated by underclassman. With such an abundance of youth, at so many positions, how does this affect the approach you and your staff take to the spring camp?

A: We definitely have a very young football team. We’ve got to be very basic in our installations and not take anything for granted. The staff and I have to be careful of being thorough in our teaching and not start assuming that the younger players are completely up to speed, so we’ve got to go step-by-step with everything that we’re installing.

Q: When you say “you can’t take for granted” does that mean as far as technique is concerned?

A: So far as technique, so far as terminology, so far as responsibility, so far as really anything is concerned. We’ve got to make sure we’re clear and concise in our teaching.

Q: Last season Jake Phillips and Mike Potts both shared both starting duties and playing time at quarterback. Each brings a different set of strengths to the table, would you consider having a rotation in the fall, or are you looking to have one emerge as the clear starter? Also, will there be any competition from any of the younger prospects?

A: We are going to rotate at the position, giving R.J. Archer (who spent last season as a wide receiver) a shot this spring. We’re going take a look at him at quarterback along with Mike and Jake. Right now I don’t know what will unfold for the fall in so far as naming a clear starter, alternating, or if we will have a mixture of the two. We are going to let the competition play out the best it can this spring and into the fall if necessary. They’re all working hard and all doing a good job.

Q: The pending graduation of all-conference tailback Elijah Brooks takes one the league’s most experienced and consistent ball carriers out of the offense. Is there a clear favorite entering spring to replace Elijah, or will it be a battle at that spot as well into the fall?

A: I’d say the running back position is very much up in the air, especially with (rising junior) DeBrian Holmes not being available in the spring (while recovering from off-season ankle surgery). DeBrian will be back in the fall and I look for him to be full strength. For right now, it’s [senior] Tony Viola and a lot of the younger guys [Matt Nickerson, Courtland Marriner] looking for playing time and working hard to put the best effort in they can.

Q: Continuing on the running game, the squad lost an all-conference caliber lineman in Cody Morris, but four starters return from a front line that developed nicely in 2006. Is there a leading candidate to replace Morris at center, and how much of a boost is it to the offense, and the running game, with four linemen returning?

A: We lost a real good player in Cody Morris, but the rest of the line is intact and we’ll be looking for a couple young guys to step forward. As for what the final mixture of players will be, I’m not really sure what we’ll be doing at the center position. [Senior] Tim Kelley’s in there and we’ll maybe alternate some other people. We’ll also be looking at [junior] Luke Hiteshew [who saw action at right guard last season] at the position. Like every year, we are aiming to put the best five players on the field. This being said, the front five have to be one of our strengths, as they return so much playing experience.

Q: How much of a learning curve, or adjustment period, do you anticipate having with the new defensive coordinator, Bob Shoop, in the spring?

A: I think coach Shoop will bring a different, and hopefully a better, attitude to the way we play defensively. So far as scheme-wise, it’s going to be awhile before Bob really settles into exactly the style he wants to play, as he still is in the process of evaluating our personnel. But he has a very good understanding of overall defense and how to be effective with the personnel on hand. He knows what he wants to do and has a plan of how to get there. I think this spring will be a learning [experience] for him, our defensive coaches and players, but I think they’re all excited about the challenge and are looking forward to improving together.

Q. On defense, perhaps the biggest question mark is at the linebacker position where you will have to replace two departed former all-conference players in Chris Ndubueze and Travis McLaurin. Also, [junior] Josh Rutter is coming back from a knee injury and will be limited in the spring. The only returning player with starting experience is [sophomore] Michael Pigram. What are some of the names that you hope to see emerge as the camp plays out?

A: We’re replacing some very, very good players, obviously. Josh Rutter had surgery last year and we are going to hold him out of spring practice, so far as contact, to be sure he is ready for the fall. With him out, it creates opportunities for other players at the spots inside. Pigram is a solid returning player. We’re going to put [senior] T.J. O’Neill back at linebacker [after spending the majority of last season at defensive end] and look at him. And then we’ve got a lot of young guys who are going to be alternating in there. Senior Ryan Horvath is probably ahead right now, but there are a number of others that’ll also be competing for playing time.

Q: The defensive line is also dealing with the departure of two starters, but has two very promising young players in sophomores Adrian Tracy (end) and C.J. Herbert (tackle) coming back. How do you see the competition in the spring for the remaining jobs on the defensive line, and are there any favorites at this time?

A: We’ve got some very good young players – certainly starting with Adrian Tracy and C.J. Herbert – and there should be a lot of competition at the other positions. These jobs are up for grabs and we’ll see who comes to the top as the camp plays out.