Offense
Posted: Mon Jul 18, 2005 8:32 am
http://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/ar ... /01msu.txt
Football: Bobcats hoping for offensive outburst this fall
By TIM DUMAS, Chronicle Sports Writer
Rick Gatewood was Montana State's leading receiver last year. He had nearly 1,000 yards receiving, including a school-record 235 against Montana.
He was also injured most of the time.
Gatewood is back for his senior season, 100 percent healthy after undergoing shoulder surgery earlier this year.
That fact alone has coach Mike Kramer optimistic for another fall full of big numbers.
But what has him equally as excited are MSU's six other capable receivers.
Yes, six.
And in a change from a year ago, some have experience wearing Bobcat blue and gold.
"This is as good as it gets," Kramer said last week.
Gatewood hurt the AC Joint in one of his shoulders in game two against Cal Poly and needed cortizone shots to keep him on the field for the remainder of the season.
The game marked a turning point not only for Gatewood - who steadily improved as the weather cooled - but also for MSU's offense, which rarely used a huddle from there.
Expect much of the same for the coming fall, especially with three-year starter Travis Lulay returning.
Says Kramer: "I don't think we'll huddle again as long as he's our quarterback."
Lulay's targets for 2005 include Gatewood and Chaz Guinn, unknowns last summer who combined for 115 catches in the fall.
Gatewood is a lock to start at slot receiver while Guinn will get competition for his spot at wideout from Washington State transfer Jevon Miller.
Tramaine Murray, another WSU transfer, should start at the other receiver spot while Nolan Lee, Brandon Roosevelt and Mike Brown will give the starters a reason not to be complacent.
That's seven speedy receivers and three positions.
"No matter how good they all are, only three get to play, and only one gets to be the fourth guy," Kramer said. "Everybody else watches."
One aspect to watch in the early going will be the running game, which was inconsistent last season.
Justin Domineck enters fall camp as the starter, but that may change come late September.
Domineck isn't a speedy runner, although his stronger attributes are his pass blocking and receiving ability. Jason Gathing needs more playing time to be considered for the starting job.
Hawaii transfer Michael Bass may have the best running instincts - "he has the kind of running back skill that's God-given," Kramer says - but has a ways to go when it comes to pass protection.
Bass is third on the depth chart, but Kramer's crystal ball has Bass moving up by the time Big Sky Conference play begins.
"Ultimately, on my wish list," Kramer said, "would be by game three or four, Michael Bass would be Big Sky offensive player of the week."
A bigger wish might be to not rely so much on the pass.
MSU's one-dimensional offense was exciting to watch, but yielded a 6-5 record.
Lulay has proved to be a yardage machine with both his legs and his arm, but last year's playoff-hopes-dashing loss to Eastern Washington could have been avoided if MSU had a running game to call on when leading 31-10 early in the second half.
"I've never been real comfortable with a quarterback-savvy team because those guys are so hard to find," Kramer said. "We've got one, but I'm a running-game coach."
The running backs will have a veteran offensive line to run behind, despite the loss of center Zack Wolf who may miss the entire season due to knee surgery.
Senior Jeff Bolton, who stands 6-foot-3 inches and weighs 302 pounds, started a three different positions as a junior mostly at right tackle.
This season, Bolton is expected to line up at left guard after playing some center in the spring.
"He's a natural guard, possibly an NFL-caliber center," Kramer said of Bolton, who has 25 career starts with the Bobcats. "He can play all five (positions) at this level."
Brant Birkeland, who started 11 games at left guard last year, moves over to center in place of Wolf.
On the other side of Birkeland will be Lawrence Figueroa, giving MSU two returning first team all-conference offensive linemen. A rarity considering it's only happened once: Two years ago with Brent Swaggert and Mataio Toilolo.
At tackle, Joe Hirst and Peder Jensen return to the starting lineup while Adam DeCock will spell them when needed.
The health of those players will increase MSU's chances of improving its running game.
And yes, Kramer wants to run the ball. He's been itching to do so, but with Lulay under center for at least 11 more games, that itch may have to go unscratched for awhile.
"He's the absolute focal point of who we are and what we are," Kramer said.
Football: Bobcats hoping for offensive outburst this fall
By TIM DUMAS, Chronicle Sports Writer
Rick Gatewood was Montana State's leading receiver last year. He had nearly 1,000 yards receiving, including a school-record 235 against Montana.
He was also injured most of the time.
Gatewood is back for his senior season, 100 percent healthy after undergoing shoulder surgery earlier this year.
That fact alone has coach Mike Kramer optimistic for another fall full of big numbers.
But what has him equally as excited are MSU's six other capable receivers.
Yes, six.
And in a change from a year ago, some have experience wearing Bobcat blue and gold.
"This is as good as it gets," Kramer said last week.
Gatewood hurt the AC Joint in one of his shoulders in game two against Cal Poly and needed cortizone shots to keep him on the field for the remainder of the season.
The game marked a turning point not only for Gatewood - who steadily improved as the weather cooled - but also for MSU's offense, which rarely used a huddle from there.
Expect much of the same for the coming fall, especially with three-year starter Travis Lulay returning.
Says Kramer: "I don't think we'll huddle again as long as he's our quarterback."
Lulay's targets for 2005 include Gatewood and Chaz Guinn, unknowns last summer who combined for 115 catches in the fall.
Gatewood is a lock to start at slot receiver while Guinn will get competition for his spot at wideout from Washington State transfer Jevon Miller.
Tramaine Murray, another WSU transfer, should start at the other receiver spot while Nolan Lee, Brandon Roosevelt and Mike Brown will give the starters a reason not to be complacent.
That's seven speedy receivers and three positions.
"No matter how good they all are, only three get to play, and only one gets to be the fourth guy," Kramer said. "Everybody else watches."
One aspect to watch in the early going will be the running game, which was inconsistent last season.
Justin Domineck enters fall camp as the starter, but that may change come late September.
Domineck isn't a speedy runner, although his stronger attributes are his pass blocking and receiving ability. Jason Gathing needs more playing time to be considered for the starting job.
Hawaii transfer Michael Bass may have the best running instincts - "he has the kind of running back skill that's God-given," Kramer says - but has a ways to go when it comes to pass protection.
Bass is third on the depth chart, but Kramer's crystal ball has Bass moving up by the time Big Sky Conference play begins.
"Ultimately, on my wish list," Kramer said, "would be by game three or four, Michael Bass would be Big Sky offensive player of the week."
A bigger wish might be to not rely so much on the pass.
MSU's one-dimensional offense was exciting to watch, but yielded a 6-5 record.
Lulay has proved to be a yardage machine with both his legs and his arm, but last year's playoff-hopes-dashing loss to Eastern Washington could have been avoided if MSU had a running game to call on when leading 31-10 early in the second half.
"I've never been real comfortable with a quarterback-savvy team because those guys are so hard to find," Kramer said. "We've got one, but I'm a running-game coach."
The running backs will have a veteran offensive line to run behind, despite the loss of center Zack Wolf who may miss the entire season due to knee surgery.
Senior Jeff Bolton, who stands 6-foot-3 inches and weighs 302 pounds, started a three different positions as a junior mostly at right tackle.
This season, Bolton is expected to line up at left guard after playing some center in the spring.
"He's a natural guard, possibly an NFL-caliber center," Kramer said of Bolton, who has 25 career starts with the Bobcats. "He can play all five (positions) at this level."
Brant Birkeland, who started 11 games at left guard last year, moves over to center in place of Wolf.
On the other side of Birkeland will be Lawrence Figueroa, giving MSU two returning first team all-conference offensive linemen. A rarity considering it's only happened once: Two years ago with Brent Swaggert and Mataio Toilolo.
At tackle, Joe Hirst and Peder Jensen return to the starting lineup while Adam DeCock will spell them when needed.
The health of those players will increase MSU's chances of improving its running game.
And yes, Kramer wants to run the ball. He's been itching to do so, but with Lulay under center for at least 11 more games, that itch may have to go unscratched for awhile.
"He's the absolute focal point of who we are and what we are," Kramer said.