Competition to heat up in Tulane spring drills
March 26, 2008
Quarterbacks will take hits just like the other players
Wednesday, March 26, 2008By Nakia Hogan
This spring will be different — more physical, more competition and perhaps more exciting.
Unlike last spring, Tulane Coach Bob Toledo’s first at the school, when the Green Wave takes to the field for the start of practice today there likely will be plenty more action.
A year ago, the coaching staff spent much of the spring workouts installing plays and teaching formations and terminology.
Toledo said that shouldn’t be the case this time around, as he and his staff expect an intense 15 practices, with players fighting for starting positions while continuing to grasp the fundamentals being taught.
“It’s fun to get on the field and deal with these kids and teach them things and see how they react and improve,” Toledo said. “We had a real good offseason program. The attitude right now is really good.
“We know the offense and defense now. A year ago we didn’t. We have a pretty good understanding of our players this year. So we have a better handle on things this spring than we did last spring.”
Following today’s practice, the Green Wave will work out every Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday leading up to the spring game April 19, bringing an end to spring drills. The other Saturdays will be reserved for scrimmages.
Tulane, coming off a 4-8 season, lost two starters on offense and four on defense. But Toledo said he still expects plenty of competition for starting positions.
Perhaps the biggest battle will be at quarterback. Last season’s starter, Anthony Scelfo, isn’t participating so he can concentrate on baseball.
Toledo said it’s an open competition involving Kevin Moore, who rotated with Scelfo last season, and Joe Kemp, a freshman who redshirted last season. Moore completed 55.6 percent of his passes for 432 yards and two touchdowns without an interception, Also, Scott Elliott, who opened last season as the starter before losing the job to Scelfo, could get another look.
Toledo, who has said the quarterback play needs to improve, is hoping to get a starter capable of making more plays. And they’ll have to fight for the position under duress, as defenders will be able to hit the quarterback this spring.
“I’m not going to let them wear the red shirt,” Toledo said. “Normally we protect the quarterback, give them a red jersey and they can’t be hit in practice. Well I’m going to take the jersey off of them and see who can make plays.”
Another position that’ll get plenty of attention is running back, where the Green Wave lost the most decorated runner in school history, Matt Forté, who’s expected to be selected in next month’s NFL draft.
The frontrunners to take over for him are Andre Anderson, who gained 91 yards on 14 carries last season, and redshirt freshman Andre Agers, a former 2,000-yard rusher in high school.
Other key battles will be at defensive tackle, center and right tackle.
The Green Wave has to replace its top three defensive tackles — Antonio Harris, Avery Williams and Frank Morton. Julian Shives-Sams and Justin Adams will get the first chances to start.
At center, Tyler Rice and redshirt freshman Joey Rice are expected to battle for the starting job left by the departure of Aryan Barto.
At right tackle, a position that was a revolving door for players last season, Nick Landry and Pete Hendrickson will battle.
“I like the makeup of our team,” Toledo said. “It’s still a pretty young team, but it’s a team that has played in this system now — and they know the coaches.
“Spring will give young kids a chance who didn’t perform last year an opportunity to show you what they can do. And it will give us an opportunity to experiment with some new things.”
QUESTIONS ABOUND
As Tulane opens spring practice today, here are five questions that must be answered before the start of the season:
1. Who will be the quarterback?
2. Can the Green Wave replace running back Matt Forté?
3. How will players respond to new defensive coordinator O’Neill Gilbert?
4. Will Tulane be able to shore up the defensive tackle position?
5. Has anyone developed enough to take over at center and right tackle?
SPRING ROSTER
No Player Pos Cl
1 Matt Harding CB Jr.
2 Kevin Moore QB So.
3 Chris Dunn WR Jr.
4 Scott Elliott QB Sr.
5 Andre Agers RB Fr.
6 Travis Burks LB Jr.
7 Joe Kemp QB Fr.
8 Alex Wacha S So.
9 Anthony Scelfo QB Jr.
10 James Dillard LB Sr.
12 Josh Lumar CB Sr.
13 Phillip Davis CB So.
15 Michael Batiste WR Sr.
16 Drew Villar P/K WO
19 Casey Robottom WR So.
20 Jeremy Williams WR Jr.
21 Charles Harris CB Sr.
22 J.T. McDonald RB Fr.
23 Dominique Dade CB Fr.
24 Chinonso Echebelem S Jr.
30 Stephen Capone FB WO
31 Devin Holland S So.
32 André Anderson RB Jr.
33 David Skehan LB Sr
34 Evan Lee LB Sr.
35 Jordan Stephany FB So.
36 Cody Blackwelder FB So.
37 Logan CoBell LB Fr.
38 Cory Sonnier S Jr.
40 Darren deRochemont K/P So.
41 Cody Sparks LB Jr.
44 Jordan Ellis LB Sr.
45 Lamont Simmons LB Fr.
46 Adam Podet LB Fr.
47 Ross Thevenot K Jr.
48 Josh Smith DT Fr.
49 Jeremy McKinney FB Jr.
52 Troy Wilson DE Jr.
53 James McMurchy LB Jr.
55 David Kirksey LB Jr.
57 Ian Assell OL WO
58 Pete Hendrickson T So.
59 Dhamari Thomas G Fr.
62 Oscar Ponce de Leon G So.
63 Kevin Leary C So.
64 Andrew Higgins T Fr.
65 Michael Parenton G Sr.
66 Joey Ray C Fr.
68 Andrew Nierman G So.
69 Craig Gelhardt DS Sr.
70 Travis Olexa T Jr.
73 Duke Krause T Fr.
75 Tyler Rice C Jr.
76 John Landa G Jr.
77 Troy Kropog T Sr.
78 Nick Landry T Jr.
80 Justin Kessler TE Sr.
81 Taylor Echols WR Fr.
83 Brian King WR Sr.
85 Charles Gaspard WR Fr.
86 Chandler Davis WR Fr.
87 Alan Mitchell WR So.
88 Tyler Helm TE So.
89 Antoine Duplessis TE Fr.
90 Adam Kwentua DE Jr.
91 Brooks Cunningham DE Fr.
92 Reggie Scott DE Sr.
93 Logan Kelley DE Jr.
95 Justin Adams DT So.
96 Tony Bryant DT So.
97 Julian Shives-Sams DT Sr.
98 Cedric Wilson DT Fr.
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