RUSTON, La. » For football fans with short-attention spans, Louisiana Tech is offering an offense worth attention.
Head coach Sonny Dykes said he has a background with the spread offense and he always favored playing at a fast tempo. After Dykes was hired as Bulldogs head coach in 2010, he and offensive coordinator Tony Franklin meshed the two strategies.
HAWAII 2-2, 0-0 in the WAC LATECH 1-3, 0-0 in the WAC Kickoff: 1 P.M. RUSTON, LA. RADIO: KKEA, 1420-AM TV: PPV 255 Line: LTU by 3 1⁄2 |
The result is a no-huddle, fast-paced offense that tries to snap with at least 20 seconds remaining on the play clock. The philosophy has bluegrass roots; Dykes and Franklin were both on a Kentucky staff that dabbled with an up-tempo style.
The bonuses are it creates substitution headaches for opponents and opens the way for the running game. “Line up fast, snap fast, play fast,” said Dykes, whose Bulldogs host Hawaii today.
|
POS. |
NO. |
PLAYER |
HT. |
WT. |
CL. |
|
LWO |
2 |
Allen Sampson |
5-7 |
145 |
So. |
|
LSB |
5 |
Billy Ray Stutzmann |
6-0 |
175 |
So. |
|
LT |
72 |
Clayton Laurel |
6-2 |
310 |
Sr. |
|
LG |
54 |
Brett Leonard |
6-5 |
310 |
Sr. |
|
C |
56 |
Matagisila Lefiti |
6-0 |
285 |
Sr. |
|
RG |
69 |
Andrew Faaumu |
6-3 |
315 |
Sr. |
|
RT |
53 |
Levi Legay |
6-3 |
285 |
Jr. |
|
RSB |
13 |
Justin Clapp |
6-2 |
195 |
So. |
|
RWO |
81 |
Royce Pollard |
6-1 |
175 |
Sr. |
|
QB |
17 |
Bryant Moniz |
6-0 |
205 |
Sr. |
|
RB |
30 |
Joey Iosefa |
6-0 |
235 |
Fr. |
Outlook: It was during Thursday’s practice in Houston when Alonzo Highsmith, a former NFL running back and current scout for the Green Bay Packers, had his first face-to-face meeting with Moniz. They saw eye to eye. “I saw him play on TV, but he’s bigger than I thought,” Highsmith said. “For some reason, I thought he was only 5-10, but he’s as big as Tyrod Taylor (the former Virginia Tech quarterback who is a backup with the NFL’s Ravens as a rookie). Moniz is a good football player. I like him a lot.” It wasn’t just Moniz’s seven first-half TD tosses last week. “He’s accurate and he’s athletic,” Highsmith said. In the first three games, Moniz connected on only one deep route; last week, Moniz was 6-for-10 on such passes. The keys are that speedy perimeter receivers Sampson and Pollard can stretch defenses and the patched-up offensive line is providing more time. Despite an injured shoulder and Achilles’, Laurel is having a breakout season. He has not yielded a sack this year.
HAWAII DEFENSE
|
POS. |
NO. |
PLAYER |
HT. |
WT. |
CL. |
|
E |
9 |
Zach Masch |
6-2 |
285 |
Sr. |
|
LT |
95 |
Vaughn Meatoga |
6-2 |
295 |
Sr. |
|
RT |
49 |
Kaniela Tuipulotu |
6-2 |
300 |
Sr. |
|
E |
4 |
Paipai Falemalu |
6-3 |
245 |
Jr. |
|
SLB |
57 |
Art Laurel |
6-0 |
235 |
So. |
|
MLB |
41 |
Corey Paredes |
6-0 |
235 |
Sr. |
|
WLB |
1 |
Aaron Brown |
6-1 |
225 |
Sr. |
|
BCB |
4 |
Tank Hopkins |
5-10 |
170 |
Sr. |
|
SS |
19 |
Richard Torres |
5-8 |
185 |
Sr. |
|
FS |
33 |
John Hardy-Tuliau |
5-11 |
165 |
So. |
|
FCB |
2 |
Mike Edwards |
5-10 |
180 |
So. |
Outlook: Of all of the changes — Laurel as a pass rusher, Paredes to middle linebacker, Hardy-Tuliau to free safety — the most significant has been Masch’s ascension into the starting lineup. Last year, he made the most of cameos at defensive tackle. “Toward the end of last year, it was real obvious we couldn’t keep him off the field,” defensive coordinator Dave Aranda said. But with Meatoga and Tuipulotu dominating the inside, Masch was moved to end. The move made sense because the Warriors’ 4-3 base has the concepts of a 3-4; the rush end is essentially a linebacker, meaning Masch could portray the bigger end usually found in a three-man front. At first, Masch played opposite the tight end. But when the Warriors were getting knocked back on power sweeps to the weak side, Masch was moved there. “He can play that because he’s strong (bench presses 465 pounds), and he can do other things because he’s mobile,” Aranda said. “He has a very good first step. And his motor really sets him apart. Without Zach, we would be in a little more distress.”
HAWAII SPECIALISTS
|
POS. |
NO. |
PLAYER |
HT. |
WT. |
CL. |
|
S |
45 |
Luke Ingram |
6-6 |
240 |
Jr. |
|
H |
10 |
Shane Austin |
6-0 |
200 |
Sr. |
|
PK |
27 |
Tyler Hadden |
5-11 |
180 |
Fr. |
|
P |
31 |
Alex Dunnachie |
6-4 |
220 |
Jr. |
|
KR |
2 |
Mike Edwards |
5-10 |
180 |
So. |
|
PR/KR |
29 |
Scott Harding |
5-11 |
195 |
Fr. |
Outlook: At 6-6, it isn’t so much how high Ingram can touch, What is impressive is that when he is sitting on the ground, with his legs stretched, he can reach way past his feet. “Most flexible guy on the team,” Dunnachie said. That elasticity enables Ingram to get good leverage on his snap. His long reach also makes him an effective blocker.
LOUISIANA TECH OFFENSE
POS. |
NO. |
PLAYER |
HT. |
WT. |
CL. |
WR |
7 |
Myles White |
6-1 |
185 |
Jr. |
SB |
85 |
David Gru |
6-0 |
185 |
Jr. |
LT |
79 |
Kris Cavitt |
6-2 |
300 |
Sr. |
LG |
57 |
Kevin Saia |
6-2 |
305 |
Jr. |
C |
63 |
Stephen Warner |
6-0 |
315 |
Jr. |
RG |
67 |
Oscar Johnson |
6-6 |
350 |
Jr. |
RT |
78 |
Jordan Mills |
6-6 |
315 |
Jr. |
SB |
17 |
Taulib Ikharo |
5-11 |
185 |
Sr. |
WR |
4 |
Quinton Patton |
6-1 |
195 |
Jr. |
QB |
11 |
Nick Isham |
6-0 |
185 |
Fr. |
RB |
5 |
Lennon Creer |
6-1 |
215 |
Sr. |
Outlook: Sure, Isham passed the QB test. “Once we talked to him, we got sold on him pretty quick,” head coach Sonny Dykes said. “He’s not going to wow people with his arm strength, but he’s a good football player who gets the ball out on time. He can make plays.” Before handing the keys to a quarterback whose 18th birthday is next week, Dykes made sure a support system was in place. Creer, who averages 102.8 rushing yards per game, gets free on misdirection plays. What’s more, Creer has embraced a lower-running style this season, making the physical back even tougher to grasp. The Bulldogs spent the past two recruiting classes seeking athletic linemen who can get out into space to lead screens. And Patton, a junior college transfer, represents the aggressive receiver who can make tough catches and provide downfield blocking. “We needed to improve our athleticism and get tougher at that position, and that’s what Quinton brings more than anything else,” Dykes said. “He brings competitiveness and toughness to our receiver corps. He’s a good athlete who has a lot of confidence. He brings a spark to our team.” Nicknamed “The General,” Patton leads the Bulldogs with 29 catches (16.4 yards per reception).
LOUISIANA TECH DEFENSE
POS. |
NO. |
PLAYER |
HT. |
WT. |
CL. |
LE |
91 |
Matt Broha |
6-4 |
255 |
Sr. |
NT |
95 |
Jon’al White |
6-1 |
300 |
Jr. |
DT |
53 |
Adam Hymel |
6-0 |
265 |
Sr. |
RE |
41 |
IK Enemkpali |
6-2 |
245 |
So. |
LB |
45 |
Jay Dudley |
6-3 |
225 |
Sr. |
LB |
44 |
Adrien Cole |
5-11 |
250 |
Sr. |
N |
31 |
Chad Boyd |
5-10 |
190 |
Jr. |
LCB |
24 |
Dave Clark |
6-2 |
190 |
Jr. |
SS |
47 |
Javontay Crowe |
5-11 |
185 |
Jr. |
FS |
20 |
Jamel Johnson |
6-1 |
200 |
Jr. |
RCB |
25 |
Justin Goodman |
5-10 |
180 |
Sr. |
Outlook: The base defense is a 4-2-5 nickel scheme, with the safeties usually in a deep zone, but the Bulldogs still can create pressure with their two linebackers. Cole, who can align in the tackle box, has five backfield stops; Dudley, who plays like a rover, is an effective blitzer. Broha is one of the league’s best rush ends. Usually aligned on the Bulldogs’ left — “I feel comfortable with my right hand down,” he said — Broha is a chaos-maker. He is strong (bench presses 415 pounds), and studious (he studies videos of himself to avoid tipping his moves). The defensive secondary is nicknamed the “Dave Clark Five,” which is a play on the namesake British band and a tribute to Clark’s cover skills and leadership. Clark led summer workouts in temperatures as high as 105 degrees. And while he has been clocked at sub-4.5 seconds over 40 yards, Clark insisted, “my heart speed is 3.9.”
LOUISIANA TECH SPECIALISTS
POS. |
NO. |
PLAYER |
HT. |
WT. |
CL. |
S |
51 |
Josh Cuthbert |
5-10 |
240 |
So. |
H |
16 |
Taylor Burch |
6-4 |
225 |
Fr. |
PK |
33 |
Matt Nelson |
5-10 |
180 |
Jr. |
P |
86 |
Ryan Allen |
6-2 |
215 |
Jr. |
KR |
2 |
Lyle Fitte |
5-8 |
190 |
Jr. |
PR |
19 |
Andrew Guillot |
5-10 |
180 |
Jr. |
Outlook: Fitte is a backup running back who specializes in runbacks. In the season opener, he scored on an 86-yard kickoff return, marking the sixth consecutive year the Bulldogs have had a scoring return. Fitte is 21st nationally with a kickoff-return average of 28.0. Guillot is averaging 26.7 yards on three punt returns.