2008 Woodie Awards
Youthful Rams show positive signs in spring game
Matt Lombardo
Issue date: 4/21/08 Section: Sports
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The final score however is meaningless because these games are more about tradition than on the field competition.
It is difficult to gauge the progress made by this team judging by Friday's glorified scrimmage alone, especially considering the injuries that have befallen this team on both sides of the ball. Receivers Mike Washington (separated shoulder) and Steve Miller (hamstring) were held out for precautionary reasons, as were running back Lee Hopkins (shoulder) and defensive back Tyler Downes (hernia). Additionally, and perhaps most troubling to the development of this team, starting quarterback Joe Wright has yet to step foot on the practice field since tearing his ACL in the annual get together at Delaware a year ago.
Yet, for these Golden Rams, a squad much younger than their predecessors who climbed the PSAC East's mountain top as division champions in 2007, Friday night was the first step towards once again climbing towards that summit.
If you squinted hard enough on the first play of the game when Jared Jorgenson hit William Gardner streaking down the sidelines for a 38 yard gain, you could almost envision the Bill Zwaan Jr. to Mike Washington connection that was so dynamic the last two seasons. Plus, the front seven defensively looked about as solid in this game as any under coach Bill Zwaan.
Then there were the running backs.
Playing behind offensive lines that featured senior center Kennis Jones as the only returnee from a year ago, Kevin Garland and D'Andre Webb combined for 174 yards and a touchdown. Both looked quick off the first step and showed a burst through the offensive line Friday that should lead to big gains in the fall.
The duo look to be the centerpieces of a running back by committee, along with Hopkins, that will be unveiled when the Golden Rams take the field Aug. 30 at California (PA).
"I love it," Garland said of the running back by committee situation. "I love my teammates, D'Andre, everybody, we all can do it, we know the plays and there's always competition but it's nothing big."
Of course these backs will only run as far as the offensive line allows them. With as much youth as comprises this unit, that could prove to be challenging, but Zwaan likes what he saw Friday.
"The offensive line did a nice job getting them holes in the second half," Zwaan said. "I know my running backs have talent, but that's my biggest thing, we'll start three freshmen on the offensive line and as long as they keep getting better every single day, and they've done that up until tonight and from that standpoint, that's what I've really liked to see."
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