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August 27, 2008

Titans won’t be one dimensional

By Cody Pastorella

Warning!

Do not be surprised if the Memorial Titans end the season with a 1,000-yard rusher, or at least have a committee effort that acquires the team more than 1,500 yards on the ground.

Yes, that seems farfetched, since Memorial barely cracked 1,000 yards as a team in 2007. It's especially hard to believe it when you consider that Patterson Clay, Port Arthur's starting running back last season, finished with just 498 yards rushing. And the obvious argument against the previously stated warning is that Memorial has no intentions of backing off on its spread it out and air out approach.

However, there are a few reasons to believe the air attack Ronnie Thompson has so wonderfully schemed over the years will also supply a solid ground service as well for the 2008 Titans.

Here is why.

With just a limited amount of time on the field last year, starting quarterback Jareal Alexander and starting running back Daleon Sinette combined for 570 yards on 110 carries. If you are doing the math, that is 5.18 yards per rush.

More specifically, Alexander posted 385 yards on 80 touches while Sinette produced 185 yards on 30 attempts.

Another reason for the optimism, Kelly transfer Chance Filer is a senior tailback standing at 6-1 and weighing at 210 pounds. He's got the look of a bruiser and said to have plenty of speed.

"We definitely have the horses to have an effective running game," said Thompson, whose team averaged a league best 230.8 yards per game through the air last season.

"We understand that we have the personnel back there and we understand that having an effective running game is necessary. I think we will be using the running game a little more this season, but all of that will hinge on our offensive line."

The Titans have four new starters on the line and Thompson said the offensive play calling will be based off what is working and not working in a game.

Basically, if Memorial's hogs up front can make some holes, Thompson and offensive coordinator Kenny Harrison plan to have someone running through them.

Harrison said he did not know if one back would make 1,000 yards, but said he would not be surprised if two of the three players in Memorial's backfield rushed for more than 100 yards in the same game.

"They are some stud athletes," Harrison said.

He also said the Titans will use an Okie back set, which is a shotgun formation that features a back to the quarterback's left and right side.

"We had that formation in place last season but never really used it," Harrison said. "I think it's going to be something that we use quite a bit this year. We had to find ways to get our running game working last year. With the guys we have in place this season, we should be able to compliment our passing game very well.

"I don't think teams will be able to view us as a one demionsional team."

Harrison added that with the inexperienced receiving crew Memorial has (three new starters), being able to run the ball will certainly take some pressure off the youngsters.

But the thing Harrison really likes about the guys in the backfield is that they are all team oriented and have great work ethic.

Filer and Sinette, a junior at 5-11 and 190 pounds, both said making the playoffs was the main goal.

"I don't want another 4-6 season," Sinette said. "I want this team to make the playoffs and for us to do something in the playoffs."

Sinette, who broke loose or carries of 42 and 19 yards in Saturday's scrimmage with Port Neches-Groves, added he would not mind having more than 1,000 all-purpose yards for the season.

He also said he learned a thing or two from Clay, a second-team all-district running back from last year who finished second in the league with 54 receptions and accumulated 422 yards receiving. Those 54 receptions rank second all-time for a single season in Memorial's records.

"I learned a lot watching him set up screens last year and how to follow blockers," Sinette said.

Filer, a transfer student, said he is happy to be playing with the Titans.

"I'm excited," he said. "Things move much faster here."

The senior added that he feels he adds a nice compliment to Sinette.

"He is a little more shifty than I am," he said.

Filer said he does not steer away from contact.

"I just want to get through the hole as fast as I can and then keep on running," he said.

TITAN TIDBITS: Thompson said all is well in the injury department with the exception of starting quarterback Jareal Alexander who continues to treat a thumb injury that occured last season. Alexander had pins placed in the thumb during the summer to repair bone damage. The pins came out in mid August and he was released from doctor's orders only a week ago. Thompson said his quarterback's throwing improves everyday. Thompson added that Alexander may be limited in how much he can throw but he expects him to be able to start in Friday's season opener against the Central Jaguars. That game will be in Port Arthur and is set for 7 p.m. . . Fans will get to see Memorial's new state-of-the-art scoreboard, which will be semi-operational for this Friday's game, meaning the scoreboard will be running only the bare necessities such as the game clock, downs, yards to go and play clock. The scoreboard, which has the latest technologies including replay capabilities, will not be fully operational until Sept. 12when Memorial plays host to Houston Nimitz.

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