INSIDE SLANT
It's time.
That's the sentiment around the Tulane football program, that it's time to turn around the program that has managed just six wins in its two seasons under coach Bob Toledo.
The players feel it. The coaches feel it. And now it's just a matter of getting on the field and doing it.
“We feel like we've really got to turn this thing around,” receiver Jeremy Williams told the Times-Picayune. “We're not waiting on the future. We've got to do it now.”
Williams, along with many other seniors, felt the turnaround was going to happen before this year, especially with Toledo coming in. But after four wins in Toledo's first season, the team dipped to just two victories in an injury-plagued 2008.
“It can be frustrating,” defensive end Logan Kelley said. “This is my fourth year, and last year was really frustrating. It was hard.”
But great comeback stories have to start from somewhere low, and the Wave feel like they've hit their low. An improved attitude and more playmakers on the roster are the qualities that Toledo points to when asked why this year's team will be better.
That and avoiding the injury bug that took a number of top players down last year.
Yes, Tulane football is ready to turn itself around. Now the Green Wave just has to prove it’s ready, starting Sept. 4 vs. Tulsa.
NOTES, QUOTES
--Tulane enters the 2009 campaign having failed to win as many as six games in a season since 2004.
--At the time of his season-ending injury last year, RB Andre Anderson led Conference USA in rushing (142.0 yards per game) and all-purpose yards (175.67 ypg), ranking fourth nationally in both statistics.
SCOUTING THE OFFENSE: The Green Wave will look to see how well Andre Anderson has recovered from his season-ending injury that limited him to seven games. QB Joe Kemp, a redshirt sophomore, earned the starting nod from returning starter Kevin Moore, so the pressure will be on him to perform well in the opener against Tulsa. He'll at least have senior WR Jeremy Williams to throw to after Williams played just five games a year ago.
SCOUTING THE DEFENSE: Six starters are back on this side of the ball, giving hope that the Green Wave can repeat last year's solid pass defense, which ranked 14th in the country. Senior DE Logan Kelley anchors a very experienced front line, with all four starters having played in at least 20 games. The defensive secondary is also very experienced, giving the Green Wave solid coverage all over the field.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "I think the offseason program is what really helped them. They saw improvement. They saw themselves getting bigger and stronger. They're in better shape. They gained confidence. That helped us to say, 'We're getting better. We're gonna be all right.'” -- Coach Bob Toledo told the Times-Picayune.
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
THIS WEEK'S GAME: Tulsa at Tulane, Sept. 4 -- The Green Wave jump right into the Conference USA race with a battle against the Golden Hurricane. Tulsa is still trying to figure out who will start at quarterback through preseason practices, so the Green Wave is hoping to provide some pressure on whoever starts and cause some mistakes. Offensively, Tulane needs a solid outing from Andre Anderson on the ground to establish a solid running game.
PLAYERS TO WATCH:
RB Andre Anderson -- In his first seven games in 2008, his first as a full-time starter, Anderson ran for 864 yards and seven touchdowns. If he can recover that form, it will give the Green Wave a reliable weapon to lean on and keep control of the ball.
QB Joe Kemp -- The redshirt sophomore has earned the starting job, but coach Bob Toledo juggled quarterbacks a year ago when they weren't effective. Kemp needs to have a solid, error-free game to keep his starting job for a couple more weeks.
CB Charles Harris -- The senior is a playmaker in the secondary. Going against a likely inexperienced quarterback for the Golden Hurricane, Harris will be looking to cause a turnover or two to charge up the Tulsa defense.
ROSTER REPORT:
--The flu wrecked havoc with a recent scrimmage for the Green Wave, with 28 players forced to sit out the contest suffering from flu-like symptoms.
--Freshman RB Peyton Jason has opened some eyes in preseason practice and did very well at a recent scrimmage. After Jason rushed for 80 yards and a pair of scores, coach Bob Toledo said Jason will definitely see some playing time backing up starter Andre Anderson.
--Sophomore LB Trent Mackey has been playing well enough to likely get some time in the opener. He had a team-best seven tackles in a recent scrimmage.
Previous Report: 03/25/2009
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