Spring practice was therapeutic for the Golden Flashes.

All winter, Kent State had to stew on a 3-9 season that ended with seven straight losses.

Since a five-game win streak midway through the 2006 season, the Flashes have lost 13 of 17 games, including a win over Delaware State. Kent State has gone 2-11 against MAC opponents.

Coach Doug Martin's team opened 2007 with an inspiring win at Iowa State. It was all downhill from there.

"We beat Iowa State and played Kentucky well, then guys started to get a complacent attitude," Martin told the Akron Beacon Journal. "The attention to detail just wasn't there."

Consequently, spring drills were about consistency and getting back to the basics.

"I think our quarterbacks being live all spring really helped keep everyone focused and made us much sharper on both sides of the ball," Martin said.

Senior quarterback Julian Edelman won back his starting job after Martin had declared an open competition. Sophomore Giorgio Smith is expected to be the No. 2.

"Our wide receivers still need to work on becoming more consistent," the coach said. "They tend to drop too many passes, and we're going to need them to make plays in the fall."

Junior running back Eugene Jarvis was the offensive bright spot last year, rushing for 1,669 yards and 10 scores.

Defensively, the Flashes have a veteran front seven but are young and largely untested in the secondary.

"We also have a couple of questions in the secondary and it really hurt to have Sam Kirkland out almost all spring with a hamstring injury," Martin said.

--Phase II of the Dix Stadium renovation project is to be completed on or about August 1. The $4 million undertaking includes installation of a state-of-the-art video board and sound system.

--The Flashes ranked 12th in the MAC in 2007 in turnover margin (-0.92) and scored only 15 touchdowns on 41 red-zone trips. The KSU red-zone defense ranked 11th in the MAC.

SPRING MOVERS:

TE Jameson Konz -- The senior made the move from OLB to TE and earned the award for greatest improvement during spring drills. He made an immediate impact. It's too bad he can't play wide receiver as well.

RB Andre Flowers -- The sophomore has established himself as a solid No. 2 back behind Eugene Jarvis. Flowers, who rushed for 6,400 yards and 74 TDs during his prep career, received the most improved offensive player award for spring work.

DE Monte Simmons -- Another true sophomore, Simmons is a key player in Kent State's defensive front seven regaining their swagger. The Flashes were a dominant MAC defense in 2006 (297.9 ypg yield) and have five seniors and four juniors, plus Simmons, on the front seven two-deep.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "We really got a lot better at tight end this spring and I would say that our linebacking corps was the most impressive unit on the defensive side of the ball." -- Kent State coach Doug Martin.

2008 OUTLOOK: The Golden Flashes expect to be able to run the ball and anticipate being able to stop the run. But how Kent State manages the passing game on both sides of the ball will likely determine the season's outcome.

SCOUTING THE OFFENSE: Senior QB Julian Edelman is an elusive, exciting player. He also is prone to injury and turnovers. But if Edelman or sophomore Giorgio Smith can establish a vertical passing attack and keep linebackers off record-breaking back Eugene Jarvis, then KSU could have a huge season. Moving senior Jameson Konz to tight end was a stroke of genius, but Martin needs at least two wide receivers to step up. Senior OT Augustus Parrish was second-team All-MAC a year ago.

SCOUTING THE DEFENSE: Three senior linebackers key what should be a strong front seven. Third-team All-MAC LB Derek Burrell had a team-high 112 stops last fall. The pass rush will need to be fierce because the secondary will be inexperienced. Rico Murray is the only senior on the two-deep in the defensive backfield.

SCOUTING SPECIAL TEAMS: Martin believes the Flashes have their kicker in Nate Reed. Freshman Matt Rinehart is expected to take over the punting chores. KSU did not rank among the top four in the MAC in any of the six major special teams categories. The Flashes did not attempt an on-sides kick. There is plenty of room for improvement.

ROSTER REPORT:

--Redshirt freshman DB Sam Kirkland (hamstring) missed most of spring drills. Kirkland had seven career interceptions at Chesapeake (Va.) Deep Creek HS.

--Senior OC Josh Perry (offseason surgery) and sophomore LB Dorian Wood (offseason knee surgery) sat out spring drills.

--A member of the KSU track team (hurdler), junior Greg Keys has returned to the secondary after one season at running back.

Previous Report: 03/27/2008