Overview
Coastal Carolina University was founded in 1954 and became an independent university in 1993. Located in Conway, South Carolina, CCU has a student body just over 7,800. The mascot/nickname for the university is the Chanticleer, the crafty quick-thinking rooster from Chaucer's Canterbury Tales. The first year of football for CCU was in 2003. Their overall all-time record is 34-11 and the Chants have appeared in the NCAA playoffs, once in 2005, losing to Appalachian State 45-28. The Chants play in the Big South Conference.
There is a temptation to look down upon a team like Coastal Carolina. After all, they are not even a Division 1-A program (FBS). So what business do they have in playing Penn State? Actually, they have plenty business in playing Penn State. CCU has been developing a successful program at Division 1-AA. CCU was the Big South Conference champions in '04, '05, and '06. Last year was a rebuilding year after losing 36 seniors. This year looks hopeful for CCU and by playing teams like Penn State they gain valuable experience at a level that benefits them when playing other 1-AA teams. Plus there is a pay check in the deal that will provide more revenue than they will take in at their gates all year.
It takes guts to come into Beaver stadium when you are used to playing in front of ten thousand people. Everything will be bigger in Happy Valley. The stadium. The crowd. The tailgating. The football players. In the process CCU gains valuable insight in how to develop their program, and maybe develop some traditions in the process. Penn State gets some valuable experience in the process as well. CCU has a winning tradition. Two other teams on Penn State's cup cake schedule do not, at least not recently – Syracuse and Temple. In fact, CCU would probably beat Syracuse this year, and put up a good battle against Temple.
So when evaluating cup cakes, CCU is not the number one cup cake, if fact, CCU might be the best of the cup cakes. We all know what happened to Michigan last year against ASU. But let's not get too carried away. Penn State will remember what happened to Michigan, and CCU will be handily beat.
It's not a great feeling beating CCU, but the tailgating should be fun, and it allows Penn State to prepare for the Big Ten season and establish some fundamentals. Hopefully, PSU will be able to establish some rhythm and get their defense going strong.
Looking Forward to the Game
Date: August 30, 2008
Time: Noon ET
Place: Beaver Stadium
Coverage: Big Ten Network
It is the start to a new season. Expect a conservative game from Penn State, since Penn State rarely shows much prior to the Big Ten season opener. My key performance indicators for the game are:
- Lack of Mistakes
Mistakes reveal the amount of focus this team has. PSU is playing a Cup Cake, and it's difficult to get up for a Cup Cake and remain focused for 4 quarters of football. PSU needs to go onto the field and execute for the entire game without turnovers and without penalties. PSU was ranked 41st in Division I football in '07 with a turnover margin of +.15. That is just breaking even. Penn State lost 16 fumbles and 10 interceptions on the year. That's just handing the ball to the opponent 26 times – without punting. How to measure: PSU – zero fumbles, zero INT.
PSU was 4th in the nation last year in fewest penalties (13 games/58 penalties/4.46 per game) and 3rd in the nation fewest yards penalized per game (34.31 yards/game). This is an area that can be improved and when improved, PSU's field position will be better. PSU needs to get off to a better start than last year when they had 5 penalties for 50 yards against FIU. How to measure: PSU – zero penalties.
- Defensive Front Seven
There are some question marks about the defense, especially at linebacker with the loss of Sean Lee for the season. PSU is Linebacker U for a reason, so the talent will be there, but will the talent be ready to play together. The relationship between the defensive line and linebackers is critical in stopping the run and in short yardage passing situations. If the line and linebackers work together then this defense can be better than last year. PSU was 7th in the nation in rushing defense, allowing 93.8 yards per game. While not shabby, there is room for improvement, especially with the experience coming back on the defensive line. In last year's season opener, PSU held FIU to -3 yards rushing. This stat is enhanced by 7 sacks for 50 yards lost. In all honesty, to have an exceptional rushing defense it has to have sacks. How to measure: PSU – 10+ sacks, CCU negative yards rushing.
- Offensive Line
Last year's offensive line was good, and they all return. Do they pick up where they left off? Let's hope so. The quarterback needs all day to pass and tailbacks need huge holes to run through. PSU's offensive line is significantly larger and stronger that CCU's defense. The CCU defense's only hope is speed. Last year against FIU, PSU allowed two sacks – an area for improvement. Scott, Kinlaw, and Royster averaged 4.2, 8.2, and 8.8 yards per carry respectively, each having long carries over 20 yards, but under 30 yards. How to measure: No sacks, No hurries, and the QB's uniform remains unsoiled. Yards per carry for all tailbacks and fullbacks over 10 yards.
Offensive Line
Britt Leggett (6-6/295) is the only senior that plays offensive line for the Chants. Literally, there are no other seniors that play offensive line. He leads the Chant's with three varsity letters. A cadre of younger players, including two juniors and three sophomores will see duty on the line:
LT Alex Wolfe (So., 6-5/260 lbs)
LG Seth Smalles (So., 6-5/310 lbs)
C Ryan Boehm (Jr., 6-1/300 lbs)
RG James Sims (Jr., 6-4/280 lbs)
RT Britt Leggett (Sr., 6-6/295 lbs)
The 2008 season will determine how cohesive this line unit will be. In 2007, the Chants offensive line was one of the larger question marks of the team. In spring practice, the above unit was one of the more stable units.
Quarterbacks
William Richardson (Sr., 6-5/230 lbs) played in 11 games last season and was 131-229-7, hitting 57.2% of his passes. Richardson is CCU's only quarterback with significant experience. Given that CCU's receiving corps is in the process of rebuilding, Richardson will have a difficult senior year. Richardson has Jamar Anderson as his only returning target from 2007.
Running Backs
The Chants running game in 2007 was lead by FB Mike Tolbert with 111 rushes for 748 yards. Tolbert has graduated. Other backs for the Chants saw lots of playing time in the 2007 season and all are returning:
RB Jamie Fordham (Sr., 6-0/190 lbs, 9 games, 82 att/444 yds, 5.4 avg, 1 TD)
RB Eric O'Neal (So., 5-10/185 lbs, 11 games 72 att/325 yds. 4.5 avg, 1 TD)
RB Arthur Sitton (Sr., 5-8/165 lbs, 11 games, 28 att/176 yds. 6.3 avg, 3 TD)
FB Tommy Fraser (So., 5-10/240 lbs, 11 games 24 att/81 yds, 3.3 avg, 5 TD)
FB Racheed Guase (Jr., 5-11/255 lbs, 10 games, 29 att/164 yds, 5.7 avg, 1 TD)
Jamie Fordham was held out of spring practice to work on academics. Eric O'Neal and Arthur Sitton received the majority of running work in the spring. Going into fall season it is an open competition between Fordham, O'Neal and Sitton. Running is the Chants strength, but they will not match for PSU's stingy rushing defense; only allowed 93 yards per game last year. Nearly everyone on PSU's run defense is returning to play in 2008.
Receivers
The Chants are losing 3 of their primary wide receivers in 2008. Wide out, junior Jamar Anderson has the most experience of the returning receivers with 25 touches. The remaining receivers combined touched the ball a total of 4 times in 2007. In comparison, PSU's Williams, Butler, and Norwood caught the ball, 55, 47, and 40 times respectively.
Apparently the receiving corps at CCU is so weakened by losing 3 receivers that QB Sean Fortson worked exclusively with receivers in spring practice. It appears that his move from quarterback is now permanent, barring any injuries at QB.
Defensive Line
CCU's defensive line is losing three starters to graduation and another three graduating linemen that played in 9 or more games. CCU employed more 3-4 defensive sets in this year's spring practice, a departure from the 4-3 base it used the majority of last season. Coastal Carolina coach David Bennett said that the change is simply because of the Chants' assets: more quality linebackers than defensive linemen.
"We used to use [the 3-4] all the time," Bennett said. "It's about flexibility. ... We still better be a multiple defense."
Four linemen from CCU's two-deep depth chart return this year; defensive ends Ronnie Mason (Sr., 6-3/260 lbs, 18 solo/16 asst. tackles, 2 sacks), Warren Jennings (Sr., 6-3/235 lbs, 11 solo/10 asst. tackles, .5 sacks), and Phillip Oboh (Jr., 6-2/220 lbs, 29 solo/25 asst. tackles, 4 sacks); and nose tackle Clarence Donley (Sr., 6-4/260 lbs, 12 solo/10 asst. tackles, .5 sacks). Light-weight Oboh (220 lbs) will probably move to linebacker from end, especially with CCU's leading tackler OLB Anthony Steele graduating and very few other linemen seeing action last season.
Defensive line reserves include:
Wesley Foushee-Pugh (Jr., 6-4/240 lbs – 1 game, 1 asst. tackle)
JoJo Grant (Jr., 6-0/215 lbs – 1 game, 1 solo tackle)
E.J Rascoe (Sr., 6-0/252 lbs – no action)
Brooks Barbaree (So., 6-2/285 lbs – no action)
Dexter Holman (So., 6-3/210 lbs – no action)
B.J. Jenkins (So., 6-2/212 lbs – no action)
Defensive Tackle Robert Balkunas, (6-1/285 lbs) from Lackawanna Junior College will be joining the CCU this fall.
The one thing that sticks out about CCU's defensive line is their size, with only two players over 260lbs. The average weight of the line is 243 lbs, which is comparable to the weight of the PSU linebacker corps. The PSU offensive line weighs in on average at 294 lbs. CCU will be undersized by 51 lbs. Penn State's quarter back should go untouched and there should be large holes for the tailbacks to run through.
Linebackers
The Chants lost their number one tackler to graduation, LB Anthony Steele. Steele had 34 solo tackles, 31 assists, 3 sacks and an interception. Derrick Frasier and D.J. Rice are penciled in at inside linebacker with Chris Walls and Phillip Oboh outside. Oboh is making a transition to outside linebacker from end, though Head Coach Bennett says he can still play at the end position in a 4-3 alignment. CCU linebackers coach Grant Cain said that the spring offers experimental time and that this does not mean the Chants will come out in a 3-4 base set at Penn State in their season opener. But the 3-4 figures to improve the pass rush and the Chants' run defense can go nowhere but up.
OLB – Phillip Oboh (Jr., 6-2/220 lbs, 11 games, 29 solo/25 asst. tackles, 4 sacks)
ILB – Derrick Fraiser (So., 5-11/215 lbs, 10 games, 14 solo/20 asst. tackles, 1 sack)
ILB – D.J. Rice (Sr., 6-0/235 lbs, 11 games, 24 solo/26 asst. tackles, 1 sack)
OLB – Chris Walls (So., 6-2/200 lbs, 10 games, 8 solo/10 asst. tackles)
Midway through last season CCU began running Keon Cunningham (So., 6-1/200 lbs, 22 solo/8 asst. tackles, 2 sacks, 2 INT) at NICK back.
Linebacker reserves include:
Chase Howe (Sr., 5-11/210 lbs, 16 solo/18 asst. tackles, 1 sack)
Kent Harper (So. 6-1/210 lbs, 2 solo/9 asst. tackles, .5 sack)
Ronnie Gains (Sr. 6-0/210 lbs, 1 asst. tackle)
Joe Rosko (So., 5-10/200 lbs, 1 asst. tackle)
Gabe Moreland (Jr., 5-10/194 lbs – no action)
Desmond Steward (So., 6-0/225 lbs – no action)
Again size is an issue with CCU's defense when compared to PSU. PSU can run TEs Szcerba and Quarless (both 252lbs) through CCU's linebacker corps all day long and open up the running game in a punishing manner.
Secondary
PSU is not the only team affected by legal issues. CCU defensive backs Mario Tynes and Eric Brown, Jr. were arrested along with wide receiver Ricky Johnson after police stopped the car they were in and found two guns, three pounds of marijuana and $1,345.00 in cash. The players were immediately removed from the football program and their scholarships were revoked. This incident has left CCU short at corner.
CCU Head Coach Bennett said the cornerback Antonio Bellamy might not return to the team. Bellamy was held out of spring camp because of a neck injury, making his future cloudy. Bellamy, a projected starter last season, missed much of the year because of turf toe. The loss of Tynes, Brown, and Bellamy have left CCU very shallow at corner. Projected to start in '08 are Marrio Norman and Whittmin Reese.
RCB Whittmin Resse (Sr., 5-8/165 lbs, 11 games, 29 solo/9 asst. tackles, 3 INT)
LCB Marrio Norman (Sr., 5-11/180 lbs, 8 games, 28 solo/25 asst. tackles, 1 sack, 1 INT)
At safety, Jr., Dominique Davenport (5-11/200 lbs) returns. Davenport was second in tackles for CCU in 2007 (37 solo/24 asst. tackles, 0 sacks, 0 INT). Jr., Brandon Autry (5-10/165 lbs) was third in tackles (44 solo/17asst. tackles, 2 Sacks, 2 INT) will fill in the other safety spot.
CCU's strength is defending the pass. Last year, CCU allowed only 141.4 yards per game. With an experienced secondary, CCU should continue their success. This is one area that Penn State may be challenged in the game.
Special Teams
Kicker Justin Durham (5-10/165 lbs) returns for the Chants after leading the team in scoring last year with 68 points, making 12 of 17 field goals and 32 of 36 extra points. James Pallassino and Ben Erdman (6-2/180 lbs) split kickoff duties in 2007 averaging 54.7 yards per kickoff for a net of 37 yards to start on the 32 yard line.
Eric O'Neal (5-10/185 lbs) is the likely kick return man after returning 14 kickoffs for a 26.4 yard average in 2007. This stat may not indicative of what will happen on August 30, since PSU frequently puts the ball through the end zone on kickoffs. Senior Marrio Norman (5-11/180 lbs) and Junior Jamar Anderson (6-0/170 lbs) and Sophomore Keon Cunningham (6-1/200 lbs) shared punt returns in 2007. Together they averaged 12 yards per return. CCU punt returners will be facing some of the best coverage in college football. In 2007, Penn State ranked 10th in the nation allowing only 5.35 yards per punt return.
Ben Erdman will be the Chants punter. Erdman averaged 35.2 yards per punt in 2007 with an average of 12 yard punt return. This nets out to 23.2 yards per punt. A lack of improvement in this area means that Chants will not win the field position battle, and Penn State will frequently start its possessions on a short field in CCU territory. Another mismatch exists in the CCU punt game. Last season, CCU Jamie Perkinson (So., 6-3/245 lbs) and Danny Bonifas (So., 6-2/215 lbs) shared duties at long and short snapper. Both are undersized and could easily be bull rushed.
Preseason Prediction
Penn State wins. But, by how much? As usual, JoePa will restrain the offense play selection. In a way, I like this approach. First, the team is able to concentrate on basics. Second, it doesn't give much tape for Oregon State to review. The size mismatch between PSU and CCU is probably so great that even a very conservative offense will win big. The old run right, run left, run up the middle may be too much for CCU. I'll provide a prediction on the score a week prior to the game, after we see how camp goes in August.
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