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SAMPLE 2008 TRIBET RIBE FOOTBALLF O O T BA LL MEDIAM E D IA GUIDEG U ID E 19 2008 SEASON OUTLOOK JAKE PHILLIPS ALL-CAA QUARTERBACK 2008 SEASON OUTLOOK If the preseason selection of a fi fth-place fi nish in the ultra-competitive upward trend that saw it improve radically over the 2006 unit (which produced ColonialColonial AthleticAthletic Association’sAssociation’s SouthernSouthern DDivisionivision is ananyy indicaindication,tion, some outside ‘just’‘just’ 19.0 pointspoints a game and 339.4 yds/contest).yds/contest). Overall,Overall, the off ense returnsreturns the William and Mary program see modest potential in the 2008 Tribe. But, six of its top seven pass catchers from a season ago, as Mack was tops on the those within the College’s squad, especially its senior class, are bringing an en- squad in both receptions (46) and receiving yards (849). Sophomore tailback tirely diff erent set of expectations to the table for the coming season. Coming Courtland Marriner was the top rusher from a season ago (518 yards on 115 off a pair of diffi cult campaigns, the team’s leadership has approached the off - attempts) and leads a ground game that returns all but 207 yards of the 1,299 season with a sense of urgency and an eye towards reestablishing the program’s total rushing yards from 2007. place among the league’s elite. With the wealth of skill positions coming back to the fold, much of the With each side of the ball returning nine starters, the squad will be long attention will fall on the team’s off ensive front to provide the power behind on experience, and the healthy return of several key contributors will only add what promises to be an electric Tribe attack. A solid, experienced foundation is to the depth in the coming season. The development of young talent has al- in place between the tackles, as both guards (Michael Grant and C.J. Muse) and ways been a strength of Tribe Head Coach Jimmye Laycock, who enters his 29th the center (Luke Hiteshew) return from last season. The team will turn to youth season at the helm. He and his staff have never had better resources to accom- on the bookends, as it will see talented redshirt freshman Jake Marcey and ris- plish the task than the present, as the team opened a state-of-the-art, 30,000- ing sophomore Keith Hill be the top challengers for starting duties. square foot football complex this spring. The infusion of this facility will allow The defense is in a similar scenario as the off ense, as a pair of key seniors the squad unprecedented access to the latest teaching technologies in vastly in all-conference cornerback Derek Cox and middle linebacker Josh Rutter will improved meeting environments. Look for this to have both an immediate and be crucial to the team’s success. The pair will team with second-year Tribe de- lasting impact in all phases of the program. fensive coordinator Bob Shoop to form the leadership group of the still young All discussions of the team’s off ense begin with returning all-conference unit. quarterback Jake Phillips, who comes into the year as one of the league’s most With one full-season in the program under his belt, Shoop and his defen- experienced players. There is no doubt Phillips has the talent to challenge for sive charges showed consistent improvement during the spring drills session, national honors, and his supporting cast, led by fellow returning all-conference including a nearly dominating performance in the spring game. All signs are talent wide receiver Elliott Mack, will only enhance his eff ectiveness. Phillips pointing toward a big upgrade from the unit that surrendered 427 total points and Mack werewere twotwo cconstantsonstants in an aattackttack thathatt aaveragedveraged mormoree than 29 poinpointsts in 2007. Much of the defensive unit’s struggles a season ago could be attrib- and nearly 400 yardsyards of totaltotal off ense in 2007. TheThe squad will look toto continuecontinue an uted to growing pains, as the College’s fi nal defensive two-deep had 12 fi rst or 20 20082008 TRIBET RIBE FOOTBALLF O O T BA LL MEDIAM E D IA GUIDEG U ID E 2008 SEASON OUTLOOK second-year players. Cox is the cornerstone of a secondary that returns all four Stadium. It will mark the fi rst time since 1988 William and Mary has hosted as starters. He ended his junior campaign with 51 total tackles and three intercep- many home contests. The College ended the 2007 season averaging, 10,699 tions. fans per contest, which was the highest fi gure for the program since the 1997 Overall, the unit returns its top nine tacklers from last season, including season (when the College readjusted its capacity fi gure for Zable from 15,000 junior safety David Caldwell, who led the defense with 107 total tackles (61 to 13,279 – then reduced further to its current 12,259). It was the second con- solo) and had 5.5 tackles for losses. Fellow junior defensive end Adrian Tracy secutive year the squad had reset it record under the new confi guration. had team-highs in both sacks (three) and total tackles for loss (9.5) in 2007 and The following is a brief look at the College’s 2008 squad, by position: should challenge for national honors this fall. Rutter is another post-season honors candidate, as he was the team’s second-leading tackler last fall with 95 QUARTERBACK stops despite playing somewhat limited by a 2007 off -season surgery. He will With Phillips coming off a career year in 2007, which saw him throw for enter the fall in arguably the best shape of his career and will be counted on to 2,801 yards and 19 touchdowns, the quarterback position is an unquestioned be the unit’s play maker. Adding to the optimism has been the stellar spring strength for the College. The Tribe has a well documented great history of play of rising junior defensive end C.J. Herbert. Also bolstering hopes has been producing exceptional players at the position and Phillips is well on his way to the spring play of talented young defensive end Ravi Pradhanang, who would creating his own legacy. Last season, he earned the 18th all-conference honor have challenged for game-action as a true freshman last season, if not slowed for the position since Laycock took over he program in 1980 and is poised to by injury. challenge for fi rst-team accolades in 2008. Last season the College faced a total of six ranked opponents in its 11- He comes into the fall with 22 career starts in 28 appearances and is in the game regular season, including four straight to end the season. The brutal fi n- school’s top 10 in nearly every major career passing category, including passing ish was the fi rst time W&M squared off against four-straight ranked opponents yards (7th, 5128 yards) and touchdown passes (7th, 36). His 2801 passing yards since fi rst joining its current league affi liation in 1993. The College played one of is the league’s leading returning total, while his 19 touchdown passes is the the most-diffi cult schedules, in terms of overall combined opponent’s winning second-highest among returning CAA quarterbacks. His average of 272.1 yards percentage (.604). The slate for 2008 will bring more of the same, in terms of a game is also the league’s top returning fi gure from a season ago. challenges, as the CAA fi gures to remain as nation’s premier Football Champi- A tireless worker who is one of four team-elected captains and the co- onship Series conference. Last year the league produced a record fi ve-playoff recipient of the John A. Stewart Winter Warrior Award, Phillips has the athletic teams, which accounted for more than 30 percent of the 16-team championship ability to challenge defenses with either his legs or arm. His veteran savvy and fi eld. Four of those squads are on the Tribe’s schedule for the coming season, decision making ability will be an essential part of the team’s successes this sea- with only one (Richmond) making an appearance in Williamsburg. Aside from son. the daunting league slate, the College will once again face a Football Bowl Se- Should Phillips be dealt a set-back, there is able help waiting just off the ries opponent, as it will kick off its season with a visit to North Carolina State. wings, as athletic junior R.J. Archer has emerged as the top reserve. Archer has The game will mark the 10th-straight season in which the Tribe has faced an served as one of the team’s top receivers the past two seasons and fi nished last FBS opponent and will be the second time in the same span the College has year with 39 catches for 451 yards. At 6-2, 218 pounds, Archer brings good size traveled to Raliegh to face the Wolfpack (1999 being the other appearance). to the position, which he has spent the past three springs taking snaps. The WhileWhile the opposition will be challenging,challenging, one strongstrong positivepositive for the com-com- movemove waswas an especially selfl ess one for the CharlottCharlottesville,esville, VVa.,a., nanative,tive, as he ing season is the Tribe will be playing six games in the friendly confi nes of Zable would have certainly been in the mix as a starter at wide out.