BRYANT FOOTBALL SEASON PREVIEW: Strong Defensive Cast Look To Challenge For NE-10 Title
August 14, 2007
2007 BRYANT FOOTBALL SEASON PREVIEW
The 2006 Bryant University football season
was one for the history books. Powered by one of the nation's
best offenses, the Bulldogs enjoyed the school's best season, not
only winning a share of the program's first Northeast-10 Conference
title, but capping the year off by hosting the school's first-ever
NCAA football playoff game.
While memories of the season remain fresh in the
minds of Bulldog football fans, clean slate lies ahead in 2007.
Now entering his fifth season since taking
over the Bryant program in 2003, head coach Marty Fine has turned
the Bulldogs into a challenger not only within the Northeast-10
Conference, but a player in the Northeast Region. The
Bulldogs achieved their highest regional ranking of No. 3 last
season, earning a right to host a first round playoff game at
Bulldog Stadium.
This year's squad will welcome back eight
starters from a defense that ranked third in total defense in the
Northeast-10 and fourth in scoring defense. However,
the conference's top offense of 2006 will have only three starters
back as the Bulldogs prepare its defense of its co-conference
championship this fall.
Here's a breakdown of how the Bulldogs
look heading into preseason camp.
QUARTERBACK
The offense, while very young on
paper, will at least be under the direction of sure handed senior
Charlie Granatell (Franklin Lakes, NJ). A starter since
stepping foot onto campus back in 2004, Granatell has set all of
Bryant's passing records and is coming off one of the best seasons
of his career in 2006.
Granatell passed for 1,975 yards and 21
touchdowns and finished ranked No. 2 in the nation with a 167.55
passing efficiency rating. His accuracy and ability to
operate in the pocket were keys to the team's playoff
drive.
Jay Graber (Clarksburg, NJ) will serve as
Granatell's primary backup. The junior saw action in four
games, completing a pair of passes for 42 yards. Sophomore
Kurt Spear (Greene, NY) and sophomore Nick Scardelli (Manalapan,
NJ) will give the team excellent depth.
BACKFIELD
Bryant loses one of New England's best tailbacks
in Lorenzo Perry who graduates with more than 3,000 yards rushing
in two record-breaking seasons with the Bulldogs. But the
valuable leadership and guidance that Perry instilled on the
younger Bulldogs can only pay off.
Looking to fill his shoes will be senior workhorse
Chris Peaks (Silver Spring, Md.). At 5-foot-11, 220 pounds,
Peaks is a bruising and powerful runner. Having been with the
program since 2004, he's a veteran who understands the system and
will be looked upon to shoulder much of the load at running
back. But he'll have some help.
Newcomer Jerrel Smith (Brooklyn, NY) and Lindsey
Gamble (Boston, Mass.) have the speed and quickness to give the
offense a lift. Smith, who will wear Perry's old No. 5 this year,
is a transfer from Howard University who brings speed and quickness
out of the backfield and has plenty of potential talent-wise.
Gamble looked strong in the spring football game and should also
compete for a starting role along with junior Justin Williams
(Hampton, NH).
The fullback position will have two experienced
veterans in Andrew Salinger (Wyckoff, NJ) and Kevin Anderson
(Plainville, Conn.) return. Both have experience and
exceptional blocking skills and sure-handed skills in short-yardage
situations.
RECIEVERS / TIGHT END
Leading receiver Justin Kix has
graduated, but Granatell will have some options to spread things
around. Senior Sean Bergin (New Windsor, NY) is a sure-handed
receiver, much in the way that Kix was during his career.
Whether it's a short crossing route across the middle or beating a
corner deep, Bergin will be key in moving the chains on
offense.
Ryan Buckley (Bridgewater, Mass.) and
Chris Arnold (Wyckoff, NJ) are two juniors who played key roles
last year in the drive to the playoffs, while Joey Brito
(Pawtucket, RI), who, at six-feet, two-inches tall, will give
Granatell a big target to hit.
The tight ends, may miss the services
of the reliable Alex Chapparo who has graduated, but Fine smiles
knowing that the position will be very good; especially with
someone like Tyler DiGiovanni (Columbia, Conn.) returning for his
senior season. A large target at 6-foot-7, DiGiovanni backed up
Chapparo last year and looks to become involved more in the
offense. His size and strength gives the team excellent
downfield and pocket protection as well.
Sophomore Doug Emerzian (Rowley, Mass.) has a year
under his belt and is another player that should see some balls
come his way, especially after an excellent spring.
OFFENSIVE LINE
One area that might be of concern for Fine rests
with the offensive line. Of course with four of five starters
graduated, there are a few positions to fill. Senior Ralph
Squitieri (Orangeburg, NJ) will anchor the line from the left guard
spot while Barrington Little (Washington, DC), another senior
captain should take over at the right guard spot.
Peter Krafka (Milford, Mass.), Anthony
Caliri (Raynham, Mass.), Jordan Levesque (Fall River, Mass.), Bryan
Brady (Floral Park, NY), Alex Grande (New Bedford, Mass.), Jacob
Meyers (Brooks, Ga.), and Brian Kelly (Westwood, Mass.) will round
out the rest of the line up front.
Krafka enters camp in tremendous shape and
both he and Caliri has plenty of experience under their belt as key
backups last year. They will both be counted on heavily for
stability this year.
DEFENSE
While the offense may have been a
staple for 2006, this fall, the Bulldogs look sound on
defense. With its entire secondary back and ready to go plus
one of the leagues best down linemen, the opponents are going to
quickly find out how tough it will be to get through this
defense.
DEFENSIVE LINE
Strength, speed, quickness; words
that can be used to describe the Bryant defensive line. Three
starters are back in Bryant's front four including two who should
compete for all-conference honors.
Defensive Mark Gunther (Clarksburg, NJ) set a
new school single-season sack record with 11 ½ and in the
process set the school's career sack record with 20.5. At the
other end, James Lewis (New Haven, Conn.) is another lineman who
uses his strength and quickness off the line to disrupt plays in
the backfield. Jay Stahl (Methuen, Mass.), Patrick Gauthier
(Woonsocket, RI) and Alex Garcia (Philadelphia, Pa.) will be tough
to stop up front at the nose tackle position.
LINEBACKERS
Youth will come into play at the
linebacker spot, but the team will look to sophomore Paul Polomoski
(Franklin, Mass.) to lead the way. After cracking the
starting lineup as a freshman, and playing consistently well
throughout the year, Polomski looks to step up his game in his
second year. He's an intelligent player with excellent
mobility and strength.
Nick Candito (West Boylston, Mass.) and
Dan Curci (Hasbrouck Heights, NJ) should compete for the strong and
middle linebacker spots this year with Andre Whyte (Bennington,
Vt.), Dan Weaver (Bloomfield, Pa.), and Christopher Walker
(Brooklyn, NY). Curci took over the starting inside linebacker
position last year when senior Justin Benevides suffered an injury
early in the season.
SECONDARY
The last line of the
defense should be the strongest position this season, thanks to the
return of all four starters. Bryce Martins (Uncasville, Conn.) and
Michael Morgan (New London, Conn.) are back at the corners.
Sophomore Anthony Thomas (Boston, Mass.) is expected to see
considerable time as well at the corner.
Senior Marcus Lindsey (Bridgeport, Conn.) is
coming off a stellar season at safety while fellow classmate Chris
Wohlheter (Newark, Ohio) is the type of player that makes things
happen when he steps on the field. A dangerous return man,
Wohlheter is a punishing defender. Opponents will have to be aware
of where the Bulldog senior free safety lines up on the
field.
A play-maker on defense, Wohlheter was
second on the team with 48 tackles a year ago and had three
interceptions. But it is his hard-hitting style of play that
will set the tone for the rest of the defense in forcing team's
into turnovers.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Junior Brian Donnelly (East Dennis, Mass.) will
be back to handle the punts and look to compete for the starting
place kicking duties with newcomers Christopher Bird (Monument,
Mass.) and Karl Turner (Woodriver Junction, R.I.). Donnelly
averaged 37.1 yards on 34 punts last season - including a
63-yarder. Five were placed inside the 20 yard line and just one
touchback.
Wohlheter and freshman Michael Petrellese
(Yonkers, NY) will handle the punt return duties. Wohlheter
was second in the conference with 11.4 yards per punt return with a
long of 39 yards.
