Aug. 16, 2000

Editor's Note: Articles such as this one by Dave Campbell appear in each edition of the Baylor Bear Insider Report, available upon membership in the Baylor Bear Foundation. For information on joining the Bear Foundation, click here.

In early August our 14-year-old grandson, Campbell Roche, who lives in Austin, spent a few days with us in Waco, and that Friday afternoon I took him on a tour of Floyd Casey Stadium. When we wandered into the strength and conditioning room, a solitary figure, obviously a veteran of the summer sun, caught our eye. He was a big guy, muscled and hard, his skin shiny with sweat as he worked with weights.

As we stood there watching, he assumed a semi-prone position, on his back, and in each hand he took an iron weight. He lowered the two of them down against his chest and then lifted them, three times, four times, five times he did that, without interruption.

This went on for a few minutes as he kept changing weights, working his way up to the point where he finally was working with 140 pounds in each hand -- strain, lift, lower back down, strain, lift, lower back down, muscles straining, rivulets of sweat coursing down his face.

After five reps with the 140-pound discs, Tyshaun Whitson told the trainer standing nearby that he was done. As the weights were put back in their rack, Whitson turned to my wide-eyed grandson and me, grinned and said, "I couldn't do that (particular sequence of lifts) last year. I'm a lot stronger now."

TYSHAUN WHITSON, WHO told us that day that he is 6-6 and weighs 301 pounds, is stronger, sleeker, more mature, more dedicated and more experienced this year as he moves from offensive tackle to his more natural position at right guard, and his story is the story of Baylor's new-look offensive line.

Indeed, one could almost say that is the story of Baylor's 2000 Bears. But in no area is that more obvious than in the offensive line -- up front, where it counts.

"What you have to remember about Whitson is that he was a basketball player in high school who played football for only one season," said Baylor offensive line coach Doug Fertsch. "Then he went to junior college and played defensive tackle. We moved him to the offensive line last year, and if you're inexperienced as an offensive lineman, you can't hide it. Last year he was at right tackle and he lacked confidence, fundamentals and rep time. So this past spring we moved him inside, to right guard, and he has center Joe Jackson with his experience on one side and Greg Jerman with his experience on the other. Jerman was at left tackle last year, when he also was inexperienced, but he's righthanded so we moved him from left tackle and right tackle, and it has all worked out marvelously. Whitson is at a point where he could have a great season."

THE LATEST BAYLOR depth chart lists Whitson at 293 (those two-a-days can take the weight off, remember) and Jerman at 6-5 and 281. Joe Jackson, 6-2 and 281, will be at center, and after two seasons as a starter at that position Joe is one of Steele's old reliables. Jackson is not your orthodox center, he might not look good doing it, but he usually winds up as the team's leading blocker up front. At left tackle is former guard Ethan Kelley, now 6-2 and 312 and still only a sophomore, and at left guard is Jon Erickson, 6-5, 298, a junior and a bright and shining example of the good things that can come to those who persevere, work hard and stay positive.

"Jon was highly recommended after his junior year in high school (Richardson), but then he tore up a knee and people (the recruiters) forgot him," Fertsch pointed out. "He decided to walk on here -- he was not recruited. But he lost a year on his fundamentals because of that injury, and then he was redshirted, which means he really lost two years of playing time. What you have to give coach Steele credit for is that he gave Jon a chance. And now he's making the most of it. He got in the weight room, got a lot stronger, and he's very intelligent and now he has confidence. He's a player.

"You can't say enough about Joe Jackson, he's the cog in the wheel. I think he's very underrated. To me, he's a lot like Aubrey Schulz (Baylor's All-America center in 1974) and I played with Aubrey. Joe has a lot of those same qualities -- very strong, very intelligent, great leader. And this will be his third year (to start).

"Ethan Kelley was kind of covered up at left guard (his position last year). But he's by far our most powerful offensive lineman, and he has phenomenal feet and explosive power. He's the type who can play forever, just a tremendous athlete."

Said Steele: "Tyshaun Whitson is now a larger, stronger, well-conditioned man. Kelley is huge now. Joe Jackson is a lot bigger. For us now, continuity is the key."

IN SUMMING UP, Fertsch echoes the words of Steele: "I believe we're stronger at all five (offensive line) positions -- more strength, speed, better technique and fundamentals, and a lot of it comes from experience and maturity."

That's the good part because no team can hope to be good unless it has a good offensive line. And here's something equally good: some of what those starters are doing, and the pace they're setting, is beginning to rub off on some of those who work behind them -- which means the depth picture looks better.

Example: unheralded and virtually unknown tackle David Armstrong, a 6-4, 284-pound junior from Jacksonville, Fla., who was recruited during the Dave Roberts era.

"Listen, you won't believe David Armstrong," said Fertsch. "He was 240 in the spring. He was 284 last night when we weighed them. David has always had great feet, good speed, long arms. He didn't have much strength. He started making a move in the spring with an improved work ethic -- it was like a switch had been turned on. I think he saw what some of the others were doing and he decided if he was going to play he had to get with it. He got in the weight room and really did what LeBaron (Caruthers, BU's strength and conditioning coach) asked him to do, and he's really jumped up in there now. Now if he will just keep that switch turned on. . ."

Steele will tell you that Cedric Fields (6-3, 312, redshirt freshman) has done a similar thing. Fields is No. 2 at right guard, behind Whitson, but expected to play a lot.

"The strength of our offensive line has really showed up," the Bruin grid boss said late last week. "The stamina is so much better. They've talked about how they feel so much more comfortable now. That first group has kind of jelled together although obviously they haven't been tested yet this season. But we're getting so much more done. Last year there was a lot of time used just stopping and correcting mistakes. Now they've been in the system a year and they're concentrating on improving.

"Another thing that has been so positive is the way some of the young ones have come along, like the way Cedric Fields has come along as fast as he has. He's so much stronger. Last year he couldn't even make it through practice. This year he's at the front of every line. He's no longer a second-teamer. He's our Sixth Man now. Yes, I'd say he's a major surprise as you think of such things. We always knew he had potential. We just didn't know he would come so far so fast."

IN DISCUSSING THE offensive line depth situation, Steele points to five players who can be pivotal in their development: left guard Derrick Pearcy (6-3, 321 as of last week), right tackle Chad Crady (6-4, 279), center Eric South (6-4, 271, which means he has gained 35 pounds of muscle), center Everett Fraser (6-5, 300), and Armstrong.

"For those guys and their place in the two-deep, this is a very, very key time for them, all the way to the Minnesota game. I feel they will either hit a ceiling or blossom." He notes each of them now is going through two-a-days for the third time. So it's time. Another big (and talented) lineman, redshirt freshman Derek Long (6-5, 322), is very much in the mix as well, but this is only his second season.

The point is that Baylor, for the first time in ages, this season may actually have an offensive line worth singing about, and that has to be good news for the quarterbacks, the running backs, the offense as a whole, and the defense. If the Bears figure to be weaker at a single position up front, you name it -- I can't.

And that applies also to tight end. Junior Andrew Obriotti (6-3, 231) is listed as the starter there in the latest two-deep alignment, but my guess is that Anthony Dozier (6-4, 252, a junior who redshirted last season after transferring from Louisiana-Lafayette) and redshirt freshman Shane Williams (6-3, 259) are the tight ends with the brighter futures. We'll see.

Incidentally, because of the loss of Derek Lagway at fullback, the Bears are left with junior Melvin Barnett (6-0, 254) and little-used soph Jimmy Dalton (6-2, 264) to handle the chores at that position. So in case of an emergency, brought on by injuries or whatever, don't be surprised to see one of those tight ends -- probably Shane Williams -- drawing some fullback assignments.

"The offensive line is the key for our offense," said Steele last week. "Last year we could have put Tommy Frazier and Barry Sanders behind those young ones and they wouldn't have looked like Tommy Frazier and Barry Sanders. The biggest thing is these guys have grown up. And we're asking them to do things they can do and we're learning what they can't do."

THERE HAS BEEN little change in the Bruin backfield picture from what it was last spring other than the loss of Lagway. The tailback alignment still features senior Darrell Bush, soph Chedrick Ricks and senior Elijah Burkins in that order, and Greg Cicero is still "the man" at quarterback.

But redshirt freshman Guy Tomcheck (6-3, 225) has moved ahead of junior Mike Odum (6-2, 239) at quarterback -- the coaches weren't at all happy that Odum came in about 15 pounds heavier than they asked him to be -- and it's just a matter of time until true freshman Jonathon Golden (6-0, 205) starts making waves at tailback.

"Golden is already proving why we recruited him so hard," said Steele. "He hits a hole extremely fast."

When the offense wants to move to a one-back set, Golden now appears to be the best bet to handle the role that was once reserved for Lagway.

Steele says this concerning Cicero: "He's a very special young man. He has an advantage in that he's been around Big 12 games and Big 12 meetings (at Texas, before transferring to a California junior college) before, he knows what's required. He's very, very cerebral, and a great leader. When he steps into that huddle, you actually see the other guys' eyes change."

Although true freshman Aaron Karas (6-1, 191) had a great game in a losing cause (his team was beaten in the final seconds by a long field g oal) in the Texas-California summer all-star game, he remains a strong candidate to redshirt (which he wants). But the surprise where the freshman quarterbacks are concerned is that unheralded Kerry Dixon (6-1, 174, from Houston Washington) has looked so good.

"We signed Kerry expecting to move him to a wideout or defensive back," said Steele. "Let me just say this, he won't be moved. He's staying at quarterback. He's very accurate in his passing, he has a strong arm and excellent mobility. He's quick as a cat."

While the Bears lost only Mark Cogdill from their wide receiver corps, Steele insists they will need at least one or two of their three wide receiver recruits to step up and contribute this season. He said last week he regards Marques Roberts (6-1, 212) as "a big power receiver," John Martin (5-11, 180) to be "the Steve Largent type," and Robert Quiroga (6-2, 194) as "a tall guy who is very fast and can run very fast."

Martin spent the summer in Waco working out with Cicero, and the quarterback is said to have become a big fan of the young man from Oklahoma. And Steele notes that "we graded our freshman in four tests (example: vertical leap) and he finished in the top four in three of them." As for Quiroga, he reported late -- with Steele's permission -- because he wanted to run with his high school relay team in a big event in Florida. He did run and the team did finish first in the national competition, and Quiroga ran the anchor leg. "I decided I'd rather have a fast guy who reported a couple of days later than a slow guy who reported on time," explained Steele.

DEFENSIVELY, THE BRUINS still need depth at linebacker, they're getting better up front, and the new defensive backs figure to strengthen an area that already boasted a certain degree of quality. They are missing are couple of youngsters who double-signed (with Baylor and Trinity Valley Community College) last February -- linebacker Robert Forney and defensive lineman David Denby, both from Lufkin. Having failed to qualify academically, both now will go the junior college route. That development means Steele could have an additional pair of scholarships to use in the December signing period.

The coach still likes everything he sees of Kris Micheaux, the Bears' linebacker in the middle. "Micheaux can be a GREAT linebacker, and I've been around great linebackers," Steele said.

Redshirt freshman Anthony Simmons (5-11, 207), rapid and aggressive, continues to play much larger than his size, and the coaches have to wonder if anyone has a faster linebacker than redshirt freshman Derrick Cash (5-11, 205). But obviously both of them lack big-game experience. Simmons starts at weakside linebacker and Cash battles senior McKinley Bowie (6-1, 237) for starting rights on the strongside, and if the Bears have injury problems at either position, Simmons and Cash will be prepared to make a move to ease the problem.

Still, the depth is alarming. "We just don't have the numbers," said Steele. Best bet for long-term help at middle linebacker: true freshman Michael Tolbert (6-0, 236), who displays talent and willingness. "He's kind of a Micheaux clone," Steele told the INSIDER. "He may be able to put some pressure on Kelvin Chaisson for the No. 2 spot.

Steele also will mull the advisability of moving defensive end Billy Crawford (6-1, 211, true freshman from Post) to a linebacker spot. Crawford played so well he was named Defensive MVP in the annual Texas North-South All-Star Game.

CRAWFORD WAS CREDITED with four tackles, including two for losses, in that game. Posting even better statistics in that game was another Baylor recruit, Mart all-stater John Garrett (6-1, 219, 4.6 speed), who finished with eight tackles (one for a loss) and also came up with an interception.

Kevin Steele, who couldn't watch the game at Rice Stadium because of an NCAA rule, said he watched every play on television. "I think either Crawford or Garrett could have been named the Defensive MVP," he said. "Garrett doesn't say a whole lot on the field, he just plays. But he shows a disposition, a maturity, that is really unusual for a freshman."

Garrett is going to play this year, believe it, but only if he finally receives the okay from the NCAA Clearing House, which he still awaits. Steele said last week he remains optimistic (crossing his fingers). Garrett is ticketed for a role at strong safety if and when -- but obviously he also could help with his size and speed at an outside linebacker post. But if he doesn't get clearance he will be designated as a "partial qualifier" and be forced to redshirt although he will be able to make all the workouts.

THE SECONDARY, unlike linebacker, does have numbers -- seniors Gary Baxter, Daniel Wilturner and Allen Pace and redshirt freshman (but highly regarded) Eric Giddens at the corners, and juniors Samir Al-Amin and Kyle Staudt, senior Odell James and redshirt freshman Matt Amendola, plus Garrett, at the safety positions -- but Steele nonetheless anticipates contributions from several of those good-looking true freshman.

"We've got a pretty good group of defensive backs," said the coach, "but we need to find about 10 or 12 in all who can compete in nickel and dime situations."

All of the freshmen -- Garrett, Bobby Hart and Danielle McLean from Waco High, Marcus Stenix from Big Lake, Jack Wallace from Bellville and Matt Johnson from Pearland -- make his eyes light up, but keep an eye in particular on Johnson. Like Martin (wide receiver), he was in Waco all summer working with the varsity, and like Martin, he left the older Bruins more than a little impressed. Then he knocked 'em dead in the testing of the freshmen.

"These guys love to play the game," said Steele of the young defensive backs. "They're really up-tempo guys. These guys, all six of them, have shown up on special teams. And in the other work, invariably they're making plays." Concerning Johnson: "Cicero and Micheaux went with me to the Big 12 media deal in Kansas City, and on the way up there Cicero told me Matt Johnson is a player. He can Matt can play right now."

But the veterans will set the pace, presumably starting with Baxter, who not only will see heavy-duty action at cornerback but also will be at safety in certain situations. He goes into the season as the No. 1 rated cornerback in college football on NFL scouting charts. "A big-time player," said Steele.

Amendola remains a young marvel specializing in hard hits. "He weighs 194 but he hits you like he weighs 240," said Steele of The Woodlands product who has come from an "unknown" to starting status at free safety in one redshirt season. "He was on nobody's top recruiting list (but was given Baylor's last scholarship in 1999 because Doug Fertsch kept telling the coaches how good he was) but I'll guarantee you could play for a top program," said Steele. In Baylor's final spring game, Amendola was credited with 14 tackles.

Running behind him is Odell James, tooling up for his final season but his first as a defensive back, and that position shift is at his own request. Odell became a married man this summer, and his bride told the INSIDER: "Odell's down to 221 pounds. Those other guys worked out once a day this summer but Odell was out there doing two-a-days."

Said Steele: "If anyone in this program deserves success, have ever deserved success, Odell James deserves success."

THE DEFENSIVE LINE is largely unchanged from the spring rankings although second or third-team sophomore defensive end Derrel Simmons has left the team to enroll at McLennan Community College and former tight end Brandon Thompson (senior, 6-2 and now up to 298) has moved to defensive tackle. However, a neck injury this past Saturday left Thompson's immediate availability in some doubt.

The word Sunday afternoon from Baylor was that Thompson has sustained a minor neck injury. "He was evaluated throughout the night at Hillcrest Hospital and will continue to be evaluated while he recovers," said Bruin spokesman Scott Stricklin. "As Kevin (Steele) said, right now Brandon's welfare is a lot more important to us than his playing time. We're just thankful it was a minor injury."

Before the injury, Steele said this of Thompson: "In several (weight) lifts Brandon is the strongest man on the team, so we asked him to move to defensive tackle. He gives us a little extra where power and strength are involved." And then late last week he told the INSIDER: "Brandon has shown a toughness, and he's so tremendously strong. And he's shown some flashes at his new position from time to time."

The top three defensive ends -- and they will handle most of the chores at those two positions at least in the early going -- are soph Charles Mann (6-4, 251) and senior Eric Clay (6-1, 240) on the left side, and redshirt freshman Aaron Lard (6-1, 256) on the right.

"Mann is so much bigger and stronger now (compared to last year), it's almost like he's twice as big. He gets better every day," said Steele. "On Clay (moved from linebacker), it's almost like he's flipped a switch, he's taken to that position so well. And if we have a warrior around here, Lard is our warrior. He has that mentality."

But it will help if two redshirt freshmen, Joe Simmons (6-4, 233) and Josh Samples (6-6, 239), can make rapid progress. "Samples is the guy who can really rush a passer," Steele points out.

The tackles are in strong hands where the starters are concerned. Junior Ryan Gillenwater (6-0, 281) just gets better and better at nose tackle, and sophomore Kevin Stevenson (6-2, 284) is considered a future star at the other tackle post. Both bring experience to the position.

"Gillenwater is the guy who has really stepped up his game," said Steele. "I mean, wow, he looks like a different guy. On the field he's been a little disruptive if you know what I mean. He lifted 800 pounds in the squat this summer (up from 675 last year) and not many people can do that, I mean even in the NFL. It's just a gift for him. He's extremely powerful in his hips.

Does Gillenwater remind him of anyone in his play that he's been associated with? Steele thought a moment and then replied: "He's kind of like the Peter boys at Nebraska, like Christian Peter who is now with the (N.Y.) Giants. And he's practiced that way."

And that, if he can maintain that pace, is super news for Baylor fans.

Meanwhile, they continue to look to junior Demetrio Phillips, Eric Sims and an improved Travis Hicks (soph, 6-3, 302) for depth.

WHAT IMPACT HAS juco All-America transfer Adam Stiles (6-4, 207) had on the kicking game?

"Stiles has a very, very, very strong leg," replied Steele. "He's exemplified in his punting that he has a very strong leg. There are a few things mechanically in his kicking that he needs to work on. But he's created an intense competitive atmosphere out there. It's a positive thing. And it's pretty intense."

All of which means kicker Daniel Andino, a sophomore, and punter Ryan Chapdelaine, a junior, are also having to step up.

"There were some very positive things that happened internally that couldn't be seen by people on the outside, but they will help us this year," Steele told a Houston media gathering several weeks ago. "We've matured as a team. But at the same time we have to prove it between the lines. It's going to happen. Exactly when remains to be seen.

"We have to get production. When you get production, you get confidence. When you get confidence, you start winning. And when you start winning, you build momentum."

And in summing up, "We have to become a football team that knows success with no limitations. At some point in time we have to learn how to win, and then we're going to have to follow it up until it becomes a habit."

Editor's Note: Articles such as this one by Dave Campbell appear in each edition of the Baylor Bear Insider Report, available upon membership in the Baylor Bear Foundation. For information on joining the Bear Foundation, click here.