TSU offense hasn't hit high gear yet

By Mike Organ, Staff Writer, The Tennesseean

Fred Kaiss won't defend Tennessee State's offense.

The Tigers' offensive coordinator says the players and Big Blue fans who were proud of the unit's performance last season should take note of how much more improvement is needed.

Also keep in mind that several key players won't be back when TSU hits the practice field for the first time today at 6 p.m.

"Everybody is telling us how good we were last year, but I didn't think we were really that good," Kaiss said. "We made strides, but we've got a long way to go. And we lost three offensive linemen who started for us and a whole bunch of wideouts who started. It's still going to be a period of newness."

In Kaiss' first season, TSU was able to jump from the bottom of the heap to third in the Ohio Valley Conference in total offense (332 yards per game).

And while Kaiss is reluctant to dish out too much praise, he does admit that last year's revamping of the unit coincided with the installation of a new quarterback in transfer Antonio Heffner, thus limiting what the offense was capable of doing.

Kaiss lost Damian Pitts, Raushaun Rowser and Sadrack St. Louis on the line but will welcome back senior tackle Avern Alexander after he missed most of last season because of an ankle injury.

Now he gets it

Heffner, who transferred from South Carolina, is back with a better understanding of the scheme. Kaiss hopes that rubs off on the rest of the unit's players before the Tigers open Sept. 1 against Alabama A&M.

"They know the offense better, but they don't know it good enough yet," Kaiss said. "They need more repetitions at learning it, which will bring about more confidence in themselves. Confidence was a problem at times last year, but we saw improvement in that area in the spring."

A shoulder injury sidelined Heffner for two games last season. That prevented him from getting a better grasp of the scheme. But the Preseason All-OVC pick finally found a comfort zone in the spring.

"It all came together for me in the spring and really started to click," Heffner said.

Help from his friends

Heffner showed his physical skills last year with 1,668 yards and nine touchdowns passing, and 172 yards and five TDs rushing. Now Coach James Webster wants Heffner to lead the offense mentally.

"I'm really excited about Antonio," Webster said. "He was just a sophomore last year. The thing that we need to teach Antonio is that he doesn't need to win the football game by himself. He has the skills and talent that makes him sometimes want to press a little bit. He has to realize that's not necessary. We've got other good football players on the offense who he can rely on."