By Mike Marzelli, Pine Bluff Commercial
Monte Coleman is hoping for plenty of improvement from his defense as he begins his second season as Arkansas-Pine Bluff’s defensive coordinator, but he isn’t looking to make many changes.
Instead, Coleman is looking for growth from a unit that returns 15 contributors from a year ago and could feature just one senior starter when the Golden Lions open their season Sept. 1 at Mississippi Valley State. UAPB’s defense ranked last in the Southwestern Athletic Conference in nearly every category in 2006 but improved down the stretch as it gained experience in its first season under Coleman’s entirely new defensive staff, leaving the former Washington Redskins linebacker and three-time Super Bowl champion feeling good about his group’s potential after two days of preseason camp.
“I think we’re a little ahead of where we were last year and there’s less of a transition because I know the players and they know what’s expected of them after going through last year,” Coleman said. “Last year was a transition for us all and we all know we need to get better. We also know we have a lot of talent and a lot more guys with game experience than we had last year and most of the guys are entering their second year in my system so there should be some big strides taken this year.”
UAPB’s biggest question mark on defense is in the middle, where graduated All-SWAC linebacker Justin Bass has already been missed in camp. Coleman was quick to notice the lasting impression Bass, the team’s leading tackler in each of the past two seasons, made on senior Anton Williams, his replacement at middle linebacker.
“We already miss Bass’ leadership and all that he brings but his work ethic still lingers right over there,” Coleman said, pointing to the grassy area on the far side of old Pumphrey Stadium where the linebackers train. “Anton has been here for four years now and he’s been around Bass all that time. He knows how to play and how to practice from watching Bass and we feel good about his ability to step in and give us what Bass gave us over these last few years.”
Williams is also expected to get help from junior linebacker Tim Turner, who burst onto the scene with 80 tackles last season, his first as a starter.
“We gave Tim the benefit of the doubt last year and thrust him into a starting position and he responded with a great year and produced,” Coleman said. “He’s one of those guys who’s still young but is seasoned with game experience and we expect big things from.
“Those are the types of guys whose natural progression in our system will help make us better; Guys like Tim and Anton [Williams] who have gained experience kind of being on the fringe and are now going to be counted on to step up.”
Coleman sees the same type of potential at safety, where juniors John Keith, Steward Franks and Kevin Thornton combine to form a talented, young nucleus that will be asked to step into the spotlight and compensate for the loss of graduated mainstays Amp Boone, Kalvin Moore and Aaron Eugene.
“We’re going to miss Amp especially because he was a general on the field out there, but to be honest we expect no less than that from Franks,” Coleman said. “Franks is a guy who tied for the lead in the SWAC with six interceptions and wasn’t a starter. Kevin Thornton was an Arkansas Razorback and now he’s itching to get back on the field after breaking his arm last year. John Keith was a mainstay at strong safety and [weak-side] linebacker last year after not being a starter before.
“These are all guys who did great things for us off to the side or who didn’t have a chance to be the go-to guy but did get that chance to grow on the field and now they’re ready to step in and come up big when we need them.”
Monte Coleman is hoping for plenty of improvement from his defense as he begins his second season as Arkansas-Pine Bluff’s defensive coordinator, but he isn’t looking to make many changes.
Instead, Coleman is looking for growth from a unit that returns 15 contributors from a year ago and could feature just one senior starter when the Golden Lions open their season Sept. 1 at Mississippi Valley State. UAPB’s defense ranked last in the Southwestern Athletic Conference in nearly every category in 2006 but improved down the stretch as it gained experience in its first season under Coleman’s entirely new defensive staff, leaving the former Washington Redskins linebacker and three-time Super Bowl champion feeling good about his group’s potential after two days of preseason camp.
“I think we’re a little ahead of where we were last year and there’s less of a transition because I know the players and they know what’s expected of them after going through last year,” Coleman said. “Last year was a transition for us all and we all know we need to get better. We also know we have a lot of talent and a lot more guys with game experience than we had last year and most of the guys are entering their second year in my system so there should be some big strides taken this year.”
UAPB’s biggest question mark on defense is in the middle, where graduated All-SWAC linebacker Justin Bass has already been missed in camp. Coleman was quick to notice the lasting impression Bass, the team’s leading tackler in each of the past two seasons, made on senior Anton Williams, his replacement at middle linebacker.
“We already miss Bass’ leadership and all that he brings but his work ethic still lingers right over there,” Coleman said, pointing to the grassy area on the far side of old Pumphrey Stadium where the linebackers train. “Anton has been here for four years now and he’s been around Bass all that time. He knows how to play and how to practice from watching Bass and we feel good about his ability to step in and give us what Bass gave us over these last few years.”
Williams is also expected to get help from junior linebacker Tim Turner, who burst onto the scene with 80 tackles last season, his first as a starter.
“We gave Tim the benefit of the doubt last year and thrust him into a starting position and he responded with a great year and produced,” Coleman said. “He’s one of those guys who’s still young but is seasoned with game experience and we expect big things from.
“Those are the types of guys whose natural progression in our system will help make us better; Guys like Tim and Anton [Williams] who have gained experience kind of being on the fringe and are now going to be counted on to step up.”
Coleman sees the same type of potential at safety, where juniors John Keith, Steward Franks and Kevin Thornton combine to form a talented, young nucleus that will be asked to step into the spotlight and compensate for the loss of graduated mainstays Amp Boone, Kalvin Moore and Aaron Eugene.
“We’re going to miss Amp especially because he was a general on the field out there, but to be honest we expect no less than that from Franks,” Coleman said. “Franks is a guy who tied for the lead in the SWAC with six interceptions and wasn’t a starter. Kevin Thornton was an Arkansas Razorback and now he’s itching to get back on the field after breaking his arm last year. John Keith was a mainstay at strong safety and [weak-side] linebacker last year after not being a starter before.
“These are all guys who did great things for us off to the side or who didn’t have a chance to be the go-to guy but did get that chance to grow on the field and now they’re ready to step in and come up big when we need them.”
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