Tigers as Stubborn as Ever
As college rivalries go, Memphis has held plenty of acrimony, hostility, and aggression towards the Louisville Cardinals through the years. Even as UofL left for the Big East in 2005, their former conference mates did all they could do to block the Cards’ departure and then to dictate the fine print of that agreement as it pertained to future C-USA opponents. The rivalry renews this week, with the Cards headed back to the Liberty Bowl no less to face a program and fan base ready to unleash 36 months of pent-up anger. It should come as little surprise, then, that your favorite reconnaissance reporter met his first true road block in sneaking behind enemy lines. A veritable steel curtain around the city of Memphis has this week’s fact-finding mission in full rogue mode. We try to get to know the Tigers in a special espionage edition of Behind Enemy Lines.
Memphis Tigers (3-3, 1-2 C-USA)
Head Coach: Tommy West (44-47 record at UM, 79-82 overall)
2007 Record: 7-6, 6-2 Conference USA (New Orleans Bowl)
Returning Stat Leaders: RB T.J. Pitts (481 yards, 1 TD – INJURED), QB Will Hudgens (587 yards, 7 total TD – BENCHED), WR Duke Calhoun (890 yards, 5 TD), WR Carlos Singleton (767 yards, 11 TD), S Brandon Patterson (77 tackles, 3 INT), DT Clinton McDonald (4 sacks)
Other Key Returnees: DT Freddie Barnett, C Philip Beliles, WR Steven Black, LB Winston Bowens, OT Brandon Pearce, LG Dominik Riley, TE Brett Russell, CB Alton Starr, DE Greg Terrell, LB Josh Weaver, WR Earnest Williams
Key Losses: RB Joseph Doss, CB LaKeitharun Ford, QB Martin Hankins, OT Abraham Holloway, LB Jake Kasser, S Dontae Reed, RG Andy Smith
What WE’RE Saying
Coming in to the 2008 season, the Memphis Tigers already had plenty of rebuilding on their hands with the loss of the quietly productive QB Martin Hankins and work-horse RB Joseph Doss. The duo were key components in Memphis’ impressive 6-2 run through a very talented Conference USA (see: NFL rookies Matt Forte, Kevin Smith, Chris Johnson), offsetting their 1-3 start out of conference to earn a bid to the New Orleans Bowl. But the long-lasting effects of a broken ankle suffered by RB T.J. Pitts in that bowl game and the emergence of JUCO transfer QB Arkelon Hall (while QB Will Hudgens was busy playing rookie league baseball in Montana) made much of their skill arsenal even younger and greener coming out of summer practice.
The transition to D-I football for Hall and his fellow JUCO transfer, RB Curtis Steele, meant an 0-3 start for the Tigers and another deep hole to climb out from if they hope to earn a 5th bowl bid in the past six seasons. Three straight wins suggest that the Tigers have turned the corner, but Friday’s matchup with the Cards will be their sternest test since a season-opening loss to Ole Miss.
“Losing to Ole Miss wasn’t too much of a shock,” says one insider on condition of anonymity. “Hall was making his first start - on the road against a Southeastern Conference team — and he made some mistakes. Against Rice the Tigers squandered a 15-point lead in the final eight minutes with Hall, again, making a first-year QB mistake in the final seconds that led to a game-winning interception return. And against Marshall, the defense — outside of two busts on the opening series — played good enough for the Tigers to win, but the offense had difficulty running the ball.”
All of those problems seem to have disappeared during the Tigers’ current 3-game winning streak. Memphis’ stable of backs have averaged 237 yards per game on the ground and racked up 6 touchdowns while Hall has thrown for 627 yards and 5 TD’s with just one interception.
“Hall has a lot of weapons,” says our insider. “He has a quick release, which is his strength, but sometimes throws into coverage instead of throwing it away. Hall, however, is getting better each week. He is not what one would call a dual-threat, but he is strong enough to pick up tough yards inside.”
Those weapons are among Conference USA’s best, particularly at wide receiver. In Duke Calhoun (6’4”, 200) and Carlos Singleton (6’8”, 220), Hall has a pair of All-CUSA performers who project to the next level and are a nightmare for opposing coaches and DB’s. Singleton has already gone over 500 yards receiving on the season – including two 100 yard games – while Calhoun has been steady in amassing 285 yards and a score.
Says our insider, “Carlos Singleton is a player who has gradually become one of Conference USA’s most-feared receivers in the red zone. Duke Calhoun, the team’s top receiver the past two years, is a deep threat. Steven Black (125 yards, 1 TD), who Louisville fans may remember as a one-time Cardinals recruit, is a dependable, possession-type receiver. Maurice Jones (361 yards, 3 TD’s), a senior, may be the best in the bunch. He can go deep or take a short toss to the flat and get plenty of yards after the catch.”
Perhaps the biggest surprise, however, is WR Earnest Williams. The oft-forgotten senior in Memphis’ talented line of ball-catchers, Williams has been overlooked by opponents to the tune of five touchdown catches already this year. His two TD grabs last week against UAB were the difference in an exciting 33-30 win for the Tigers.
“He always makes plays for us,” head coach Tommy West told the Memphis Commercial-Appeal. “I always tell our guys if you want to call yourself a big-time player, then you’ve got to make big-time plays. He makes big-time plays.”
Lining up behind Hall in the backfield, Curtis Steele has emerged as the top back in his battle with Charlie Jones – especially after the Tigers lost Jones to a high ankle sprain last week. The JUCO transfer has rushed for over 100 yards in each of Memphis’ last three games (all wins), highlighted by his 203-yard, one-touchdown performance against Arkansas State. Jones is probable to return with his team-high six touchdowns this week to face the Cardinals, but it will likely be Steele who does the heavy lifting between the 20’s with Jones punching in short-yardage scores.
“Curtis Steele has emerged as the best back the school has had since DeAngelo Williams departed,” boasts the UM insider. “Steele is in his first year playing after transferring from junior college two years ago. While Steele has some speed and quickness, Charlie Jones, a University of Miami transfer, is a stronger, more physical, inside runner.”
Defensively the Tigers continue to search for balance between an aggressive ball hawking front four and giving up too many big plays as a result of their risky behavior. Memphis is among the nation’s leaders in sacks (2.33/game, 17th nationally), forced fumbles (1.16/game, 18th), and tackles for loss (33.0, 32nd). It’s an approach that West has been willing to live with thus far.
“The best coverage is a rush,” West told the Commercial-Appeal. “As simple as that sounds, that’s what I believe. If you’ll put a little pressure on that quarterback … you may not get there, but make him throw it, make him know you’re there. That weighs on those guys.”
Embodying that motto is DT Clinton McDonald, UofM’s top QB hunter last year and the nation’s leader this season with seven sacks. The senior has been a terror behind the line of scrimmage in Memphis’ last two games, picking up a pair of sacks against UAB after a school-record four QB takedowns against Arkansas State. His 7.5 tackles for loss are also a team best.
“Clint has had a lot to do with it because he has been relentless rushing the passer,” says West. “We’ve got to get some others to join him.”
When the Tigers give up positive plays, however, they do so in a big way. Memphis’ opponents are racking up just under 374 yards per game and scoring better than 26 points a game, both of which rank their defense in the bottom third of all I-A programs. The linebackers are getting picked on most, in fact, with the first line of run defense being eaten up for 170.5 yards each time out (87th nationally). Opposing backs have broken off runs of at least 30 yards in half their games to-date and Memphis has allowed a pass play of at least 40 yards in all but one contest.
It’s a reality that hasn’t gone completely unnoticed by West as his team welcomes Louisville to town.
“We have our work cut out for us,” says West. “I told our guys (Sunday) that we are going to have to take a step up in this game. We aren’t going to be able to miss tackles like we have done previously and we can’t take a quarter-and-a-half to get going offensively. We are going to have to be ready to go from the beginning. We are going to have to play like men.”
More from Memphis
* Good news for Cardinal fans this week as Memphis enters this game with plenty of their own problems in the kicking game. Their punt and kick return ventures have left a lot to be desired, both ranking outside the Top 75 nationally. No Tiger return specialist is averaging even 20 yards/attempt in either category, with reserve DB Michael Grandberry leading all return men with 19.0 yards per kickoff return.
* Freshman K Vinny Zaccario has taken over for the inconsistent Matt Reagan in the past two games, nailing all five of his attempts (including the game winner against UAB) after Reagan went just 5-of-7 and had a field goal attempt blocked and returned for a touchdown against Nicholls State. Zaccario has not attempted a field goal outside of 40 yards yet this season.
* LB Greg Jackson returned to the team last weekend against UAB after sitting out a three-game suspension for an undisclosed violation of team policy. The junior had started at outside linebacker against Ole Miss and Rice and tallied 9 tackles before missing the next three contests.
* The Tigers have forced just three interceptions so far on the season, ranking them 94th in the country.
* For a full transcript of Coach Tommy West’s Preview on the Cards, check out UofM’s Official Athletic Website.
Writer’s Note: Our “insider” this week is actually Commercial-Appeal columnist Phil Stukenborg. We appreciate his time and insight to the Tigers. As for the rest of the Memphis writers we contacted without a response, please click play below.
