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ASU"s Roberts Optimistic


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http://www.jonesborosun.com/story.asp?ID=10899

ASU'S Roberts finds reasons for optimism

By Kevin Turbeville

Sun staff writer

JONESBORO —

A more reasonable schedule and a more experienced roster have Steve Roberts excited about his fourth season as Arkansas State’s head football coach.

ASU will play five games at Indian Stadium and, for the first time in Roberts’ tenure, will have more Sun Belt Conference games at home than on the road. The schedule didn’t look nearly as friendly a year ago, when the Indians opened with three Top 25 teams while playing seven of their first nine games away from home.

True freshmen, redshirt freshmen and sophomores also made up roughly two-thirds of the 2004 travel roster, as Roberts pointed out when he spoke to the Jonesboro Kiwanis Club on Wednesday.

“I don’t bellyache, cry or make excuses for that because the day I took the job, I knew exactly what it was going to be like last year,” Roberts said, reflecting on a 3-8 season. “There were no misgivings about that. I knew it was going to be a challenge, and we had some bright moments last year.

“I reflect on that from last year to tell you this — I am very, very excited about this year’s football team. We are still a year away from having those juniors and seniors that we need, but I’m very, very excited about what we have coming back.”

When practice starts in early August, ASU will return six defensive starters and four offensive starters from last year’s team. The Indians led Memphis late in the fourth quarter and also dropped close games against Ole Miss and Louisiana-Lafayette.

The offensive backfield returns intact with quarterback Nick Noce, tailback Antonio Warren and fullback Oren O’Neal. All are seniors. Warren was second-team All-Sun Belt last year with 1,036 yards, and Roberts said O’Neal will have “an opportunity to play at the next level” at fullback.

Noce threw for 2,115 yards and 13 touchdowns, but also tossed 16 interceptions in his first year as a starter.

“Nick Noce made tremendous strides throughout the course of the year last year. Everybody knows he started off with a bang and in the third ballgame he set a school record, threw for 418 yards against Memphis, but Nick was still inexperienced,” Roberts said. “He still made some experience-type mistakes. I’m really, really looking forward to seeing him after a year of starting experience under his belt. I think he’s going to have a great year for us.”

ASU lost its top three receivers and top tight end from last year, but Roberts said the Indians will be more talented in those areas. He also said the offensive line, where center Tanner Jenkins is the only returning starter, should be “a tremendous unit” as it comes together.

Defensively, Roberts said the Indians should be especially strong on the line and in the secondary.

“Up front in the defensive line, we will have the best talent and depth that we’ve had since we had Jon Bradley and Corey Williams on the defensive line. I really feel good about that position,” Roberts said. “Jon Najm, who we redshirted last year, will come out and turn a lot of heads at defensive end. I think he’s going to be a tremendous player. Myron Anderson is one of the strongest football players I’ve ever been around. He’s had an unbelievable summer.”

Anderson, a senior, was a starter last season along with junior nose tackle Jamarrow James and sophomore end Brian Flagg, who could still play linebacker in the Indians’ new 4-3 scheme.

Sophomore strong safety Tyrell Johnson had 94 tackles and four interceptions as a redshirt freshman. Roberts said the Indians will have a battle at free safety between sophomore Khayyam Burns, a returning starter, and junior Darren Toney, who was listed as the starter after spring practice.

At cornerback, Roberts said the Indians have three players with the ability to start in senior James Johnson, junior Kelvin Cox and sophomore Montis Harrison, who started last season.

Roberts said newcomers will have to help at linebacker. Junior college transfers Devrett Wade and Eli Ellis (a 2004 redshirt) are on the first unit, and true freshman Ben Owens of Bearden comes in with strong credentials.

The Indians return key performers on special teams, including kicker Eric Neihouse and punter Jarod Little.

“We’re getting better. There is no doubt about that,” Roberts said. “Our redshirt freshmen are now sophomores and that’s a big, big issue for us. I wish that three years ago we could have hid three or four, or five or six of those guys who were juniors and seniors, just hid them in the closet for a couple of years and brought them out now, because we would be really, really good.”

Roberts said the Indians have made progress in all three areas covered by his “I Will” philosophy — academics, personal conduct and preparing to win.

After three seasons, Roberts is 14-22 as the Indians’ head coach. ASU was 3-19 in the two seasons preceding his arrival.

“We’re excited about the progress we’ve made. Many of y’all could sit here today and say, ‘Hey, we have not won enough games in the last three years since you’ve been our football coach,’” Roberts said. “I agree with that wholeheartedly, no doubt in my mind about that. I could also tell you that we’ve won more games the last three years than have been won at Arkansas State since 1987, ‘88 and ‘89.

“That was the last 3-year period that had more wins than what we’ve had the last three years. We’re not where we need to be, but we’re moving in the right direction. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind about that.”

kturbeville@jonesborosun.com

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ASU will play five games at Indian Stadium and, for the first time in Roberts’ tenure, will have more Sun Belt Conference games at home than on the road.

I feel bad for them: how sad is it that it is in the 5th year of the Belt that they finally get that home-field advantage? unsure.gif

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ASU lost its top three receivers and top tight end from last year, but Roberts said the Indians will be more talented in those areas. He also said the offensive line, where center Tanner Jenkins is the only returning starter, should be “a tremendous unit” as it comes together.

What's he gonna say, "Yeah, our OL stinks...and our receiving corps couldn't catch a pass with stickum' sprayed all over..." rolleyes.gif

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What's he gonna say, "Yeah, our OL stinks...and our receiving corps couldn't catch a pass with stickum' sprayed all over..." rolleyes.gif

Actually, he is shooting straight about the OL talent at ASU. This OL is really much more athletic than the recent ones and the receivers as are better receivers and probably better athletes than the ones that graduated.

ASU is not really hurting for talent at any position. It just does not know how to win football games on a regular basis. sad.gif

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