More production on offense sought
The third in a series previewing Arkansas teams that are members of the Great American Conference.
There’s no disputing which side of the ball Arkansas Tech needs to improve on most from last season.
The Wonder Boys were fourth in scoring defense in the Great American Conference a year ago, allowing 20.5 points a game.
It was on offense where the Wonder Boys struggled, scoring 14.6 points a game on their way to a 3- 8 record, 3- 7 in the GAC. Third- year coach Raymond Monica is hoping the additions of offensive coordinator Brent Dearmon an d transfer quarterback Arsenio Favor can help cure the team’s 2014 offensive woes.
“Brent has done a nice job with the offense to this point,” Monica said of Dearmon, who spent the past two seasons on Gus Malzahn’s staff at Auburn as a running
back analyst and then a wide receiver analyst. “I feel we’re very much improved on that side of the ball. It’s been a big difference from last year. We still need to go out there, play the game and see what we look like.”
Favor, 6- 2, 232, provides a dual threat at quarterback, Monica said, despite two major knee surgeries at his previous stops, Southern Miss and Alabama State.
“We’re looking forward to seeing what he looks like in a game atmosphere,” Monica said.
Monica said the running game will be handled in a committee- type system. The Wonder Boys averaged a league- low 63.8 yards rushing in 2014.
“At tailback, we’re going try a few guys back there,” Monica said. “Everyone’s a little bit different.”
Monica said fullback- tight end Chris Eastburn, 6- 0, 200, a redshirt freshman from from Lake Hamilton, has done a good job blocking
and catching the ball out of the backfield.
Junior Jabyes Cross leads the way at wide receiver. Cross played two games last year before being injured and is still trying to get himself to 100 percent this year. He returned a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown in the season opener against Northwestern Oklahoma.
“If he hadn’t gotten hurt he probably would have been our offensive MVP last year,” Monica said.
Monica has credited senior Michael Fine 6- 5, 200, with having a stellar fall camp as well as sophomore Michael Perry, 5- 10, 165, who was an honorable mention All- GAC selection last year.
Leading the way on the offensive line for the Wonder Boys is Louisiana- Monroe transfer Trey Martin, 6- 2, 275 who earned all- state honors his last two seasons playing at Lake Hamilton. He was also an all- state performer in track and field for the Wolves.
“I think last year offensively we weren’t very good and that hurt us,” Monica said. “We’ve had a very good camp. The thing that stood out from our first scrimmage offensively was we did some very nice things. Tuesday night, defense did a very good job.”
All- GAC performers Wesley McKinney, Shai Kobayashi, A. J. Harris and Justin Martin have moved on after leading the Tech defense a year ago. The Wonder Boys also lost defensive lineman Zemaric Holt, who died this past summer after an accident at Long Pool Recreation Area near Dover.
Monica said the defensive line is another place this season that will be handled on a by- committee basis.
Tech is in good shape at linebacker with D2Football. com preseason All- American Logan Genz, 6- 2, 220, leading the way. Genz, a senior from West Fork, needs one tackle to become the school’s alltime leader.
“Logan’s a leader on and off the field,” Monica said “Just a solid guy you know is going to be there each and every day. Absolutely well deserving of preseason honors and everything else that comes his way.”
The play of rover Cua Rose caught Monica’s eye in fall drills, along with improved play at cornerback.
“We’ve got guys that have been in the program for a while now,” Monica said. “I think the defense is going to be the one that steps up through the course of the year.
“To me, quarterback is the position that makes it all work. Teams that were on top of the conference last year all lost very good quarterbacks. I think things are wide open especially playing 11 conference games now. It’s going to be tough for anyone to go through 11 conference games and come out undefeated.”