Central Arkansas Sugar Bears (yes, that is correct) Preview

I have a feeling this will be the shortest preview piece since I have no previous knowledge of this team, who is actually most known for its hideous purple and grey striped home football field that makes Boise State’s seem tame.

§  Seven FCS teams upset FBS teams last week, including Eastern Washington who knocked off Pac12 brethren Oregon St. (who the Buffs will face for the first time-ever?-on Sept. 28 in Corvallis).  UCA is also ranked #5 in the FCS poll.  Need I really mention Montana St. or Sacramento St.?  I thought not, but I did anyway.  The only other FCS opponent CU has faced was a win, but one that only came on a last second pick six by Cha’pelle Brown so CU is 1-2, almost was 0-3, against “lower” division teams. Basically, even though CU is a 10-point favorite, this game is no gimme.  But I expect Coach MacIntyre and his staff to make sure the players know it (maybe a little hint at the Sac St. game?) and the Buffs will come out prepared.

§  UCA coach Clint Conque is 99-46 and is building quite a formidable program there, dominating the Southland conference, with a fast-paced offense and lots of conference award winning players.  His squad is loaded with seniors and includes 12 transfers from FBS schools. They have had a few extra days to prepare (while the Buffs have one less and are coming off emotional win), and really all of summer and fall as they played the University of Incarnate Word Cardinals (yes, that is accurate as well) last week and rolled to a 56-7 win, i.e. a bye week scrimmage. They will most certainly have a few tricks up their sleeves.

§  His main strategy for the altitude this weekend is to hydrate early and often, starting early in the week ~“to get and keep more oxygen in the system”.  The team arrived Thursday morning, hoping to be acclimated by Saturday night.  Most of these players have probably never been at over 5000 feet, let alone played at this altitude, and it could have quite an effect both early and late in the game (although some played at Montana a few years back).  The up tempo CU offense will likely be in full force from the get go, and we’ll see if UCA can keep their no huddle offense moving or have to slow it down.

§  Line: It used to be that there were not lines on games with FBS vs. FCS, and a lot of sites don’t bother, but the Buffs are being listed a 10-16 point favorite, although that is mostly to get some action on Cent. Ark.  I hope the players don’t see or hear about the spread.

§  Connections: Former safety Greg Thomas, of 2INT in the national championship win fame,  is torn this weekend as his son, redshirt freshman LB Kamane Thomas, attends Cent. Ark.  He will try and stay neutral, wants his “son and his teammates to do well” but he is a “Buff at heart”. There will be a lot of family on hand, but the younger Thomas has been dealing with a nagging hamstring and may only play a limited amount, if at all. The elder Thomas also said CU must take this game seriously and not take the Sugar Bears for granted.

§  Game Captains: I am not sure who the first four were nor who will go out for coin toss this week.

§  Sledgehammer: MacIntyre is instituting a new tradition, and will reward  the player with the biggest legal hit from the week before (nominated by coaching staff  and voted on by the team) with the Sledgehammer to carry around during the week and run onto the field with it the next week.  The inaugural recipient of the weekly award was Parker Orms for his hit in the endzone to finish a play that held csu to a field goal late in the 4^th and sent TE Cartwright into a full aerial cartwheel.  Runner up (and my choice) was likely frosh LB Addison Gillam’s 4^th down de-cleater of lamb RB Kibbs.

§  They will also carry out a tool box out onto the field each game, filled with each player’s individual goal that week/game, which were shared with the whole team Thursday night.

§  Depth Chart moves: There were no surprises last week except that Sr. Terrel Smith would undergo shoulder surgery and redshirt.  Lowell Williams, who had always been at LB, was playing in the DE rotation in the second half.

§  Not sure if it’s even worth mentioning but QB Jordan Webb is back practicing as he recovers from his knee surgery.  He will face a one-game suspension for his involvement in the summer beatdown with nebraska wannabe alex lewis.  Then, he will compete for the backup job and/or work the scout team (better option). I still think he should have been shown the door just for hanging out with that traitor.

§  Injuries: Paul Vigo should play more after his stinger leading up to the game.  I guess Chidera is fine from his stinger in the game.  WR Tyler McCulloch is questionable and has been wearing a boot on his foot and RB Christian Powell is probable and said he is good to go with a thigh bruise. I don’t think Yuri Wright played last week and is again listed as probable with concussion.

§  UCA has four players suspended for the game, including a starting offensive lineman.

§  Burn the Redshirt: Six players burned their redshirts last week (Gilliam, Awuzie, Gilbert, Severson, Olugbode, Thompson) and I would expect at least one or two more to catch flame this week.  The prime candidates many want to see are WRs Devin Ross, who sounds just too good to keep off the field, and Jeff Thomas, who was suspended this past week; MacIntyre said both could play, he’s confident in them, but it will depend on the “flow of the game.”  Since the run game was so inconsistent it might be time to give Michael Adkins a shot at tailback, if not George Frazier at fullback.

When the Buffs have the ball:

§  It looks like the Buffs will be a solid passing team, at least as long as P-Rich is on the field.  I doubt UCA has anyone that can stay with him and if they double him, he feels he is very good at decoying, many others could capitalize.   They will get Jeff Thomas back from suspension and possibly true frosh Devin Ross might enter the fray.

§  Also, the TEs Kyle Slavin and Scott Fernandez quietly had very effective games, both catching a few balls and doing some decent blocking against csu.

§  The offensive line was stellar in the pass game, giving Wood lots of time to find space, but they were not as adept at opening up holes for the running backs, although they were often facing 8 and 9 defenders near the line of scrimmage.  The longest run against csu was by a receiver, a 31-yard end around by DD Goodson. Hopefully, the run game can get on track, because that will make the passing game even more dangerous.

§  UCA’s best defenders are DE Jonathon Woodward , LB Justin Heard (100 tackles last year) and S Jestin Love, who I would guess will be shadowing P-Rich and assisting corners Josh Jones and Marcus Peters as they attempt to contain Connor Wood’s crew.

§  It will be interesting to see how UCA will approach defending CU: will they focus on the passing game after last week’s performance? If not, the big three, and maybe others should have big days again. And if they do drop more into coverage, can the o-line and RBs capitalize and dominate with the run game?  That would certainly be ideal.  Colorado’s offense actually features a decent number of players to worry about and I doubt Central Arkansas can keep with them for four quarters, at altitude, in a night game at Folsom.

When the Sugar Bears (I keep visualizing the little cereal bear) have the ball:

§  UCA has a speedy, mobile QB-Wynrick Smothers (best name yet) who can also sling the ball and and run around.  He is experienced in the spread offense and runs a very up tempo style, so we should have a very fast-paced game.

§  He has experienced receivers led by WRs Dezmin Lewis and true frosh Javarious Wilson plus TE Chase Dixon.  The RBs are Willie Matthews and Blake Veasley.

§  The CU secondary was a pleasant surprise last game, but they will be continually tested against most everyone they play, starting right here.  Henderson, Crawley and true frosh Awuzie provide a very strong trio of cornerbacks and the safety combos of Parker Orms, Jered Bell and Marques Mosley might just be enough, for this week anyway.  If a ball touches their hands, whoever it is from this group needs to hang on and get the interception monkey off their backs.  Great article in the Camera on Chido, who will get a lot of field time (maybe even the start?) as UCA employs a lot of four-receiver sets: http://www.buffzone.com/cu-news/ci_24027654/football-cu-buffs-awuzie-finds-his-niche-at

§  The other true frosh, Addison Gilliam, not senior Derrick Webb, was the center of the defense but he will not sneak up on anybody now.  Chidera was shaking off a stinger when he made the timely strip of the ball for Greg Henderson to scoop and run and the D needs to make a few plays like this, though preferably earlier in the game.

§  Overall, the defensive line and front seven were pretty solid last week and will get a minor boost in the form of versatile Samson Kafovalu, who also returns from a one-game suspension.  He was listed 3^rd string DT but that could change now that he is fully active; he can play outside as well.

§  They biggest key will be in containing Smothers (had to ignore obvious puns) and not let him scramble to make plays, either running or finding a receiver late in the play. If they do that, there will not be a lot to worry about (except maybe see next section below), but if they let him run around, he can definitely make some plays and make the game interesting.

§  If it is close, watch the Sugar Bear offensive line start to give way in the 4^th quarter to Jeffcoat’s deep rotation on the d-line.

Special Teams:

§  Punter-O’Neill-check; field goal kicker-Oliver-check; long- snapper-Iverson-check; holder-O’Neill again-check; kickoff “specialist”-check (but unfortunately Diego Gonzalez is sitting out from Mexico and Justin Castor is injured and out for the year so we’ll have to go with) Oliver, who tired late in the game and couldn’t keep it deep in the endzone; punt return-Spruce-check; kickoff return-Mosley-check; coverage teams: ABORT! ABORT! REBOOT! RESTART! 

§  There were some serious breakdowns here that almost cost them the game-it’s just not a good thing when your kicker is your leading special teams play, based on tackles.  Toby Neinas stayed up late Sunday night, not celebrating his birthday, but reviewing game film and preparing the game plan, with all the other coaches, and I am sure they all watched and chimed in on the special teams issues.  A large chunk of this shortened week was dedicated to covering punts and kicks, staying in your lanes, and tackling.  MacIntyre also said they have moved some guys around, added a couple of others (read: veterans).

§  And they had better because it sounds like UCA has a solid return game led by the electric freshman Jatavious Wilson, who has already taken one to the house, albeit against Incarnate Word.  Be rest assured Conque and his coaches were also studying CU punt and kickoff film closely as well.

Overall,

§  The Buffs should win this game, P-Rich should be the difference himself, but I can’t take anything for granted anymore. However, I will pick the Buffs to win 38-24.

§  You probably want a little more:

§  Stuart’s TIPS: http://www.cuatthegame.com/2013/central-arkansas-preview/

§  Ralphie Report’s Review/Preview: http://www.ralphiereport.com/colorado-buffaloes-football/2013/9/4/4692174/looking-back-and-looking-forward

§  Plati’s CU Game Notes: http://www.cubuffs.com/fls/600/gameday/uca13/cunotes.pdf?DB_OEM_ID=600

§  There are no Central Arkansas Game Notes and it is hard to find info on the Sugar Bears because more of the cereal and some “reality” show dad come up than the university, but here’s their website with some links to articles somewhere: http://ucasports.com/index.aspx?path=football