Aug. 26, 2005
BELLINGHAM, Wash. -
JOE SUNNEN, THE BELLINGHAM HERALD
It was sometime in early April during spring practice that the 2005 season started taking shape for the Western Washington University football team.
Junior James Monrean at quarterback, senior Andy Olson at wide receiver, a new linebacker, more speed in the defensive secondary, an experienced offensive line...
Piece by piece. Brick by brick.
Now it's time for the Vikings to find out just how sturdy this team is.
"I think this is the year we're looking to make a name for ourselves," Olson said. "We have a lot of players coming back. We have enough senior leadership. We have high expectations."
The Vikings return six starters on offense and six on defense from a team that last season finished 6-4 overall and, by most accounts, underachieved.
First there was the 52-49 overtime loss to then-winless Western Oregon University. A few weeks later came the 34-27 loss to Humboldt State University, a team the Vikings would beat by 35 points in the season finale.
"I think redemption would be a good word for the way we're thinking about this season," Olson said. "Although we had a winning record last year, I think a lot of people were disappointed with it. A lot of us are looking to make this the year."
Everyone knows the offense is going to be able to score - it averaged 35.4 points per game last year - but just how far the Vikings go this year will largely depend on how the team plays at the line of scrimmage.
On offense, the front five is one of the team's strengths, with five returning letter winners and an All-America candidate in center Loren Winter.
"This is our last year and we want to go out with a bang," said senior offensive tackle Will Freitag. "We're probably one of the tightest units on the field."
Running behind the offensive line are a bevy of talented running backs led by seniors Duncan Sherrard and Jake Carlyle. Each had five rushing touchdowns last season.
"The offensive line is definitely one of our strengths this year," coach Rob Smith said. "We have a lot of experience and we'll be relying on them this season."
The defensive line is just the opposite. With little experience and few impact players, it will need to come together in a hurry for the Vikings to be successful. How fast it can do that and how well the defense plays as a whole, could be the difference between challenging for the Great Northwest Athletic Conference title or finishing second again.
"You want your defense to kind of lead the way," Smith said. "I think everyone is anxious to put our defense out there and see how they do."
The Vikings added speed and depth at linebacker and in the secondary. The hope is that the adjustments will be enough to improve on the 26.1 points per game the team allowed last season.
"This year everyone has the opportunity to fly around and get to the ball," said cornerback Ekene Agwuenu said. "I'm pretty exited to see what we can do."
Senior Craig Keenan leads a talented and deep linebacker corps that will be the strength of the defense. Shane Simmons, a Division I transfer from the University of Idaho, will play at one outside position and Adam Klingenberg starts on the other side.
The secondary is both fast and strong and has a chance to be special group. It's deep at cornerback and talented at safety.
"Right now the strength on defense probably is at linebacker," Smith said. "But two weeks in to the season it might be in the secondary. A week after that it could be the defensive line."
The Vikings are also counting on several players that didn't contribute much last year making an impact this season.
"The nice thing is that we have players from last year's freshmen class that red shirted that are going to contribute this year," Smith said. "Steve Davis at free safety, certainly Logan Cullen at tight end, Jordyn Jackson at running back, to name a few."
Then there's Monrean. The strong-armed quarterback threw five touchdown passes in his only start last season and earned the right to run the first unit almost instantly during the spring. If he plays well WWU could have a great season. If he doesn't, well...
"This is definitely James' offense," Smith said. "He proved that. And we're ready to see what he can do."
Monrean will have the foundation around him, with a good offensive line, solid running backs, and one of the best Division II receivers in the country. He and the rest of the Vikings will just have to take it one brick at a time.
QUESTIONS
The Vikings scored enough points per game last season to have won seven or eight games. The occasionally shaky defense was only good enough for a six-win season. Western's defense is faster and more experienced this season and with six returning starters, they'll be looking to improve.
1. Will the defensive line be good enough to get the job done?
The biggest question mark the Vikings face this season is along the defensive line. Among the starting four, sophomore defensive end Ryan Conwell is the closest thing WWU has to a returning impact player and he had 14 tackles and two sacks last season. Senior Geoff Hise moved over from the offensive line in the spring and earned a spot opposite Conwell at left end. Ryan Lucas and Junior Aumavae are on the inside, but Lucas has been pushed by true freshman Kyle Winkley at nose tackle. The good news is that with the Vikings' linebackers the D-line can be successful by just occupying space and occasionally disrupting a play.
2. Will the linebackers be as good against opponents as they are in practice?
The strength of this defense is at the linebacker position and no one was better last year than Craig Keenan. The senior racked up 85 tackles and 1.5 sacks as a virtual unknown and could improve on those numbers this season. He earned the team's defensive player of the year award and was also a second team all-conference player.
Joining Keenan is University of Idaho transfer Shane Simmons, who played his way into the starting lineup at outside linebacker after making play after play in the preseason. Adam Klingenberg, who ranked third on the team in tackles last year, rounds out the starting three. Adding depth to the position are Tieba Bropleh, a projected starter before Simmons arrived, and Brandon Elliot and James Day who each lettered last season.
3. Will the opening day starting cornerbacks still be playing that position by the end of the season?
The answer to this one is yes in regard to Sly Whitfield Jr. and probably not for Ekene Agwuenu. Whitfield had 32 tackles last season and tied for the team lead in interceptions with three. He's a good cover guy and a good tackler.
It's a little different with Agwuenu. The senior transfer from the University of Nevada moved from safety to cornerback after the first scrimmage because he's too talented to leave off the field. And at 6-foot-2, he is probably one of the bigger corners in the conference.
The reason Agwuenu could finish the season at a different position is his versatility. He can play both safety positions, nickel back, or even outside linebacker if needed. The Vikings also have good depth at the position with Brett Hall and Ocie Moore returning. Kevin Jones, a transfer from Utah State University, should also factor in. He's WWU's first-ever blue chip high school player.
4. Will Todd McClellan and Steve Davis be impact players at the safety positions?
This one is a little easier to predict for McClellan. The junior from Lacey started nine games last season and finished with 37 tackles after sitting out two years on a church mission. He should only be better with another year of experience.
Davis isn't quite so easy to read. He earned defensive scout team player of the year honors as a redshirt freshman last season and earned the starting spot with a good spring session and preseason.
The two will be called on to offer run support for the linebackers and cover a slot receiver from time to time. Senior Jason Barton and sophomore Mike Schmit provide depth.
5. Will the Vikings be able to keep opponents from scoring?
WWU's defense was solid last season, but not spectacular. The Vikings gave up 26.1 points per game last season and allowed 18 overtime points in a tough loss to Western Oregon University.
Stopping the run was a bit of a problem and that will need to be fixed. WWU gave up 16 rushing touchdowns and 4.1 yards per carry, both not good enough to win a conference title.
Still, the Vikings have a lot to work with this year. They should be a statistically better team.
10 players to watch
Andy Olson, wide receiver
Olson is arguably the best wide receiver in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference and likely the best in the history of Western. The senior rewrote the record books last season with 15 receiving touchdowns and 1,075 yards.
James Monrean, quarterback
This strong-armed junior throws a great deep ball and can put enough zip on an out route to sting receivers' hands. He threw for five touchdowns in his only start last season
Nick Yoney, tight end
This senior caught 20 passes last season and finished with four touchdowns. At 6-foot-3 he's a big target that can get open.
Loren Winter, center
Why is a lineman on this list? Because he does a lot more than just snap the ball. The senior pulls like a guard and will anchor a strong unit.
Duncan Sherrard, running back
Sherrard splits time with another capable running back in Jake Carlyle but got most of the work last season. The senior had 857 yards rushing and five touchdowns.
Craig Keenan, linebacker
Keenan emerged as tackling force last season and was named WWU's defensive player of the year after gathering 85 stops. The senior can cover too.
Shane Simmons, linebacker
Simmons comes from the University of Idaho where he started three games as a true freshman. Now he's a sophomore and he played more like a senior in the preseason.
Ryan Conwell, defensive end
Tall and lanky, this sophomore conjures images of former Oakland Raider Ted Hendricks, except as a down lineman. He uses quickness and shakes to get to the quarterback
Ekene Agwuenu, cornerback
Another NCAA Division I transfer, Agwuenu can play any position in the secondary and even outside linebacker if needed. At 6-2 he's also one of the taller corners in the conference.
Todd McClellan, free safety
McClellan took two years off for a church mission prior to last season and still finished fourth on the team with 37 tackles. The junior also had two passes defended.
