Here’s a challenge, ye faithful reader of all things
related to Memphis Tiger football. Find a preview or season breakdown of the
2006 U of M squad that doesn’t mention DeAngelo Williams. (Oops.) Life at the
Liberty Bowl, A.D., began Saturday night with the Tigers’ 33-14 victory over the
Division I-AA Mocs of Chattanooga. Reflections of last year’s All-America still
fresh in its collective memory, Tiger Nation has been forced to mentally reboot
for a team that appears will share starring roles like a country buffet, a
variety of tasty morsels to choose from, and plenty on the table for second
helpings.
In the season opener at Ole Miss, 10 Tigers caught
passes from Martin Hankins in his debut at quarterback for Memphis and no fewer
than 20 U of M defenders made tackles. Saturday night at home, 12 players pulled
down at least one reception and 24 Tigers were in on defensive stops. Head coach
Tommy West stressed all summer that when a team loses a star, it often requires
several players to fill the void. Just how many Tigers are in line for such
duty?
You can start with the new tailback, Joe Doss. The
junior from Melrose High won’t gain half the career yardage his predecessor
accumulated, but he appears to be the kind of runner a coach loves to cherish: a
chain mover. While unlikely to break many 50-yarders, Doss is a regular threat
for 10 to 20, and a safe option on third and short. Limited to six carries
Saturday night by a mild ankle injury — he’ll be in the starting lineup this
weekend at East Carolina — Doss gave way to junior Jamarcus Gaither. The pride
of Frayser High averaged almost five yards on his ten carries and reached
paydirt twice.
Sharing the backfield with Doss and Gaither, of course,
is Hankins, the signal-calling transfer who threw for 294 yards against the Mocs,
yet was described by his coach as being “slightly out of rhythm” after the game.
There have been days at the U of M when 294 passing yards would have been worth
a game ball and a discount on the next week’s wind sprints. For such a total to
be delivered on an off day? No quarterback controversy in these parts.
Considering the number of targets emerging for Hankins,
the Tigers will force teams to rethink Chattanooga’s eight-in-the-box defensive
scheme. From the size of Carlos Singleton (6’8″) to the experience of Ryan Scott
(73 career receptions), Memphis sends a bevy of threats downfield, and you have
to love the chants of “Duuuuuuuuke” every time freshman Duke Calhoun comes down
with the pigskin (109 yards against the Mocs). If Hankins develops to West’s
liking, the Tigers may just have a pass-first offense.
On the defensive side of the ball, three-time
all-conference pick Wesley Smith has already earned his laurels, but his fellow
defensive back and senior, Brandon McDonald, appears to be a difference maker
himself. In addition to picking off an Antonio Miller pass and returning it 30
yards to set up a second-quarter touchdown, McDonald averaged about 10 yards on
his four punt returns. Music to the ears of coaches who cherish field position.
If there was a former Tiger conspicuously missed last
weekend, it had to be kicker Stephen Gostkowski (now cashing paychecks signed by
the New England Patriots). Sophomore Trey Adams missed a pair of field goal
attempts and a point-after against the Mocs, leading to a frank reflection from
West during his postgame comments. “I thought we needed to send him right back
out there [for what would be a successful attempt],” said West. “Either you’re
gonna be our kicker, or you’re fixing to be fired right now.”
Kicking concerns aside, the U of M’s first win, A.D.,
seems to have expanded the stage for the season ahead. Tiger fans will simply
have to grow accustomed to the relative luxury of cheering an ensemble cast.
