WEST CHESTER, Pa. - West Chester's 91st season of intercollegiate football kicks off on Thursday, Aug. 30 at Delaware in the 54th and final meeting between the regional rivals. The Golden Rams (5-6, 4-3 PSAC East) were picked fourth in the preseason coaches' poll.
Two straight losing seasons and a pair of back-to-back, fourth-place finishes in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division standings does not sit well with head coach Bill Zwaan, who enters his 10th season along the sideline. Changes abound for the West Chester University Golden Rams in 2012, and Zwaan believes this squad is ready to make a move in the PSAC East standings and return to the top of the division and fight for a postseason bid as it once did annually up until 2010.
Bolstered by an experienced defensive secondary and a more athletic and aggressive group up front with a great deal of speed, West Chester is confident it can now stop the run, which is something it has not done in two years. Zwaan has switched to a 4-3 front on defense in an effort to get more people in the box and shut down the opposition’s running game. He can afford to do that because his secondary returns all four starters from a year ago and shows quite a bit of depth. Another big change on the defense comes with the "rover" position that Zwaan describes as a combination of a linebacker and defensive back. Converted quarterback Matt Carroll played that role almost to perfection in the spring. Zwaan expects he will continue to shine in the fall.
Two moves needed to be made within the coaching staff. However, Zwaan feels his staff is as strong as ever with the addition of former West Chester running back Osagie Osunde jumping on board full time to coach the running backs and former Philadelphia Eagles linebackers coach Bill Shuey joining the staff. A year ago, the Golden Rams had to shuffle their coaching duties and decide between four quarterbacks. With those things settled over the summer, West Chester’s starting point on the first day of camp is much further ahead than it was in 2011.
Zwaan feels he has his most athletic and talented players on the field defensively. He is hoping that revitalizes a unit that was tops in the PSAC in 2009. Offensively, with the quarterback position settled, the pieces may finally be falling into place. Nobody will argue with West Chester’s talent at the skill positions. All-league wide receivers LaRonn Lee and Tim Keyser return as does running back Rondell White. QB Sean McCartney is the man tasked with running Zwaan’s complicated Spread Wing-T. He is a red-shirt junior, who has spent four years in the system. Zwaan trusts "Red" to take the reins of the offense. He definitely has the weapons with which to work in Lee, Keyser and White, primarily.
The West Chester faithful can get a sneak peek at the 2012 edition of the gridiron gang on Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. in an inter-squad scrimmage inside Farrell Stadium. The Rams will hold their final scrimmage of the preseason next Friday at 2 p.m.
OFFENSIVE OVERVIEW
West Chester’s offense ranked seventh in the PSAC in 2011 and that was with a revolving door at quarterback. Things should be much more stable in 2012 and that should lead to a much more productive scoring unit. As mentioned, the skill positions are set. The offensive line returns just one regular starter from last season. However, that group may be better than last year’s in Zwaan’s eyes. The newcomers up front are all juniors or seniors and that will help with the transition. Injuries over the past couple of campaigns have forced the Golden Rams to throw younger kids into battle earlier than expected.
"Yeah, we’ve had our share of injuries (over the past two years), and we lost some games that we probably should have won," Zwaan conceeded. "But, all of those things are just excuses.
"We were forced to play some kids, quite frankly, before they were ready. But, now is when I think you will see that pay off. As a result of those injuries, we have developed a great deal of depth in a lot of areas.
Fans should see a much more balanced Rams’ offense this fall. West Chester will be able to run the ball, with a number of talented backs from which to choose, just as easily as they will be able to put the ball up in the air to keep defenses honest. A bevy of weapons are at McCartney’s disposal. It will be his job to get the ball in the right people’s hands.
With so many options, offensively, West Chester will be a difficult team to stop. The offensive line needs to be better than it was last season, and McCartney needs to elevate his game for the Golden Rams to challenge for a divsion title. If those two things happen, then this will be a dangerous offensive machine.
Quarterback
McCartney is the proverbial man. He beat out senior Mike Mattei for the No. 1 spot during spring drills and Zwaan and the offensive coaching staff are committed to "Red". Mattei was bothered by arm trouble last fall and lost out on the four-way fight for the starting QB slot. However, Mattei has bounced back and is slated as McCartney’s backup. Red-shirt freshman James Rusenko and sophomore Drew Loughery will battle for the third spot.
McCartney’s biggest obstacle has been his confidence in games. That was due primarily to the platoon role that he and former QB Matt Carroll shared a year ago. Carroll is now playing defense, and Zwaan has told McCartney that he is the unquestioned leader of this offense.
"We can now gear our game plan towards what Sean does well," Zwaan commented. "Before, we had two people – even three at times. But, now we can play to Sean’s strengths. But, if something happens to Sean, then we are certain that we have a very capable backup that we are all comfortable with."
McCartney has the most experience and most time in with the Spread Wing-T. Both he and Mattei have been in the system for four years. So, it comes as no surprise that the two of them rose to the top of the depth chart. Zwaan is just looking for somebody to run that offense as effectively as his son, Bill Zwaan Jr., and Joe Wright did from 2005 to 2009.
McCartney is a drop-back, pro-style pocket passer. He needs the offensive line to give him time to find his targets down field. When they do that, McCartney is deadly. He threw for 444 yards and four touchdowns in his first college start on national television against Shippensburg in 2010. He threw for 1,481 yards and completed 54.2 percent of his passes last year. However, his eight TDs were offset by 10 interceptions and his pass efficiency rating dropped as a result. Those two areas need to improve for West Chester to grow offensively.
Mattei completed 55.4 percent of his passes when he was the starting QB in 2010. He threw 12 TD passes against 13 interceptions while throwing for 1,970 yards. If Mattei’s arm troubles are behind him, then he will be an effective backup to McCartney. He certainly has the experience and knowledge of the offense to get the job done. What Mattei brings to the offense that McCartney does not is his ability to scramble. Mattei likes to tuck the ball under and run. He ran for 93 yards and a pair of scores in 2010. He is a much more mobile quarterback.
Rusenko and Loughery will have to find out where they fit in this fall. Rusenko is a highly touted recruit out of Mechanicsburg, who spent all of last season red-shirting. The coaching staff likes his size and arm strength. They feel he has a great deal of potential once he learns the offense. Loughery spent a year away from the game, but was considered one of the top-rated quarterbacks in the state of Pennsylvania in high school. If he picks up the offense, then he could battle for some playing time. True freshman Andrew Derr will most likely spend his first year in college red-shirting. However, the coaching staff is very high on this recruit. He just needs to learn the playbook and adjust to the college game.
Wide Receiver
All-leaguers LaRonn Lee and Tim Keyser will be the primary targets for McCartney. They should comprise one of the best pair of wide outs in the conference once again. Lee caught a career-high 31 passes for 569 yards and six touchdowns while Keyser caught 39 balls for 501 yards and five scores a year ago. Their numbers should grow this season as both eclipse 1,000 yards receiving in their careers. Lee stretches the defense with his speed while Keyser runs precise routes underneath and picks up a lot of yards after the catch. Both playmakers are dangerous with the ball in their hands.
"We didn’t lose any wide receivers," Zwaan reminded. "They are all back, and they are all talented. Hopefully, LaRonn and Timmy step up as juniors and become first-team, all-league guys. That is what we expect out of them."
Senior Jim Kelly and red-shirt freshman Jay Jabat are behind Keyser and Lee, respectively, on the depth chart. Kelly has a great deal of experience to draw upon. He caught three passes for 30 yards last season, but knows the offense and is comfortable with McCartney. Sophomore Erick Brundidge is also a deep threat at wide receiver. He caught 13 balls for 401 yards and three TDs a year ago. The track star has blazing speed and is always capable of scoring when he gets his hands on the ball.
Senior co-captain Sean Beahan caught 14 passes for 179 yards and one score last year as well. He is an experienced wide out, who has started quite a few games in his career. Beahan is sure-handed and one of the team’s leaders on offense. Classmate Tom Shrader has a good deal of experience in the offense. He provides a tremendous amount of depth at wide receiver.
Pete Hurley, Nick Hall and Adam Dempsey are all returning to the wide out position as well. They could work their way into the rotation at wide receiver. Hurley’s younger brother, Jim Hurley, joins the Golden Rams this season, along with true freshmen Shannon Mayer and A.J. DePietro.
"We have a slew of guys, who can help us," Zwaan said. "All of these guys can play. They all give us good speed and good playmaking ability."
Running Back
Junior tailback Rondell White ranked 100th in the NCAA in rushing a year ago, averaging 63.7 yards rushing per game. He led the team in rushing yards with 701 and scored a team-high nine touchdowns on the ground. The coaching staff expects him to be even better in 2012. White can burst through a hole and take the ball to the house on virtually any carry. He averaged 5.0 yards per tote last fall. He also brings with him the most experience among the returning backs.
"We are going to lean on Rondell a lot this year," Zwaan declared. "There is no question about that. We are going to give him the ball a lot because he has an opportunity to score a touchdown every time he touches the ball."
Fellow tailback Brandon Monk spent last season red-shirting. The coaching staff cannot wait to see what he can do once they set him loose on opposing defenses. Monk has quite a bit of shake to him and makes tacklers miss. Both Monk and White are shifty with a great deal of speed. That tandem in the backfield should lighten the load for one another and keep them both fresh during a game.
Junior Jared Bonacquisti is the returning fullback in the offense. He split time a year ago between offense and defense. He played some linebacker as well. The coaching staff likes his hard-nosed approach to the position. Transfer James Rosseau is another fullback in the mix. Zwaan says that he can do a lot of things well. He can carry ball, block on passing plays, or lead through the hole on a run. The coaches like his versatility. Rosseau will give the Golden Rams another option in the backfield. Red-shirt freshman Teon Lee, younger brother of LaRonn Lee, is another option at fullback.
There is a lot of depth in the backfield. Any one of four players can fill in and get the job done. Sophomore transfer from Indiana, Pa., Chris Smallwood, and true freshman Eddie Elliott are also very talented options. Elliott may end up red-shirting his first year on campus. White will be the featured back and the one seeing the most carries. He also could be back returning kicks and punts with fellow back Monk. That is how much Zwaan wants those two on the field.
"We feel like we have a much better stable of running backs this year," Zwaan said. "Chris (Smallwood) and James (Rosseau) are more physical runners than Rondell and Brandon, but we have a lot of depth there."
Tight End
Senior Justin Curry was recruited as a tight end, and after spending last season at wide receiver, has made the move back to the end of the offensive line. Curry was always the "receiving" end in Zwaan’s offense before the switch in 2011. He should fall back into that role once again. Curry caught 12 passes for 122 yards in 2010. The coaching staff will be looking for that type of production once again this season. Curry filled in at wide out when the Golden Rams needed depth out on the perimeter. However, this year should be his year to shine.
Backing up Curry will be red-shirt freshman Chuck Phelan, who transferred into West Chester from rival Bloomsburg. Phelan has good size. The West Chester East High School grad returns home after one year away at school. He will add some depth to the tight end position once he learns the schemes. He could challenge Curry for playing time right away. Another red-shirt freshman, Shawn Driggins, will also be in the mix for playing time at tight end. He has an advantage over Phelan in that he spent last year at West Chester learning the offense. Driggins brings a tremendous upside to the team as well. Sophomore Tim Brown provides depth.
Offensive Line
With only one starter returning from last year’s group, you would think that the front five would be a question mark heading into the new season. However, Zwaan feels differently. Injuries over the past two years have forced Zwaan’s hand in many ways. The projected starters up front all have playing experience as a result and are ready for the increased responsibility. West Chester’s front line averages 6 feet, 3 inches in height and 301 pounds.
"We graduated four guys off the O-line," Zwaan said. "But, in many respects, I feel like this unit could be better. We have seniors and juniors throughout that group. So, even though we graduated a lot of guys, we still have experience coming back."
Senior Erik Pratt is the lone returning starter, and at left tackle, he is responsible for protecting McCartney’s blind side. The Golden Rams ranked seventh in passing and ninth in rushing a year ago. Pratt and his four linemates will see to it that those rankings improve in 2012. Next to Pratt is junior Trey Farmer, who has just as much experience in this offense as Pratt. Farmer has appeared in 11 games over the past two seasons and should slide right into the starting left guard position. Junior Justin Bathurst and sophomore Antoine Bland will back up Pratt and Farmer, respectively. Bland, who was recruited as an offensive lineman, spent last season on the defensive line. He filled in admirably over on that side of the ball. However, he is back at his natural position at left guard. Bathurst appeared in a season-best five games a year ago.
Senior Brian Margetich will be the center. He appeared in nine games last fall, including the last six. The Golden Rams do not miss a beat with him at center. He is in his fifth year calling out blocking assignments and opening up holes for White and the running backs. His experience and knowledge will be a big help to the front wall. Sophomore Derek Schatz is behind Margetich on the depth chart. He is 6-3 and 285 pounds.
On Margetich’s right will be senior Blair Gower. A senior, who transferred from East Stroudsburg over a year ago, Gower is ready to assume the everyday starting role at right guard. He is up over 300 pounds and has improved steadily since hitting West Chester’s campus. On his right will be Adam Citko. The largest offensive lineman on the team, Citko goes 6-6 and 325 pounds. Together with Gower, Citko and his guard will have to open holes for the talented running backs. Citko appeared in all 11 games last fall, making one start. Red-shirt freshman Kevin Kilpatrick and sophomore James Colivas will back up Gower and Citko, respectively. Fellow red-shirt freshman Chris Knott could also work himself into the mix somewhere along the offensive front line as well.
The top two at all five positions on the depth chart are both talented and experienced. After them, the rest of the offensive linemen need to mature and develop. Zwaan expects his upperclassmen to carry the load with this group. As long as that pans out, West Chester will be fine.
DEFENSIVE OVERVIEW
A much maligned unit over the past two years, Zwaan has made the most visible changes on this side of the ball. West Chester will switch from its traditional 3-4 alignment up front to the more standard 4-3 set seen around the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference. The switch was necessary to slow down the opposition.
"We have had trouble against the run the last two years," Zwaan admitted. "Because we have quite a few in-between guys, the linebacker-slash-safety type of guy, we felt the 4-2-5 kind of fit us well. That fifth D-back is really an outside linebacker or nickel position. That’s going to be the biggest difference."
The Golden Rams ranked 12th out of 16 teams in rushing defense a year ago, allowing 177.7 yards rushing per game. The switch allowed for Zwaan to get his most athletic and aggressive defensive players on the field at the same time. West Chester is very deep at linebacker once again, a characteristic of the stop unit in 2009 when WCU led the conference in defense.
Defensive Line
The addition of one more down lineman up front should make a big difference in the Golden Rams’ run defense. With the emergence of many talented linebackers, Zwaan has moved junior Anthony McCloskey to a down position. He will man the nose guard position vacated by graduated senior Kyle O’Neill. He ranked second on the team in tackles a year ago with 71. He also registered one sack, had two QB hurries and recovered a pair of fumbles. A bit under-sized at 235 lbs., Zwaan feels McCloskey’s quickness will be an advantage for him. Fellow junior Demrick Cook will man the other interior lineman position. He has plenty of playing experience to draw from. He registered 13 tackles in nine games a year ago, including one sack.
Senior Mike Martin is behind McCloskey on the depth chart. However, he brings much needed experience to the interior of the defensive line. Martin registered seven tackles in seven games a year ago, spelling O’Neill at nose guard in the 3-4 alignment.
On one end of the line junior Eric Edwers serves as the pass rusher off the edge. He played linebacker a year ago, but was originally recruited as a defensive end. He is quick off the ball and has excellent lateral speed. As an outside linebacker a year ago, Edwers tied for third on the team in tackles with 63. He recorded four tackles for a loss and 2.5 sacks. He forced a fumble, recovered the ball on the play and also was credited with a pass breakup. His versatility and speed makes him dangerous off the end. He can play standing up, or with one hand on the ground. Behind him is junior Chris DiValentino. He will see plenty of playing time as well at end. This tandem is exceptionally talented and provides enough challenges for any offensive line.
At the other end is senior Lew Esposito. He led the squad in tackles for a loss in 2011 with eight. Esposito is a fierce competitor, who never gives up on a play. He posted 33 tackles and a pair of sacks. He also intercepted a pass last fall. He was credited with a QB hurry and a blocked kick.
True freshman Andrew Cohen is a candidate to see some playing time right away on the defensive front line. Zwaan does not like to throw true freshmen into the fray their first year in college. However, he stated that Cohen is an exception to that rule. The coaching staff just wants to see how he adjusts to the college game. But, they feel that Cohen may be able to help them out right away. He is a highly touted defensive tackle out of Council Rock South High School. Cohen was a 4A second team, all-state performer last fall.
"Martin and Cook have some playing experience," Zwaan explained. "So, they definitely give us some talent up front. But, we want to see what Andrew Cohen can do as well. He was our top recruit on the defensive line. We think he can play right away."
A pair of red-shirt freshmen will also provide depth and support up front. Brian Butler and Barry Lyons have each spent a year in the Golden Rams’ system. They should continue to develop and could work their way into the lineup on occasion.
Linebackers
With the new 4-3 alignment and the addition of the "rover" position, West Chester’s formations may change from play to play. When the Golden Rams are in a 4-2-5 with only a pair of linebackers, those two will by Mike Labor and Ronell Williams. That third linebacker will be converted quarterback Matt Carroll. These three are extremely talented and extremely athletic. Carroll will sometimes rush and support the run defense. Then, he could drop back into coverage and provide for a fifth defensive back. The coaching staff tried him out during the spring and was amazed at how easily he took to the transition. When Carroll is not in the game, that responsibility will fall on junior Shaun Krautzel.
"Our depth at linebacker allowed us to move Anthony (McCloskey) down," Zwaan pointed out. "(Labor and Williams) will be really good on the inside as our two linebackers. We just feel that we have a lot of depth at that position right now."
Not much more needs to be said about Labor and Williams. They are the top two defensive players inside the box. Williams led the team in tackles last year with 79 stops, including five tackles for a loss. He did that while starting just three games. Williams posted 2.5 sacks, broke up a pass, was credited with three QB hurries and recovered a fumble. He reads plays well and refuses to be blocked. His presence at middle linebacker will be big for the Golden Rams.
"(Williams) reads plays well, and he is really quick side-to-side," Zwaan lauded. "I think when he gets a little more experience, he will read things quicker and make more plays closer to the line of scrimmage."
Labor finished fifth on the team in tackles last fall with 60 stops. He posted 5.5 tackles for a loss and one sack. He also intercepted two passes, broke up five more and was credited with three QB hurries.
"(Labor) is a really smart player," Zwaan said. "He sits on the backside of plays and doesn’t overrun them. We want him to be a bit more physical."
Red-shirt freshman Drew Persa has made great strides throughout the spring and could see quite a bit of playing time. He slotted in behind Labor on the depth chart at outside linebacker. He spent a year watching how it was done from the sidelines, and he is eager to get out there and show what he can do. Sophomore Mike Culbreath saw his 2011 season cut short by injury. However, he has a great deal of potential and will be back in the mix again this fall. Drew Formica is a red-shirt freshman linebacker, who could make some waves and see some playing time. He is part of the reason that Zwaan feels his linebackers are among the deepest and most talented in the conference. Zwaan believes that some of his linebackers could start for anybody in the PSAC.
Zwaan also expects to see a pair of true freshmen, Ralph Reeves and Tyler Morrissey to fight for time at linebacker.
Defensive Backs
West Chester returns its four starting defensive backs from a year ago, plus a number of reserves, who saw considerable playing time, making this unit one of the most experienced on the field. Senior John O’Donnell is the unquestioned leader in the backfield. He led the squad with three interceptions in just seven games. Injuries have plagued him his entire college career. But, when he is healthy, he is one of the most talented players on the field. O’Donnell will be the free safety and defensive captain for Zwaan.
Classmate Carl Barnes is the Rams’ strong safety. He was out on the corner last season where he tied for third on the team in tackles with 63. He also intercepted one pass and broke up three others. Barnes’ specialty was the corner blitz in 2011. He recorded five tackles for a loss. Fellow seniors Mike Lonergan and Zach Wood will spell O’Donnell and Barnes. Lonergan has split time between linebacker and defensive back for his entire career. He has the ability to play both. Lonergan registered 18 tackles in 2011 and recovered a pair of fumbles. Wood has been O’Donnell’s capable backup for much of his career, which means he has seen plenty of playing time on defensive series’. Both provide a great deal of depth to the defensive backfield.
On one corner is team co-captain Bob Sabol. Sabol has held down one of the corners on defense for West Chester in each of the last three years. He posted 33 tackles last fall, intercepted a pair of passes and broke up five others. Teams tend to stay away from the wiley veteran on the corner. At the other corner is sophomore Al-Hajj Shabazz. Shabazz was a pleasant surprise a year ago, and the coaching staff expects him to pick up right where he left off in 2011. He registered 22 tackles and three pass breakups last season. He will take on a much larger role this campaign. Sophomore Dante Devine and senior Nate Pagan are the more-than-capable reserves on the corner. Devine had a splendid freshman season, posting 19 tackles in 10 appearances. He would probably be a starting cornerback on many of the teams in the PSAC. The coaching staff likes his athleticism and expects him to play a big role this year. Pagan was perhaps the biggest surprise in the defensive backfield. He stepped in when O’Donnell went down and allowed Zwaan and his staff to move some people around to shore up the backfield. Pagan came through when the team needed him most, and he continued to excel throughout the spring practice. He should be rewarded for his work ethic this fall.
A foursome of red-shirt freshman defensive backs may also make a push for playing time in 2012. Courtland Bragg, Dominic Taggart, Brandon Pepper and Clint Passarella have all spent a year in the Golden Rams’ system and are ready to contribute. They are athletic and hungry to show what they can do. There is also a host of true freshmen that could pop up and surprise the coaching staff.
Special Teams
Junior place-kicker Shawn Leo is one of the top kickers in the PSAC and has already set his sights on the school record book. He ranked fourth in the Division II in field goals per game (1.5) and tied for 37th in the NCAA in scoring (8.0 points per game). Leo is a consistent kicker, who has developed quite a long range. His knack for kicking under pressure is well documented. Leo made a school-record 15 field goals last season, including 7 of 10 from 30-39 yards and 2 of 4 from 40-49 yards.
"Shawn has made a bunch of clutch kicks for us over the past two years. He should be an all-league kicker again. He is well on his way to having one of the best careers by a kicker at West Chester," Zwaan stated.
Rich Bruno will take over as the everyday punter while also handling kickoffs. Bruno won the kickoff duties in the middle of last year and averaged 57 yards per kickoff with two touchbacks. Sophomore Will Huff is a capable backup as a place-kicker or punter. He developed nicely last season and is coming off a productive spring practice. He provides much needed depth in the kicking game.
"Bruno has a great leg, and he is a very dedicated kid," Zwaan beamed. "He earned his shot last year, truthfully."
Rondell White and Brandon Monk will handle returns for now. White is one of the top return men in the conference and well on his way to putting together one of the top returning careers at West Chester. How much he returns kickoffs and punts will be directly related to how many carries he is getting on offense. As Zwaan stated earlier, they want White to have his hands on the ball quite a bit.
Overview
Head coach Bill Zwaan feels like this year’s recruiting class was perhaps one of his best since coming to West Chester. That bodes well for the future. However, for this year’s current Golden Rams to be successful, the 4-3 defense needs to stop the run, and quarterback Sean McCartney needs to be more consistent. All signs early on point to both of those things coming to fruition. However, in the rough-and-tumble world of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Eastern Division, life is not always easy. Almost any team in the division could be labeled a favorite. Kutztown, with its returning all-region senior quarterback, is the odds-on favorite to make a repeat appearance in the State Game. However, Bloomsburg, LIU Post and West Chester could just as well jump up to the top spot.
Meanwhile, Shippensburg returns a bevy of talent, and East Stroudsburg is one of the most underrated squads in the conference. Shippensburg handed Kutztown its only loss of the regular season, 49-7, a year ago. If it were not for three heart-breaking losses by the Warriors, they would have been near the top of the division as well a year ago.
West Chester can defend the pass, which is a definite advantage in a conference with very talented quarterbacks and dangerous wide receivers. If Rondell White and Brandon Monk stay healthy, and West Chester’s offensive line performs the way the coaches believe that it can, then the Rams will have a dynamic offense once again. The pieces are there. The senior leadership is probably the best it has been in almost half a decade. All that is left is for the gridiron gang to go out and show the world what it can do.
