2008 Football Season Outlook

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Putting together a football team is a bit like constructing a puzzle: You have to find the right pieces, get them in the right places, and put it all together.

With that in mind, there a few pieces left to find and get in the right places for Williams College head coach Mike Whalen and his coaching staff heading into the 2008 season, none bigger than just who will be calling signals under center this fall.

The Ephs won their final six games of the 2007 season, polishing off a 6-2 season with a 20-0 shutout of archrival Amherst in front of 10,000-plus at Weston Field and the millions who enjoyed the pre-game festivities from Williamstown on ESPN’s College Football GameDay.

“When I think back to our perfect season of ’06, I think back to the Amherst game of ’05 and how the rising seniors all came into my office over that next week and said, “we’re starting to prepare for next season right now,’” Williams head coach Mike Whalen, back for his 5th season (26-6, .813), said. “So I’m a firm believer that you can carry momentum over from a previous season and I think this senior group — we have 15 — has shown great leadership coming into the preseason. Those guys are pretty focused and that’s a positive.”

With four First Team All-NESCAC selections and two Second Team members returning, the Ephs have a lot to be positive about. But one focal part of the preseason will be attempting to find a quarterback. No matter who is chosen, he will be young and inexperienced in comparison to Pat Lucey, who was the two-time NESCAC Offensive Player of the Year and ECAC Offensive Player of the Year.

Brian Morrissey '09

The candidates to replace Lucey include sophomores Patrick Moffitt and Bryce Bennett and first years Chris Cleary (Winchester, MA) and Matt Coyne (Bristol, CT). Between them, they have thrown one varsity pass. Moffitt did see the majority of reps behind center in the 2007 preseason while Lucey nursed an injury.

“Obviously, the guys who have been in the system for a year have to have an advantage,” Whalen said. “But certainly, from our perspective, it is an open competition. Everyone is going to get a chance and we’ll try to narrow it down as quickly as possible.”

Whoever wins the job, they will have plenty of support. Up front, All-Conference selections John Szawlowski (two-time first team guard) and Henry Szawlowski (second team tackle) return for their senior seasons. Joining them will be junior guard Simon Kloeckner and sophomore guard Kevin Rose, who saw plenty of action in ’07.

The biggest question on the offensive line is the center spot vacated by Jim Bierman. Candidates to fill the vital position are junior Tim Bishop, junior Mike Vandenberg, sophomore Brendan Munzar and first year Vince Nistico.

Adding depth to the offensive line will be the aforementioned who don’t win the starting job at center, junior Graham McCulloch, who was moved over from the defensive line and junior Mike McGuire.  The tight end position also has some depth with senior Ace Norris and sophomores Jon Carroll and Owen Moss.

“We have some experience and talent,” Whalen said. “But also, with what we do in the shotgun and all that, the focal point is on the center position, so I hope we can get that answered early and give this group an opportunity to gel together.”

Ryan Powell '09

In the backfield will be senior tailback Brian Morrissey, a First Team All-NESCAC selection in ’07 when he ran for 939 yards on 214 carries (4.4 yards per carry average) and scored 13 touchdowns. Morrissey averaged 117.4 yards per game. Giving the Ephs some depth behind Morrissey are senior Brian Egan and sophomore Ryan Lupo. Also, Elijah Weeks has returned to the team for his senior season.

“Brian is such a competitive kid,” Whalen said. “His biggest critic is himself. He’s a great leader, and he’s geared up for a big senior year.”

The receiving corps should be, once again, talented and deep. First Team All-NESCAC selection Ryan Powell returns for his senior season after hauling in a conference-leading 54 receptions one year ago, good for 742 yards and four touchdowns. Junior Nick Caro is another exceptional target, last season he caught 16 passes for 287 yards — averaging 17.9 yards per catch — and scored three touchdowns.

Senior Stew Buck and sophomores Jamal Jefferson and Tommy Tysse will join that pair. First years B.J. Griffin, Jon Stickney and Dan O’Mara will also be in the mix.

“We have to find ways to get the ball in Ryan (Powell’s) hands, because when it is, he makes things happen,” Whalen said.

Junior Scott Sobolewski will be back to do the placekicking, though Whalen made it clear that first year Chris Cleary will compete for the veteran for the job. Last year Sobolewski was 21 of 29 on point after attempts and 5 of 10 on field goal tries.

Last year, the Ephs averaged nearly 30 points per game. To equal or improve upon that statistic, they will need people to step up in certain positions.

“I believe the quarterback really is the key,” Whalen said. “you can be talented everywhere else, but if you don’t that piece of the puzzle ….we have to be cognizant of asking whoever wins the job to do too much. That’s our jobs as coaches, to come up with schemes and identify plays that allow our quarterback to manage the game and get our talented guys the ball.”

Defensively, the Ephs lost eight contributors from the NESCAC’s fifth-ranked unit in ’07. The biggest questions may be found on the defensive line. Williams was 7th last year in sacks with 13. The good news is, the authors of 80 percent of those sacks returned this season.

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Tim Batty '09

Versatility will be the key on the line this year. Sophomores Tim Kiley (two sacks), Andrew Knez and Ben Halbower could play tackle or end, and first year Colin Curzi will also get a look at both spots. In addition, first year Greg Johnson has been moved from quarterback to the line in an effort to beef up the position.

Seniors Charlie Birns and Devin McLaughlin are candidates to start at the tackle position, although, again, Birns (1 1/2 sacks) could play either position.

The Ephs lost some key contributors in the linebacking corps as well; Jon Pritchard and Jordan O’Reilly were two of the top-three leading tacklers. But senior Trevor Powers returns to anchor the unit after leading the team with 72 tackles, 27 solo, including eight tackles for loss and two sacks.

Candidates to join him this season include sophomores Dan Johnson, Alex Bain and Dylan Schultz. Sophomore Pat Barren could see time at linebacker or in the secondary. He played as a safety during the 2007 season.

“The challenge on defense for us is to find 11 guys excited to play and play hard, but also play within the system,” Whalen said. “The biggest question on defense is on the defensive line, we’ve got some very good defensive end type kids, but other than Devin (McLaughlin), we have some concerns about who can play consistently inside on every down.”

Senior Tim Batty returns to head the secondary from one of the cornerback positions after registering 52 tackles, including a team-high 38 solo, last season. He also intercepted two passes and was second to the departed John Snipes in passes defended with seven.

Senior safety Sean Milano also returns having started for the past two seasons and was second on the team with three interceptions in ’07. Candidates for the other safety spot include junior Tyler Ware, senior Devin Fitzgerald and junior Will Cronin, all who have seen varsity action at the position.

Candidates for the cornerback position opposite Batty include junior Ikenna Iheoma, junior Matt Zanedis and sophomore Rob McDonald.

“Overall our team speed is good, this is as athletic and fast a group as we’ve had,” Whalen said. “So the question is, will it come together for them?”

The punting chores are also up for grabs, with junior Henry Montalbano, Cronin and McDonald vying for the spot. Cronin was the starter in ’07, averaging 33.4 yards per punt.

The Ephs will be tested early as Colby comes to Williamstown on Sept. 20, followed closely by perennial power Trinity on the 27th. Defending NESCAC champion Middlebury meets up with the Ephs Oct. 11 on Weston Field.

“The league is more competitive than ever,” Whalen said. “It seems every year, some one comes out of nowhere to compete for the championship.”