With his fourth set of spring practices behind him, UB head football coach Jim Hofher understands that even though spring practices only last just over two weeks, the time can be critical to the success of his team in the fall.
Hofher says that the focus on the physical intensity of the practices is what really makes spring practices valuable to his team.
"It's not an easy time, because it is very physical in the absence of creating game plans and studying opponents," said Hofher. "It really comes down to work that in every way is to make a player better, a unit better and ultimately make a team better. And the only way to do that is to play tackle football."
The Bulls got plenty of chances to "play tackle football" during the 15-practice spring session that concluded with Saturday's Blue-White game.
"We ended up with 400 plays of live work and, with an average game consisting of maybe 75 plays, our players got five games worth, or more, of scrimmage plays, so it was highly productive, and I'm sure there are many, many areas where we got better," said Hofher.
With a solid core of players returning from last year's squad, Hofher and company used the 77-play scrimmage to evaluate a number of personnel situations they have to deal with next year.
What may be Hofher's biggest decision going in to next season is the one surrounding the quarterback position, and who to name starter. Last season, Randall Secky lost his starting job to P.J. Piskorik midway through the season and then regained it with a few games to play after Piskorik was forced out with an injury. Hofher says that nothing was decided during spring practice.
"Secky and Piskorik have the most extensive experience on our team, they are the two quarterbacks we know we are going to be preparing every week with," said Hofher.
What has been decided is that the Bulls' backfield will once again feature a platoon of tailbacks. Hofher says that at this point a running back by committee system is the only one the makes sense for Buffalo.
"I don't think there is any doubt at all that we need all the running backs who have carries from last year that are returning to our team this year," said Hofher. "It makes us better when all of them play, it makes us better that each one of them is fresh when he comes in and it makes us better that they can all play vital roles in the special teams. At this point there is not one of them that has developed to the point that we would say 'That guy ought to get 30 carries.'"
In the Blue-White game three running backs saw the bulk of the action. Steven King, a sophomore, led the Bulls with 10 carries for 41 yards and two touchdowns. Dave Dawson also finished with 41 yards on 15 carries and also scored a touchdown. Jared Patterson, another sophomore, added 36 yards on 15 carries and scored once as well.
Defensively, despite the loss of key leaders Lamar Wilcher and Mark Graham, the Bulls feel that they are pretty well set. On the line, the return of Anthony Andriano from injury and the development Aaron Sanders and Phil Jacques has coach Hofher feeling smug about the situation on his line.
The linebacking core is one area with some major holes, but the presence of Bryan Cummings should steady the group some.
"Cummings is our most consistent defensive football player at the moment, and that's no surprise, because he is a guy who has started 22 games, and he is only a junior," said Hofher.
Also back and looking to soothe the loss of Graham is Gemara Williams.
"Williams is back for his final year and I think in the last week of last season he was really playing his best football," said Hofher. "And that's going to make a difference for us also."
But veterans aren't the only ones who made strong impressions this spring. Younger players, such as quarterback Stewart Sampsel, a sophomore who saw action in last season's game at Toledo, and sophomore linebacker Ramon Guzman, opened a few eyes on their own.
Sampsel was 4-of-10 passing for 60 yards and two of his completions went for TDs. The bulk of his yards came on a 45-yard TD pass, the game's longest play, between him and Gabe McClover.
Guzman, who could be fighting for a spot in the starting lineup, led UB with seven tackles on the day. Five of his tackles were solo stops and he also had one sack.
Bulls Defensive Back Suspended Again
Once again, the football future of Kevin Concepcion, a talented, but oft-troubled UB defensive back, is in doubt. He was suspended indefinitely last week for an unnamed violation of team policy.
Concepcion suited up for UB during spring practice for the first time since the final game of the 2002 season. He sat out all of the Bulls' 2003 campaign, serving a one-year suspension levied by the school after he was arrested on charges of third-degree rape, first-degree sodomy and first-degree sexual abuse for a Lehman Hall incident in January 2003.
"Kevin is currently serving an indefinite suspension from our football program," said Hofher. "He is currently a student in good standing at the university and at such time as we see fit he can be reinstated to our team."
