FIRST HALF OF SPRING BALL UPDATE

MU spring football is halfway over and www.GOMUHawks.com sat down with Head Coach Kevin Callahan to get his evaluation on the first 8 days of Spring Ball.

"I think we are making steady progress," said Callahan. "Some positions are progressing faster than others, but quite honestly that has to do with the level and amount of experience within those particular positions.  Overall, I feel that it has been a learning spring and I think that we still have a ways to go before we get where we want to be.  I like the progress we have made through the first half of our spring practices."

As with every spring session, a number of position battles are present to help fill voids left by graduating players.  Going in, the offensive line, wide receiver and defensive back combinations were all positions that had vacancies that needed to be filled.

"I think our offensive line is growing, as three of the five are brand new players and two of them don't have any game experience," said Callahan. "That position is taking a little bit of time to gel, but I think they are heading in the right direction."

MU lost three-year starters in both right tackle Kevin Sterling and center Andrew Musick.  Three-time All-NEC right guard Shawn Wright will miss the spring while he rehabs an ankle injury suffered in the second to last game of the season.  The Hawks brought in an impressive group of freshman on the o-line last year and two; Mike Hunchak (East Hanover, N.J./Hanover Park) and Ryan Cross (Long Valley, N.J./West Morris) have stood out to the coaches this spring.

"We think the development of Mike Hunchak and Ryan Cross has been something that we have been pleased with so far this spring," said Callahan. "They have been seeing time at the right guard position and we like what we have seen from those two. Dino Molina has playing right tackle right now, and he has played a number of positions within the 0-line. He had the opportunity to gain valuable game experience last fall so he is ahead of some of the other guys, the non-starters from a year ago. This spring is a very important time for him not only to become more comfortable but to entrench himself as a starter in the fall."

Molina, a 6-4, 300 lb redshirt freshman who appeared in all 11 games last season (starting four) can play every position on the offensive line.  Cross and Hunchak each redshirted in the fall, taking their first year to learn Coach Gabriel's protection and blocking schemes.  Two players, senior-transfer Tom Ottaiano (East Hanover, N.J./Hanover Park/Hofstra) and redshirt sophomore Jim Sullivan (Manasquan, N.J./Manasquan) are competing for the vacant center position.  Since Hofstra discontinued its program last season, the N.J. native will not need to sit out a year per NCAA regulations.

"Tom Ottaiano is doing a good job at center, where he and Jim Sullivan are splitting first team reps," noted Callahan.  "It has been learning process for Tom so far, being it's the first time he's in the system. He's only had five practices to learn the system and apply that on the field. He has a great work ethic and we really like what he's doing. There is just a little learning curve there."

The Hawks will also be looking to replace starting wideouts Ron Lauch and Rodney Salomon.  MU will benefit from the return of junior Nick Romeo (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Hills) who was slated to start at the slot position  in 2009 before missing 10 out of 11 games with an illness.  Romeo gives the Hawks a much-needed downfield receiving threat, a void that hampered the passing offense in 2009.  Junior Ryan Folsom (Somerdale, N.J./Triton Regional) is playing wide receiver for his first spring session after being converted from quarterback before last season.  Folsom had a successful transformation, averaging 20 yards per catch with a pair of touchdowns in 10 games.  Unfortunately, MU will be without the services of true freshman Matt Plautz (Harmony, Pa./Seneca), who suffered an injury that will have him sit out the rest of the spring, after coming on strong in the final few games of '09.

"We have been bothered to some extent by injuries at the receiver position with Nick Romeo and Matt Plautz missing half of the practices, so we're down some experienced players there," said Callahan. "That's hurt the continuity of our passing game a little bit but on the other hand, it has given our younger players an opportunity to learn and develop at the position."

Asked who the biggest surprise on offense has been so far; Callahan mentioned redshirt sophomore Balial Sloan El (Roman Catholic) and sophomore Vic Pasquariello (Nutley, N.J./Nutley).  Sloan El carried the ball just three times in the fall but has shown the shiftiness and speed bursts this spring that the coaches thought he was capable of coming out of high school.  While he is a darkhorse to jump ahead of junior Bobby Giles (Burlington, N.J./Burlington) to replace All-American David Sinisi at the running back position; if Sloan El stays healthy he should definitely bolster the Hawks rushing attack next season.  Pasquariello, a member of the Hawks in 2008, spent last season away from football.  The Nutley, N.J., product has rejoined the team this spring and has made an impact in the passing game.  Pasquariello, standing at 5' 9", seems to catch almost everything throw his way and has displayed a great deal of quickness on the field, especially out of his breaks.  

"Balial has been doing some good things out there," said Callahan. "He has been hampered by injuries throughout the time he has been with us. This spring has really been the first time that he has been somewhat injury free and the first time he's been healthy. We like what we see from him and it's just a matter of him staying healthy to continue what he has been showing us. Some of the young receivers like Vic Pasquariello have surprised us."

While the Hawks return every starter in the defensive backfield from a season ago, where each player will play still remains to be seen.  Reigning Defensive Player of the Year, Jose Gumbs (Bronx, N.Y./Hebron Academy), is back at his safety position after seeing some time at the SAM linebacker position last year.  With All-NEC safety Kendall Haley (Olney,  Md./Good Council) sidelined for the spring after off-season surgery, three-year starting cornerback Ken Amsel (Demarest, N.J,/Northern Valley Regional) has moved back to safety.  Rising junior Mike Avent (Upper Marlboro, Md./Eleanor Roosevelt) has been at one corner, while Elijah Phillips (Willingboro, N.J./Holy Cross) was opposite Avent before suffering an injury just over a week ago.  A host of younger Hawks have stepped in to fill that position, giving Callahan and the defensive staff a good look at the less experienced players.

"I think overall our younger players are getting a lot of reps, and I think that is one of the objectives of spring practice is to develop the younger players in your program," said Callahan. "I think the same thing is true in the secondary without Kendall Haley and Elijah Phillips practicing, we have had an opportunity to look at some of the younger players and the other guys are making steady progress.  Kenny Amsel has been playing safety for the first time. It really seems to be a natural fit for him there."     

One of those younger players that Callahan has been impressed with is true freshman corner Ezra Bynum (Pelham, Mass./Wilbraham Monson), who did not see playing time in the fall.  Bynam has picked up the defense quite well and continues to improve the mental aspect of his game to compliment his distinguished athletic ability.

"With all the injuries at corner, Ezra Bynum has been getting a lot of reps and I really think he is making the most out of those opportunities. He has shown some overall improvement and I really like what he is doing there."     

The defensive line is another position that the staff will keep a close eye on.  After losing two players to graduation, this spring is a key time for a number of young players to get experience and perhaps step into starting roles.  With starter Garrett Culloo (Ocean, N.J./Ocean) and Brad Harris (Damascus, Md./Damascus) sidelined this spring, it will be up to players like Jeremy Baltimore (Orange, N.J./Orange), Mike Pranulis (Naugatuck, Conn./Trinity Pawling), Rich Lorfing (Monroe, N.J./Monroe Twp.) and Mike Upham (Clifton, Va./Centreville) to pick up the bulk of the reps. 

Rising junior Dave Ogden (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Hills), who finished up last season playing the best football of his collegiate career, will look to build on the success he had in the final five games at defensive end.  Transfer Andrew Sklover (Chester, N.J./Mendham (Elon)) has been impressive at times in the spring and will be ready to contribute starting next season after sitting out the NCAA mandated one-year for transferring.   Ogden and Pranulis each recorded sacks during a live period earlier in the week with the first-team offense and defenses going against each other.

"I like the way they have been progressing," said Callahan. "One of things that they as a unit had to do was generate more pass rush, and that's something that Coach Jackson is really working with them on. They are generating more pressure on the passer and getting up the field a little bit more. They're doing a better job with their hands. They're making steady improvements but they still have a ways to go."

The Hawks will have their first official scrimmage of the spring on Saturday, April 17^th at 12:15.  The Annual Blue/White Spring Game is slated for the following Saturday on Kessler Field.  Admission is free to both events.

CHANGING FEATHERS:
A number of Hawks have flipped sides of the ball or moved positions this spring.  Sophomore Chris Luma (Edison, N.J./Bishop Ahr) has moved from tight end to defensive end; freshman linebacker John Lockwood (Springfield, Va./West Springfield) has changed stances- moving from d-line to outside linebacker; freshman defensive back Jeremy Dinkin (Colts Neck, N.J./Colts Neck) is now part of the wide receiving corps (moving from defensive back).

HAWKS FINDING BALANCE:
Early on in the spring season MU's defense took advantage of inexperience along the offensive line and in the passing game.  During the first few live sessions, quarterbacks Kyle Frazier (Gaithersburg, Md./Damascus), Andrew Mandeville (Hazlet, N.J./Raritan) and Craig Peterson (Manalapan, N.J./Manalapan) were sacked by the likes of Pranulis, Upham, Ogden and company. 

Most recently that trend has begun to change as the offensive line has gelled and the entire offensive unit has begun to click.  At a redzone-only live period on Wednesday, the offense scored a number of touchdowns, including runs from Giles, Sloan El and freshman Tyler Verga (Toms River, N.J./Toms River South).  Frazier hooked up with tight end Tyler George (Berkeley Heights, N.J./Governor Livingston) on a long touchdown pass and freshman Jarrod Goodarz (Hamilton, N.J./Steinert) kicked a pair of field goals for the Hawks in blue jerseys.

QUICK HITS:

• Callahan noted that transfer middle linebacker Ian Simon (West Windsor, N.J./West Windsor-Plainsboro South/Howard) is still learning the defense. Simon was second in tackles for Howard a season ago, earning All-MEAC honorable mention. The 6-3 linebacker made a pair of plays in the backfield during Wednesday's redzone period.
• Goodarz, who is the only placekicker on the MU roster, has shown progress from the fall. The true freshman, who attempted one field goal and kicked off a few times in 2009, will have competition this August when the Hawks will welcome freshman Eric Spillane to camp.
• The wideouts showed some fearlessness as Hawks Josh Vallejos (Springfield, Va./West Springfield) and Vic Pasquariello went over the middle and made tough grabs in traffic earlier in the week.
• With senior Mike D'Urso (Fairfield, N.J./West Essex) sidelined with an illness, freshman Justin Pandorf (Lacey, N.J./Lacey) is the only true fullback on the MU squad. Some of the other running backs have been taking reps at the position to spell Pandorf.
• In a live period last week, the Monmouth defense forced three straight three-and-outs before Peterson hooked up with Pasquariello on a 17 yard play that yielded a first down.
• On the very next play, Sloan El took an inside handoff, darted left once he hit the secondary and outran the defense for a 43 yard touchdown.
• Wideout Alex Laipple (Moon, Pa./Moon Twp.) seems to be building on his playing experience from the fall; making a number of nice catches in the first half of the spring.
• Amsel showed off his athleticism and vision when he came all the way from his safety position to drop Giles for a one-yard loss on a second and 10 swing pass.
• Mandeville, who suffered a devastating season ending injury against Old Dominion, appears to have recovered fully.  The redshirt junior has been back to old form, making plays with his legsand moving around in the pocket to buy time.  Mandeville also took off on a few occasions to pick up yardage.