Blake Anderson did not expect to come out of spring practice with an answer to all the missing pieces for the Arkansas State Red Wolves football team.
Those same issues, mainly depth at certain positions, are still there.
“That really hasn’t changed,” he said after Friday night’s spring game in Jonesboro. “We don’t have a lot of depth. We are really thin. It is going to take all hands on deck. We are going to have to have young guys come in and play. We are going to need [junior college] guys to come in and play.
“You name it: wide out, D- tackle, running back … There are really only a couple of positions on the field where you have considerable depth. (It is) just different systems, both offensively and defensively (from the previous staffs.) We have overloads at a couple of positions and we are thin at others.
“We have got who we got. We just gotta make it work. We have young guys who have got to come in fill in.”
Michael Gordon, all conference after a sterling sophomore year where he did not become the starter until David Oku was suspended before the UL-Monroe game, is THE experienced back. West Helena’s DeKeathan Williams, who had been at safety, was moved to running back after camp started and showed signs of helping. At 212 pounds, he is a contrast to the speedy 187-pound Gordon. The rest of the help will likely come from three freshmen who signed in February.
At wide out, the previous coaching staff was high on the potential of redshirt freshmen Dijon Paschal, who showed some special ability at times in the spring. Classmate Carl Lee, in the doghouse with the previous staff, found new life with a clean slate and also emerged into the picture.
Anderson at times talks of playing seven to nine guys at those spots and the returning lettermen are Tres Houston, JD McKissic, squad-man Brandon Cox and walk-ons. Immediate help should arrive with junior college signee Tyler Trosin, who started his career at Oregon State. At 6-foot-3, Lonoke’s Blake Mack looks the part and will get a shot but he and Trosin are the only two wide out additions, although running back Daryl Rollins-Davis, will get a shot there and at running back.
The interior defensive line is a major issue. Returnee Dexter Blackmon has not practiced this spring after coming off surgery and Darrius Rosser played quality minutes late in the season. Juco defensive tackle Charles Alexander arrives in the summer along with five high school signees.
On paper, the front liners look good, especially on offense. But their reserves are going be young and inexperienced.
On top of that, you still have a team learning a new system and a big change in style.
“With the goals that I we set forth, from the ground level, I wanted effort and wanted to improve on that and I thought we did,” said Anderson. “Tempo I wanted to improve, and I thought we did, and we did not get anybody hurt in a way that I thought was serious. We have some bumps and bruises, but those are the three things I wanted and without seeing it on tape I think we accomplished all three.
“All in all I am really looking at a bigger picture to be honest with you. Just trying to see the overall picture: Are we playing hard enough? I still think we have ways to go but I do think we are making improvement.”
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Jeff Reed is editor of Astatenation.com. You can follow him on twitter @ASUJeffReed.
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