Courtesy University of Central Arkansas Athletics Department
CONWAY, Ark. _ The University of Central Arkansas Bears did enough good things on both sides of the ball Saturday to have head coach Clint Conque excited about the final tuneup before this weekend’s 2013 Purple-Gray Game at First Security Field at Estes Stadium.
“I thought our young men were really locked in Saturday,’ said Conque, who is prepping for his 14th season at UCA. “I didn’t think we played quite as physical on the defensive side of the ball. We missed a few more tackles. But I did think we ran to the ball well and that often times makes up for some blemishes. But we have to learn how to play a little more physical.’
Returning All-Southland Conference quarterback Wynrick Smothers completed 17 of 26 passes for 281 yards and three touchdowns, with no interceptions. Backup Ryan Howard was 16 of 29 for 144 yards and tw touchdowns.
“Smothers had another really solid day,’ said Conque. “Four of his incompletions were throwaways. And he could have had an even better day if not for a couple of overthrown balls. He could have easily had another 100 yards or so. And Howard was solid as well, and that was working mostly behind the second offensive line.
“I thought the quarterback play was solid but what we need to clean up is just what we call our order of operation, getting our personnel right, getting everything communicated and playing faster with a sense of urgency.’
The five touchdown passes went to junior running back Willie Matthews, junior receiver Dezmin Lewis, sophomore receivers Blake Gardner and Courtney Whitehead and redshirt freshman Desmond Smith. Whitehead, a transfer from Air Force, caught eight passes for 69 yards.
“We know what the other guys can do, so Whitehead, by design, was our headline receiver Saturday,’ said Conque. “We wanted to get him involved in the offense to see what he could do. And he just missed another big play.
“We are really solid, two deep, with capable players, at the wide receiver position. I’ve been really impressed how that position has grown and matured since we started spring practice. We have size, speed and big-play ability. (Transfer) Justin Burdette has been a nice addition. Jacoby Walker continues to improve in all areas.’
Conque said the Bears ran the football better than the previous week.
“That speaks to the offensive line as much as it does the backs themselves,’ said Conque. “Willie Matthews had 14 carries for 43 yards. Blake Veasley, the sophomore transfer from Memphis, had 12 rushes for 90 yards, including two really big runs early in the scrimmage against the 1s. Both of those guys have really elevated their play. And here’s the encouraging part. Between them they caught seven passes for 68 yards. As much as we involve the running backs, that was nice to see.’
Conque was also pleased with the play of the offense up front.
“To me, the offensive line was the group that took the biggest step forward,’ said Conque of the starting group of Kyle Stouffer, D.J. Appe, Cole Caruthers, Dominique Allen and C.J. Simon. “They all had what we deem a championship grade. They did give up two sacks as a unit and a couple of pressures. But assignment-wise, fundamentally and in our communication, we were much sounder.’
Defensively, sophomore end Jonathan Woodard continues to shine along a talented front four.
“He is just playing at another level,’ said Conque. “You worry about that sophomore slump, but he had a very impressive offseason. He’s 6-6, 272. I mean, he had six sacks. Golly, he’s long and athletic and playing very powerful, continuing to develop his pass rush techniques and counters. He’s just been really dominant.’
Woodard, the reigning Southland Conference Freshman of the Year, is joined up front by tackle Matt Hornbuckle, T.J. Randall and Derek Floyd. The unit is missing senior end Markeith Gaines, who is out with an injury.
“The entire two-deep up front is doing some very good things,’ said Conque. “T.J. Randall in more of a front-line role has really responded. Hornbuckle is an All-Conference player and we expected it out of him. And Derek Floyd and Parker Carpenter are both doing some good things. I don’t think we played quite as physical there as we did the first scrimmage, with the exception of Woodard, but they were being very disruptive up front.’
The linebacking corps, led by senior Justin Heard, was very good, according to Conque.
“Those three veterans, Heard, Radarius Winston and Blake Childress, graded very well, very productive, and that’s really encouraging to see. What’s really encouraging for Coach (Matt) Williamson and that group over there is that the true sophomores and redshirt freshmen are really starting to come on and create competition and depth at all three linebacker positions.
“One guy in particular is redshirt freshman Aum’Arie Wallace. He’s backing up Radarius at the nickel position. He had eight tackles Saturday and he’s playing fast and physical. He’s doing some really good things.’
The secondary is loaded with talent and experience and it showed on Saturday.
“On the back end, we really feel like we have eight or nine guys that are jockeying around for positions,’ he said. “Senior Karl Brady probably had his best scrimmage with six total tackles, playing both safety positions. Sophomore Darius Reed from Houston had seven total tackles. And at corner, Marcus Peters, a proven player there, is continuing to play very physical.
“We’re putting him in some man coverage situations and he seems to be responding. And redshirt freshman Haywood Jeffries graded as one of the highest of all the corners. That’s encouraging to see because we have three senior corners this year.’
Conque said the only disappointing thing on the defensive side was missed tackles.
The Bears will practice Tuesday afternoon and Thursday night in preparation for Saturday’s annual Purple-Gray Game, set for 6 p.m. at First Security Field at Estes Stadium. The game will feature Southland Conference officials, who will once again host their official’s clinic on the UCA campus.
There is free admission to the game.
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