Newspapers / Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.) / Sept. 12, 1996, edition 1 / Page 15
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; A&T exposes Rams weakness from page B / "They did a good job through out the whole first halt. But the defense stayed out on fhe field too long and eventually they wore down. "I think the game got away from us in the third quarter," Blount added. "I thought after the half we should have been in position offensively to do something with the ball. But we just couldn't seem to find '7 thought after the half we .should have been in position offensively to do something with the ball. But we just couldn't seem to find the elements to get going." -Kermit Blount, WSSU Coach the elements to get going/' When you look at it that way, the defensive unit that has been assembled by second-year Coach Morgan Faison is devel oping into a dominant unit. If the Rams offensive unit continues to sputter this season the Rams will need the defense to rise to the occasion. Through two games the Rams' offensive unit has scored a total of only 14 points. The Rams managed only one touchdown on offense against Fort Valley in the opener and the defense contributed a touchdown and a safety for the 15-10 victorv. Against A & I the Rams offense only contributed one touchdown. Surely Coach Blount and his troops can point to the fact that they lost Richard Huntley and Haywood Cloud from the offensive backfield. Huntley carried the hulk of the load for four years at WSSU and fin ished as the second leading all time rusher in college football history. So obviously those were some big shoes to fill. However, the Rams did ."return their entire receiving corps and quarterback Carl Walker. WSSU also returned a huge, talented offensive line. So then, the Rams weren't 'exactly starting from scratch. Going into spring drills "Blount and his staff knew where they needed to find help. Finding it was another matter. The Rams looked at several players in-house and then hit the road looking for players to fill the gaps in the offensive backfield. Although Hric H end ley proved to be an adequate tail back in the Rams' season opening victory when he rushed for 1 19 yards, the jury is still out on whether he can give the Rams the big-play strike that the tailback must provide in the freeze-option attack that Blount's team runs. If you were to judge the offense on its performance against A&T you might just say that the Rams' offense just doesn't have the continuity or explosiveness it needs to make a run at the CIAA champi onship. Several times the- Rams Sports Quiz by Larry Ouncan 1. What golfer's nickname was Emperor Jones? 2. In what sport do you her ringbone to get uphilP 3 Where is Wembley Stadium? 4. What team did the St. Louis Browns (baseball) eventually be come? 5. For whom did the Seven Mules block? 6. Who was "The Galloping Ghost"? 7. Who was the first American world chess champion? 8. What country took part in the 1952 Summer Olympics after a 40 year absence? Sports Quiz Answers 1. Bobby Jones; 2. skiing; 3 Lon don; 4. the Baltimore Orioles; 5. the Four Horsemen of Notre Dame; 6. Red Grange; 7. Bobby Fischer; 8 the Soviet Union ?1996 by King Features Synd were in position to deliver the big play, but each time in quar ters 1-3 WSSU came awav empty. There is an old axium in coaching that states that coach es must always put their play ers in the best possible position to win. Sure great athletes make great plays. But it is very hard tor an athlete to make an outstanding play it he's not in position to do so. One of the biggest raps against the Rams' offensive unit in past seasons, was its pre dictability. Whenever the Rams got into a jam on offense Blount would toss the ball or hand the ball to Huntley and most of the time he'd make something happen to bail the Rams out. Blount and WSSU doesn't have that luxury this season. Still, on third and long last week Blount would go back to his patented draw play on third down. It never fooled anyone or produced any sizeable gains. The other item that jumps out at you is the fact that, just like last Near and the previous two under Blount, the Rams just can't find a w a v to get their backs and tight ends involved in the passing game. It you looked at the Rams' passing schetr ' you'd probablv wonder it Blount has ever seen the "West Coast" stvle of offense that is so popular in the NIL. Quite a lew college teams have been able to take the offense, which was popu larized by Bill Walsh during his glory davs at San Fransic sco, and integrate it into their third-down pacakuges. Last year. WSSL's tight ends caught a grand total of three passes during the football season. This year, the Harms look to be on track to continue thai trend of keeping it out of the hands of the'tight end. That's also the case for the run ning backs. Most of their catches in past years have been either on screen plays (which Blount didn't use against A&T) or on desperation attempts when the quarterback is about to be sacked. ? ; If WSSL is to be a factor in the CI A A race and post a winning record this season Blount will have to deal with these issues. With the defense playing as well as it has performed thus tar. the Rams will be in a lot of. games this year. Yet the offense has to find a way to increase its production to keep the Rams in the ClAA's upper division. r i Photo b\ Joe DameK Travis Tender h as called upon for his first action of the '96 season last Saturday against \& T and responded hy completing 10 oj 19 passes. Tender, who last played for WSSL during the '94 season, showed a little rust hut provided a spark for the Hams in the second half. C arl Walker left the game with a separated shoulder and will likely he out of the Hams' lineup for more than a month. Walker was under constant pressure from A&T's defensive unit. Photo hy Honald Fitmore, Jr. A Decade of Excellence A decade of excellence culminates this year at the Vantage Championship, fx7** the ham or tee off with defending Vantage champion Hale Irwin. These Become a fxirt of this great Piedmont Tiiad tradition and walk a round players and many more are sure to provide unmatched entertainment all week at Tanglewood with your favorite player on the Senior Tour Do the hmg. Don't missyour chance to get in on the action. Order your tickets today sword dance along the hack nine with Chi Chi Rodriguez* follow Lee Trcvino und get reads for a walk you 'II never A >>get. VANTAGE ^juK Harris Get your tickets to the 1996 Vantage Championship today Teeter at participating Piedmont Triad area Harris Teeter stores. Become a part of the excellence! Volunteer opportunities are still available at the 19% Vantage Championship. Call to sign up tcx&y September23 - September 29. 1996? Tanglewood Golf Course ? Clemmons. NC FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO ORDER TICKETS ( Al l .: 1-800-222-2204
Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.)
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Sept. 12, 1996, edition 1
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