The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
NOTEBOOK: Blazers Ready To Take On Troy In Season Opener
8/26/2014 12:00:00 AM | Football
BLAZER NOTEBOOK
Steve Irvine, UABSports.com
Familiarity won’t be a problem for the first group of UAB offensive linemen during Saturday’s season opener against Troy at Legion Field. All five of the Blazers’ offensive linemen have started at least one game during their career and they have a combined 48 starts.
“It’s important in the aspect that they’ve been through it before,” said senior center Brian O’Leary, who has 15 starts and 29 appearances at UAB. “This is not going to be new to anybody. It’s not going to be completely crazy, not going to be something they haven’t done before. Everybody has been there, they know what to expect. You just got to communicate and work together really. We’ve been doing this for so long, we’ve jelled together.”
O’Leary is joined on the No. 1 offensive line by junior guards Roscoe Byrd and Cameron Blankenship, sophomore tackle Victor Salako and junior tackle Hayden Naumann. O’Leary has the most starts and appearances among the group, followed by Blankenship (13 games, 19 appearances), Salako (11 starts, 12 appearances), Byrd (8 starts and appearances) and Naumann (1 start, 4 appearances.)
One of the keys to success, though, is finding quality depth. None of the players listed next on the depth chart has played in a game as an offensive lineman at UAB. Two of the second team offensive linemen – Danny Anousheh and Kalepi Falou – are junior college transfers. Steve Pickren, listed at co-No. 2 at right tackle, started twice last season but he was playing tight end at the time. Redshirt freshmen Bryant Novick and Zach Sims and true freshman Lee Dufour could be called up to help with depth.
“We’ve got guys who know what they’re doing and how to do it,” said UAB head coach Bill Clark. “Now, there’s a reason a guy starts obviously. We got to do a good job of keeping people rested, rolling them in and not let the heat be a factor.”
*Clark said last week that he didn’t expect many freshmen in the playing rotation. The first depth revealed just three true freshmen in the two-deep rotation. Dufour is listed No. 2 at center while Collin Lisa and Quincy Perdue are listed at No. 2 at wide receiver spots.
*Junior Cody Clements edged out redshirt freshman Jeremiah Briscoe in the quarterback battle during fall camp. Playing two quarterbacks is a possibility for the UAB offense on Saturday. But Clark wouldn’t commit using that plan when asked about the situation on Monday.
“We don’t want the starter looking over his shoulder and we don’t want the backup to get his feelings hurt if he doesn’t,” Clark said. “We’ve got a history of playing two guys. Heck, we played three last year (at Jacksonville State). I think it will work itself out.”
*Senior wide receiver Maudrecus Humphrey and quarterback Cody Clements are the lone projected starters without any starting experience at UAB. Each of the other nine projected starters have started at least one game at UAB. Humphrey played in 13 games at Arkansas before transferring to UAB. He sat out last season. Clements began his college career at Washington State but did not play for the Cougars. He came to UAB after spending two years at Cerritos (California) College.
Junior college transfers Bobby Baker, Kalen Jackson and Alonzo McGee are the lone projected defensive starters with no starting experience at UAB.
*UAB’s coaching staff emphasized playing with a quick tempo throughout training camp and that will carry over to the regular season. Clark admits using that style is “a double edge sword if you’re not moving the ball and you’re putting your defense right back on the field.”
But it’s still the attack he’s chosen for his offense.
“I tell the offense all the time, we give you a gift,” Clark said. “We give you the gift of tempo, you better use it. If not, you’re going hurt us. If you don’t take advantage of how hard it is on the defense then you’re hurting our defense.”
Defensive tackle Chris Walton said both the offense and the defense have been preparing for the quick tempo style during fall camp.
“I know in practice, Coach Clark makes it about the worst situation possible,” Walton said. “We’ll go tempo for about six plays and another group comes on. We’ve gotten used to it so when it comes game time it won’t be something we haven’t seen.”
An important part of getting used to the quick pace came long before fall camp opened.
