Author: Ryan Graff|Alex Nieves
Expectations/Predictions
- Projected record: 5-4 overall (3-4 SCIAC)
- Projected wins: Pacific (Sept. 14), Austin (Sept. 21), CMS (Oct. 12), Pomona-Pitzer (Nov. 2), La Verne (Nov. 16)
- Projected losses: Redlands (Oct. 5), Chapman (Oct. 19), Cal Lutheran (Oct. 26), Whittier (Nov. 9)
Under a new regime led by head coach Doug Semones, there are a lot of upsides for the Occidental football program this season. Coming off a 2-7 (2-5 SCIAC) campaign last year in which they struggled with stability, the Tigers look to forge a cohesive identity this season. The Tigers make up for a lack in physical size and a roster of just 57 players with a balance of experience (11 seniors and 17 out of 23 returning starters) and youth (32 underclassmen). The black and orange takes to the gridiron with a new high-energy, determined approach as it looks to resurrect a program that has gone from 7-2 in 2007 to its reciprocal in 2012. Though the squad’s potential is strong at the moment, growing pains are inevitable with a youthful program under the tutelage of a new staff that’s in the process of implementing a new system. Look for the Tigers to have early success in the 2013 season and building confidence heading into SCIAC competition. With an always-difficult league, there are a number of up-for-grabs games that could make or break Occidental’s record. While early predictions slate the Tigers’ record right around 5-4 overall (3-4 SCIAC) this season, the outlook for the future is positive, especially when Semones and staff get a fully recruited roster under their belts.
Offensive Standouts
QB Tommy Edwards — Tommy Edwards (senior) proved last season why he once contended for a Division-I starting job. The transfer junior completed 64.1 percent of his attempts, throwing for 2,928 yards and 16 touchdowns in his first year as the Tigers’ quarterback. Despite out-passing the rest of the SCIAC by nearly 100 yards per game (340.3), Edwards looks to reduce the one blemish on his stat line — his 11 interceptions. With a talented young receiving core, a three-headed backfield attack and an improved offensive line, the signal caller from Sherman Oaks, Calif. could be on the verge of a career year for the black and orange.
Running backs — It’s not often that a three running back rotation presents the dichotomy that Occidental’s backfield did last season. Though all three were tremendous underclassmen talents, the staff combined for a SCIAC-worst 562 yards. This year, the three-pronged ground game is poised for a significant impact, returning sophomores Kwame Do and Casey Dudley as well as junior Austin Cheadle. The downhill, aggressive running style of all three backs offers some variance from the Tigers’ traditional pass-based spread offense and could pose an additional threat to defenses around the conference and beyond.
WR Sam Stekol —The junior receiver from Manhattan Beach, Calif. has big cleats to fill this season after the departure of First Team All-SCIAC wideout Matt Tuckness ’13. Though an underclassmen and secondary option last year, Stekol led the Tigers in yards per catch (14.3). Stekol reeled in 50 passes for 715 yards and proved a reliable, sure-handed target for Edwards, especially in clutch situations. With the transition to the number one Occidental receiver spot, Stekol has the size and speed to hassle any secondary and become an elite SCIAC pass catcher.
Offensive Swing Spots
Offensive Line — Despite the efforts of three-year starter and SCIAC Honorable Mention selection Dalton Spinas (senior), the Tiger offensive line has struggled with inconsistency over the last three seasons. After the departure of Bill Dobson in 2010, Occidental has had a different offensive line coach each season. This year the team hopes Brian Smith — also the team’s offensive coordinator — can provide the program some stability. The Tiger offensive line has allowed an abysmal 59 sacks over the past three seasons, culminating with 26 in last year’s campaign despite Edwards’ mobility. With the addition of four big bodies in the trenches, the Tiger offensive push is bound for improvement as it seeks to balance the run and pass.
Tight End — The tight end position could provide an additional weapon for the Tiger passing attack this season. Josh Gorlick (senior) caught 18 balls last year and was fifth on the team with 163 receiving yards and one trip to the end zone. As per the spread offense, Occidental likes to utilize the tight end as a slot and split end option, providing the team with an extra target. Gorlick, Mack MacLeod (sophomore) and newcomer Adam Koel all have the right body type to create open space while still maintaining the ability to block at the point of attack.
Defensive Standouts
DL Mike Gilliam — The staple of any solid 3-4 defense is a physical nose tackle that is also athletic enough to step outside. Operating in an exclusively 3-4 system last year, Second Team All-SCIAC performer Michael Gilliam (senior) provided the combination of size, strength and speed necessary to play anywhere on the defensive line. Gilliam lived in the opponents’ backfield last season, leading the Tigers with 10 tackles for a loss to go along with 1.5 sacks and 34 total stops. Gilliam and the rest of Occidental’s defensive line have the talent to fill the hole that the graduation of Casey Shibuya ’13 leaves.
LB Matt Matulatis — The senior middle linebacker from Simi Valley is the spark plug of the Occidental defense, providing a high-octane style of play game-in and game-out. Matulatis led the Tigers in all three major defensive categories last year with 64 total tackles (7.1 per game), 8.5 tackles for a loss and three sacks. The unquestioned leader of the defense, Matulatis will need to play well in 2013 to make up for the void left by the graduation of three talented linebackers – Kevin May ’11, Greg Holsworth ’11 and Justin Garza ’13 – over the last three seasons.
DBs Teran Mawhinney and Shay Mueller — The defensive backfield may have the most experience of any defensive position group for Occidental this season, returning four players that recorded at least 20 tackles last season. Junior Teran Mawhinney led the squad with 45 solo tackles (63 total), the most for any player on the Tigers’ roster. Sophomore Shay Mueller joins Mawhinney and solidifies the secondary’s talent. Mueller recorded a team-high in solo tackles through the first four games of the season (21) before going down with a shoulder injury. A lack of size in the front seven all but guarantees that the defensive backs will be busy this season, and the Tigers will need a continued high level of play from Mawhinney and Mueller to be successful.
Defensive Swing Spots/Special Teams
P Marc Kuzbari and LS Brett Kassel — One of the keys to winning any football game is good field position, and nothing can affect field position more than a solid kicking game. Three-year starter Marc Kuzbari (senior) brings just that to the black and orange. Over the past two seasons, Kuzbari has averaged 37.8 yards per punt, the most by any SCIAC punter during that period. He also went 2-for-3 on field goal attempts last season, with his longest make coming from 40 yards out. The bane of the Tigers’ kicking game, however, has been six blocked kicks over the past two years. First-year long snapper Brett Kassel should help to rectify this issue, as he is the first true long snapper to be listed on an Occidental football roster in recent memory.
Newcomers
DB Chaz Shizumura — With the absence of Jordan Lance (senior), who was third on the team in tackles one year ago, the Tigers’ defensive backs core will need an extra man power in the lineup. At 6-feet tall and 180 pounds, Chaz Shizumura (first-year) has the combination of size and speed to make an impact right away. He was a two-sport athlete in football and baseball at Oahu’s Punahou High School proving his athleticism.
WR Cordell Harris — Though listed at just 5-foot-9 and 166 pounds, Cordell Harris (first-year) has made an impression on the Tiger coaching staff throughout camp. He was named Second Team All-City as wide receiver and defensive back at Portland’s Grant High School as well as First Team All-City as an outfielder in baseball. Harris plans on continuing his career as a dual-sport athlete at Occidental on both the football and baseball teams.
DL Jacob Radeski — Despite the likelihood of losing starting opportunities due to the personnel limitations of a multiple defense, Jacob Radeski (first-year) got the attention of Semones and company immediately upon entering summer camp. A two-time First Team All-League selection at Harbor City, Calif.’s Chadwick High School, the 6-foot-3 and 230 pound Radeski brings much needed size to the Tiger defensive line. Radeski is a guy who is not afraid to put his hand on the ground and could make appearances at any upfront position for the black and orange.
Semones’ thoughts
On the spread offense: “Offensively, we’re going to spread it out and put the ball in Tommy’s [Edwards] hands and let him throw it. We feel like we’ve got a bunch of good receivers, and we really aren’t physical enough just to line up and smash people, so we’ve kind of got to spread it out, get the ball out quickly and get it to guys that can make some plays.”
On the new defensive system: “Defensively, we’re going to be kind of a multiple defense, but we’re not huge upfront either, and so we’re going to be moving around and slanting and blitzing and doing those things. It’s going to put a lot of pressure on our defense backs…we’ll run to the ball, we’ll play hard. Our thing is we have to force turnovers; we have to take the ball away on defense.”
On his coaching philosophy: “The season’s exciting. We have a new system on defense and kind of a new system on offense…To me the keys to victory are: win the turnover battle, win the kicking game and win the fourth quarter. So that’s kind of how we’re developing.”
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