|
FS
Mark Graham |
|
2002
Statistics
|
Coach:
Jim Hofher
4-19,
2 years |
2002
Record: 1-11
|
|
LEHIGH |
LOST
26-37 |
at
Rutgers |
WON
34-11 |
CONNECTICUT |
LOST
3-24 |
at
Minnesota |
LOST
17-41 |
at
Ohio |
LOST
32-34 |
WESTERN
MICHIGAN |
LOST
17-31 |
at
Marshall |
LOST
21-66 |
MIAMI
OH |
LOST
0-49 |
KENT
STATE |
LOST
12-16 |
UCF |
LOST
21-45 |
at
Akron |
LOST
10-21 |
at
Ball State |
LOST
21-41 |
|
2002 Final Rankings
AP-UR, Coaches-UR, BCS-UR
|
2003
Outlook
|
Buffalo
is taking steps forward in its slow transition
from a mediocre I-AA program to I-A. But
when they made the leap in 1999, the entire
Mid-American Conference was trying to catch
up to Marshall and was forced to upgrade
its programs. That, more than anything,
is why the Bulls have been hammered since
joining the league. This is the most ambitious
schedule in school history as the Bulls
face the co-Big Ten champion in Iowa, Rutgers
of the Big East and a future Big East member
in Connecticut. They're also playing the
top two teams in the MAC's West Division
from a year ago in league favorite Northern
Illinois and Toledo, not to mention all
the opponents in the arduous East Division.
Buffalo is still a young team - only four
seniors are penciled in as starters - but
a year older and somehow that has to translate
into improved preparation and improved execution.
"We've got a lot of hungry kids,"
Hofher said.
The
running game should be much improved with
Leeper and a young group of quality tailbacks,
but unless Secky - or Piskorik - gains a
measure of consistency and a playmaking
wideout is developed, the offense will struggle
once again. Defensively, the front seven
returns but there's a lack of depth at linebacker
and the solution at cornerback could come
from a pair of walk-ons.
Another
one-win season would be a mild shock but
it could also place Hofher's job in jeopardy
because the man who hired him, Bob Arkeilpane,
is gone and a new athletic director should
be in place sometime by 2004. As a former
football player at nearby Canisius, interim
athletic director Bill Maher, nevertheless,
understands that building a I-A program
from the ground floor is a marathon and
not a race. Still, this team is still a
year away from climbing out of the MAC East
cellar and anything more than a three-win
season would be gratifying.
Projected
2003 record: 2-10
|
|
|
TB
Aaron Leeper |
|
BUFFALO
*POWER RATINGS
|
Offense
|
Defense
|
QB
- 2.5 |
DL
- 2 |
RB
- 3 |
LB
- 2.5 |
WR
- 1 |
DB
- 2 |
OL
- 1.5 |
.. |
|
RETURNING
LEADERS
|
Passing:
Randall Secky, 421-204-13, 2015 yds., 12
TD
Rushing: Aaron Leeper, 235 att.,
917 yds., 10 TD
Receiving: Aaron Leeper, 27 rec.,
132 yds., 0 TD
Scoring: Aaron Leeper, 10 TD, 60
pts.
Punting: Randall Secky, 2 punts,
33.0 avg.
Kicking: Dallas Pelz, 9-13 FG, 8-13
PAT, 35 pts.
Tackles: Mark Graham, 89 tot., 65
solo
Sacks: Rob Schroeder, 4.5 sacks
Interceptions: Mark Graham, 6 for
72 yds.
Kickoff returns: Aaron Leeper, 13
ret., 16.8 avg.
Punt returns: none
|
|
|
|
|
OFFENSE
- 7
|
----RETURNING
STARTERS----
|
DEFENSE
- 10
|
|
KEY
LOSSES
|
OFFENSE:
Chad Bartoszek-TE, Andre Forde-WR, Dan Lindsay-WR,
Maurice Bradford-WR |
DEFENSE:
Ryan
Buttles-LB, Kevin Concepcion-CB, Mike Lambert-CB,
Scott McMahan-P |
|
|
2003
OFFENSE
|
written
by Rodney McKissic
Buffalo
shifts from a more pass-oriented attack to more
of a ground game to best utilize its talented,
but young, fleet of tailbacks. It is a sensible
move considering sophomore Aaron Leeper is not
only Buffalo's best offensive weapon, but perhaps
one of the premier tailbacks in the Mid-American
Conference. Leeper, who won MAC freshman of the
year honors in 2002, sophomore Dave Dawson, the
Bulls' second-leading rusher, and redshirt freshmen
Chris McDuffie, Steven King and Jared Patterson
will also push Leeper for playing time. They should
all enjoy productive seasons behind an offensive
line, which returns everyone from last season.
Senior
tackle Jeff Mills and junior guard Erik Zeppuhar
have started the last 23 games, while junior Eric
Weber started 11 games in 2001 before a knee injury
sidelined him for all of last season. Sophomore
Zach Mills should start at right tackle but will
be pressed by a pair of newcomers: junior-college
transfer Luke Johnson and 6-7, 308-pound Quenzell
Smith, who transferred from Canisius College after
the school disbanded its football program.
Where do we start on a program that was statistically
one of the worst teams both offensively and defensively
in the nation? Randall Secky returns at quarterback
but he didn't overshadow anyone in his first season
as starter and coach Jim Hofher may employ a two-quarterback
system. Secky completed only 48.5 percent of his
passes and finished with more interceptions (13)
than touchdowns (12), and with Hofher intent on
establishing more of a ground attack, look for
Secky's 421 pass attempts to be trimmed by as
many as 100.
Even
Secky's playing time could be trimmed if sophomore
P.J. Piskorik displays any of his spring practice
promise. Piskorik missed all of last season to
concentrate on academics, which may be the reason
why Hofher is hesitant to give him that job full
time. The logic behind playing two quarterbacks
is with Secky being the better passer and Piskorik
being the better runner, teams will be caught
off-guard. Sophomore Mike Radon figured to be
in the quarterback mix as well but felt a two-quarterback
system wasn't suited for his talents and transferred
to Division I-AA Southwest Missouri State.
Yet
the fact remains quarterback is a huge question
mark coming into camp because of inconsistency.
At wide receiver the versatile Leeper, with 27
receptions, is the leading returning receiver
but plays tailback, meaning Hofher must develop
a go-to man from a group that includes sophomores
Tim Dance and Gabe McClover, junior Matt Knueven,
and senior Azzaam Stallsworth who, combined, caught
only 47 passes. There is a chance that redshirt
freshman Brian Watson could emerge as a playmaker
because his size (6-5, 220) can potentially create
matchup problems.
|
|
OT
Zack Love
|
BUFFALO
2003 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters in bold
|
OFFENSE
|
QB |
Randall
Secky-Jr |
P.J.
Piskorik-So |
FB |
Ramon
Guzman-So |
Jared
Patterson-Fr |
TB |
Aaron
Leeper-So |
Dave
Dawson-So |
WR |
Matt
Knueven-Jr |
Brian
Watson-Fr |
WR |
Tim
Dance-So |
Gabe
McClover-So |
TE |
Tom
Shaughnessy-Sr |
Chad
Upshaw-Fr |
OT |
Zack
Love-So |
Luke
Johnson-Jr |
OG |
Alex
Alvarez-Sr |
Dan
Minocchi-Jr |
C |
Eric
Weber-Jr |
Kevin
Dunn-Sr |
OG |
Erik
Zeppuhar-Jr |
Mike
Schifano-So |
OT |
Jeff
Mills-Sr |
Terrance
Miles-So |
K |
Dallas
Pelz-Sr |
Mike
Baker-So |
|
|
2003
DEFENSE
|
written
by Rodney McKissic
Buffalo
ranked 75th nationally in pass defense, ahead
of such teams as Florida State (85th) and defending
national champion Ohio State (95th). But some
of the defense's struggles could be traced to
the Bulls' inability to contain the run. Yet much
like the offensive line, everyone returns here
and at least eight players have some experience.
"Now
a guy knows, 'I can go because I'm not going to
have to play 60 plays,' " Hofher said. "
'I can absolutely explode.' "
Senior Demetrius Austrum will again start at one
end and sophomore Phil Jacques, who had 36 tackles
and a pair of sacks, will start at the other.
Junior Anthony Andriano, who had a unit-best 41
tackles, figures to be in the mix. Sophomores
Rob Schroeder and Bill Meholif return at tackle
as well as senior Rashad Clark and junior Casey
Russell.
At
linebacker senior captain Lamar Wilcher, junior
Rodney Morris and sophomore Bryan Cummings all
return as starters, although senior Chris Clifton
and sophomore Rich Sanders played well in the
spring and figure to push the starters. Clifton,
a hometown product and transfer from Rutgers,
may have been the best of the bunch during the
spring.
There
are serious questions at cornerback. Three-year
starter Mike Lambert is gone as is sophomore Kevin
Concepcion, who is suspended indefinitely following
his arrest stemming from a rape charge. Sophomore
Gemara Williams, who started six games at strong
safety, moved back to corner this spring, while
redshirt freshmen Delando Bradford and Brandon
Smith will compete at one corner.
While
the line appears to be solid, depth is a problem
at linebacker and only senior Obadiah Harris has
experience. Overall, it remains to be seen whether
this young group lost confidence last season.
Buffalo
ranked 103rd in total defense and allowed 34 points
or more eight times. During one benevolent five-game
stretch the Bulls were outscored 221-87 and Marshall
quarterback Byron Leftwich threw for over 400
yards in the first half during a 66-21 Thundering
Herd rout. That would leave any team's psyche
devastated, especially one so young.
|
|
LB
Lamar Wilcher
|
BUFFALO
2003 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters in bold
|
DEFENSE
|
DE |
Phil
Jacques-So |
Aaron
Sanders-So |
DT |
Rob
Schroeder-So |
Casey
Russell-Jr |
DT |
Rashad
Clark-Sr |
Bill
Meholif-So |
DE |
Demetrius
Austrum-Sr |
Anthony
Andriano-Jr |
OLB |
Bryan
Cummings-So |
James
Vann-Fr |
ILB |
Lamar
Wilcher-Sr |
Obadiah
Harris-Sr |
OLB |
Rodney
Morris-Jr |
Chris
Clifton-Sr |
CB |
Angel
Baines-So |
Michael
Arroyo-Fr |
CB |
Gemara
Williams-So |
Delando
Bradford-Fr |
SS |
J.J.
Gibson-Jr |
Ryan
Sherwood-Ericsson-Fr |
FS |
Mark
Graham-Sr |
.. |
P |
Dominic
Milano-Jr |
Dallas
Pelz-Sr |
|
|
|
2003
SPECIAL TEAMS
|
Senior
Dallas Pelz, who was inconsistent all season, and sophomore
Mike Baker will compete through fall camp at kicker.
The new punter will be junior college transfer Dominic
Milano, who averaged 41.6 yards per punt, and is already
considered one of the best in the Mid-American Conference.
|
|
|
|
|