football: And the marks are in . . .
Mike Raptis, The Peak
Many words can be used to describe Simon Fraser's winless season thus far. How about disappointing, or demoralising? Maybe defeated is a better choice, or even disastrous? But encouraging? Is it possible for someone to have a positive outlook on an 0-5 team without being called insane? Well, call me crazy because, in retrospect, this team has finally come together and is playing as a unit for the first time all year.
The defense still looks a little suspect, but other than that this team has reason to hold its head up high and look forward to playing some quality football. This year, the emergence of quarterback Jason Marshall has unfolded before our very eyes, and as he goes, so too does the receiving core. Also not to be overlooked are all-star, leading CIS kicker Luca Congi, and a few key individuals on defense.
Although there have been many lows this season, these kids don't quit, and their fighting spirit will definitely resonate well into next year, with better results in the win-loss column. Here's my assessment on their 2005 campaign thus far:
Offense
Quarterback: Growing pains aside, 3rd-year quarterback and 1st-year starter Jason Marshall is slowly, but steadily, coming into his own as a bona fide 1st-string CIS quarterback. Just don't look at his numbers to prove it. Marshall has thrown for 738 yards (6th in the CanWest) at a 45 per cent (50/111) completion rate. He has also thrown for five touchdowns and a minimal four interceptions.
In addition, his running game has been a bright spot, as the agile and athletic quarterback keeps defenses on their toes with his two-pronged pass-run attack. Most importantly, Marshall has been progressively better from week one onwards, and is effectively becoming an on-field leader. Considering his 1st-year status and improving numbers, Marshall has been solid, and will only get better. Grade: B
Rushing: Runningback Marty Kipps, now SFU's all-time rushing leader, has been consistently good, and occasionally great, in his final hurrah as a Clansman. He has averaged 113.6 yards a game while gaining an above-average 5.3 yards per carry. Over his five-year career at Simon Fraser, Kipps has eclipsed the likes of Mike Vilimek and Sean Millington (who both went on to star in the CFL) in total yards rushing: an accomplishment that should turn some heads in the pro ranks.
This year, Kipps has been unstoppable on some nights (169 yards vs. UBC) and just average on others (70 yards vs. Calgary). 2005 hasn't been a career-year for Marty, but with three games to go, don't be surprised to see him go out with a bang. Grade: B-
Receiving: Prior to the start of the season, the feeling around the team was that the Clan may not have had the best receiver in the CIS, but quite possibly had the best group of receivers the league has to offer. Well, things have not panned out as expected, as SFU's receiving core has had limited success in 2005. But in all fairness, their effectiveness has been dictated by a rookie quarterback who's still acclimatising himself to the rigors of his position.
Wide receivers Russ McKinlay and Jesse Costello have been consistent, with both amassing over 200 yards in receptions. Expect Chris Passaglia to emerge as the go-to guy for the Clan after a breakout, two-touchdown performance in the heartbreaker we all know as the 2005 Shrum Bowl. Overall, once Marshall hits his stride, so will the receivers - they're just too good not to. Grade: B-
Offensive Line: So far, the O-Line has had a mediocre 2005 campaign. Quarterback Jason Marshall has been sacked 12 times over the last five games - not exactly a superb job of protecting a 1st-year starter who needs time to adjust to the pace of the game. On the plus side, the O-Line has done a fine job creating holes for RB Marty Kipps to charge through, as his solid numbers would indicate. Grade: C+
Defense
Defensive Line: As the supposed backbone of the team this season, Simon Fraser's veteran defense has been more like its Achilles' heel, being buried by both the opposition's passing and running game. The D-Line has allowed the opposition's running backs to trample all over them, giving up an average of 7.0(!) yards per carry while only garnering seven sacks all season. They have been unquestionably assaulted by opposing runningbacks (Manitoba's Darwin Thompson: 187 yards; Calgary's Stephen Hughes: 174 yards) and have had limited success getting to the opposition's quarterback.
Michael Little, one of the lone D-Line standouts, has put together a solid season thus far, accumulating 37 tackles, placing him fifth in the CanWest division. Grade: C
Defensive Secondary: Like the defensive line, SFU's secondary has yet to live up to its pre-season billing, being torched by opposing quarterbacks and burned by receivers. The secondary has allowed an average of 21 points per game in the air, which outscores SFU's entire offensive output on a game-to-game basis. Simply put, the defensive secondary isn't giving Simon Fraser a chance to win, not in the least. Grade: C-/D
Special Teams
Field Goals/Punting: Kicker Luca Congi has been a model of consistency this season, converting field goals at an 81 per cent rate (13/17) as well as pounding his punts for an average of 42 yards. With these great numbers, it is no surprise that Congi is regarded as one of the best, if not the best, kicker Canadian university football has to offer.
Even the professionals agree. At the Shrum Bowl, a key scout for the CFL's Montreal Alouettes raved about the prospect of drafting Congi, who, according to the scout, should be expected to be a sure-fire first-round selection when it's his time to join the professional ranks. Congi has been Mr. Automatic this season, only pulling an O'Mahony once this season, missing the mark on a game-winning field goal in the Shrum Bowl. Sure, it wasn't the best time to miss a kick, but Congi has been effective all year and will only get better in stomach-churning high-pressure situations. Grade: A
Fans
Did anyone realise this team plays home games? The turnout of 10,000+ fans per game in Quebec is not expected, nor is the 5,000+ fans per game in Ontario. But to average under 1,000 fans per game (967) is highly disappointing, especially when opposing teams get an average of just under 2,000 fans to park their butts in the seats. As an extension of the team, fans can make or break the outcome of a game. With some more support and a better atmosphere to play in, this team will feed from the support and only play better. Grade: D