TOWSON, Md. - As he prepares for his second season as the head football coach at Towson University, Rob Ambrose will welcome 51 returning letter winners, some promising "red shirt" freshmen and a handful of newcomers when the Tigers open their 2010 spring practice session on Friday, April 2.
The Tigers are scheduled to have 15 practices over the next four weeks before they hold their annual Black-and-Gold Spring Game on Saturday, May 1 at 12:30 p.m. at Johnny Unitas® Stadium.
The Tigers' spring practice sessions are not open to the public.
However, the team is planning to schedule a public practice session on Burdick Field sometime in April.
"Mentally, we are leaps and bounds ahead of where we were last year at this time," says Coach Ambrose. "Physically, I think we are also in better shape. Our number one goal for the spring is to get better fundamentally. We are also planning to do a lot more work schematically."
Coach Ambrose is anticipating a very competitive spring season.
"We are expecting that our veterans are going to be pushed by our younger players," says the Tiger coach. "Just because a player was a starter in the past, it doesn't mean that position belongs to him. Everyone needs to get better and I've been pleased with the strides we've made."
The Tigers' offensive line might be the most unsettled part of the team. Due to the fact that injuries claimed a number of linemen last season, there are a number of players with experience.
Last season, the Tigers started four different players at left tackle, five different players at left guard, three players at center and four players at right guard. Dan Bridges, the starting right tackle for the last four years, was the only lineman to start every game last season and he graduated.
"When I'm asked about returning starters, I don't know what to say about the offensive line," says Ambrose. "We probably have ten returning starters on the offensive line."
Senior Steve Jordan, a two-year starter at center, is the anchor of the offensive line. He missed the final five games of the 2009 season and the team's performance suffered.
"We have high expectations for Steve Jordan," admits Ambrose. "His knowledge and experience are crucial to the success of our offense. Steve is the quarterback of our offensive line and his loss was very significant last season."
Senior guards Chris Ritter and Chuck Taylor are also competing for a starting position while juniors Derek Cardaci and Henry Glackin are among the top veterans at tackle. Glackin, a starter at tackle in 2008, missed most of last season with a shoulder injury.
One of the Tigers' objectives in the spring will be finding a tight end to replace John Godlasky, who graduated. Sophomore Tony Zaccarelli leads a contingent of candidates for the spot.
The Tigers' corps of wide receivers was hit very hard by graduation. Senior Hakeem Moore is the top returning receiver. The team leader in all-purpose yards the last two years, Moore tied for the team lead last season with 28 receptions for 286 yards and scored one touchdown. Sophomore Tom Ryan is coming off an impressive season in which he caught 18 passes for 190 yards. Sophomores Erron Banks and Alex Blake will also contribute as wide receivers.
Coach Ambrose likes the depth that the Tigers possess at running back. Senior Jas Lee Rouson is the most experienced running back and he is trying to come back from knee surgery.
Sophomore Tremayne Dameron returns after leading the team in rushing last season. Dameron was the Tigers' workhorse in the backfield with 177 carries for 588 yards and a team-leading eight touchdowns. Sophomore Dominique Booker ran for 218 yards last year and he should see more action this season. A pair of "red shirt" freshmen, Nygee Carmichael and B.J. Greening, is also part of the Tigers' backfield plans.
"We are deep, we are young and we are talented at the running back position," says Ambrose. "It would be nice to see Jas Lee make a comeback from rehabbing his knee. We could use his experience."
Juniors Paul Stefanik and Tyler Wharton are the top returnees at fullback.
Sophomore Peter Athens started at quarterback in the first six games of the 2009 season and passed for 691 yards and six touchdowns. He suffered a serious knee injury against Delaware and missed the balance of the season. Athens will not be participating in spring football, providing an opportunity for the Tigers' other quarterbacks to get some playing time.
Newcomer Chris Hart, a transfer from Georgia Military College, will be competing for playing time with senior Jeremy Jayne and sophomore Brian Potts. Sophomore Tommy Chroniger could also be part of the mix at quarterback.
Jayne appeared in three games last season and threw for 302 yards. Potts played in five games and passed for 391 yards. Chroniger started three games and threw for 183 yards and two touchdowns.
However, Chroniger has earned his own position on the Tiger football team - "athlete."
Coach Ambrose sees Chroniger playing a number of positions this season. He says, "Tommy could be a fullback, a tight end, a wide receiver, a quarterback or whatever. He is just a great athlete and he gives us a number of options. We are going to use him wherever he can help us."
On defense, the Tigers have nine starters returning although those nine starters may not be playing in the same roles this season. Senior Yaky Ibia, who made 52 tackles last year, is the top veteran on the defensive line. Sophomore Frank Beltre, who made 43 tackles in 2009, returns at defensive end while junior Marcus Valentine is back at defensive tackle.
Junior Rob Osborne and sophomore Matt Morgan will also be competing for playing time.
"Some of our defensive linemen have really developed," says Ambrose. "We need them to keep working and keep getting better."
Sophomore Danzel White, the team leader with 105 tackles last season, returns to lead the crew of linebackers. Senior Donte Blakey and sophomore Romale Tucker, who had 54 tackles, also return. Junior Danny Collins, a two-year starter at safety, has been moved to linebacker. Collins made 66 tackles last year, second on the team.
According to Coach Ambrose, the Tiger secondary has plenty of experience but lacks depth.
Seniors Ollie Thomas and Jeremy Gardner return as the starting cornerbacks. Thomas made 47 tackles last season while Gardner was third on the team with 64 tackles.
Senior Ray White, who made 48 tackles last season, is a returning starter at strong safety. He led the team with three interceptions in 2009.
Sophomore Jordan Dangerfield, a transfer from Hofstra, is a strong candidate for a starting position in the secondary. Dangerfield started eight games as a freshman at Hofstra. He made 23 tackles and led the Pride with two interceptions. He transferred to Towson when Hofstra eliminated its football program.
Juniors Josh McCants and Nick Oates should see action in the secondary while sophomore Dwayne Price will also contribute.
Senior Nick Wallace, a transfer from the University of Maryland, will try to nail down the place kicker position in the spring while Eric Hart will compete for the punting job.
"We are looking forward to a productive spring," says Coach Ambrose. "For the most part, we are one year older and one year stronger."
The Tigers are scheduled to open their 2010 season at Indiana on September 2.
