2007 Memphis Tigers football preview

Memphis Tigers

2006 Record: (2-10, 1-7)
Coach: Tommy West (34-38 at Memphis, 69-73 overall)

Starters Returning: 15 (7 offense, 7 defense, 1 specialist)

Offensive Starters Lost: WR Mario Pratcher, WR Ryan Scott, OL Blake Butler, OL Stephen Schuh

Offensive Starters Returning: QB Martin Hankins, RB Joseph Doss, WR Earnest Williams, TE Brett Russell, OL Abraham Holloway, OL Brandon Pearce, OL Andy Smith

Defensive Starters Lost: DT Rubio Phillips, CB Dustin Lopez, S Brandon McDonald, S Wesley Smith

Defensive Starters Returning: DT Corey Mills, DE Clinton McDonald, DE Greg Terrell, LB Heath Grant, LB Greg Jackson, LB Quinton McCrary, S Brandon Patterson

Starting Specialists Lost: P Michael Gibson

Starting Specialists Returning: K Matt Reagan

How quickly things changed for Memphis. The Tigers went from bowl victors in 2005 to a 2-10 team in 2006, and that counts a win over Chattanooga. If it were not for an upset victory at UTEP to end the campaign last year, Memphis would have absolutely no momentum heading into Coach Tommy West’s sixth year at the helm.

2007 Memphis Offense:

Yet, thanks to the return of a bevy of skilled players, this year just cannot be as bad as last year. Quarterback Martin Hankins needs to make smarter passes, but he has the potential to have a quality senior campaign. A trio of talented receivers will help him out. Duke Calhoun led the squad with 681 receiving yards and six touchdowns and will be Hankins’ main target yet again. Earnest Williams proved to be another quality receiver and Carlos Singleton, at 6-8, is a great target in the red zone and showed what he could do during the spring. Steven Black, a junior college transfer who once signed with Louisville, will add even another threat to the receiving corps.

Running back Joe Doss was the lone rushing threat in 2006, but the power back will have some company in the backfield this year. T.J. Pitts and Miguel Barnes are expected to see more carries and make a much bigger impact as sophomores. With the return of linemen Brandon Pearce and Andy Smith, the Tigers will have a more effective running game this year and that could be enough to open up the offense.

2007 Memphis Defense:

The defense was nothing but deplorable last year. Coach West installed a 4-3 defense early last season and now he has Rich Kravitz, former coordinator at North Carolina State, to run his defense. It cannot get any worse; that is for sure. In fact, it could get a whole lot better. The front line that was nothing but inexperienced, is now a slightly more veteran group. Josh Weaver, Steven Turner, Greg Terrell and Jada Brown were all freshmen and the first year excuse will not fly anymore. Juniors Corey Mills and Clinton McDonald return to their spots in the middle of the line and need to do a better job leading the group.

The linebacker unit returns in tact with Heath Grant, Greg Jackson and Quinton McCrary. Adding some much needed depth is junior college transfer Tommy Phelps who could earn a starting job in the middle. The secondary is in trouble again and where returnees have helped the front seven, departures will cripple the secondary. Brandon Patterson, the lone returning starter, is moving to safety from cornerback and will be the leader of the young unit.

The Bottom Line for the Tigers:

The Tigers lost five games by six points or less and the team was not as awful as their record indicated. The defense was pretty bad, but the experience can only help. Filling the holes in the secondary is a must and the whole team found some more depth thanks to a healthy group of junior college transfers including offensive lineman Cody Stubblefield, cornerback LeRico Mathis and defensive tackle Fred Barnett.