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The 2007 UW-Stout football season is going to be a season all about change.
Change with long-time assistant coach Duey Naatz taking over as the team's
head coach. With a new coach comes a new way of doing things. The Blue Devils
will have a somewhat different look on offense under first year offensive
coordinator Sean Hoolihan and a different look on defense under first year
defensive coordinator Clayt Birmingham.
The Blue Devils also graduated much of their offensive firepower, both at
the skills positions and in the line. The same was true on the defensive
side.
But Naatz said the outlook is good for the 2007 season.
"As a program, we have talked about taking care of yourself and doing
things the right way, both on and off the field," Naatz, who begins
his 18th season at Stout, said. "We have become more involved in the
campus and community. Since the first day, we have moved forward. There
are a lot of positive things going on within our program and we are excited
about what the 2007 season brings. They have learned a new offense and a
new defense. I think we will be fine.
"With nearly 20 seniors, there is no reason we can't compete this year."
Offensively, Stout will need to replace some top notch players. Both running
back Ryan Englebert and wide receiver Jesse Wendt found themselves in NFL
camps last spring - plus three longtime regular starters on the offensive
line and fullback Sam Weber will need to be replaced.
Leading the charge up front for the Blue Devils will be returning starters
Dustin Tervelt (Sr, Boyd) and Jamie
Hinker (Sr, Greenwood). Tervelt has started the last three
years on the offensive line, while Hinker is a two-year offensive starter.
(He played defense as a freshman).
Marko
Obrovac (Sr, Green Bay) and Jacob
Haag (Sr, Maribel) saw time last year, as did Cody
Weltzin (So, Cadott). Throw 325-pound Jake
Graycarek (So, Green Bay), Weston
Spiering (So, Green Bay) and Isaiah Skenandore (So,
West DePere) into the mix and the Blue Devils have a good array
of front row performers.
"We have a lot of experience up front, but not a lot of depth,"
Naatz said. "We don't know for sure where everyone is going to play."
Chase
Unbehaun (Sr, Chetek) is the front runner at the tight end
spot, and Naatz expects a solid year from him.
"He has got all of the skills and tools," Naatz said.
Naatz expects Unbehaun to be pushed by Butch
Weigel (Jr, Rib Lake), Casey
McGinley (So, Mt. Horeb) and Pat Mengelkoch (Fr, Champlin,
Minn).
"I think we could see a double tight end formation, if these guys progress
like we think they will," Naatz said.
In the backfield, Tanner
Kattre (Sr, Abbotsford) has assumed much of the quarterback
duties over the last two years.
"Tanner has proven himself as a competitor," Naatz said. "This
is a guy that wants to win."
Kattre last season was the team's second leading rusher with 443 yards for
a 3.6 yard per carry average. Kattre rushed for eight touchdowns and threw
for five, while completing 101-of-184 for 1037 yards.
Kyle
Provos (So, Brooklyn Park, Minn) is expected to push Kattre.
Provos saw limited time last season. Kyle
Opahle (Sr, Kenosha), a transfer last season, could also see
time, if he recovers from a knee injury that saw his 2006 season end early.
Andy
Reese (Sr, Lodi) is looking to return to the form that made
him a first team all-conference choice during his sophomore year when he
led the team with 979 yards and a 4.8 yards per carry average, not bad for
a 5-9 back. Reese started off well last year, but was injured early and
Englebert went on to assume much of the tailback responsibility. Reese averaged
4.7 yards per carry last season and finished with 314 yards. Also at tailback
will be Ron
Fricke (So, Monticello, Minn) and transfer Tyler Moe
(So, Blue Mounds).
Tony Otto (Sr, Chetek) has been a role player for the Blue Devils, mostly
on special teams, the last several years, and now is his time to step into
the spot light, at least as much as a fullback can.
John
Sherman (Cokato, Minn) and Ryan
Ament (Jr, Grand Meadows, Minn) should compete at the fullback
spot.
With Hoolihan, a former quarterback at UW-Eau Claire, running the offense,
Naatz believes the Blue Devils will throw the ball more this year.
Shawn
Korth (Sr, Marshall) and Dan
Lytle (Jr, Darien) both saw considerable time as receivers
last year and both should figure into the mix.
Korth is not very big, but has been known to make plays, Naatz said.
"In a way, Korth resembles our football program," Naatz said.
"He does things the right way. He makes plays. He really improved himself
as a receiver this spring."
Korth, who returned punts (22-for-146 yards) and kicks (3-for-74 yards),
hauled in 14 receptions last season for 152 yards and his first career touchdown.
Lytle caught five passes for 53 yards. Both averaged nearly 11 yards per
reception.
One of the most intriguing moves has former quarterback Ryan
Stanton (Sr, Janesville) moving to a wideout spot. At 6-4,
Stanton should be a good size target - plus, he knows the offense very well.
"Ryan sees this as an opportunity to play, and wants to take advantage
of his senior year," Naatz said.
Kyle
Martin (So, Hubertus), Dustin
Lehman (Sr, Clintonville) and Calvin White (Fr, Benton
Harbor, Mich) round out what should be a deep receiving corp.
Defensively, the Blue Devils move from a 3-4-4 formation to a 4-2-5 formation
that Birmingham brought with him.
"We believe this defense gets more speed onto the field," Naatz
said. "It is a simple defense, a pressure defense, but it allows us
to play fast. Teams will see a different look from us."
Naatz believes his defensive line has a lot of depth, and that depth will
allow the line to be more active.
Two seniors, Grant
Daigle (Sr, Tomahawk) and Matt
Kuenzli (Sr, Lakeville, Minn), have been regulars on the defensive
line the last few years. Daigle led the team last year with three sacks.
Kevin
Stenson (Sr, Burlington), Scott
Riha (Jr, Green Bay), Nate
Newholm (So, Burlington), Neil Simmons (So, Wausau)
and Greg Towner (So, Onalaska) all are active players that
give the defensive line perhaps the most depth of any position on the team.
But it will be Stephen
Schils (Sr, Green Bay) who will anchor the Blue Devil defense
from his linebacker position. Schils is coming off an all-conference season
that saw him make 71 tackles and 10 tackles for loss. Schils is also opportunistic,
pouncing on two fumbles and forcing a fumble on an extra point that solidified
one of Stout's few wins last year.
"Schils is a natural, instinctive linebacker that plays very fast,"
Naatz said. "He is a true leader who leads by example."
Kyle
Seiler (Jr, Rockford, Minn) and Andy
Towner (Jr, Onalaska) appear to be the front runners for the
other linebacking spot, but will be pushed by Justin
Kulesa (Jr, Thorp), Jacque
Ince (Jr, Barron), Mike Purtell (Fr, Waterford)
and Brian
Saaf (So, Bloomington, Minn).
In the defensive backfield, Wendell
Eskridge (Sr, Milwaukee) will play strictly at cornerback.
Playing between cornerback and safety last year, Eskridge had eight pass
break ups and had 27 solo tackles.
"Wendell is a fast, talented kid," Naatz said.
The other cornerback spot should be a battle between Arinze
Ikemefuna (Jr, Bell Canyon), Andrew
Jeske (So, Glenwood City) and Marty
Platek (So, Inver Grove Heights, Minn).
Jake
Pomputis (Jr, Owen) had a very strong 2006 season, finishing
as the teams' fourth leading tackler with 52, making 12 in one game. Playing
as a linebacker in 2006, Pomputis is looking to move to free safety.
Brock
Stimson (Jr, Lakeville, Minn), Justin
Crooks (So, Wausau), Chad
Parker (Jr, Fond du Lac), Marshall
Lehman (Jr, Edgar), Andrew
Reidinger (Sr, Green Bay) and Shay
Lehman (So, Edgar) are expected to vie for the two other safety
spots.
In the kicking game, Kyle Martin is going to take a look at punting and
will go toe-to-toe with Brandon
Raciborski (Jr, Eau Claire) for the placekicking duties. Raciborski
last year made 20-of-24 extra points and nailed five field goals.
"After some adversity in the off-season, with all of the changes, this
group has done a good job of moving forward," Naatz said. "We
want them to be a part of everything, not just football. We want the entire
community and campus to be proud of what we are accomplishing."