Memphis Tigers looking for someone to help Williams

The Memphis coach got lucky when the running back who led the nation with 22 rushing touchdowns decided against the NFL draft where he was a likely first-round pick so he could return to the Tigers for his senior season.

But West lost seven starters from his offense, including four-year starting quarterback Danny Wimprine and four of five offensive linemen. That could make it tough to improve on consecutive bowl appearances, back-to-back winning records for the first time since 1962-63 and the first ranking ever — No. 25 in The Associated Press poll.

“This is why he came back,” West said of Williams. “I told him, ‘You made the decision to come back.’ Boy, all this has been great. There’s been a lot of hoopla, and he’s been to every banquet. But now it’s time to play ball. This is the reason you came back.”

After going 8-4 and losing to Bowling Green in the GMAC Bowl, the Tigers find themselves in a league reshaped by all the movement between conferences, with Louisville, Cincinnati, Texas Christian and South Florida gone and replaced by six members.

Memphis now is in the East Division with Marshall, East Carolina, Southern Miss, UAB and Central Florida.

West has three players vying to replace Wimprine, the best quarterback in school history with more than 10,215 yards passing and 81 touchdowns.

His likely replacement is Patrick Byrne, who originally picked Memphis because the Tigers agreed to let him try playing quarterback when other schools wanted him as a kicker. His only game experience is at kicker handling kickoffs, while he has played quarterback only in practice.

Byrne is athletic enough that he can run 4.52 seconds in the 40-yard dash, and he worked with the injury-plagued Tigers basketball team for three weeks and got into two games in 2002 for coach John Calipari.

Helping Byrne make the adjustment will be Williams.

Memphis has started a Heisman Trophy campaign featuring a die-cast model car featuring Williams’ No. 20 in the school’s blue and gray colors. He earned the publicity after rushing 313 times for 1,948 yards last season, which was third nationally.

“We’ve got to be creative in moving DeAngelo Williams around and not letting people get a bead on us.”

Williams will have his chance to impress Labor Day on national television against Mississippi and a visit to Tennessee on Nov. 12. Memphis visits early favorite Southern Miss on Nov. 19.

Coordinator Joe Lee Dunn has been busy working to improve a defense with seven starters back.

The Tigers allowed an uncharacteristic 418 yards per game in 2004. They gave up a league-high 49 TD passes and gave up more than 49 points in a game three different times.

“I think our defense realizes they didn’t play well enough a year ago,” West said. “As you continue to move on, you want to see them with a chip-on-your-shoulder attitude about wanting to improve. That’s one of the keys to our team — that we’re better defensively.”

The run defense struggled the most, giving up 142 yards rushing per game, which was 32 yards more per game than in 2003.

West dipped into the junior college ranks for help. He has Donald Thornton at linebacker and defensive backs LaKeitharun Ford and Brandon McDonald.

“But what I really want to see is some of the guys that have been around get better. That’s what I’d love to see because they know what we are doing,” West said.

Each of the starting linebackers return along with tackle Marcus West and defensive back Wesley Smith — a pair of All-C-USA preseason picks. They don’t want to repeat their mistakes of 2004.

“Last year it was us not finishing out plays,” linebacker Tim Goodwell said. “Right now it’s all about doing our assignments the right way the first time. When you play for Coach Dunn, with his reputation, you don’t want to let him down.”

A quick look at the 2005 Memphis Tigers
Coach: Tommy West, fifth season, 25-23 record, 60-58 career.

Home stadium: Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium.

2004 record: 8-4 overall, 5-3 conference

Returning starters: four offense, seven defense.

Key players: Offense — RB DeAngelo Williams will be the key to an offense that lost QB Danny Wimprine and four offensive linemen. But QB Patrick Byrne spent the past three years learning from Wimprine, and he has a handful of receivers back led by Maurice Avery. Defense —The entire linebacking corps is back on a unit led by tackle Marcus West and DB Wesley Smith.

Best bets: Williams will provide a ground game if a line featuring only LT Willie Henderson as a returner can provide some blocking, and he has a chance to lead the nation in rushing. Defensive coordinator Joe Lee Dunn won’t allow the Tigers to struggle on defense for a second straight year.

Questions: Byrne has played well in spring games, and his first snap from center in a regular season game will be his first. But he has proven to be an athlete and could take the pressure off Williams.

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SCHEDULE:

Sept. 5—Mississippi

Sept. 17—Chattanooga

Sept. 24—at Tulsa

Oct. 1—UTEP

Oct. 8—at Central Florida

Oct. 15—at Houston

Oct. 22—E. Carolina

Nov. 1—UAB

Nov. 12—at Tennessee

Nov. 19—at Southern Miss

Nov. 26—Marshall