Post by Sly Fox on Aug 14, 2005 7:56:15 GMT -5
It appears the first 2 paragraph deletions continue on the web version of the stories. But here is Chris' story ont he offensive line. BTW, anybody on campus have any inside info ont he seriousness of Inge's injury?
www.newsadvance.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=LNA%2FMGArticle%2FLNA_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1031784432216&path=!sports
LU's young offensive line looks to Ferguson, Inge for leadership
By Chris Lang
Lynchburg News & Advance
August 14, 2005
When Ferguson stepped on Liberty University's campus after a successful career at Heritage High School four summers ago, he was quiet, almost timid, not exactly the most flattering way to describe an offensive lineman.
"And now, he's a man," Liberty coach Ken Karcher said. "He's a mature, very physical, strong leader. It's what you expect from a fourth-year guy."
Ferguson's biggest change has come from within. Still, he's not wholly comfortable talking about himself or the many accolades heaped upon him in the preseason. He is one of two Flames - Kevin Inge is the other - who was named to the preseason All-Big South team. And suddenly, he is an unquestioned leader on an offensive line that is both talented and frighteningly thin.
It's taken some time to draw out those leadership qualities, but they are there, just like that edge, which comes out when Ferguson is challenged in practice by a defensive end, and he takes the defender down while giving his running backs room to run.
"I remember back when I was first starting, I looked up to the older guys, so I know that the younger guys look up to me," Ferguson said. "I'm more of an encourager. I'll tell guys, 'Even though you didn't do things right the first time, continue trying and work hard at the basic things.'"
Ferguson and Inge are the only starting linemen returning from last year, but that doesn't concern Karcher much. He projects right guard Jarrett Winfrey, left tackle Steven Sene and center Britt Stone to join right tackle Ferguson and left guard Inge in the starting lineup when LU opens the season Sept. 3 against Concord (W.Va.). Inge will undergo an MRI on his banged up left knee Monday or Tuesday, but initial reports are that the injury is not serious.
Stone's a redshirt freshman, but the other four starters are juniors or seniors. Sene comes in as a highly touted transfer who started his career at South Carolina.
He admits he needs to get in better shape during the next few weeks, and when he does, the offensive line should be "our bedrock," Karcher said.
"With our front five, we should be able to bulldoze anything," Inge said. "Nobody should be able to get to (quarterback) Brock (Farrel). He should be able to sit back in the pocket all day."
If one of the five starters gets hurt, though, Liberty could be in some trouble. The top backups are Rhett Parson, who is still recovering from arthroscopic knee surgery, and Chris Luck, a converted tight end. The rest are freshmen who are still feeling their way around. That's readily apparent during practice when the second team line comes in, and the false starts come with a much greater frequency.
"We've got a bunch of young bucks that are swimming right now," Karcher said. "They're trying to learn. They've got nice potential, but how fast they can catch on will be an issue."
Blaine McCorkle, who took over for departed offensive line coach Mike Hand in late July, likes the athletic potential of the starting group. He hasn't tried to change too much since arriving at LU, but has worked on helping his linemen improve subtle, technical aspects of their game.
"Footwork, eye placement, hand placement," McCorkle said. "It's a lot of little things that go into making an average offensive lineman a good offensive lineman, and a good offensive lineman a great offensive lineman."
He especially likes what he sees in Ferguson, who has transformed into a pro prospect in the last four years. Liberty strength and conditioning coach Bill Gillespie, who worked with the Seattle Seahawks and the University of Washington before returning to Lynchburg, said Ferguson has the sort of balance that pro scouts love. There are no glaring weaknesses in his game.
"They look a lot for I-AA players," Gillespie said. "What they're willing to do is to take a player from a smaller school and really develop him and give him an opportunity to grow. I could see Markus being that type of guy. I'd love to see Markus get that chance.
"He's a great kid with a great work ethic, and he's a fun guy to be around."
By Chris Lang
Lynchburg News & Advance
August 14, 2005
When Ferguson stepped on Liberty University's campus after a successful career at Heritage High School four summers ago, he was quiet, almost timid, not exactly the most flattering way to describe an offensive lineman.
"And now, he's a man," Liberty coach Ken Karcher said. "He's a mature, very physical, strong leader. It's what you expect from a fourth-year guy."
Ferguson's biggest change has come from within. Still, he's not wholly comfortable talking about himself or the many accolades heaped upon him in the preseason. He is one of two Flames - Kevin Inge is the other - who was named to the preseason All-Big South team. And suddenly, he is an unquestioned leader on an offensive line that is both talented and frighteningly thin.
It's taken some time to draw out those leadership qualities, but they are there, just like that edge, which comes out when Ferguson is challenged in practice by a defensive end, and he takes the defender down while giving his running backs room to run.
"I remember back when I was first starting, I looked up to the older guys, so I know that the younger guys look up to me," Ferguson said. "I'm more of an encourager. I'll tell guys, 'Even though you didn't do things right the first time, continue trying and work hard at the basic things.'"
Ferguson and Inge are the only starting linemen returning from last year, but that doesn't concern Karcher much. He projects right guard Jarrett Winfrey, left tackle Steven Sene and center Britt Stone to join right tackle Ferguson and left guard Inge in the starting lineup when LU opens the season Sept. 3 against Concord (W.Va.). Inge will undergo an MRI on his banged up left knee Monday or Tuesday, but initial reports are that the injury is not serious.
Stone's a redshirt freshman, but the other four starters are juniors or seniors. Sene comes in as a highly touted transfer who started his career at South Carolina.
He admits he needs to get in better shape during the next few weeks, and when he does, the offensive line should be "our bedrock," Karcher said.
"With our front five, we should be able to bulldoze anything," Inge said. "Nobody should be able to get to (quarterback) Brock (Farrel). He should be able to sit back in the pocket all day."
If one of the five starters gets hurt, though, Liberty could be in some trouble. The top backups are Rhett Parson, who is still recovering from arthroscopic knee surgery, and Chris Luck, a converted tight end. The rest are freshmen who are still feeling their way around. That's readily apparent during practice when the second team line comes in, and the false starts come with a much greater frequency.
"We've got a bunch of young bucks that are swimming right now," Karcher said. "They're trying to learn. They've got nice potential, but how fast they can catch on will be an issue."
Blaine McCorkle, who took over for departed offensive line coach Mike Hand in late July, likes the athletic potential of the starting group. He hasn't tried to change too much since arriving at LU, but has worked on helping his linemen improve subtle, technical aspects of their game.
"Footwork, eye placement, hand placement," McCorkle said. "It's a lot of little things that go into making an average offensive lineman a good offensive lineman, and a good offensive lineman a great offensive lineman."
He especially likes what he sees in Ferguson, who has transformed into a pro prospect in the last four years. Liberty strength and conditioning coach Bill Gillespie, who worked with the Seattle Seahawks and the University of Washington before returning to Lynchburg, said Ferguson has the sort of balance that pro scouts love. There are no glaring weaknesses in his game.
"They look a lot for I-AA players," Gillespie said. "What they're willing to do is to take a player from a smaller school and really develop him and give him an opportunity to grow. I could see Markus being that type of guy. I'd love to see Markus get that chance.
"He's a great kid with a great work ethic, and he's a fun guy to be around."
www.newsadvance.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=LNA%2FMGArticle%2FLNA_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1031784432216&path=!sports
