2008 Woodie Awards
Balanced offense will be key for Rock football in 2007
By Adam Brewer
Rocket Sports Editor
Issue date: 4/27/07 Section: Sports
Mihalik is also happy with the fact that the Rock has six home games on the season. The Rock has typically had only five per year.
"To have six home games is a plus for the university and the program," Mihalik said. "It's an excellent way for the fans to get involved in the football season early, and as a team will need to get ready for that early slate of home games."
Besides playing Seton Hill to start the season off, the Rock will travel to Bowie State in week three. The Rock will play each of its six divisional opponents, plus games against Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Eastern Division foes Millersville, Kutztown and East Stroudsburg.
The Rock, which went 7-4 overall and 4-2 PSAC West last year, will need a balanced and consistent offense this year if they have hopes of winning the division and advancing to the national playoffs.
SRU is led on offense by four-year senior starting quarterback Nate Crookshank. Crookshank has improved in each of his prior years, and in 2006 he had career highs in touchdowns (19), passing yards (2,080) and completion percentage (61.6).
Offensive coordinator Vic Campagna said that he has experienced what a four-year starting quarterback can do for a team in the past.
"Nate has shown improvement in every year under our offensive system," Campagna said. "This spring, he has done a very good job of reading the secondary and making the proper audibles."
Fighting for the backup quarterback job are freshman Brandon Frohnapple and redshirt freshman Brad Galvan.
Campagna said that the two are fairly equal and that he will let them battle it out in the spring game and training camp to see who will claim the No. 2 spot.
In the backfield, the Rock will welcome back junior running back Corey Manfull, who did not play in the '06 season because of a hand injury. Manfull is likely to start the season as the main back, but Campagna said that the two experienced backs that took Manfull's place last year - sophomore Travis Sarver and freshman Damarcus Cleckley - add depth to the running back situation for the Rock.
"To have six home games is a plus for the university and the program," Mihalik said. "It's an excellent way for the fans to get involved in the football season early, and as a team will need to get ready for that early slate of home games."
Besides playing Seton Hill to start the season off, the Rock will travel to Bowie State in week three. The Rock will play each of its six divisional opponents, plus games against Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Eastern Division foes Millersville, Kutztown and East Stroudsburg.
The Rock, which went 7-4 overall and 4-2 PSAC West last year, will need a balanced and consistent offense this year if they have hopes of winning the division and advancing to the national playoffs.
SRU is led on offense by four-year senior starting quarterback Nate Crookshank. Crookshank has improved in each of his prior years, and in 2006 he had career highs in touchdowns (19), passing yards (2,080) and completion percentage (61.6).
Offensive coordinator Vic Campagna said that he has experienced what a four-year starting quarterback can do for a team in the past.
"Nate has shown improvement in every year under our offensive system," Campagna said. "This spring, he has done a very good job of reading the secondary and making the proper audibles."
Fighting for the backup quarterback job are freshman Brandon Frohnapple and redshirt freshman Brad Galvan.
Campagna said that the two are fairly equal and that he will let them battle it out in the spring game and training camp to see who will claim the No. 2 spot.
In the backfield, the Rock will welcome back junior running back Corey Manfull, who did not play in the '06 season because of a hand injury. Manfull is likely to start the season as the main back, but Campagna said that the two experienced backs that took Manfull's place last year - sophomore Travis Sarver and freshman Damarcus Cleckley - add depth to the running back situation for the Rock.
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