The Roaring Dragon
Ramusok Capital University's Official Student Newspaper
Ramusok Capital University's Official Student Newspaper
Season Preview: RCU Football to return to spotlight?
Will Danielson, Staff Writer
Will Danielson, Staff Writer
Snorri Andersen has brought in talented recruits. He has implemented an innovative training regimen. He has even hired a high-priced defensive architect in Jarpen Spoonemore to shore up RCU's weaknesses. All in an effort return the Dragons to NSCF championship contention. Indeed, the head coach has changed plenty since his dire first season in which RCU failed to make the playoffs for the first time since NSCF 9. So far though, he hasn't changed enough to lift RCU back to the heights achieved under predecessor Darren Howard.
Andersen's fair hair, boyish freckled face and soft-spoken persona are betrayed by a real steel in his eyes when he speaks about the upcoming season. He knows that with two full seasons under his belt, his tenure has reached put-up-or-shut-up territory.
"The expectation at Ramusok Capital University is to win championships. In the Horizon Conference and in the NSCF Playoffs. When I took over this program, we had just accomplished both. Obviously, we haven't won either since, and I take full responsibility for that. But we're building something here, and I believe the ship is being steered in the right direction. We were one win away from the NSCF Championship Game last year. This year, we will take that next step if everyone works hard and does their part."
While the 8-2 conference record and semifinals appearance Andersen produced in NSCF 13 would normally be considered a strong season, any pride in Ramusok was snuffed out by the fact that rival Stoneshore College one-upped RCU on both counts. The southerners, increasingly RCU's benchmark for success in NSCF, went 9-1 to win the conference and knocked the Dragons out of the playoffs.
Nothing will be good enough at "the finest public research university in Cosumar" unless it is better than their most immediate competition. And with Stoneshore looking more and more formidable each season under Walter Hufnagel, lifting the NSCF trophy might be the only way to definitively ascend higher than the Bruins.
However, a large class of graduating seniors has left a young team in its wake - particularly on offense. Do the new faces of RCU Football have what it takes to take that "next step" that Andersen preaches about? To win championships?
At quarterback, fourth-year junior Taron Thalman is the surefire starter after a long wait for his turn. Fans have called for him each of the last two seasons whenever Enok Rye or Tobias Engel struggled, and now they finally have their chance to see the one-time #1-recruit take the reins. Thalman is a traditional, prototypical pro-style quarterback. Tall, broad-shouldered with a cannon arm and plenty of confidence in his placement. He can make a variety of throws down the field or short into tight spaces, which should make RCU's spread-offense's more dangerous than it has been since Brandon Reigner graduated. He is athletic enough to occasionally slip a tackle or two and pick up a first down, but does not have the speed to offer a true dual threat. But thanks to his throwing prowess glimpsed in practice, Thalman is already being hailed as the savior and hero of RCU Football without having played a single game. If he can deliver on even half of the hype, the Fiefdom's flagship school will have a fine season.
Catching his supposedly-divine passes will be explosive sophomore Seth Greenman, the blazing-fast deep threat, and Thoumen Kuyengall, the seasoned senior possession-receiver. They are the two main-men, but after watching RCU's practices all offseason, I also like freshman Piet Talaat to emerge as a third threat from the slot on a personal hunch. Though small, his crafty running and quickness could make defenders leery. Soren Tjellgren will also step in to fill the big shoes of Rodney Battle at tight end. Tjellgren is a blocker of real mettle, but his ability as a receiver is unproven.
Critical to the success of this new-look offense will be Nic Perrantes, the primary vestige remaining from NSCF 13. He is an elusive downhill runner who surpassed all expectations last year to lock down the #1 running back spot en route to a season worthy of NSCF Offensive MVP consideration.
The fans will remember that the true unsung hero of our NSCF 10 Championship was Avery Broddick," Andersen said. "He was brilliant down the stretch, which took a lot of the pressure off Brandon Reigner and allowed him to elevate his execution of the offense. Heck, Lawrence Northcutt did the same back in one of our other best seasons: NSCF 2. All of the best RCU teams have had a dominant runner at their heart."
Though he wan an unheralded recruit out of high school, Andersen clearly believes that Perrantes has the potential to fill a similar role. Based on what we saw last year, you shouldn't doubt it. Besides, he won't have to carry that torch completely alone - Ziram Fischibe is a talented change-of-pace back who had his moments last year as well. Most of the uncertainty about the offense, however, lies among the five who will be blocking for them.
The offensive line is anchored by 8"3 Quebecois center Tyson Bailey (a presence that strikes fear into the heart of every poor nose tackle who has to line up against him) and Codal Kouyate (the best right tackle in Cosumar) but is otherwise inexperienced. NSCF 13 standouts Magnus Peusen and Dmitri Philippovich are now plying their trade in the CFL. Snorri Andersen will instead start three first-year starters in Stiliyan Na'Moute, Merlin Gunn and Fabio Turilli. Two of whom (Gunn and Turilli) are true freshmen who were only 3-star recruits out of small high schools six months ago. This inexperienced unit may take a few weeks to warm up to the battle of the NSCF trenches. In a Horizon Conference that will see the return of former contenders Freedom's Altar and Sacred Heart, in addition to the juggernauts of Stoneshore and South Seas, these are weeks that the Dragons might not be able to afford. Thalman and Perrantes will not fulfill their mutual promise if they are pinned in the backfield every-other play.
At least Andersen doesn't have that problem on the defensive line, which looks like the strongest group RCU has fielded in recent memory.
Fearsome defensive tackle Vaber Dandurand is a common early pick for NSCF Defensive Player of the Year. He surprised pundits by foregoing the draft to return to RCU for his senior season after placing first on the team in tackles for loss and second in sacks in NSCF 13. His interior partnership with sophomore Kol Chessmore, the prize of RCU's recruiting class three years ago, should be in one of the best in the collegiate world. Both are top-notch run-stoppers who excel at beating guards inside quickly off the snap. Most of the pressure on the outside will come from the right - where senior Wester Galbraith has gradually sharpened his pass-rush game over the last several seasons. Andersen will also start an all-senior linebacker corps, Cygnus Cason being the leader of the bunch and possibly the player with the highest ceiling on the entire roster. CFL and national team scouts are foaming at the mouth at his combination of freakish athletic ability, playmaking tendencies and football understanding. Look for him to be a starter for Cosumar in the next World Bowl. In his senior season he just needs to improve his consistency, having had a couple "off" games in NSCF 13.
There's a little bit of uncertainty surrounding to cornerback position, but Andersen has plenty of options to work with to find the right combination. As of now, Alex Na'Tomis looks like the pick of the bunch. Fifth-year senior Daryl Norling is the locker room leader and a hard worker, therefore penciled in as Week 1 starter, but has never had the physical tools of Vloo standout Na'Tomis and may eventually sacrifice his spot if a youngster like Curinho or Ansel Silverwyk impresses. Luckily, the corners are in good hands with safety blanket Gilan Nairn being the most reliable of presences up top at free safety. He is a new starter, but was all over the place throughout the offseason scrimmages, constantly disrupting passing lanes and displaying phenomenal instincts.
"Player for player, this probably the deepest and most talented team we've had in my three years here - especially on defense," Andersen said. "The coaching staff has been very impressed by the effort and skill of the team throughout training camp. We will be ready on Week 1."
It's a season that could go in any direction for RCU and its embattled coach. They will field an improved defense. They will field a better quarterback. Yet, the heavy turnover on offense could signal a slow start. All in all, they are good enough to contend...but so are all the other teams in the Horizon Conference. 4-6, 7-3 and 9-1 records are all equally feasible depending on how certain factors play out. It will take something close to perfection for the Dragons to meet the goals that have been set and guarantee Anderson a fourth year in the capital, but the sky is the limit at Ramusok Capital University.
It all starts at Capital Coliseum this weekend as the Dragons welcome Sacred Heart University of Yesopalitha back to Cosumar for the first time since NSCF 7. In that edition, RCU won both meetings: 28-14 on the road and 20-7 at home. RCU finished 8-3 and lost in the first round of the playoffs, while Sacred Heart missed the playoffs at 4-8.
