Hear The Roar

Power Rankings

Week 3 matchups:

Missouri Southern at Emporia State

Central Missouri at Pittsburg State

Missouri Western at Washburn

Northwest Missouri at Nebraska-Omaha

Truman State at Fort Hays

1. Missouri Western (2-0, 0-0 MIAA)

Western has been the MIAA’s most impressive team with a 36-3 victory against Mesa State and an 81-14 win against Lincoln. The Griffons are ranked No. 11 in the country; a win at Washburn on Saturday keeps them among the nation’s elite.

2. Central Missouri (2-1, 1-0 MIAA)

Mules continue to put up big points and yards. The Mules, even with playing FCS Illinois State, rank second in the conference in scoring offense at 48.3 points per game and lead the MIAA in total offense at 539.3 yards a game. QB Eric Czerniewski is my pick for MIAA MVP after the non-conference slate.

3. Fort Hays (2-0, 0-0 MIAA)

-Tigers look for first 3-0 start since 1983. Senior quarterback Mike Garrison leads the country in passing efficiency (192.7). The Tigers have enjoyed the best combination of running and passing. They rank fourth in the MIAA in rushing offense and third in passing offense. Missouri Southern is second in rushing offense and fourth in passing offense, but the Tigers have averaged more points and yards per game.

4.  Missouri Southern (2-0, 0-0 MIAA)

Southern has beaten Minnesota State-Moorhead and Lincoln after the first two weeks, two weaker non-conference teams. They’ll face Emporia State on Saturday, one of the MIAA’s traditional bottom feeders, and should be 3-0.

5. Washburn (1-1, 0-0 MIAA)

Washburn, ranked No. 15 in the country, have faced a brutal non-conference stretch with a road game at Colorado School of Mines, a solid Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference squad, and a home contest against Abilene Christian, a top-10 team. The Ichabods have split the two games, winning the former, and had a bye last week. Washburn has had little trouble moving the ball, but are minus-5 in turnover ratio and average 82.5 penalty yards a game, next to last in the conference. Senior wideout Brody Schuler told the Topeka Capital-Journal that for WU, “it’s been a case of shooting ourselves in the foot.” Saturday’s test will mark a key juncture; being 1-2, 0-1 doesn’t bode well for a team that was picked preseason top-10.

6. Pittsburg State (2-0, 0-0 MIAA)

-The Tim Beck era is off to a solid start, though both of the non-conference victories came by a combined 22 points.

7. Truman State (2-0, 0-0 MIAA)

The Bulldogs have won their two games by a combined 13 points. They were picked last in the conference in the preseason; a win against Fort Hays on Saturday stamps them as the MIAA’s surprise team.

8. Northwest Missouri State (0-1, 0-0 MIAA)

Northwest lost its season opener for the fourth straight year and has had two weeks off before starting MIAA play. They have not lost a conference game since 2005.

9. Nebraska-Omaha (0-2, 0-0 MIAA)

UNO’s media relations started a SellOutNorthwest.com Web site for the big home game against the Bearcats on Saturday. FHSU head coach Kevin Verdugo said each MIAA team has its backs against the wall each week in conference play. No team starts in a more precarious position than the Mavericks.

10. Emporia State (2-1, 0-1 MIAA)

Garin Higgins has been pleased with the Hornets’  defense through 3 games. ESU has not won more than two MIAA games in the last four years.

Friday’s HDN looks at the importance of winning the first conference game. The Tigers open MIAA play Saturday against Truman State (Mo.) University for the annual TailGreat contest at Lewis Field Stadium against Truman State (Mo.) University. Game time is 7 p.m. Both teams are 2-0.

Some other conference numbers:

Since Fort Hays joined the conference: MIAA records by each team:

Northwest Missouri 36-0

Missouri Western 24-12

Pittsburg State 24-12

Washburn 23-13

Central Missouri 20-16

Truman State 14-22

Missouri Southern 12-24

Nebraska-Omaha 12-6 (joined the conference in 2008)

Fort Hays 8-28

Emporia State 6-30

Year-by-year conference record for each team since Fort Hays joined (06-07-08-09)

Northwest Missouri: 9-0, 9-0, 9-0, 9-0

Missouri Western: 7-2, 6-3, 5-4, 6-3

Pittsburg State: 7-2, 6-3, 8-1, 3-6

Washburn: 6-3, 7-2, 4-5, 6-3

Central Missouri: 3-6, 6-3, 5-4, 6-3

Truman State: 6-3, 4-5, 3-6, 1-8

Missouri Southern: 3-6, 4-5, 2-7, 3-6

Nebraska-Omaha: 6-3, 6-3

Fort Hays: 1-8, 2-7, 1-8, 4-5

Emporia State: 2-7, 1-8, 2-7, 1-8

Teams that have went to the playoffs and or bowl game in the last 4 years:

Northwest: 06, 07, 08, 09 (defending national champion)

Pittsburg State: 06, 08

Missouri Western: 06, 07, 08, 09 (the last three years have all been Mineral Water Bowl berths, ’06 is the lone playoff appearance in school history)

Nebraska-Omaha: 08, 09

Washburn: 07 (’05 and ’07 are the lone playoff berths in school history)

Last playoff berth for teams:

Emporia State: 2003 (only one in school history)

Central Missouri: 2002 (only one in school history)

Fort Hays: 1995 (’93 and ’95 are the lone ones since FHSU went to NCAA Division II)

Truman State: 1994 (has made four berths in school history)

Missouri Southern: 1993  (only one in school history)

In his weekly press conference Monday, head coach Kevin Verdugo talked extensively about beginning games and playing third down:

One side of the game plan for Fort Hays is formational and the other side is situational. The more formations and motions we have in, the more plays the Tigers will have scripted at the start of the game. FHSU never scripts more than 15 plays or fewer than 10.

“What you want to do for that first 10 for example, I want to see every formation, I want to see every motion,” he said. “That way we can write down on our charts, okay, here is what we did to adjust to that, how they played that formation. Here is how they adjusted to that motion. If you can get two of them in that first 10 or 15, that way you can see it maybe they are going to play it two different ways. After that, you have got an idea on the formational side what to put down for their base what they are playing. For example, those are all first and second down calls.”

On third down, the coaches look at a different list, one that is broken down into different distances. Verdugo uses a chart that is separated into third-and-1 and third-and-2; third-and-3; third-and-4 to third-and-6; third-and-7 to third-and-10; and third-and-11-plus. Verdugo said the breakdown is pretty standard, with the exception of the 3rd-and-3.

” That’s a little bit different. Some people do it that way,” he said. “You probably got a good split in college football and pro football how that is broken down. Third and 3 It is just a little bit of an odd down and distance. Running the football you are taking a pretty good chance.”

Fort Hays has converted 44 percent of their third downs in the last two seasons. Last year, they ranked fourth in the conference in third down conversions. This year, they stand fifth through two contests.

Friday’s paper discusses the quick strike FHSU football offense. The Tigers, off this weekend before they begin Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association play, are 2-0 after the non-conference slate. They’ve outscored opponents 90-43 and put up big offensive numbers on both sides. It’s the most points scored after 2 games in Tiger history since 1913 when FHSU faced high school programs. They’ve been close in a couple years, namely tallying 89 points after wins over Western State and Colorado School of Mines in 2008, but this year does represent the greatest offensive output in 97 years.

One difference is the big play ability of the Tigers. Fort Hays already has six plays of at least 37 yards:

Game 1 versus Western State:

37 non-TD run by James Walker

65 TD run by Mike Garrison

48 TD pass from Mike Garrison to Cordarol Scales

Game 2 versus East Central:

80 TD pass from Mike Garrison to O.J. Murdock

66 TD pass from Mike Garrison to O.J. Murdock

34 TD  pass from Mike Garrison to Cordarol Scales

Last year, the Tigers had 11 such OFFENSIVE (not special teams) plays of 37 or more yards in 2009:

Game-by-Game

1. Western State 0 plays of 37+ yards (13 rush long, 29 pass long)

2. Colorado Mines 1 play (24 rush long, 70 pass long — TD to Murdock)

3. Missouri Western 1 play (11 rush long, 39 pass long)

4. Truman State 1 play (25 rush, 43 pass)

5. Emporia State 1 play (31 rush, 52 pass)

6. Washburn 0 plays (17 rush, 30 pass)

7. Central Missouri 0 plays (13 rush, 24 pass)

8. Nebraska-Omaha 1 play (32 rush, 45 pass)

9. Pittsburg State 1 play (46 rush, 33 pass)

10. Northwest Missouri 3 plays (40 rush, 40, 38 pass)

11. Missouri Southern 2 plays (41, 42 rush; 25 pass)

Notes:  In 2008. a year when the Tigers finished last in the MIAA in scoring offense, they had four plays of 37+ yards (passes of 71 and 78 yards and runs of 88 and 80 yards).

Since 2008, the Tigers are 9-5 when they have a big play of 37-plus yards; 1-9 when they don’t.

In Friday’s HDN, Fort Hays head volleyball coach Kurt Kohler discussed how poorly the middle hitters played last season — and how well freshman Samantha Ledy has looked in practice and during the first tournament. Ledy led the Tigers in hitting percentage and collected 1.71 kills and 0.71 blocks per set as the Tigers opened 1-3. The Tigers start play at the New Mexico Highlands tournament today, a two-day, four-match competition. Ledy has shown consistent aggression and confidence on the court.

Kohler on middles: “Once something  got in (the 2009 middles’) head that they were messing up, it just destroyed the rest of their match and I don’t feel that way with Sam. We got a couple of other middles, Kylie Shufflebarger is that way, too. It doesn’t bother them if they make a mistake. Just come back out and play hard the next play and make up for it.”

Kohler on middle hitter play: “The biggest thing first is to be quick and to work hard out there. It’s nice when you have a middle that can go set a block every time. I am not worried about our middles scoring points on their block as long as they are slowing a ball down and they are forcing hitters to channel a ball to our back row players.”

Kohler on improving blocking for a team that ranked second to last in the MIAA in blocks per game last season: “A lot of it is footwork and reading hitters for the other team. Most high school kids come into any program and they watch the ball too much, so we end up teaching them the entire year, the ball is not changing direction once it leaves the platform or once it leaves the setter’s hand, so take your eyes off the ball and start watching the hitter or the setter instead of the ball.”

Ledy on blocking in the MIAA: ”I would have to agree. Blocking is definitely one of the hardest and I know that has a freshman in D2, I am going to be going against some bigger seniors and juniors and it’s going to be a lot more intimidating. It’s definitely hard to block because you are definitely going to have some powerful hitters.”

Ledy on the 4 upperclassmen: ”The few upperclassmen, they are actually helping us and we are talking. As long as we can communicate and be a team like we do at practice, it will carry over to the games and it will keep us knowing what we need to be and where we need to be on the court.”

Check out Sunday’s HDN for a story on FHSU cross country, but here are some additional notes:

Sixth-year head coach Jason McCullough on his deep girls’ squad:

“We don’t have as much depth up top as say Missouri Southern has or Pittsburg State, but we do have a very solid squad, so I  think it is going to help them train and get a little better throughout the year. I expect good things from them throughout the year.”

Senior Hali Mobley on the closeness of the Tiger team. Mobley is FHSU’s top runner:

“I couldn’t get through workouts without some of those girls, let alone races. Even outside of practice and everything, we are all pretty close.”

McCullough on the emergence of sophomore Danny Simon, a Hays High graduate:

“Danny Simon, he reminds me a lot of myself because he just goes out and trains and trains and he put in a lot of miles this summer and he wasn’t the best high school runner at Hays, but he has really improved a lot by just putting in the work. That is something that I am familiar with, just coming here and not having a successful high school career. A lot of work can get you a lot of places and Danny is the epitome of that, putting in hard work and it’s paying off. He is our fourth-fifth-sixth runner through most of our workouts. He is definitely going to help us out this year.”

Week 2 MIAA Power Rankings

1. Missouri Western State University (1-0)

Griffons rolled to a 36-3 opener over Mesa State College on Thursday. The Griffons tacked on 446 total yards of offense and permitted just 90 on defense. Senior kicker Brad Beckwith made a school record five field goals (33,24,29, 23 and 32 yards). Western moved to 7-2 in home openers under head coach Jerry Partridge.

2. Washburn University (1-0)

Washburn had the stiffest non-conference test of last weekend when they traveled to Colorado School of Mines, a perennial power in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. Turnovers nearly cost the ‘Bods in a 34-29 victory, but Washburn rolled up 611 yards of total offense. They host Abilene Christian, a top-10 team, in the premier Division II game of Week 2.

3. University of Central Missouri (1-1)

Central Missouri continued to put up huge offensive numbers, but lost 55-54 on the road at NCAA Division I Illinois State, a solid FCS school. The game was delayed by 81 minutes by lightning and it rained most of the game, but the Mules and ISU put up big numbers. In Week 1, Central delivered several school records in a win over Southwest Baptist (Mo.) University — and then preceded to break a lot of them again versus ISU — including 547 yards passing, 6 TDs and 40 completions in 62 attempts. Senior quarterback Eric Czerniewski tied the MIAA record with 493 passing yards. While UCM has a loss, its impressive offensive numbers still keep the Mules among the MIAA’s best.

4. Fort Hays State University (1-0)

The Tigers were sluggish early in a 45-20 victory against Western State, but eventually enjoyed the most yards and most rushing yards since 2004. FHSU rant the ball effectively with senior QB Mike Garrison and RBs James Walker, Ricky Jacques and Ed Smith. FHSU was much better on defense after switching back to the 4-3 than they were in the 4-2-5 last season.

5. Pittsburg State University (1-0)

The Gorillas won the first game of the Tim Beck era with a 31-20 road win against University of Central Oklahoma. Zac Dickey, making his first start for the Gorillas, had 111 passing yards and picked up a 47-yard go-ahead TD run with 8:52 left.

6. Emporia State University (1-0), 7. Missouri Southern State University (1-0)

Both of these teams have not played since Week 1 power rankings came out. They should see much sterner tests than their first games.

8. Northwest Missouri State University (0-1)

It was that Northwest Missouri, ranked No. 1 in NCAA Division II and the defending national champions, lost their season opener. They’ve done that the last four seasons. It wasn’t that they lost to a top-25 team in Texas A&M Kingsville — Northwest almost always opens the season against a quality team. It was HOW. The Bearcats lost 16-7 and lost for the second time at home in the last 32 contests. Northwest, which averaged 42 points and 475 yards of total offense in 2009, had six possessions that ended in three and outs and had 204 yards of total offense.

9. Truman State (Mo.) University (1-0)

The Bulldogs defeated St. Joseph’s 23-13 in the first game of the Gregg Nesbitt era. Truman State, though, had just 324 yards of total offense, last in the conference among those that played on the first Saturday. They had to hang on late to defeat probably the weakest team on its schedule.

10. University of Nebraska-Omaha (0-0)

-UNO is the lone team that didn’t play on the first two Thursdays or the first Saturday. They open with Nebraska-Kearney tonight after some teams have already played two contests.

The Fort Hays State University volleyball team opens the season Thursday and Friday at the Texas A&M-Commerce tournament. Head coach Kurt Kohler addressed several topics in the preseason for a team that returns just four players, including three returning starters, off a squad that finished 7-27 in 2009, including a last place showing at 3-17 in the MIAA.

on 16 newcomers, including 14 new freshmen:  “We were horrible last year and we needed to make some changes for this year and it was the right time to do it. We had a group that I felt like we bring back a kid out of each class that could help us out and then go get a bunch of freshmen, see what we could do with them.”

On the Tigers starting two outside hitters in junior Tracie Hileman (5-foot-9) and sophomore MaKayla McPhail (5-foot-9). Both are returning starters. Hileman played OH as a freshman before she started at libero out of necessity as a sophomore after Katelyn Lapham left the squad shortly before the season started. The Tigers will also use 5-foot-10 Camilie Hubert and 5-foot-11 Madison Schwartz, both freshmen. The Tigers are slightly undersized on the outside:

“Really it’s about playing smart. What we want to run is a very fast offense and we talked about it last year, we just didn’t have the personnel to do it. I feel like this year we brought in the kids to where we could speed our offense up a lot. Blockers are not going to be able to get set out there if we really run a quick offense. I don’t think (the height) is going to be a huge factor.”

on 2010′s talent: “Who I might see as a bottom end kid could be a starter for us. It’s all going to be that close and they are all going to be competing every day in practice. It’s going to a tough decision to see who is playing.”

on 2010 outlook:  “I don’t know if we are going to jump out of the gate and be a top-20 team or anything, so it’s going to take us some time. At the college level, kids improve the most through their spring season, especially going through their freshmen and sophomore years. With us having so many freshmen and we may, at any point, may have four freshmen on the floor. Yeah, it’s going to take awhile and we are going to take our lumps I am sure, but I am really excited to get into the spring season where we can work individually with a lot of these players and help develop those skills.”

Friday’s story on the Tiger defense addresses the FHSU’s defense five goals: hold the opponent under 100 yards, hold the opponent to no better than 30 percent third down conversions, allow no explosive plays (rushes over 15 yards, passes over 20 yards), make at least 7 big plays per game (turnovers,big hits, sacks, interceptions, tackles for loss, takeaways) and hold opponents to no better than half of their season scoring average. Fort Hays went 4-for-5 on goals in the season-opening 45-20 win over Western State (Col.) College on Saturday.

They held WSC to 33 yards rushing, 21.4 percent third-down conversion rate, had 8 tackles for loss and permitted no play over 19 yards. They did allow the Mountaineers to score 20 points after WSC averaged 18.4 points per game in 2009.

Last year, they Tigers had trouble meeting any of those 5 goals:

1. Rushing attack

Fort Hays allowed more than 100 yards in every game but one (1-for-11 goals accomplished)

-best game: Colorado School of Mines in Week 2 (17 rushing yards allowed)

2. 3rd down conversions:

Fort Hays never held a team under 30 percent on 3rd down conversions (0-for-11)

3rd down conversions by opponent in each game: (Overall total 1-of-22)

1. 36.8 (Western State College)

2. 35.2 (Colorado Mines)

3. 37.5 (Missouri Western)

4. 41.2 (Truman State)

5. 30.7 (Emporia State University)

6. 42.3 (Washburn University)

7. 58.3 (Central Missouri)

8. 38.4 (Nebraska-Omaha)

9. 76.9 (Pittsburg State University)

10. 53.3 (Northwest Missouri State University)

11. 58.8 (Missouri Southern State University)

3. Explosive plays:

The Tigers went 2-for-22 in this goal in 2009. (Overall total 3-for-44)

In Week 2, they held Mines to a rush long of six yards. In Week 6, they permitted Washburn to a long rush of 14 yards.

The longs by opponent in each game

1. 25 rush, 41 pass

2. 6 rush, 42 pass

3. 28 rush, 49 pass

4. 24 rush, 49 pass

5. 30 rush, 30 pass

6. 14 rush, 51 pass

7. 63 rush, 41 pass

8. 65 rush, 35 pass

9. 46 rush, 41 pass

10. 35 rush, 55 pass

11. 23 rush, 24 pass

The fourth category is a little subjective with the inclusion of big hits. However, if we look just at the objective numbers, the Tigers achieved this goal in 6 of 11 contests. (Overall total 9-of-55)

1. 10 (8 TFLs, 1 forced fumble, 1 blocked kick)

2. 10 (8 TFLs, 2 fumble recovery)

3. 6 (4 TFLs, 1 fumble recovery)

4. 9 (9 TFLs)

5. 13 (8 TFLs, INT, 3 fumble recoveries, safety)

6. 4 (2 TFLs, 2 INTs)

7. 7 (6 TFLs, 1 INT)

8. 6 (4 TFLs, 2 INTs)

9. 5 (5 TFLs)

10. 2 (TFL, FR)

11. 8 (3 TFLs, 5 INTs)

5th goal: one-half of season scoring average. Fort Hays never met this all season. Their lowest point total allowed (Final tally 9-of-66)

Start after Week 1 of 2010 season: 4-of-5

Closest:

Week 2: Mines scored 21 points (averaged 33.1 points for the season)

Week 8: UNO scored 20 points (averaged 32.2 points for the season)

Every week during the season I’ll post my MIAA Football Power Rankings. The MIAA actually kicked off last night with two non-conference games, but the majority of the teams start Saturday.

1. Northwest Missouri (0-0): ranked No. 1 in NCAA Division II after they won the national championship last year. Returns  first team all-MIAA quarterback Blake Bolles, who set the MIAA record for total offense in 2009 with 4,258 total yards. WR Jake Soy is a first team preseason All-American after he caught 92 passes last year.

2. Washburn University (0-0): ranked No. 10 in the preseason coaches’ poll. Washburn returns a host of talented players, including junior quarterback Dane Simoneau, a Salina native who was second team all-MIAA in 2009. Sophomore defensive back Pierre Desir is a preseason first team All-American by several sources. Washburn may also have the best offensive line in the league. Last year, left tackle Bill Boyer, left guard, center Ty Lewis and right tackle Brian Folkerts started all 11 games. Two players, Steve Dieckhaus and Grant Hajek, split the season at right guard. Washburn permitted 11 sacks, a league-best, a number made even stronger considering the Ichabods threw the ball 335  times, sixth-most in the league.

Best O-lines in the league (sacks per pass attempt)

1. Washburn 30.45 (11 sacks allowed/335 pass attempts)

2. University of Nebraska-Omaha 26.92 (14 sacks/377 pass attempts)

3. University of Central Missouri 25.19 (16/403)

4. Northwest Missouri State University 18.69 (26/486)

5. Missouri Western State University 17.38 (21/365)

6. Missouri Southern State University 17.16 (19/326)

7. Emporia State University 15.23 (21/320)

8. Pittsburg State University 15.12 (17/257)

9. Fort Hays State University 13.73 (26/357)

10. Truman State University 10.92 (25/273)

This year, Boyer, Vistine, Lewis, Dieckhaus and Folkherts all return. WU finished in the top-10 nationally in scoring offense last season and could improve this year.

3. Missouri Western (0-0): ranked No. 20 in NCAA Division II. QB Drew Newhart has played in 36 career games, most among MIAA quarterbacks. He is ninth all-time in the MIAA annals for total offense with 7,892 total yards. He could move into first place by year’s end. Neal Philpot, a Norton native who won a MIAA Offensive MVP award with Pittsburg State University, had 10,168 yards from 2001-04. Head coach Jerry Partridge enters the season ranked ninth all-time among MIAA coaches in career wins (95-55).

4. University of Nebraska-Omaha (0-0). No. 15 in preseason poll. MIAA Freshman of the Year Levi Terrell returns at running back. UNO, though, is the lone team in the conference that lost an all-conference quarterback after Greg Wunderlich graduated.

5. Fort Hays State University (0-0): The Tigers bring back plenty of experience on both sides of the ball. Can they break through and win more than six games for the first time since 1996? They have had four six-win seasons since. FHSU will likely have to win at least 7 games to reach the playoffs or one of the two bowl games offered to MIAA teams.

6. University of Central Missouri (0-0): Jim Svoboda takes over as first year head coach with the Mules after Willie Fritz left for Sam Houston State. Svoboda was the quarterbacks’ coach at Montana State the previous three years. All-American tight end DeMarco Cosby and quarterback Eric Czerniewski, the school’s all-time passing leader, return.

7. Pittsburg State University (0-0): Tim Beck, a Ness City native, and PSU’s longtime offensive coordinator, takes over the Gorilla program after Chuck Broyles retired. Broyles is the MIAA’s all-time winningest coach with a 193-41-2 record. His 5-6 mark last season was his first losing record. PSU, though, has fewer starters and all-conference winners back than any MIAA squad. In their preseason information, the Gorillas listed just 7 returning starters, including two on the defensive side. PSU also brings back two all-MIAA players, fewest of any squad. The most decorated player is S Alex Kuhlman, a Ness City native, 2008 All-American and second team all-MIAA last season.

8. Missouri Southern State University (1-0): Missouri Southern picked up a Week 1 victory with a 30-0 home win against Minnesota State-Moorhead on Thursday. They racked up 578 yards of total offense and recorded their first shutout since 2005. Southern, though, did lose two fumbles on the 1-yard line and drove to the 1 another time before they settled for a field goal.

9. Emporia State University (1-0): ESU opened the season with a 27-7 victory on the road against Southwestern Oklahoma State University on Thursday night. The Hornets held SWOSU (1-10 in 2009) to 177 all-purpose yards. ESU, though, was plagued by QB trouble in 2009, an area of concern this fall, too. They finished 9-of-22 with 2 TDs and 2 INTs for 165 yards last night. Tyler Eckenrode and Sheldon Smith both saw playing time.

10. Truman State University (0-0): The Bulldogs have a new coach in Gregg Nesbitt, a Truman alum who previously was the defensive coordinator at Central Missouri for three seasons. The Bulldogs will move a 4-2-5 defensive look after they ranked last among MIAA teams in rushing defense last season. Quarterback Phil Davis returns after he missed four games with injury (team-high 1,264 total yards) and Harnish Ayora won the running back job in camp.