SWX Right Now-Sports News for Washington and IdahoWhitworth opens fall camp with high expectations

Whitworth opens fall camp with high expectations

Bucs believe defense is "vastly" improved

SPOKANE, Wash. - Ask John Tully what he thinks of this year's team, he'll tell you what most coaches say off the cuff: "I think we have a chance to be pretty good".  But get him talking long enough, and he'll back it up with evidence.

The Pirates opened fall practice on Monday with just a little over two weeks to get ready for arguably the toughest game of the season: a Sept. 5 road game against No. 5 Hardin-Simmons in Texas.

"They're rated No. 5 in the country and it's a great opportunity for our guys to showcase their abilities and maybe where we're at," said Tully.

Whitworth returns eight players on offense, and eight players on defense this year (Photo: SWX)

On display that Saturday will be team that returns eight players on defense and eight players on offense, including Adam Anderson.  The senior running back from Elk, Wash. led the NCAA in all-purpose yards last season, averaging 243.8 yards per game.  He ran for 1,259 yards last year and shattered the Pirates' single-season touchdown record.

And he's just part of Whitworth's arsenal.  At quarterback, Tully said he expected to do what he did last year, rotating between Andrew Durant, from Spokane and Cub Jansen, from Mukilteo, Wash.  The two sophomores gained valuable playing time last season because of an injury early on in the season to starting QB Kory Kemp.  Durant and Jansen combined to complete 38 of 57 passes for 506 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions.

"We have key talent throughout the offense," said Tully earlier in the month before practice began.  "And so many defensive guys were thrust into playing situations that the game experience they gained has led to dramatic improvement."

Defensively, Tully said his team would be solid, despite battling injuries to several key players during 2008.

"We're going to be aggressive," he said.  "We don't want to give up the big play, but we want to create turnovers."

The defense will, like last year, center around Brandon Martin.  The defensive lineman from Sweet Home, Ore. is a two-time All-NWC tackle who led the Pirates with 8.5 tackles for a loss and four sacks last year.  Nate Hadley, from Mulilteo, Wash. and Cameron Stroyan, from Chewelah, Wash. will return as starting linebackers for the team.

"Our defense is improved vastly," said Tully.  "With the experience, we have eight guys on both sides of the ball, and offensively I think we have the skilled people that can make the game exciting."

The Bucs finished in third place in the NWC last season despite all the injuries.  This year they think they have the personnel in place to make things happen.

"There's a lot of energy," Tully said of his first day in camp.  "We have high expectations.  The guys worked hard during the offseason - the returners.  And the new guys, there's a tremendous excitement with those guys to see what their opportunities bay be."

The season begins Sept. 5 for the Pirates on the road in Texas against No. 5 Hardin-Simmons.  The Pirates will be seen on TV three times in the Spokane, Tri-Cities and Yakima areas, with games on Sept. 26 (vs. Chapman), Oct. 10 (vs. Linfield) and Oct. 31 (vs. Pacific Lutheran).