Pre-Season Roundup

Jacks hopeful depth emerges at linebacker

By DANIEL BERK  Sun Sports Staff   Sunday, August 10, 2008   

Jerome Souers' defense calls for three starting linebackers. If it were up to linebackers coach Andy Thompson, though, he'd throw six players out there.

No, the second-year coach isn't doubting Souers' system, he just knows the importance of having quality depth at the linebacker position. "Our goal is to always have a group of guys that can play," Thompson said. "We don't really care who starts, but how much depth we have. We want those guys to play really hard and if you play really hard, it's hard to play for a lot of snaps in a row."

Thompson's unit, which returns five players who saw significant playing time last season, still doesn't feature a senior. Instead, NAU is planning on starting three juniors in Cody Dowd, Zac McNally and Stevon Thomas. Although those three will start, Thompson is hopeful that junior Kainoa Pe'a and sophomores Scott McKeever and To'o Samuelu will also see time as well.

"We do have some experience back, which is nice," Thompson said. "We're returning five guys that played last year and we still don't have a senior. The biggest goal for us is to get better each day. It sounds simple, but some times during camp, it's not always that easy."

McNally and Dowd each had stellar seasons last year as sophomores. McNally was named newcomer of the year on defense by the coaching staff after the '07 season and finished fifth on the team with 49 tackles and four tackles for loss. He also tallied an interception at Weber State.

McNally, who played at three different schools during his first three years of college, is a lot more comfortable now, not only because he knows the system better but also because he's used to working with Thompson.

"I know exactly what he wants and what his expectations are," McNally said. "It's very clear what his expectations are and what's being asked of us. I know he feels comfortable putting any of us in there because we are all capable of making plays."

Dowd, meanwhile was an All-Big Sky honorable mention pick and started nine of the Jacks' 11 games as a sophomore. The Phoenix North product recorded 35 tackles and four tackles for loss.

"Cody had an awesome year last year. He's got a great nose for the ball," McNally said. "Last year, we were really young. Now, we've all been around the program for a year or two and we're all more comfortable. The communication has been great all camp."

Thomas joins the linebacking corps after playing two seasons at Chaffey College in Rancho Cucamongo, Calif. Thomas, who had 72 tackles, 18 tackles for loss and four sacks last season at Chaffey, joined the Jacks in time for spring practice and has been impressing coaches and teammates since he arrived at NAU.

"He's what we're looking for at that position," Thompson said. "He's very quick and has good feet. A lot of people passed on him because he's not real tall, but he makes up for it with how strong he is and how fast he is.

"The biggest thing with him is to get his conditioning up so he can play at a high level for a long period of time."

McKeever, Pe'a and Samuelu all played as backups last season. Samuelu played in four games and had 10 tackles. Pe'a added 12 tackles in nine games and McKeever chipped in with 16 tackles in seven games.

COMMUNITY SERVICE

The Jacks don't have a practice scheduled for Monday, but they will still be busy in the community with a couple of service projects.

Several players will appear at Flagstaff Junior Academy on Monday at 8:30 a.m. While they are there, they will work with reading groups with younger kids while mentoring older kids on the importance of grades, setting goals, being positive and remaining drug free.

In the afternoon, some NAU players will work with the Flagstaff Youth Football Program at the Continental Little League fields. They will conduct kids through specific drills and discuss the importance of academics.

TWO-A-DAYS

NAU held two practices on Saturday, its first time doubling up this camp.

In the morning, the team focused more on individual drills and were broken down into positions. In the evening, the Jacks focused more on team-oriented drills and more group work.

NAU will hold one practice today and then will be given its first off day of camp on Monday.

Daniel Berk can be reached at 556-2251 or dberk@azdailysun.com.