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Brown Football: 2012 Season Preview
9/6/2012 12:00:00 AM | Football
Coach Phil Estes Brown football team has finished second in the Ivy League standings in each of the last two seasons and has finished in the top three in the league in each of the previous six seasons, including an Ivy Championship in 2008. While the Bears lost 10 All-Ivy players due to graduation, Estes expects to re-load with three returning all-conference honorees – senior AJ Cruz, senior tailback Mark Kachmer and senior offensive tackle Jack Templeton - and a slew of veteran players, who are ready for the challenge of bringing the Ivy Championship trophy back to Providence.
OFFENSE
The heir apparent at quarterback is junior Patrick Donnelly, who missed most of the 2011 season due to injury after seeing significant playing time in 2010. Donnelly is a dual passing and running threat, who passed for 411 yards in 2010, completed 43 of 81 passes, and rushed for 114 yards, often out of the wildcat offense. Donnelly, also played basketball at Brown, is extremely athletic and knows the offense.Also expected to compete for a starting role at quarterback is senior John Ryan and sophomore Marcus Fuller.
On the receiving end, Brown's leading receiver from 2011, senior Tellef Lundevall, returns to the lineup after making a team high 51 catches for 516 yards. Lundevall has tremendous athleticism (he also plays basketball for Brown), with exceptional jumping ability. He caught four touchdown passes and also completed a 24-yard pass for a touchdown against Princeton.
Senior Jonah Fay excelled on the gridiron a year ago, making 19 catches for 239 yards and two touchdowns. With the graduation of three significant wide receivers, a slew of newcomers will compete for playing time at the wide-out position. Junior Jordan Evans is an athletic wide receiver who will compete for a starting role, along with sophomore Brian Strachan.
The Bears are solid at tight end and that could translate into an improved rushing attack. Senior Alex Harris and junior Andrew Marks each saw significant playing time a year ago and will battle for the starting nod, with sophomore Alex Viox also in the mix. Harris made six receptions for 36 yards last season, while Marks made four catches for 43 yards.
The Bears are also deep at the runningback position, and will be led by senior Mark Kachmer, a two-time All-Ivy tailback, who led the Bears in rushing with 569 yards on 126 carries. He was named the Ivy League Offensive Player of the Week after rushing for a career high 192 yards against Yale, including a Brown and Yale Bowl record 95-yard run for a touchdown, the fourth longest run in Ivy football history. He actually had all 99 yards in Brown's NCAA record 99-yard scoring drive. His 95-yard run bested the previous Brown rushing mark of 94 yards by Bob Flanders '71, also against Yale in 1968. He also ran for 97 yards against Harvard.
Senior Spiro Theodhosi is making a return after missing the last two years due to injury. Theodhosi, who will be making a bid for the Ivy League's Comeback Player of the Year, is a talented tailback, who ranked second on the 2009 team in rushing with 423 yards on 82 carries. He ran 25 times for a Brown-season best 167 yards and a touchdown against Yale, and rushed 33 times for 138 yards and another touchdown against Dartmouth. Senior tailback Jeffrey Izon is also in the mix at tailback after rushing for 67 yards on 12 carries.
Senior Jackson Freeman and junior Cody Taulbee were staples at fullback and help to create a dynamic Brown offense. Freeman is primarily used as a blocker, but can also come out of the backfield on the receiving end. Taulbee rushed for 55 yards on 19 carries, and caught two passes.
Senior offensive tackle Jack Templeton, a first team All-Ivy selection, is the lone returning starter on the Bears' offensive line. He took every snap at left tackle and played a key role in the Bears' offense that averaged 364.5 yards in total offense and posted 23.6 points per game. The Brown offensive line allowed just 13 sacks for the season. Senior Nate Bernstein was Brown's starting right tackle a year ago and will transition to left guard. Senior Cole Hooper is also experienced after taking 300 snaps at right tackle a year ago. Also competing for starting roles on the offensive line are junior center Nathan Svensson, junior tackle Malcolm Andry, senior center Matt Miller, junior guard Ryan McCourt and senior tackle Clayton Paino.
DEFENSE
Backfield
Brown's defense posted two shutouts in 2011 and the leader of the Brown defensive unit is senior defensive back and co-captain AJ Cruz, a three-time All-Ivy selection, earning first team honors twice. One of the most respected players in the Ivy League, Cruz ranked fifth on the Brown team with 60 total tackles and led the Bears with three interceptions, second best in the Ivy League. A terrific kick returner, Cruz ranked fourth in the nation and led the Ivy League in kick-off returns, averaging 31.15 yards per return. He also ran back a kick-off 83 yards for a touchdown against Dartmouth.
Emory Polly earned a starting role a year ago and responded with 20 tackles and an interception. Sophomores Jacob Supron and Phillip Smith should also contribute. Senior safety Anthony Franciosi saw action in all 10 games in 2011 and registered nine total tackles.
Line
Senior tackle and co-captain Ross Walthall will headline the defensive line after making 20 tackles a year ago. An aggressive pass rusher, Walthall registered two tackles for a loss and a quarterback sack in 2011. He had a big game in Brown's shutout of Princeton with six tackles. Junior tackle Brett Polacek had a sensational sophomore season with 13 tackles on a veteran team.
Senior Patxi Colbern is also a strong force in the middle for the Bears. He made13 tackles, including two for a loss last season. Senior Stephen Fox was also in the rotation a year ago, making nine tackles, including two for a loss. Junior Michael Yules ranked third on the Brown team with 6.5 tackles for a loss and will anchor one of the defensive ends positions.
Linebackers
Senior Stephen Zambetti is the Bears' top returning inside linebacker after making 20 tackles last season. Senior Adam Pelzer, junior Matthew Billeci, senior Reed Watne and junior Brad Herzlich will also look to step up into leadership roles at linebacker. Junior Ade Oyalowo is a hard-hitting linebacker who is looking for a starting role. Sophomore Dan Giovacchini, who played mostly special teams as a freshman, and sophomore Xavier Russo, will also look to contribute to the linebacker corps.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Brown's kicking game is in the capable hands of All-Ivy kicker Alex Norocea, who has booted 22 field goals and has been Brown's leading scorer in his first two seasons at Brown. The Bears will have to replace All-Ivy punter Nate Lovett, and are looking at senior Nate Meyer to fill that role.
AJ Cruz, who ranked fourth nationally in kickoff returns, Kachmer and Jordan Evans all return to the lineup to provide a formidable kick-off return team. Cruz, Franciosi and Evans are all veteran punt returners, giving the Bears an experienced group.
