LSU has BCS ambition after 2011 loss to Alabama
September 12, 2012
Quarterback no more: Caston ready to be a receiver
September 12, 2012
The Nicholls State football team lost three games by 10 points or fewer last season – one of the toughest seasons in school history.
With a slew of returnees from that bunch, the Colonels believe now is the time to right the ship.
Improvement is on everyone’s minds in Thibodaux as Nicholls seeks to use last season’s struggles as motivation in its quest to return to competitiveness within the Southland Conference.
“Last year, we just couldn’t catch a break in any facet,” Nicholls head coach Charlie Stubbs said. “But we believe we’ve had a good offseason and we believe we will be in a position this year to where we can better control our fate on every given Saturday. We’re bigger. We’re stronger. And we have more bodies. We think this year will be the best team we’ve had since I’ve been here.”
Offensively, the Colonels return several starters from last season’s unit that was ravished by injuries.
Despite returnees, Nicholls will have a change under center.
Junior quarterback Landry Klann started the season as the Colonels’ signal caller, taking over for senior LaQuintin Caston, who shifted to wide receiver.
Klann completed 36-of-57 passes for 377 yards, two touchdowns and six interceptions in 2011.
His teammates believe he will have a solid season as full-time starter.
“Having Landry back there and just knowing his poise in the huddle and on the field will be a huge help,” senior offensive lineman Gerald Gruenig said. “Landry is ready for this. He puts in a lot of hard work and he watches a lot of tape and his preparation is top-notch. He will really make the most of this opportunity.”
“We have faith in him. We trust him,” junior linebacker Siegan Vergenal agreed. “We really think our offense will be improved.”
With Klann taking the majority of the offensive reps, the Colonels will now be able to feature Caston in their passing game and as a Wildcat quarterback.
Caston completed 93-of-177 passes for 870 yards with eight touchdowns and nine interceptions in 2011.
He also rushed for 707 yards with five scores.
The senior said he embraces the position change because it will give the Colonels the opportunity to play its best 11 offensive players.
“Last year when I was on the field, Landry and the other quarterbacks weren’t,” Caston said. “Now, we can all be on the field making plays together. It’s like if you’re in a fight or are in a battle or something, you want all of your best weapons out there working together. Now we’re able to do that.”
Moving Caston to wide receiver is a big change within Nicholls’ offense.
But the team’s biggest change will arguably come along its offensive line.
The Colonels have a fresh stable of big bodies ready to try and move defenders.
Gruenig will anchor the unit as a returning starter.
He will be joined by San Jose State transfer left tackle Abasi Salimu, freshman right guard Brandon Holmes and juniors Eric Alt and Joe Bonner.
Stubbs said he believes the team’s linemen will be vastly improved in performance and depth this season.
“They all came in over the summer and worked hard,” Stubbs said. “That’s a hard thing to do. Every day we’re getting a little bit better up front. … It’s really important for them to play well. If we play well up-front, we can do a lot of things. That’s been a hard thing to recruit. Everybody’s fighting for linemen.
“The skill guys? There’s plenty enough of them to go around. But everyone is fighting to try and grab as many linemen as they can. We finally feel like we’re in a position to where we can have a little depth there.”
Defensively, Nicholls is looking to build on last year’s group that was one of the strongholds of the team.
The Colonels return close to its full allotment of starters from last year’s team – a group that consists of Vergenal, senior Jordan Piper, junior Jordan Hanberry and senior Kerry Guidry.
Piper said he believes the group will be better than it’s been at any time during his career.
“I think it’s definitely safe to say that,” Piper said. “We’re just looking to mesh and to build on all of the things that we’ve built to this point. If we do that, I don’t see any reason why we can’t have a solid season.”
“They are looking awfully good,” Stubbs agreed. “They did a lot of things well last year, too, so they are looking to build on that success. We have a lot of guys out there who are really fast to the football and who aren’t afraid of putting their pads on someone. That’s something we like to see.”
The best aid to any defense is offensive success.
Piper said he believes the team’s improvements on offense will make the defense better.
“The team with the best defense is the team that doesn’t have to play very much defense,” Piper said with a laugh. “When we get out there and move the ball more this year, it will be a big help to us. We’ll be able to relax and be more rested for crunch time.”
Crunch time.
That’s a period of the game that is on everyone’s minds in Thibodaux.
The Colonels had just a 1-10 record last season, but they were involved in several close games.
Added depth, a year of experience and a new attitude is what they believe will put them over the top in similar situations this year.
“It will be different this year,” Piper said. “We all have that different mindset and that little bit of added hunger. It’ll be better for us this time around.”
“Attitude goes a long way in the game of football,” Caston added. “That little bit extra is what makes the difference in a close win and a close loss. I think we went through a lot of bad things last year. But I think in the end, it will mold us and make us better.”
Stubbs doesn’t know exactly what the final win/loss record will be – no one does.
But one thing is for sure.
He believes his team has come a long way in his tenure as coach.
“Everything is so much better than it was two years ago when we played South Alabama,” Stubbs said. “By no means have we arrived at anything, but we’re a lot better football team than we were back then. We have a lot more depth and we have more kids that understand what’s expected and we have more kids who are physically ready. We’re excited for the season and excited for the opportunity to try and compete with the teams in our conference.”
Nicholls State quarterback Landry Klann (No. 6) prepares for a snap as Colonels coach Charlie Stubbs (left) looks over his shoulder. After winning just one game in 2011, Nicholls hopes to turn its luck around in the new season with Klann as its starting quarterback and prior starter LaQuinton Caston playing wide receiver.
