WMU opened its second full week of the 2011 spring season on Tuesday morning with a non-tackle work out, focusing on team sessions. The Broncos bring back a bevy of running backs and a now experienced quarterback in All-MAC selection Alex Carder. The one area that needs to be successful for the rest of the offense to work is the offensive line. Getting them ready is new coach A.J. Ricker.
It seems a little strange to call Coach Ricker a "new" coach. Bronco fans already know him and is pedigree. He joined the WMU football staff in 2006 as a graduate assistant. After the 2007 season, Ricker stayed on as the program's offensive line assistant during the 2008 campaign. The Klein, Texas, native moved on to St. Joseph College in Rensselaer, Ind. (home of Terry Davisson) in 2009 and was promoted to offensive coordinator. Ricker was recognized as the Great Lakes Valley Conference Assistant Coach of the Year.
Ricker parlayed that accomplishment into a season as head coach for the Pumas after their former head coach, Lou Esposito, joined WMU as its defensive line coach in 2010.
Ricker's task is very clear. He needs to find out who will be the ones to replace the interior of the Bronco offensive line; one that had been together since 2007. Gone are Phillip Swanson, Nick Clemens and Nick Mitchell. Returning are Kevin Galeher (who is sporting a phenomenal beard these days), Dann O'Neill and Athony Parker.
Parker has moved to left guard, switching O'Neill over to left tackle. Greg Peterson has been inserted as the new starting right tackle and Galeher will assume starting duties at center on a full time basis after spot starting over the past two seasons. The pleasant surprise for Western Michigan in 2010 was the play of Davisson.
Davisson, a redshirt freshman a year ago, worked his way from spelling Parker due to injury to registering three starts by the end of the season. As of now, he is slated as the starting right guard.
Josh Hadel and Ben Samson are also working in and getting reps this spring, as is Ali Kassem and Jon Hoffing. All will need to be ready to go as the offensive line is an area where staying healthy is paramount to success and if one man goes down, another needs to be there to take his place.
Coach Ricker, celebrating his 31st birthday on Tuesday, took a moment to assess the spring seasons thus far, where there are areas to improve and what he has been impressed with up to this point of spring season.
