D3Football.com Bullets Preview
Here's more from the D3Football.com season preview. Following is what they have to say about the 2007 Bullets:
Gettysburg Bullets
Last playoff appearance: 1985
Last year: 5-5, 3-3 CC
Last conference title: 1985
Wins increase from 05-06: Plus-1
Preseason ranking: 117 of 238
Head coach: Barry Streeter, 29th year, 141-137-5
Starters returning: 17 (six offense, nine defense, one special teams)
Position battle to watch: Interior o-line. Gettysburg has been the top rushing team in the Centennial for the past two seasons and allowed a league-low 11 sacks in 2006, but lost two second-team all-conference players to graduation. At center, junior Joe Selimo - a converted defensive lineman - and sophomore Drew Somerville figure to battle for the starting spot. At guard, junior Lou Mastrini and soph Alex Bonder have the inside track, but coach Barry Streeter stresses that several freshmen could push for the job as well.
Pressure is on: The entire defense. In 2006, Gettysburg finished last in the conference in rushing defense, passing defense and total defense. But with all nine starters back, including all-conference linebacker Harold Barton, improvement will be expected. If the team's inexperience was a detriment last year, it should provide a boost this year. "We were playing some guys, learning a lot on the field," Streeter said.
Where did he come from? Junior defensive end Conor Quinn was second on the team with three sacks last year, but the leadership he provides may be even more valuable: Quinn has served two tours of duty in Iraq with the U.S. Marine Corps. The second tour saw Quinn and his unit deployed to the city of Fallujah, where he was a scout sniper; he was also awarded a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with combat distinguishing service, according to the school. "The guys really respond to him," Streeter said.
Their season will be defined by: Success in unfamiliar environs. The Bullets have lost their last 16 away games, a stretch that reaches into the 2003 season. That's particularly important this year, since four of Gettysburg's first six games are on the road; Hampden-Sydney in Week 2, Johns Hopkins in Week 3, Ursinus in Week 5 and Moravian in Week 6. If that streak continues for any length of time, it could make for a long season.
Predicted record: 3-7, 2-6
Capsule: Top offense in the Centennial Conference, worst defense, a .500 record. A better balance could mean more success for Gettysburg this year. The offense seems fine: Sophomore quarterback Matt Flynn has a full season under his belt, and two key linemen – Jay Hagerman and Sam Walthall – return, as does tight end Pete Meggers. The key to the offense, tailback Tom Sturges is back for his final season; he’s led the conference in rushing two straight seasons, was 10th nationally in 2006 and was the only player in the league to break 1,000 yards on the ground. He’s currently 13th in the conference in career rushing; another 1,000-yard season would vault him to sixth all-time. Defensive improvement, both on the ground and through the air, is a must. While those numbers weren’t pretty, the Bullets’ defense proved it could force turnovers, taking the ball away 21 times, third-best in the league. Gettysburg’s +7 turnover differential was also best in the league. Improvement, in fact, is to be expected. All nine starters are back; four of them – defensive backs Kyle Luciano and David Rodriguez and linebackers Harold Barton and James Holubowich – were in the top six in the conference in tackles.
Gettysburg Bullets
Last playoff appearance: 1985
Last year: 5-5, 3-3 CC
Last conference title: 1985
Wins increase from 05-06: Plus-1
Preseason ranking: 117 of 238
Head coach: Barry Streeter, 29th year, 141-137-5
Starters returning: 17 (six offense, nine defense, one special teams)
Position battle to watch: Interior o-line. Gettysburg has been the top rushing team in the Centennial for the past two seasons and allowed a league-low 11 sacks in 2006, but lost two second-team all-conference players to graduation. At center, junior Joe Selimo - a converted defensive lineman - and sophomore Drew Somerville figure to battle for the starting spot. At guard, junior Lou Mastrini and soph Alex Bonder have the inside track, but coach Barry Streeter stresses that several freshmen could push for the job as well.
Pressure is on: The entire defense. In 2006, Gettysburg finished last in the conference in rushing defense, passing defense and total defense. But with all nine starters back, including all-conference linebacker Harold Barton, improvement will be expected. If the team's inexperience was a detriment last year, it should provide a boost this year. "We were playing some guys, learning a lot on the field," Streeter said.
Where did he come from? Junior defensive end Conor Quinn was second on the team with three sacks last year, but the leadership he provides may be even more valuable: Quinn has served two tours of duty in Iraq with the U.S. Marine Corps. The second tour saw Quinn and his unit deployed to the city of Fallujah, where he was a scout sniper; he was also awarded a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with combat distinguishing service, according to the school. "The guys really respond to him," Streeter said.
Their season will be defined by: Success in unfamiliar environs. The Bullets have lost their last 16 away games, a stretch that reaches into the 2003 season. That's particularly important this year, since four of Gettysburg's first six games are on the road; Hampden-Sydney in Week 2, Johns Hopkins in Week 3, Ursinus in Week 5 and Moravian in Week 6. If that streak continues for any length of time, it could make for a long season.
Predicted record: 3-7, 2-6
Capsule: Top offense in the Centennial Conference, worst defense, a .500 record. A better balance could mean more success for Gettysburg this year. The offense seems fine: Sophomore quarterback Matt Flynn has a full season under his belt, and two key linemen – Jay Hagerman and Sam Walthall – return, as does tight end Pete Meggers. The key to the offense, tailback Tom Sturges is back for his final season; he’s led the conference in rushing two straight seasons, was 10th nationally in 2006 and was the only player in the league to break 1,000 yards on the ground. He’s currently 13th in the conference in career rushing; another 1,000-yard season would vault him to sixth all-time. Defensive improvement, both on the ground and through the air, is a must. While those numbers weren’t pretty, the Bullets’ defense proved it could force turnovers, taking the ball away 21 times, third-best in the league. Gettysburg’s +7 turnover differential was also best in the league. Improvement, in fact, is to be expected. All nine starters are back; four of them – defensive backs Kyle Luciano and David Rodriguez and linebackers Harold Barton and James Holubowich – were in the top six in the conference in tackles.
posted by Pat McConnell | 9:24 AM
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