Highway65
08-04-2006, 05:30 PM
There isn't even a hint of a smirk on Kevin Sears' face when he says he fears for playing time this season.
Sounds odd coming from a guy considered to be one of the stalwarts of a defense expected to be the strength of this Missouri State football team.
Defensive coordinator D.J. Vokolek likes knowing his veterans aren't going to be kicking back in their La-Z-Boys during fall practices, knowing their jobs are already sewn up.
"It's going to be really, really interesting to see who emerges between all of those guys," Vokolek said. "There is some depth and good players, so that's going to create some competition among those guys."
It would still be a surprise if Sears didn't assert himself as one of the leaders of a deep linebacking corps. A 6-foot-2, 245-pound junior, the Kansas City native ranked second behind fellow linebacker Derrick Byrd last season with 86 tackles.
Known as a cerebral player, senior linebacker Michael Evans calls Sears "Questions."
" 'Questions' is the man to go to," Evans said with a laugh. "If you have anything you need to know or don't know what you're doing, Kevin is the man. He is the teacher on the field. And he can play. Some guys know what to do, but they can't play.
"It's a big help to have somebody on the field that is directing guys and telling them where to be."
Sears made an immediate impact for the Bears in 2003 out of Rockhurst High School, starting five games and accounting for 40 tackles as a freshman.
A broken leg forced him to miss the 2004 season, but he came back even stronger as a redshirt sophomore.
Evans went through the same thing last year, missing the entire season with a broken arm.
"He was there for me when I was having a hard time and I was there for him," Sears said. "It's never easy when you have to sit out. There's nothing anybody can really tell you to make you feel better. Having Mike back adds an intensity to practice and means some hard hitting. He brings an edge out there that we might not have otherwise."
Add Darryl Johnson to the mix --he was granted a sixth season of eligibility by the NCAA this week after missing most of last year with an injured left knee --and the Bears have the makings of putting a playmaking group of linebackers on the field.
Vokolek's attacking style of defense should suit this team well.
"It's simple enough to where everybody can get on one page and do their job," Evans said. "Everybody knows their objective and what they need to do. When the coaches put us in the right positions, it works --less thinking and more playing."
Sears and Evans know there is a long way to go: In Randy Ball's last season, the Bears allowed 31.2 points a game a year ago to rank sixth in the eight-team Gateway Conference and allowed 423 yards game, better than only 0-11 Indiana State.
But finally healthy and with depth behind them for the first time --sophomores Jeremy Dawson, Cory Harbor and Dan Graham are all expected to compete for playing time --the experienced players know there is talent behind them.
"I feel great about the (depth) in the fact that I feel uneasy about my position," Sears said. "We've needed guys to be pushed in different angles and different ways for a long time. It's a good thing for us."
Still, Vokolek knows Sears will figure in the plans if Terry Allen gets the Bears off to the flying start that he's hoping for in his first season.
"Kevin is a sharp kid with a lot of experience and can get guys lined up," Vokolek said. "He's a guy who pretty much knows every position. It's big to have a guy that's like a coach out on the field."
Yet Sears makes it clear --despite his teaching nature --that he has no plans on going into coaching.
He and Evans both plan on getting into the construction business. That makes sense, considering they figure to be the leaders of a defense looking to rebuild from the ground up beginning with the first practice on Thursday.
"We're all still teaching each other," Sears said. "We looked at our playbooks from the spring and what we got handed (Thursday) and it's like three times the size. The best way to keep everybody on the same page is if you're always talking."
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The Missouri State linebacking unit should be a strength on an experienced defense. Here's a look at the linebackers that are expected to have an impact this fall:
Derrick Byrd -- Made a successful switch from the secondary last year, leading the Bears with 87 tackles as a junior. Was named team's defensive MVP
Jeremy Dawson -- Returned an interception for a touchdown in the spring game. Athletic sophomore should provide depth.
Michael Evans -- Missed all of last season with a broken arm. Transfer from Ole Miss had 58 tackles for the Bears in 2004.
Dan Graham -- Sophomore from St. Louis saw action in nine games last season, tallying 20 tackles.
Cory Harbor -- Had seven tackles and a sack in the upset win over Northern Iowa last year as a freshman.
Darryl Johnson -- Earned a sixth year after missing nearly all of last season with an injury to his left knee. Tennessee transfer had 105 tackles in 2004.
Kevin Sears -- Heady player had 86 tackles in 2005, one behind Byrd for the team lead. Primed for big junior season
http://vh10175.moc.gbahn.net/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=DO&Date=20060804&Category=SPORTS0401&ArtNo=608040401&Ref=AR&Profile=1096&MaxW=300&MaxH=400&Border=0
Sounds odd coming from a guy considered to be one of the stalwarts of a defense expected to be the strength of this Missouri State football team.
Defensive coordinator D.J. Vokolek likes knowing his veterans aren't going to be kicking back in their La-Z-Boys during fall practices, knowing their jobs are already sewn up.
"It's going to be really, really interesting to see who emerges between all of those guys," Vokolek said. "There is some depth and good players, so that's going to create some competition among those guys."
It would still be a surprise if Sears didn't assert himself as one of the leaders of a deep linebacking corps. A 6-foot-2, 245-pound junior, the Kansas City native ranked second behind fellow linebacker Derrick Byrd last season with 86 tackles.
Known as a cerebral player, senior linebacker Michael Evans calls Sears "Questions."
" 'Questions' is the man to go to," Evans said with a laugh. "If you have anything you need to know or don't know what you're doing, Kevin is the man. He is the teacher on the field. And he can play. Some guys know what to do, but they can't play.
"It's a big help to have somebody on the field that is directing guys and telling them where to be."
Sears made an immediate impact for the Bears in 2003 out of Rockhurst High School, starting five games and accounting for 40 tackles as a freshman.
A broken leg forced him to miss the 2004 season, but he came back even stronger as a redshirt sophomore.
Evans went through the same thing last year, missing the entire season with a broken arm.
"He was there for me when I was having a hard time and I was there for him," Sears said. "It's never easy when you have to sit out. There's nothing anybody can really tell you to make you feel better. Having Mike back adds an intensity to practice and means some hard hitting. He brings an edge out there that we might not have otherwise."
Add Darryl Johnson to the mix --he was granted a sixth season of eligibility by the NCAA this week after missing most of last year with an injured left knee --and the Bears have the makings of putting a playmaking group of linebackers on the field.
Vokolek's attacking style of defense should suit this team well.
"It's simple enough to where everybody can get on one page and do their job," Evans said. "Everybody knows their objective and what they need to do. When the coaches put us in the right positions, it works --less thinking and more playing."
Sears and Evans know there is a long way to go: In Randy Ball's last season, the Bears allowed 31.2 points a game a year ago to rank sixth in the eight-team Gateway Conference and allowed 423 yards game, better than only 0-11 Indiana State.
But finally healthy and with depth behind them for the first time --sophomores Jeremy Dawson, Cory Harbor and Dan Graham are all expected to compete for playing time --the experienced players know there is talent behind them.
"I feel great about the (depth) in the fact that I feel uneasy about my position," Sears said. "We've needed guys to be pushed in different angles and different ways for a long time. It's a good thing for us."
Still, Vokolek knows Sears will figure in the plans if Terry Allen gets the Bears off to the flying start that he's hoping for in his first season.
"Kevin is a sharp kid with a lot of experience and can get guys lined up," Vokolek said. "He's a guy who pretty much knows every position. It's big to have a guy that's like a coach out on the field."
Yet Sears makes it clear --despite his teaching nature --that he has no plans on going into coaching.
He and Evans both plan on getting into the construction business. That makes sense, considering they figure to be the leaders of a defense looking to rebuild from the ground up beginning with the first practice on Thursday.
"We're all still teaching each other," Sears said. "We looked at our playbooks from the spring and what we got handed (Thursday) and it's like three times the size. The best way to keep everybody on the same page is if you're always talking."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NEWS-LEADER.COM FORUMS: Sign up for our forums today to discuss news, sports, entertainment and other community events with readers around the Ozarks. VIEW FORUMS
The Missouri State linebacking unit should be a strength on an experienced defense. Here's a look at the linebackers that are expected to have an impact this fall:
Derrick Byrd -- Made a successful switch from the secondary last year, leading the Bears with 87 tackles as a junior. Was named team's defensive MVP
Jeremy Dawson -- Returned an interception for a touchdown in the spring game. Athletic sophomore should provide depth.
Michael Evans -- Missed all of last season with a broken arm. Transfer from Ole Miss had 58 tackles for the Bears in 2004.
Dan Graham -- Sophomore from St. Louis saw action in nine games last season, tallying 20 tackles.
Cory Harbor -- Had seven tackles and a sack in the upset win over Northern Iowa last year as a freshman.
Darryl Johnson -- Earned a sixth year after missing nearly all of last season with an injury to his left knee. Tennessee transfer had 105 tackles in 2004.
Kevin Sears -- Heady player had 86 tackles in 2005, one behind Byrd for the team lead. Primed for big junior season
http://vh10175.moc.gbahn.net/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=DO&Date=20060804&Category=SPORTS0401&ArtNo=608040401&Ref=AR&Profile=1096&MaxW=300&MaxH=400&Border=0