2006 Preview: SU Eyes a Third Straight ACFC Title and Postseason Berth
The Salisbury University football program enters the 2006 season coming off an 8-3 record where the Sea Gulls won their first ECAC Southeast Bowl and shared the Atlantic Central Football Conference (ACFC) title. The bar has been raised at Salisbury where the Sea Gulls will look to win their third straight ACFC championship.

"Expectations for the 2006 season are high once again," said head coach Sherman Wood, who enters his eighth season at the helm at his Alma Mater as the winningest coach (45-26) in program history.

"Since my first day on the job our initial goal was to establish a well respected and competitive football program. The next goal was to reach the postseason and remain competitive. We have accomplished those previous goals and are currently considered a well respected nationally known program. Our next goal is to maintain consistency while working to improve each day."

The 2006 season is also special for the Gulls as they celebrate the 20th anniversary of the 1986 team that went 13-1 and made it to the Stagg Bowl (national championship game).

The road to another ACFC championship and a postseason berth won’t be easy as the Sea Gulls face one of the most difficult schedules in the nation. The Gulls open the season on the road against national power Washington & Jefferson, who was ranked No. 15 in the preseason. SU, picked third in the ACFC preseason poll, will host No. 8 Wesley and SUNY Brockport, picked first and second in the same ACFC poll, respectively, will play at Sea Gull Stadium this season. Salisbury will also host Christopher Newport from the USA South conference in mid-September. Eight of the 10 teams the Sea Gulls face this season finished with an above average record last season.

"Although some reports target us as having one of the most competitive schedules in the nation, my expectations will always remain the same, the postseason," said Wood.

OFFENSE
SU finished last season with the fourth best rushing offense in the country as the Sea Gulls averaged 330.4 yards per game and over 40 points per game while setting a school record for points scored in a game (77) and a season (442).

The Sea Gulls offense will look different this year as they only return four starters and will have to replace superback Leroy Satchell and quarterbacks Dustin Johnson and Travis Peters, who are now serving as student assistant coaches for SU.

Two of the top candidates to replace Johnson and Peters under center are junior Justyn Lankford (Lusby, Md./Patuxent) and sophomore Ronnie Curley (Ellicott City, Md./Howard).

"Both players have the ability to run this offense at a high level of success," said assistant head coach Doug Fleetwood. "They both run very well and are tough. They are very intelligent athletes and have the ability to throw the football as well as anyone that has played for us. They just need to get an opportunity to be successful."

Both Lankford and Curley saw limited time last year, as they combined for four passing attempts on the year. Curley's bright spot in 2005 came against the Apprentice School where he rushed for 74 yards and two touchdowns en route to being named ACFC Rookie of the Week.

The offensive line will be led by co-captain senior center Kristos Miliotis (Odenton, Md./Arundel) as the Sea Gulls have to replace All-American Brett Wehnert. Miliotis, a proven leader that can make calls at the line of scrimmage, will be flanked by senior Tim Metzger (Oakridge, N.J./Jefferson Township), who started six games last year at three different positions. Josh Berman (Westminster, Md./Westminster), Joe Blaszkow (Lorton, Va./Bishop Ireton), Brad Schroeder (Ellicott City, Md./Centennial), Sung Yang (Annapolis, Md./Annapolis) and Mike Hedlesky (Woodbine, Md./Glenelg) are all expected to add depth to the line.

The most experienced position on the offense this season is the backfield. Junior David Leonard (Upper Marlboro, Md./Riverdale Baptist), finished the season with 113 yards rushing and two touchdowns, is slated to be the starter replacing All-ACFC back Satchell.  Sophomores Ronnie Shockley (Berlin, Md./Stephen Decatur) and Shelby Fisher (Baltimore, Md./Cardinal Gibbons), combined for 99 yards on the ground, are anticipated to have big seasons at the superback position. The slots return two starters in co-captain Jamar Garner (Frederick, Md./Thomas Johnson) and Chris Newton (Pasadena, Md./Glen Burnie) and Anthony Johnson (Temple Hills, Md./Bishop McNamara) will factor into the mix. Newton hauled in a team high 14 passes last season for 145 yards and two touchdowns and added another 175 yards and a score on the ground. Garner missed three games last year due to injury, but still managed five touchdowns (four on the ground and one through the air).

The wide receivers have a lot depth and experience this season. Kevin Tillage (Woodbridge, Va./Gar-Field), who caught three passes for 52 yards and one touchdown returns along with Alfred Little (Salisbury, Md./James M. Bennett), who caught four passes for 66 yards and two scores. Little also ran the ball twice for 52 yards and one touchdown. One of the upcoming players at the wide receiver position will be sophomore Avery Willie (Belcamp, Md./Aberdeen), who is expected to make an immediate impact in the receiving core.

Over the past four seasons the Salisbury offense has established themselves as one of the top rushing attacks in the country and will look to run the ball well, again, in '06.

"We feel we run the option as well as anyone in the country," said Fleetwood. "We have a quality group of athletes that have worked very hard to continue the success of the past years."

DEFENSE
The defense struggled at times during the 2005 season before finally finding its groove during the last three games where the Sea Gulls forced 12 turnovers, including seven interceptions. Three times last season the Sea Gulls held their opponents to 20 or fewer points and five times they held teams to under 100 yards rushing. The Salisbury defense should return to the form established over the past three seasons when they ranked as one of the top in the country.

The Sea Gulls bring back six starters from a season ago, four of which were all-conference performers. The unit is led by three senior co-captains; defensive back Byron Westbrook (Ft. Washington, Md./DeMatha), linebacker Billy Leinemann (Ocean City, Md./Stephen Decatur) and defensive lineman Zach Armiger (Parkton, Md./Hereford). The defense also returns experience in the form of senior defensive lineman Brooks Moser (Jefferson, Md./Middletown), senior free safety James Jones (Hyattsville, Md./Northwestern) and junior nose-guard Joe Galloway (Pasadena, Md./Cardinal Gibbons).

"Our number one objective is to be athletic and play fast," said assistant head coach and defensive coordinator Robb Disbennett. "As coaches, we want to let our players be athletes first and not think so much. We have modified some of our schemes to accomplish this goal."

One of the modifications came on the defensive line where the SU coaching staff moved Moser from linebacker to the line, where along side Armiger and Galloway the trio tallied 95 tackles and eight sacks.

The linebackers are young, but talented. Leinemann returns as the leader of the defense (39 tackles, 2 sacks in '05). Sophomores Justin Ritter (Smyrna, Del./Smyrna), 47 tackles (11 for a loss) in '05, and transfer Matt Barnes (Ijamsville, Md./Urbana) are expected to add speed and toughness to the linebacker core.

"By allowing our players to play fast they will be able to pursue the football with greater tenacity," said Disbennett.

The secondary is a mixture of youth and experience, but a very physical group. Westbrook and Jones return for their fourth year as starters, combining for 100 tackles and seven interceptions in '05. Westbrook has been the leader of the secondary for two seasons now, and is likely to have another outstanding season.

"Byron has been a three year starter and his game experience is invaluable," said Disbennett. "He brings a physical presence to the corner position and is a positive influence on our younger defensive backs."

Westbrook's positive influence will hopefully show in the other half of the secondary. Sophomores Bobby Murray (Moorestown, N.J./Moorestown), 22 tackles in '05, and Ryan Hesnan (Brick Township, N.J./Brick Township), 11 tackles in the ECAC bowl game vs. Franklin & Marshall, are both projected to help out in the secondary.

SPECIAL TEAMS
Special teams have been a staple for the Salisbury football program over the years and along with Coach Wood's aggressive style, it has made the Sea Gulls' special teams a prominent force to be reckoned with.

"Although there is room to improve in all categories, our game will be determined on special teams," said Wood.

The Sea Gulls will have to replace  2005 ACFC Special Team Player of the Year Brock Boland, who finished his career with 211 points (5th best in program history).

Junior Brendan Kincaid (Cambridge, Md./Cambridge) and incoming freshman Andrew Geisert (White Plains, Md./McDonough) are expected to share kicking and punting duties. Despite the absence of Boland, the coaching staff is still very confident in the kicking game. Kincaid connected on both of his point after attempts last season, while the Sea Gulls are anxious to see what Geisert brings to the mix.

The return game is just as important to the Sea Gulls. Last season, Westbrook returned 17 punts for 140 yards and 30 kickoffs for 845 yards (long of 74 yards).

"We must improve in all categories from the previous season and carry our momentum from our last game into the first game of the 2006 season," said Wood. "With the addition of new players in key positions, the biggest goal is to be mistake free. I believe we have the personnel to get the job done, but we must limit mistakes. In addition, each player must excel in practice, the weight room and in the film room."

The 2006 Salisbury Sea Gulls are excited and primed to make a third straight run at the ACFC title and the postseason.