Central Michigan University Athletics
CMU football coach Jim McElwain talks to the media on Friday as the Chippewas prepare to open spring practice on Saturday.
Photo by: Benjamin Suddendorf
Spring Practice, And Time To Look Ahead
2/14/2020 7:52:00 PM | Football
2019 was a good start, but plenty of work ahead for Chippewas
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – It's a memory now. Time to look ahead.
The Central Michigan football team begins spring practice on Saturday as the Chippewas begin preparation for the 2020 season, putting 2019 permanently in the rearview mirror.
Coach Jim McElwain engineered an incredible turnaround last fall, his first in charge of the program, as CMU finished 8-6, won the Mid-American Conference West title, earned a berth in the MAC Championship Game, and went to the New Mexico Bowl.
That all came one season after CMU won just one game.
Now, in following with the university's mantra, the players and coaches on the 2020 team will put their stamp on it.
"You're the reigning MAC West champs, but let's explain what the word 'reigning' means, that means the guys last year did it," McElwain said Friday. "So here's your opportunity to write your book, write your script, and it starts with what we do in the offseason."
As is always the case with spring practice, there will be plenty of position battles and personnel changes, tinkering, tearing down and building up.
"I hope more than anything they proved to themselves they're capable of making something happen if they really chose to put the right kind of work in and they did that," McElwain said in reflecting on the 2019 season. "More than anything, as a team, I think we need to look at how to finish and (learn) the focus of what it takes to do that and not be satisfied with where you're at. I think that's the biggest overall piece for the team itself."
It also helps that McElwain is in his second year, and the foundation has been set.
"Last year we didn't know what we were getting ourselves into with new coaches," senior-to-be offensive lineman Derek Smith said. "This year guys understand the expectations, how practice flows … the guys who were here last year understand and we bring those (newcomers) along."
The New
Two new assistants have joined the coaching staff, which is normal at any given Division I school in any given year.
The figures at the head table remain the same in McElwain, defensive coordinator Robb Akey and offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Charlie Frye, along with assistant head coach/wide receivers coach Kevin Barbay and offensive line coach Mike Cummings.
The two new assistants, linebackers coach Tim Skipper and special-teams coordinator/safeties coach Keith Murphy, both served under McElwain when McElwain coached at Florida from 2015-17.
Moving Around
Two notable Chippewas have changed positions. Junior Norman "Bubba" Anderson has moved from defensive back to wide receiver, and senior Kumehnnu Gwilly has moved from running back to linebacker.
"You want to give guys opportunities where maybe some of the lines aren't as long," McElwain said. "Both guys have talent and we want them to be able to have their shortest distance to get on the field for us."
Limited
McElwain said several Chippewas will be limited in their reps during spring practice, and others will miss a portion or all of the workouts because of injuries.
The most notable position affected is tight end, where senior Tony Poljan and junior Bernhard Raimann will see limited time.
Among those who will sit out part or all of spring practice are defensive lineman Robi Stuart, wide receiver Joel Wilson, and defensive backs Gage Kreski and Alonzo McCoy. Defensive back Kyron McKinnie-Harper will miss spring practice because of a suspension.
Quarterback
The Chippewas have big shoes to fill at quarterback with the graduations of Quinten Dormady and Tommy Lazzaro.
Three quarterbacks return in senior David Moore, redshirt sophomore George Pearson and sophomore Daniel Richardson.
Moore has the most game experience, having made four starts a year ago when Dormady was injured. Moore was suspended midway through the 2019 season for testing positive for a banned substance. That suspension, which CMU has appealed to the NCAA, will carry over into the early part of the 2020 season.
Running Back
The Chippewas graduated Jonathan Ward, who wrapped up an outstanding career with 1,108 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns in 2019.
The cupboard is hardly bare, however. Junior Kobe Lewis returns after joining Ward in providing a potent one-two backfield punch a year ago. Lewis posted a breakout season with 1,105 rushing yard and 12 TDs.
"His workouts have been fantastic," McElwain said of Lewis. "He's really taken some ownership and I think last year was really good for him to kind of see how to do that."
Lew Nichols, a true freshman last fall, showed signs of great potential and, because he appeared in only four games in 2019, will be a redshirt freshman.
Up Front
As always, the offensive line will be critical to the Chippewas, as it is to any team. Smith is the veteran mainstay among the front five, but there were plenty of youngsters who saw ample playing time in 2019, among them Luke Goedeke, Danny Motowski and Erik Ditzhazy.
Jamezz Kimbrough, a fixture up front in 2018, did not play last fall and will move to center for 2020.
Kimbrough "should give us a real athletic guy in the middle there," McElwain said.
The Chippewas will need to replace three veterans up front with the graduations of Steve Eipper, Oge Udeogu and Clay Walderzak.
"I have to play a big role in leading this offensive line and helping to replace those three seniors we had," Smith said, adding that his advice to his younger, less-experienced "bubs" up front is a pragmatic approach that begins with film study.
"If you can learn your opponent on film, learn what you need to do on the field, you can translate it to practice and it goes from there," he said.
The Central Michigan football team begins spring practice on Saturday as the Chippewas begin preparation for the 2020 season, putting 2019 permanently in the rearview mirror.
Coach Jim McElwain engineered an incredible turnaround last fall, his first in charge of the program, as CMU finished 8-6, won the Mid-American Conference West title, earned a berth in the MAC Championship Game, and went to the New Mexico Bowl.
That all came one season after CMU won just one game.
Now, in following with the university's mantra, the players and coaches on the 2020 team will put their stamp on it.
"You're the reigning MAC West champs, but let's explain what the word 'reigning' means, that means the guys last year did it," McElwain said Friday. "So here's your opportunity to write your book, write your script, and it starts with what we do in the offseason."
As is always the case with spring practice, there will be plenty of position battles and personnel changes, tinkering, tearing down and building up.
"I hope more than anything they proved to themselves they're capable of making something happen if they really chose to put the right kind of work in and they did that," McElwain said in reflecting on the 2019 season. "More than anything, as a team, I think we need to look at how to finish and (learn) the focus of what it takes to do that and not be satisfied with where you're at. I think that's the biggest overall piece for the team itself."
It also helps that McElwain is in his second year, and the foundation has been set.
"Last year we didn't know what we were getting ourselves into with new coaches," senior-to-be offensive lineman Derek Smith said. "This year guys understand the expectations, how practice flows … the guys who were here last year understand and we bring those (newcomers) along."
The New
Two new assistants have joined the coaching staff, which is normal at any given Division I school in any given year.
The figures at the head table remain the same in McElwain, defensive coordinator Robb Akey and offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Charlie Frye, along with assistant head coach/wide receivers coach Kevin Barbay and offensive line coach Mike Cummings.
The two new assistants, linebackers coach Tim Skipper and special-teams coordinator/safeties coach Keith Murphy, both served under McElwain when McElwain coached at Florida from 2015-17.
Moving Around
Two notable Chippewas have changed positions. Junior Norman "Bubba" Anderson has moved from defensive back to wide receiver, and senior Kumehnnu Gwilly has moved from running back to linebacker.
"You want to give guys opportunities where maybe some of the lines aren't as long," McElwain said. "Both guys have talent and we want them to be able to have their shortest distance to get on the field for us."
Limited
McElwain said several Chippewas will be limited in their reps during spring practice, and others will miss a portion or all of the workouts because of injuries.
The most notable position affected is tight end, where senior Tony Poljan and junior Bernhard Raimann will see limited time.
Among those who will sit out part or all of spring practice are defensive lineman Robi Stuart, wide receiver Joel Wilson, and defensive backs Gage Kreski and Alonzo McCoy. Defensive back Kyron McKinnie-Harper will miss spring practice because of a suspension.
Quarterback
The Chippewas have big shoes to fill at quarterback with the graduations of Quinten Dormady and Tommy Lazzaro.
Three quarterbacks return in senior David Moore, redshirt sophomore George Pearson and sophomore Daniel Richardson.
Moore has the most game experience, having made four starts a year ago when Dormady was injured. Moore was suspended midway through the 2019 season for testing positive for a banned substance. That suspension, which CMU has appealed to the NCAA, will carry over into the early part of the 2020 season.
Running Back
The Chippewas graduated Jonathan Ward, who wrapped up an outstanding career with 1,108 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns in 2019.
The cupboard is hardly bare, however. Junior Kobe Lewis returns after joining Ward in providing a potent one-two backfield punch a year ago. Lewis posted a breakout season with 1,105 rushing yard and 12 TDs.
"His workouts have been fantastic," McElwain said of Lewis. "He's really taken some ownership and I think last year was really good for him to kind of see how to do that."
Lew Nichols, a true freshman last fall, showed signs of great potential and, because he appeared in only four games in 2019, will be a redshirt freshman.
Up Front
As always, the offensive line will be critical to the Chippewas, as it is to any team. Smith is the veteran mainstay among the front five, but there were plenty of youngsters who saw ample playing time in 2019, among them Luke Goedeke, Danny Motowski and Erik Ditzhazy.
Jamezz Kimbrough, a fixture up front in 2018, did not play last fall and will move to center for 2020.
Kimbrough "should give us a real athletic guy in the middle there," McElwain said.
The Chippewas will need to replace three veterans up front with the graduations of Steve Eipper, Oge Udeogu and Clay Walderzak.
"I have to play a big role in leading this offensive line and helping to replace those three seniors we had," Smith said, adding that his advice to his younger, less-experienced "bubs" up front is a pragmatic approach that begins with film study.
"If you can learn your opponent on film, learn what you need to do on the field, you can translate it to practice and it goes from there," he said.
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