Monday, April 29, 1996

Defensive replacements key for Cooper in spring drills

By LANCE FLEMING
Sports Writer

With only one full-time defensive starter returning to the field in 1996, there's no doubt where Cooper's emphasis will be when spring drills start today.

But before it's allowed to mushroom any more than it has over the last four months, head coach Randy Allen wants to set one thing straight: There is no quarterback controversy on a team that will be searching for its fifth-straight playoff berth.

Senior-to-be Michael Anderson is the starter, and senior-to-be Scott Copeland is the backup when two-a-days start in August. And because both are on Cooper's playoff baseball team, that order won't change in the spring.

Anderson became Cooper's starter at quarterback in the District 4-5A opener against Abilene High, and he led the club into the playoffs. He threw for a district-high 934 yards and six touchdowns before breaking his throwing (left) hand in the regular-season finale against Odessa Permian.

In stepped Copeland who directed Cooper to two playoff victories, and threw for 285 yards and three touchdowns in the bi-district win over Lubbock Coronado.
But...

Michael is our starter," Allen said. "We have a lot of confidence in Scott and (third-string) Brandon Stover. But with all of those guys in baseball, it's not the kind of spring where we'll have competition at the spot.

"But we have depth at quarterback ... as good a depth as we've had since I've been here," he said. "We can go three deep with quality quarterbacks. When you have that kind of depth, I don't worry that they're not going through the spring."

So with that issue settled, Allen and his coaching staff will turn their attention to a defense that lost 10 starters off last year's unit.

Chris Cherry, who will be going to the state meet in the triple jump in two weeks, is the lone returning starter, but he'll be in a new position. A cornerback last year, Cherry is being moved to outside linebacker to give the Cougars more speed at the position.

Cory Aldridge, who started a few games at defensive end, will compete for that starting spot, and will again start at tight end. Mack Garrett is moving from defensive tackle to middle linebacker.
Other than that, it will basically be the defense from last year's 9-0 junior varsity squad.

"We had a good junior varsity defense last year, and that's who we'll have on the varsity," Allen said. "They'll be a year older, and that's a positive. We just want to find the best tacklers and runners and hitters."

There is considerably more experience returning to the offensive side of the ball with five starters back in the fold.

One of those is wide receiver Miles Durham, who at 6-3, 195 pounds and speed to burn should be one of the most highly recruited players in this part of the state. Jesse Sharpe, who played late in the season after being called up late last season, will be on the other side of Durham.

Anthony Rozzell, Cory Rodriguez and Mark Rau will also be looking for playing time.
Besides Anderson, Durham and Aldridge, the Cougars also return two of their offensive line starters in right tackle Joey Heath and right guard Matt Royals.

Joining them on the line should be Kevin Hoffman at center, Everett Fraser at left guard and Webb Murphy at left tackle.

Running behind them will be Dominic Rhodes, who has the potential to dominate a game. Just ask Midland High, which was lit up for 244 yards by Rhodes last season. He'll be kept out of spring training, though, to protect the left shoulder that knocked him out of action late last season.
Richard Rodriguez, Robbie Johnson and Kino Garner will all battle for the backup spot.

"I feel very comfortable with the offensive starters we have coming back," Allen said. "We've got a really good nucleus there. A lot of the question marks going into last year aren't there this spring."

The Cougars will conclude spring drills with the Red and Blue game May 17 at Shotwell Stadium.