subscribesubscriber servicescontact usabout ussite mapBuy a Classified
Tue, Feb 09 2010 

Published: September 23, 2009 11:49 pm    print this story  

Memphis receivers a big test for Thundering Herd

By Gary Fauber
Assistant Sports Editor

If the past is any indication, expect a big day statistically for Memphis quarterback Tyler Bass.

In the last three meetings between Marshall (2-1, 0-0 Conference USA) and the Tigers, a Memphis QB has thrown for 300 yards. Bass will try to be the fourth when the Thundering Herd visits Memphis (1-2, 0-1) at 1 p.m. Eastern time Saturday.

Last year, Arkelon Hall threw for 364 yards against the Herd. The year before that it was oft-injured Will Hudgens passing the plateau with a career-best 346 yards. In 2006, Martin Hankins (now a graduate assistant at Memphis) had 322.

“Memphis is going to get (its) passing yards,” Marshall coach Mark Snyder conceded.

A large reason for that was just as large last year. Whoever the Memphis quarterback is — be it new starter Bass or Hall, the one he replaced as starter last week — has probably the league’s most formidable pass-catching duo at his disposal.

Duke Calhoun is the school’s all-time leading receiver. He broke out of a two-game slump last week with a 184-yard, two-touchdown performance against UT-Martin.

On the other side is senior Carlos Singleton, who at 6-foot-9 will tower over any Marshall cornerback who covers him (D.J. Wingate is the tallest at 6-2).

Snyder is aware of the matchup problems presented by Singleton.

“(Marshall DBs) need to go to a hardware store and buy a ladder, carry it with them on the field, climb up it and knock the ball down,” he joked. “You really need to have great leaping ability, great timing, and you can’t miss. I think our corners do have great leaping ability, but they have to be perfect because we are not tall like everyone else’s corners.

“Obviously, we are going to have to have a game plan when it gets to that situation to help those guys. Football is all about matchups, just like basketball.”

Bass doesn’t deny how favorable it is to have Calhoun and Singleton on his side.

“It makes life a whole lot easier,” he said. “I know when it’s crunch time I have two guys that I can throw it up and I can pretty much say that they’ll come up with it. It’s just nice. Like I said, it makes it easier out there. You don’t have to worry so much about placing the ball on the money. They’re great receivers and they’ll catch it and they’ll make a play.”

Of course, a 300-yard game by a Memphis QB doesn’t necessarily translate to victory. The Tigers are 1-2 in those three games, including last year’s 17-16 loss in Huntington. The Herd held off a last-minute drive by Memphis to cling to the win.

Curtis Steele, the league’s newcomer of the year, was held to 38 yards rushing. Memphis had 94 overall and the Herd defense had three sacks.

“We have to stop the run,” Snyder said. “It’s the same thing as last week (a win over Bowling Green) and same thing as last year against Memphis. We alluded to it (Monday), they have to establish the run and we have to stop the run. When the field shrinks, we have to make them kick field goals and keep them out of the end zones, just like we did last year.”

— E-mail: gfauber@

register-herald.com

print this story  



autoconx

Premier Guide
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide

Find a job! Find a Home! Find a car!

Premium Jobs

REGISTRAR AND ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF FINANCIAL AID
KANAWHA VALLEY COMMUNITY AND TECHNICAL COLLEGE. Institute, WV. Invites applications for the following positions: • Reg...>MORE

NUTRITION EDUCATOR
Nutrition Educator. The West Virginia Emergency Medical Services Technical Support Network, Inc. (TSN) administers a Sup...>MORE

PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT - NORTHERN GREENBRIER HEALTH CLINIC
Northern Greenbrier Health Clinic, Inc., headquartered in Williamsburg, WV has the following employment opportunity avai...>MORE

PLANT FOREMAN AND PLANT MAINTENANCE CHIEF
Nicholas Energy is accepting applications and resumes for Plant Foreman and Plant Maintenance Chief. If you are looking ...>MORE

FIELD SERVICE TECHNICIANS
Immediate openings available. Field Service Technicians, Bluefield and Pineville. Carter Machinery Company, the authoriz...>MORE

PROGRAM STAFF POSITION
Mountain State Centers for Independent Living is now accepting applications for a Program Staff Position to work with pe...>MORE

UNDERGROUND COAL MINING POSITIONS - MAMMOTH
MAMMOTH COAL, a subsidiary of Massey Energy is accepting experienced underground applicants. Our expanding operations ar...>MORE

DIRECTOR OF NURSING - THE BRIER NURSING HOME
Director of Nursing. Long Term Care facility looking for a Full time Director of Nursing. Must have a valid Registered N...>MORE

HOUSE PARENTS
HOUSE Parents needed for Davis-Stuart Group Homes. Requires the ability to live in the group home while on duty. Competi...>MORE

COAL PROCESSING COMPANY - VARIOUS POSITIONS
Coal Processing Company has immediate openings for a Preparation Plant Control Room Operator, Plant Attendant, Electrici...>MORE

See all ads

Premium Jobs

See all ads


 

Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc.CNHI Classified Advertising NetworkCNHI News Service
Associated Press content © 2009. All rights reserved. AP content may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Our site is powered by Zope and our Internet Yellow Pages site is powered by PremierGuide.
Some parts of our site may require you to download the Flash Player Plugin.
View our Privacy Policy
Advertiser index