2008 SEOAL Previews: Marietta Tigers

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Marietta Tigers

Head Coach: Andy Schob (1st Year)
2007 Record: 3-7 (2-5)
Division: II, Reg. 7
Returning Starters: 12 (5 OFF, 7 DEF)
Key Losses: Mike Shields (RB), Cole Biehl (SE/DB), Johnny Groom (SB/LB), Ash Bloomingdale (LB), Murphy Mitchem (OG), Thomas Beringer (OL/DL), Paul Mireles (C), Dan Nicholson (OL/DL), Lance Thompson (OL), Charlie Becker (OT/DE)
Key Returnees: Sean Munfield (SE/DB), Cody Westbrook (QB), Zane Eschbaugh (SE/DB), Perry Wheeler (RB/DB), Jarrod Ross (LB), Ryan Offenberger (OL/LB), Nick Place (OL/DL), Stratton Johnson (OL/DL), Lance Weppler (OL/DL/LB)

2008 Schedule:
Aug. 22 - AT Hilliard Darby
Aug. 29 - AT Cambridge
Sept. 5 - VS New Philadelphia
Sept. 12 - VS Warren *
Sept. 19 - VS Parkerburg South
Sept. 26 - VS Jackson *
Oct. 3 - VS Logan *
Oct. 10 - VS Zanesville *
Oct. 17 - AT Portsmouth *
Oct. 24 - AT Gallia Academy *

Projected Line-Up:
Offense
QB - Cody Westbrook - 6'3 - 160lbs - SR
RB - Perry Wheeler - 5'11 - 185lbs - JR
RB - Morgan Wynn - 5'10 - 170lbs - Soph
FB - Conner Hess - 6'3 - 245lbs - Soph
SE - Sean Munfield - 6'0 - 170lbs - SR
SE - Zane Eschbaugh - 6'1 - 195lbs - SR
WR - Billy Grizer - 5'11 - 160lbs - SR
OT - Stratton Johnson - 6'0 - 215lbs - SR
OG - Skyler Fouss - 6'3 - 180lbs - SR
C - Pete Schafer - 6'1 - 200lbs - SR
OG - Ryan Offenberger - 5'11 - 205lbs - JR
OT - Wes Wagner - 6'1 - 190lbs - Soph
Other Offensive Players:
FB - Lance Weppler - 6'3 - 205lbs - JR (Injured)
OT - Nick Place - 5'10 - 240lbs - SR (Injured)

Defense
DE - Skylar Fouss - 6'3 - 180lbs - SR
DT - Stratton Johnson - 6'0 - 215lbs - SR
NG - Conner Hess - 6'3 - 245lbs - Soph
DE - Wes Wagner - 6'1 - 190lbs - Soph
OLB - Garrett Kerr - 5'4 - 125lbs - SR
ILB - Jared Ross - 5'10 - 185lbs - SR
ILB - Ryan Offenberger - 5'11 - 205lbs - JR
OLB - Perry Wheeler - 5'11 - 185lbs - JR
CB - Sean Munfield - 6'0 - 170lbs - SR
CB - Jake George - 6'0 - 170lbs - SR
FS - Morgan Wynn - 5'10 - 170lbs - Soph
Other Defensive Players:
DL - Nick Place - 5'10 - 240lbs - SR (Injured)
DE - Lance Weppler - 6'3 - 205lbs - JR (Injured)
LB - Tyler Barnhart - 6'0 - 160lbs - SR (Injured)
CB - Matt McKitrick - 5'9 - 160lbs - Frosh
CB - Dustin Baker - 5'9 - 165lbs - Frosh

2008 Outlook:
Marietta is looking to turn around their program under first year head coach Andy Schob. Schob, a Marietta graduate and long time assistance, will work on adding balance by improving the defense and the Tigers running game in 2008.

Southpaw quarterback Cody Westbrook (6-3, 160) returns after passing for for nearly 2200 yards a season ago. His top targets will be Sean Munfield (6-0, 170) who caught 36 passes for 488 yards and 5 scores a year ago and Zane Eschbaugh (6-1, 195) who caught 20 passes for 351 yards and 3 scores.

Junior Perry Wheeler (5-11, 185) will lead the Tigers ground game after averaging over 6.8 yards per carry as a sophomore. Perry will run behind eith sophomore Conner Hess (6-3, 245) or junior Lance Weppler (6-3, 205) who will split time at fullback.

Up front, Marietta is rebuilding but will rely on seniors Statton Johnson (6-0, 215) and Nick Place (5-10, 240).

Defensively, the Tigers will move to a 4-4 defense that should get them improved results against the run, an area where the Tigers have struggled the last two seasons.

Hess and Weppler lead a re-tooled defensive line, while senior Garrett Kerr (5-4, 125) and Jared Ross (5-10, 185) along with junior Ryan Offenberger (5-11, 205) lead the linebacking corps.

Munfield and sophomore Morgan Wynn (5-10, 170) lead the secondary.