Receivers will have to fill void

An old sports adage opines that offense wins games while defense wins championships. For Princeton football, the need to win games is a more immediate goal than securing the Ivy League championship. Win enough games, and the end of season honors will take care of themselves. A Tiger offensive resurgence is vital to achieving these victories and Princeton football success.

While Princeton's defense represents a decided strength among this 2004 squad, the offense has to find a way to put points on the board early. A defense is much more effective when playing with a lead and when winning the field position battle. Offensive continuity and long, time-consuming drives enables the defense to rest and regroup, and a rested defense is more likely to make those big plays at the end of the game to ensure last-minute victories.

"Basically, it's just a matter of everybody on the team being ready to step up and make plays when the game is on the line," junior tight end Jon Dekker said. "Both sides of the ball need to do their part for us to win games."

Last year, the Tigers' offense had more total passing and rushing yardage on a per game basis than its opponents. Still, the team was outscored by an average of a touchdown per game. Given all the close games Princeton played last year, job number one is to find the means to capitalize on its offensive drives and convert yards into points and close losses into wins.

Primary responsibility for offensive productivity lies on the shoulders of two seniors: tailbacks Jon Veach and Branden Benson. Head coach Roger Hughes views the two as interchangeable, giving the Tigers constantly fresh legs and insurance in the event of an injury to either one. If the experienced offensive line can open the holes, these two impact players should have opportunities to take over games.

"We've been working under the assumption that both Veach and Benson are going to be our starting tailbacks," offensive coordinator Dave Rackovan said. "Both are going to play, both are leaders in our organization, and both are incredibly good football players. They have picked up right where they left off."

Veach led the 2003 team (2-8 overall, 2-5 Ivy League) with 141 carries for 642 yards. Benson followed closely with 467 yards on 104 rushes. The competitive friendship the two have developed should bode well for the team.

Of the 3,888 yards of total offense accumulated in 2003, almost two-thirds came through the air. The chief pilot of Tiger Air is senior quarterback Matt Verbit, who inherited the starting role last season after Dave Splithoff '04's injury. With an entire season under his belt and the confidence garnered from averaging almost 250 passing yards per contest last year, Verbit should be solid at the offensive helm.

"Matt Verbit is coming off a good year," Rackovan said, "and we look for Matt to be hopefully one of the best quarterbacks in the league this year. We're going to try to have a good balance, to be able to run and throw."

Verbit has also developed the ability to make plays in short yardage situations and help keep drives alive. It remains to be seen if the loss of last year's two leading receivers, wide receiver B.J. Szymanski '05 to the Cincinnati Reds and wide receiver Blair Morrison '04 to graduation, will put a damper on Verbit's aerial attack. Szymanski and Morrison combined for 1,557 receiving yards. It remains to be seen whether anyone in the Tiger receiving corps can step up and make everyone say, "Szymanski who?"

Both Dekker and junior running back Greg Fields demonstrated reliability during spring play and the preseason. Fields also brings his explosive speed and the potential for extra yards after the catch. Senior wide receiver Clint Wu, after flashes of excellence his junior year including a 99-yard touchdown reception, has displayed a much improved and more consistent game. Sophomore wide receiver Eric Walz made an immediate impression by playing in every game his freshman year. As he continues to gain experience, he should become more competent and reliable for the team. In some ways, the prospects for the season may rest in the ability of these receivers to become effective targets for Verbit's passes. The Princeton offensive line proved it can protect Verbit during preseason play, so the former two-sport star should find himself with sufficient time to air out the ball, even if his primary target is covered.