LOGAN — Second-year Utah State football coach Brent Guy won't use a tough schedule, injuries, or internal problems as reasons for the Aggies' 1-11 season.
His main focus was to get better in his second year, and he fell short of that goal after going 3-8 overall and 2-6 in Western Athletic Conference play in his inaugural year two years ago.
Three players were dismissed from the team, four more faced drug charges, and the Aggies' offensive coordinator resigned early in the year.
"I told our players that I thought all those things compounded together certainly had an effect on our football team. I know it had an effect on me," Guy said. "It was the longest four months that I have gone through because of the off-field situations and certainly the way we were playing in September."
The Aggies didn't score an offensive touchdown for four games, and after the fifth game, when they scored just two, offensive coordinator Mike Santiago resigned.
"Until we learn to do all the little things right — you have to execute through an entire football game — we're not going to be successful and have a successful program or a winning season," Guy said. "The little things are not just in football. They're out in the community and in the classroom."
The Aggies had the hardest schedule in the WAC and 48th toughest in the nation. They played four teams that were ranked in the Top 25 at one point during the season (Arkansas, Boise State, BYU and Hawaii), a Heisman Trophy runner-up in Arkansas' Darren McFadden, and four teams that were ranked in the Top 11 in total offense (Hawaii, New Mexico State, BYU and Boise State). Four others — Arkansas, Utah, Nevada and San Jose State ranked in the Top 50.
In all, the Aggies played eight teams that were bowl eligible.
"We played a tough non-conference schedule (Wyoming, Arkansas, Utah, BYU) and what I told the kids was the first issues have got to start within ourselves as a football team," he said.
After beating Fresno State on Oct. 7, the Aggies lost six straight games to end with the most losses in school history (11).
Here's a position-by-position look at the 2006 Aggies:
Offense
QUARTERBACKS: Riley Nelson, who replaced Leon Jackson III after five games, will be leaving for an LDS mission to Spain in March, so the starting job will most likely fall back to Jackson. Guy said, however, they will recruit a junior college quarterback.
Along with Jackson, Mike Affleck, a transfer from Arizona State who played in just one game this year, is back along with Jase McCormick. The latter, a freshman and the Class 5A MVP from Northridge High in 2002, didn't take a snap this season.
In the first four games of the season, the Aggies failed to score an offensive touchdown, and Jackson was frequently intercepted. Through five games, Jackson was intercepted six times and five of those were returned for touchdowns.
Nelson completed 77-of-139 passes for 926 yards and six touchdowns while being intercepted seven times. Jackson completed 73-of-150 passes for 694 yards and three touchdowns and seven INTs.
RUNNING BACKS: As a team, the Aggies rushed for 114 yards a game, but they didn't have a back that averaged 100 yards. Marcus Cross, who led the team in rushing with 650 yards and tied for second in receptions with 27, had two games of 100 yards or more, but injuries took their toll on the junior back late in the season.
Ryan Bohm was also hit by injuries as was Antraun McDaniel. By the end of the season, WR Aaron Lesue lined up in the backfield as well as Chris Forbes, who began the year at defensive back.
Guy is hoping to recruit one or two running backs.
WIDE RECEIVERS/TIGHT ENDS: This position took an early hit when Tony Pennyman was dismissed from the team in September. Kevin Robinson, who led the team with 36 catches for 582 yards, struggled early but came on toward the end of the season.
Otis Nelson was the only other wide receiver to have more than 25 catches with 27, while Lesue, tight end Rob Myers and Tarrell Richards had 10 each.
Xavier Bowman and Omar Sawyer came on and had six and five catches respectively.
Myers was hampered by a groin injury early in fall drills, and he never developed into the offensive threat Guy would have hoped because of it.
The group should be deep again next season with Robinson, Nelson, Bowman, Sawyer, Nnamdi Gwatcham and Preston Robinson.
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN: Tackle Shawn Murphy, center Brent DeLadurantey and guard Ryan Tonnemacher started every game for the Aggies, while Pace Jorgensen started all but one. Derek Hoke and Malik Cin also made starts.
DeLadurantey and Cin, a second-team all-Western Athletic Conference performer, graduate.
The Aggies return a lot of experience, but they ranked 114th in total offense (254.42 yards per game); 117th in scoring (10.83 points a game); and 111th in passing offense (139.67 yards). They ranked 88th in rushing offense at 114 yards per game. They also allowed 19 sacks, which was 10 fewer than last year.
Although there is a lot of experience returning, Guy is hoping to recruit four or five offensive linemen.
Defense
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN: Frank Maile, Ben Calderwood and E.J. Reid all return next year, but the three combined for just 47 tackles.
Underclassmen Jon Overton, Carl Singleton, Ben Childs, Darby Golden, Bevan Howard and Alan Bishop also saw considerable time at defensive line or defensive end but at times were tremendously overmatched. The Aggies ranked 110th in rush defense (186.83 yards per game).
Guy hopes to bolster that position with four or five recruits.
LINEBACKERS: The Aggies began the year deep at linebacker, but the numbers thinned with injuries to Jake Hutton, the team's leading tackler two years ago, and Devon Hall.
Injuries to those players allowed freshman Paul Igboeli to emerge. With 69 tackles, which was second on the team, and three sacks, which led the team, he was named the WAC freshman of the year.
Hutton missed eight games with a stress fracture and bone spurs in his foot, but Guy expects him to be ready for spring practice.
Derrick Cumbee and Daryl Fields also saw a lot of time at that position.
Due to injuries, Terrance Washington, a safety, played linebacker for two games.
Guy said the plan for the linebackers is to get stronger and bigger physically during the offseason in order to be able to put up with the rigors of a 12- or 13-game season.
CORNERBACKS: Marquise Charles and Drew Pearson played in 12 games, while Joshua Taylor and Kejon Murphy played in 11.
All four of those players return and will be fighting for starting positions.
Charles led those four in tackles with 36, while Pearson had 34. Both had four pass break-ups.
The Aggies ranked 112th in pass defense (249.17).
SAFETIES: Antonio Taylor was the first non-linebacker to lead the team in tackles with 74 (43 solo) since Rulon Jones.
That in itself concerns Guy for two reasons: The defensive line and linebackers were having trouble stopping the run and/or the opponents were throwing the ball down the field, behind the linebackers.
Caleb Taylor, twin brother to backfield mate Joshua Taylor, was fourth on the team with 64 tackles, and he also had two interceptions, while Washington was fifth with 58. He also had one interception.
The biggest help for the safeties would be to get more help from the linebackers and defensive line in making tackles.
HIGH POINT: Led by freshman QB Riley Nelson, the Aggies won their only game against Fresno State, 13-12, with a touchdown in the final minute.
LOW POINT: Following that win, the Aggies lost their next six games to end the season 1-11.
TEAM MVPS: Freshman LB Paul Igboeli was seecond on the team in tackles (69) and recorded a tream-high three sacks. Offensively, Kevin Robinson had1,332 all-purpose yards (35 rushing), (582 receving), (74 punt returns), (641 kick returns).
KEY DEPARTURES: The Aggies lose leaders Malik Cin (OL) and Terrance Washington (DB) to graduation, and quarterback Riley Nelson is leaving on an LDS Church mission.
RECRUITING PRIORITIES: Defensive line, offensive line and running back are areas the Aggies need to build depth through recruiting.
Sept. 2 at Wyoming L, 38-7Sept. 9 at Arkansas L, 20-0Sept. 16 Utah L, 48-0Sept. 23 at BYU L, 38-0Sept. 30 Idaho L, 41-21Oct. 7 Fresno State W, 13-12Oct. 14 at San Jose State L, 21-14Oct. 21 at Louisiana Tech L, 48-35Nov. 4 Hawaii L, 63-10Nov. 11 at Nevada L, 42-0Nov. 18 at Boise State L, 49-10Nov. 25 New Mexico State L, 42-20
THE GOOD: In the last two years, the Aggies played 29 freshmen, giving the team a lot of playing experience. This year alone, the Aggies played nine freshmen, 15 sophomores and 15 juniors. For the first time under coach Brent Guy, the Aggies have some depth with game experience.
THE BAD: The Aggies are just 4-19 in two seasons under Guy. The underclassmen, especially freshmen and sophomores, got a lot of game experience, but many suffered injuries. Also, Guy wasn't able to redshirt as many freshmen and sophomores as he would have liked this year because he had less than a dozen seniors on the team.
THE FUTURE: If the Aggies can get healthy and stay healthy, their chances are good on winning more games than this last season. This year's roster had 23 juniors, so they will have senior depth next year. Quarterback Leon Jackson III, who was benched for Riley Nelson after five games, will be a senior and needs to have a solid year.
Offense
LT — Shawn Murphy, Sr.
LG — Ryan Tonnemacher, Jr.
C — Brennan McFradden, So.
RG — Pace Jorgensen, Sr.
RT — Derek Hoke, Jr.
TE — Rob Myers, Jr.
WR — Omar Sawyer, So.
WR — Kevin Robinson, Sr.
QB — Leon Jackson III, Sr.
FB — Lynwood Johnson, Jr.
RB — Marcus Cross, Sr.
Defense
LE — Ben Calderwood, Jr.
DT — Carl Singleton, Sr.
DT — E. J. Reid, Sr.
RE — Frank Maile, Sr.
LB — Paul Igboeli, So.
LB — Jake Hutton, Jr.
LB — Daryl Fields, Jr.
LC — Drew Pearson, Sr.
SS — Caleb Taylor, Jr.
FS — Antonio Taylor, Sr.
RC — Marquise Charles, Jr.
Special teams
P — Leon Jackson III, Sr.
K — Bryan Shields, So.
E-mail: jhinton@desnews.com