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Timberland’s Air Craig takes flight

Published Tuesday, August 11, 2009 10:13 AM

By Dan Brown
Berkeley Independent

The Timberland Wolves got their first look at Life A.R. – that’s After Rock – and came away from the four-team scrimmage at C.E. Murray High School Friday night with coach Art Craig cautiously optimistic.

“We don’t have the size we used to, but we have speed,” Craig said prior to Friday night’s scrimmage with C. E. Murray’s War Eagles. “It’s a whole different look for us.”

Gone is the Class of 2009, most prolific class in wins in Timberland football history. Gone are Aldrick Fordham, Quinton Washington and Storm Moore from the trenches, Caleb Caddell from the defensive backfield and all-time leading rusher Rockarius King.

“We challenged the team this week during practice and they stepped up to the challenge for the first time this summer,” Craig said. “What we wanted to see out of this scrimmage is how they take rising to this challenge from practice to the game.”

The scrimmage was to be Timberland’s first look at their new offense, Air Craig, a more pass-oriented scheme relying on the arm of senior quarterback Cody Craig.

“If we give Cody time people are going to catch the ball,” the elder Craig said. “Cody’s leadership will get us through a lot this fall.”

According to Craig, in more than 60 plays run from scrimmage Friday night, the Wolves threw the ball more than 40 times.

“Cody made some good reads. There were a few times where he had to move around in the pocket, but on the whole I thought the kids caught the ball well.”

In the 2008 season, Craig attempted 100 passes in 14 games for over 900 yards and 10 touchdowns. In comparison to last year’s numbers Craig threw more than two months worth of passes in one night.

“For the first time ever in a scrimmage, we threw for more touchdowns than we ran,” he said.

As is the case every fall, new names and new faces stand ready to shine.

“I thought Byron Mayes looked really, really good running the ball, plus he looked good catching the ball out of the backfield.”

Craig called Mayes a double threat in the backfield, a back with size and good hands who can catch the ball and then run with it once he makes the catch.

“The thing with Byron is you can line up out of the ‘I’ and throw a flair that turns into a 40-yard touchdown. He’s got size on him. When we run the option we can pitch him the ball and he’ll do something with it.”

Craig also mentioned receivers R.J. Jefferson and Brandon Giles as primary targets through the air.

“We’ve got some size in the receiver positions that we didn’t have before,” he said. “R.J. stands about 6’1” and will take the inside slot receiver. Brandon Giles caught the ball well.”

The Wolves penciled in nine new starters on defense and Craig doesn’t expect his defense to pitch the shutouts his team threw last year, but from what he saw on Friday night, he likes his chances with this bunch.

“We’ve got a lot of stuff we need to get better on. We’ve got to take each week and get better. Friday night, the longer we went the better we played. The longer they played the more confidence they got. We were only scored on once.”

Craig sees the schedule leading up to the start of the Region 7AA season as on the job training.

“We want to take each game one at a time and learn a few things and get a little better and play with confidence so that by the team the region schedule starts we should be able to go in and hold our own.”

The Wolves will find out on Aug. 22 on the road against Carolina Forest.

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