Wolves to let Craig air it out | Sports | Berkeley Independent

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Wolves to let Craig air it out

Published Tuesday, June 30, 2009 10:59 AM

By Dan Brown
Berkeley Independent

Jennifer Easler/Special to The Independent

Wolves quarterback Cody Craig will get to air it out more in 2009 as Timberland shifts from a run-oriented to a pass-oriented offense.

Last year the Timberland Wolves football playbook could have been reduced to one play: give the ball to Rock and the other 10 guys get out of the way.

Well, not entirely, but for Timberland Wolves head coach Art Craig, he had the state’s premier running back lined up behind his quarterback and he intended to use him.

“Rock King is one of the most explosive running backs in the state,” the coach said. “We played to our strength. We had a huge offensive line and explosive running backs. We didn’t have to do much else with the football.”

That was 2008, which ended in a heartbreaking 10-9 loss to eventual state champion Dillon in the Class AA Lower State finals.

“There will never be another class like the Class of 2009,” Craig said. “But this class is ready to make their own mark.

“We’ve had a really good spring and these guys are ready to emerge from the shadow of the Class of 2009. They want their own identity.”

That’s a tall order with some mighty big shoes to fill as the likes of Storm Moore, Quinton Washington, Aldrick Fordham, Rockarius King and Caleb Caddell all inked Division One football scholarships. Craig is optimistic about what he has left in the tank and is optimistic about what the 2009 season holds.

“You don’t replace that kind of size,” he said. “What you do is you take what you have and you adjust. It’s our job as coaches to adapt to what we have.”

What Timberland has are some weapons on both sides of the ball left over from 2008, the most prominent being the coach’s son, quarterback Cody Craig who has already committed to play both football and baseball at Coastal Carolina following high school.

The success of the Wolves offense will rest squarely on Craig’s shoulders.

“Last year we were a running team,” the elder Craig said. “We threw in situations and we were successful, but this year we’re going to throw the ball more. We have to. This year we’re going to have to be a little more innovative with what we do.”

Innovative in that the junior Craig will get to air it out a lot.

Craig threw the ball 100 times in 14 games for more than 900 yards and 10 touchdowns a year ago.

Art Craig said his son could double those numbers this year. “He may have to.”

“His leadership is going to get us through a lot of stuff this year,” Craig said.

Craig will have several targets returning from which to choose in R.J. Jefferson, Lee Mayes, Brandon Giles and LaRon Milford. Brian Welch and Damien Williams will also fill slots in the backfield and play on both sides of the football.

“We have some size in our receivers,” Craig said. “These guys have played together since B team. We’ve got a couple younger kids coming up and we’re anxious to see how they play out.”

What Craig likes most about this class of seniors and this edition of Timberland Wolves football is the sense of purpose they bring with them to their workouts and their dedication to self-discipline.

“This group can run this weight room without us being there,” he said. “They are taking the leadership to heart and taking it upon themselves to get the job done.”

Craig said his team has been focusing on conditioning and lifting this summer, sandwiched around team scrimmages. The Wolves decided to pass on the popular summer passing leagues, opting to stay at home.

“We’ll come in (and) throw against each other some on Wednesdays,” he said. “When you play seven-on-seven as they do in the passing leagues, sometimes they will show you defenses you’ll never see during the year.

“On Mondays and Fridays we hit the weight room.”

Craig is aware his Wolves may have targets on their backs this year following last year’s Shermanesque march through Region 7AA, but he welcomes and looks forward to the challenge.

“The biggest thing about this year is seeing how we adjust after losing all those big time stars. It’s going to be interesting to see how this senior class steps up this year.”

Timberland will field a much different football team this fall, but given the core group of players he has returning, he likes his chances.

“We’re getting great effort from our kids,” he said. “When you get great effort you have a chance.”

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