Deacs have a listless attack: Grobe says offense 'got rear ends kicked'

By: By Dan Collins | JOURNAL REPORTER
Published: August 26, 2009

Last year's 26-0 loss at Maryland was a game that everyone associated with Wake Forest's offense would like to forget.

But after yesterday's frustrating third scrimmage of the preseason at BB&T Field, Coach Jim Grobe pulled the memory out and waved it like a red flag.

In addressing his team afterward, Grobe said the scrimmage reminded him of the game at College Park, a performance so dismal that the Deacons spent the next week retooling their offense in preparation for their trip to Miami. Yesterday the Deacons' offense was equally uninspired and equally inefficient, and as a consequence the defense led 7-0 the first 45 minutes, thanks to a 61-yard fumble return for a touchdown by cornerback Michael Williams.

The Deacons eventually scored five offensive touchdowns to go with a 32-yard field goal by Shane Popham, but much of the production came on short-field drives Grobe resorted to in order to see his team in red zone and extra-point situations.

Yesterday's performance --or lack thereof -- was in stark contrast to the first two scrimmages, when the experienced offense led by fourth-year starter Riley Skinner at quarterback largely had its way against the defense.

"It's the first time we've had that," Grobe said. "You usually have some of that before now. I really thought part of the problem was that our defense flew around pretty good. We had guys getting to the ball and they were really physical.

"I thought offensively we just looked really timid. Some of it is probably that we've been pushing them pretty hard. I can make excuses for it. But I think from a coaching-staff perspective and for a group on the offensive side that has some more veteran players, we can't have a day like this.

"If you have a day like this during the season now, it's not going to be pretty."

Skinner still managed to complete 11 of 16 passes for 139 yards, and running back Josh Adams caught fire in time to rush for 57 yards on eight carries.

"I thought Josh Adams really looked good today," Grobe said. "He looked like he had some bounce to him, and he made some nice cuts."

Danny Dembry, a sophomore vying for a spot in the wide-receiver rotation, also caught Grobe's eye by hauling in four passes for 64 yards. He got a longer look yesterday with freshman Terence Davis sidelined for the season with a torn anterior-cruciate ligament and Skylar Jones, a converted quarterback, on the sideline with a tight hamstring.

"Most of our receivers were really, really timid but I thought Danny really came to play," Grobe said. "He did some good things."

But what was most disappointing, according to Grobe, was the way the experienced offense was dominated -- at least early in the scrimmage -- by a defense that is breaking in seven new starters. The defense disrupted the passing game with six sacks, two by Will Wright, two by Gelo Orange and one each by Kyle Wilber and Boo Robinson.

Senior offensive tackle Chris DeGeare was still sidelined by an injured shoulder, but Grobe declined to consider that a mitigating factor in the play of his starting line of Joe Birdsong and Doug Weaver at tackles, Jeff Griffin and Joe Looney at guards and Russ Nenon at center.

DeGeare said he hopes to return to practice by today, and trainer Don Steelman said that was a possibility.

"I can tell you, I've been doing this 35 years now and one offensive lineman doesn't make a difference," Grobe said. "Chris DeGeare wouldn't have made a bit of difference today if the other four aren't playing good, and maybe Chris wouldn't have played good, I don't know.

"For whatever reason I thought our offense was flat today."

Grobe left open the possibility he'll call for a fourth preseason scrimmage on Saturday.

"We don't know yet," Grobe said. "I think we'll talk as a coaching staff.

"I was kind of hoping that we'd come out here today and be sharp on both sides of the football. It's always going to be mixed. If both sides are really, really sharp, there's going to be some give and take. There wasn't much give and take today.

"The offense kind of got their rear ends kicked today."

■ Dan Collins can be reached at 727-7323 or at dcollins@wsjournal.com.