April 27, 2005

Charleston, SC - All you need to know about what Kevin Higgins is trying to do at The Citadel can be summed up with the No. 1 pick of the NFL draft this past weekend.

Utah quarterback Alex Smith is the poster boy for the type of offense Higgins is attempting to install with the Bulldogs. The high-flying flex-option attack relies on a signal-caller who can mince opposing defenses with his arm and legs in equal measures.

The Bulldogs were wrapping up their annual spring game around the time that Smith hoisted his San Francisco 49ers jersey for the photographers Saturday afternoon. The offense that put Smith into position to earn millions of dollars mustered one touchdown in two hours at Johnson Hagood Stadium.

Rising sophomore quarterback Duran Lawson is no Alex Smith.

Not yet, anyway.

"He's going to be a very good player," Higgins said of 6-foot, 190-pound Lawson, who completed 15 of 28 passes for 106 yards during the game. "He's still very young and sometimes he's forcing it. He's got good feet and a strong arm. He's a very capable player with a good work ethic and intelligence."

To be fair, Lawson was not operating with a full playbook. Higgins said about 65 percent of the offense is in place with the rest of the work to be done when the Bulldogs return to the field in late summer for two-a-days.

The offense is also new to Toby Strange, the Bulldogs' offensive coordinator. A holdover from John Zernhelt's staff, Strange is learning the scheme alongside his charges.

"We haven't hit on all of it yet. We just wanted to take it slow and make sure everything gets taught well," Strange said. "Learning the new terminology has been really fun. It's a good offense that makes the defense honor the whole field. It's going to be very exciting. It will put a lot of points on the board." That is, if Lawson's passing targets can get a grip. According to Higgins, the learning curve for Bulldog wide receivers has been as steep as Lawson's. In a program rooted in the running game, the Bulldog receivers are not used to being the offensive focal points.

"I was really concerned during the first day of practice when balls were flying off helmets and hands," said Higgins, who as the Detroit Lions' receivers coach had the opportunity to work with first-round talents Charles Rogers and Roy Williams.

"But entering practice 14, it was exciting to see the receivers caught the ball better," Higgins added. "Their route running was more detailed and their work ethic was tremendous."

Rontreal Tyler, a 5-11 rising junior, stepped to the front of the pack Saturday with seven catches for 44 yards, including the lone touchdown.

With all the effort it has taken to get the flex-option installed in the span of 15 practices, it is no surprise the Bulldogs defense had so much fun Saturday. Higgins said the Bulldogs' defensive front four is probably the most talented group on the team, with a revamped linebacking corps not far behind.

James Wilson, Trevar Broughton, Fred Townsend and Shaun Palmer make up the defensive line.

"Those kids run extremely well, have good size and are very technique-oriented," Higgins said.

Higgins said the best player in the program might be linebacker Shawn Grant. With Grant playing alongside converted fullback Porter Johnson, Higgins said the Bulldogs' front seven should meld into a formidable unit.

Saturday's spring game took place a month following Higgins' hiring. After scrambling to install his offense, hire coaches and meet individually with players, he said down time has been at a premium.

The end of spring practices should have provided him a breather. Instead, since he is living out of a suitcase, now is not the time to soak his feet. Next on the to-do list is finding a home for his family and a college for daughter Meghann, who is completing her senior year in high school. His wife, Kay, and Meghann arrived this week to tour prospective college destinations.

"They just flew in," Higgins said. "Everything's happening so fast."

The Bulldogs would no doubt agree.