Kicking it with the best team in the NFL

Recently I made it over to New Orleans and watched the Saints defeat the Atlanta Falcons 35-27 in front of a nationally televised Monday night audience. The win upped the Saints record to 7-0 which matches the best start in franchise history set by the 1991 team.

It was my first opportunity to speak with the players since training camp. Back in August, all of the talk was about the “potential” of this team. But with the way that things have unfolded, Saints fans are now asking themselves, “Can we go 16-0?”

Lumpkin: No Saints team has ever had a better start to a season than this team. I’ve never won anything in my life Jeremy! How does it feel now that you’re 7-0?
Jeremy Shockey: Obviously the feeling is great, but we know that we could have lost a couple of games this year. Fortunately it has all worked out in our favor. Tonight we did some things that are uncharacteristic of this team. We had some turnovers, penalties and a missed field goal. We can’t have that if we want to be a championship team.

Lumpkin: Do you think that you all can continue this high level of play for the next three months?
Drew Brees: I think our best is yet to come. When you talk about hitting on all cylinders (offense, defense, special teams), there are a lot of things we can improve on and get better at. But you know, we are so much locked in on just one game at a time and not letting this undefeated thing get to us. It’s all about the next game. They only get tougher and we’re going to make sure we’re ready.

Lumpkin: In the NFL, anybody can beat anybody. We saw it a few weeks ago when Oakland beat Philadelphia. But this team has not had that “hiccup” game yet. How have you all been able to avoid that?
Mike Bell: I think it is due to the attitude that we took in training camp. We emphasized finishing strong, regardless. If it’s by 30 points or by one point, as long as we finish strong and we win, that’s the key. That’s our motto this year, finish strong. Everybody has these finish strong bracelets on and we have all bought into it. So, that’s what we’re going to do week after week.

Lumpkin: What is the big difference with the running game this year? The players haven’t changed but the output has. The last two years the Saints averaged around 95 yards rushing per game, but this year you all are averaging over 150 yards per game on the ground.
Carl Nicks: One thing that we really emphasized in training camp was running the football. We knew we had to have a more balanced offense. Our guys on the offensive line challenged each other. We said that we’re not going to be a finesse team like we’re labeled. We’re going to pound the football. If you look at our offensive linemen we have 340 pound guards and 300 pound tackles so we’re bound to be physical. I just think that it was just a sense of pride and a sense of urgency that we can be a great running team this season.

Lumpkin: Head Coach Sean Payton said in his post game press conference that the biggest reason this team is 7-0 is because of the defense. Are you surprised about the way that this defense has been able to do it every game with forced turnovers and defensive touchdowns?
Darren Sharper: We knew we had the ability to play like this. Greg Williams (Defensive corrdinator) has such a great system. He is such a great teacher and coach as far as preparing us every week in practice to make these big plays and also find ways to score with them. We have guys on defense that were ex-running backs and know how to run with the football and have found ways to get it to the end zone. That’s something that will be a staple of our defense. Creating big plays and getting defensive scores.

Lumpkin: What has it been like to be undefeated in this city, a city that loves its New Orleans Saints?
Carl Nicks: After our last road game in Miami we had about 350 people waiting for us at the airport to welcome us home. I’m not going to lie, I’ve never been on an undefeated team, especially not 7-0 and it feels great!

Lumpkin: Whenever you go out to eat or when you’re hanging out in the city, what has the response been like this year? Are you hearing more “Who Dats?”
Reggie Bush: The great thing about this city is they’re behind us 24-7. No matter if we’re losing or winning, and that’s the special thing about this city. Anytime you have a fan base like that it makes you want to play your heart out for them every Sunday.

Saints Are Looking Super

Who dat! Who dat! Who dat say they gonna beat them Saints!

Frankly, after what I’ve seen from the New Orleans Saints through five games, I don’t know if there is a team in the National Football League that can beat them.

For the third time in franchise history the Saints are off to a 5-0 start. In 1991, they began the season 7-0, finished 11-5 and lost in the first round of the playoffs. In 1993, they started 5-0, but then fell apart as they finished 8-8 and missed the playoffs. Not only will this year’s team make the playoffs, the Saints will likely receive an automatic invitation to the second round by virtue of a first round bye.

Offensively, the Saints have never looked better. That’s saying something considering that the Saints finished number one in total offense in 2006 and 2008.

Quarterback Drew Brees has had a number of phenomenal seasons in the NFL, but never has he played so well. Brees currently leads the league in passer rating at 118.4 (his career high is 104.8 in 2004). Unlike his previous three seasons in New Orleans, Brees does not have to have a great statistical game for the Saints to win.

Only three teams are running the football better than New Orleans. The balance of the run and the pass has made the Saints offense deadly. Now opponents must decide whether they want to slow down Brees and the Saints passing attack, or stack the line of scrimmage and try to contain the Saints running backs.

Through five games the Saints are averaging 38.4 points per game and are on pace to break the 2007 New England Patriots record for points scored in a single season. They are also averaging 430.0 yards per game. Only the 2000 St. Louis Rams (442.2) and the 1984 Miami Dolphins (433.5) have averaged more yards per game in a season.

Neither the Rams nor the Dolphins won the Super Bowl during those seasons. However, the Saints are a much more complete team equipped with a better running game and a stronger defense.

The biggest off-season acquisition for the Saints has clearly been defensive coordinator Greg Williams. After the 2008 season concluded the Saints began pursuing Williams who produced top three defenses in Tennessee, Buffalo and Washington. The two sides were close to reaching an agreement, but were still a ways apart on the financial terms. To seal the deal, Saints head coach Sean Payton asked general manager Mickey Loomis to cut his annual salary by $250,000 and apply that money to the offer for Williams.

Needless to say, Williams signed the contract and he is doing in New Orleans what he did in his previous NFL stops. For the first time since the early 1990’s the Saints have a dominant defense.
In 2007 the Saints ranked 26th out of 32 teams in total defense, and in 2008 they finished 23rd. With basically the same personnel, Williams has completely turned around the Saints defense which currently ranks 9th in the NFL.

Williams is one of the most intense defensive coordinators in the NFL. I saw it first-hand when I visited Saints training camp in August. I spoke with defensive ends Will Smith and Charles Grant, safety Roman Harper, and cornerback Tracy Porter. Each player told me that the defense had taken on the impassioned personality of its new coordinator, and after watching the team perform I can see it.

This season the Saints defense is wreaking havoc on opposing offenses. The Saints are putting more pressure on the quarterback. They are flying to the football and tackling better than they have in years, and they are creating more turnovers with the aggressive approach of Williams.
The combination of explosive offense and aggressive defense has allowed the Saints to win each of their five games by at least 14 points.

What’s even more impressive than that is the fact that the Saints have played 300 minutes of football and they have not trailed for one second!

Back in July I gave my prediction for the Saints 2009 season. I stated that if the Saints could avoid injuries, improve on defense, and get more consistency out of the running game then they would finish 12-4. Well, so far all three of those things have happened. Only now I think that the Saints will finish somewhere between 14-2 and possibly 16-0.

The Saints have 11 games remaining in the regular season. I understand that in the NFL every team is talented and winning games is not easy. However, the Saints are sure making it look easy. The only games left on the schedule that I believe might be difficult for the Saints are the two games against Atlanta and the home game against New England.

Here is the thing about the Saints. In order to defeat them, you must score at least 30 points. Of course that does not guarantee you a victory. It just means that you might be in the game in the fourth quarter.

I think that the only team in the NFC that can truly challenge the Saints in the playoffs is the Minnesota Vikings who are currently 6-0. I expect to see those teams meet in New Orleans for the NFC Championship game in late January. And what a matchup that would be with Drew Brees versus Brett Favre for the right to go to the Super Bowl! I am a life-long Favre fanatic and would definitely be pulling for the Vikings, but I would put my money on Brees and the Saints.

SWLA High School Fantasy Football

Why does it always seem that time passes so much faster during football season? I guess you can chalk that up to the old adage, “Time flies when you’re having fun.” The high school football season is off to a fantastic start, and the games are only going to become more significant down the stretch of district play.

In each of the last three seasons, we have seen a school from Southwest Louisiana nearly go the distance. In 2006 the Sulphur Golden Tors advanced to the 5A State Championship game. In 2007 the Westlake Rams reached the 3A State Championship game, and last year it was the Barbe Bucs going all the way to the 5A Semifinals.
Michael Guillory, Barbe
While we don’t know which school will emerge to make the deepest playoff run, we do know some of the key contributors who will be counted on to make plays down the stretch. I have witnessed a number of unbelievable individual offensive performances through the season’s first five weeks, and I wanted to learn which players have been the most productive at their respective positions. My curiosity led me to high school fantasy football!

Fantasy football is played by millions of people around the world including thousands of folks here in Southwest Louisiana. The most popular format for fantasy football is NFL fantasy football, although NCAA fantasy football is growing rapidly.

In fantasy football, you have a league that typically consists of 8-12 members. Each member of the league drafts a team made up of quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, tight ends, place kickers, and team defenses. Most leagues feature weekly head-to-head competition. Two members face off against each other and the team that scores the most points in the matchup is credited with a win, while the other team receives a loss.

Points are scored based on the statistics that are produced by the individual offensive players and team defenses. The top 4-6 teams from the league with the best win-loss records advance to the playoffs where a champion is crowned.

Orlan Lockhart, Sam Houston
I have never come across a high school fantasy football league. However, if high school fantasy football existed, these would be the top players from Southwest Louisiana. I used the following scoring system from a fantasy football league that I launched in 1997. The statistics listed are through the season’s first five games.

Passing Touchdown, 4 points, Rushing Touchdown, 6 points, Receiving Touchdown, 6 points, Passing Yards, .1 point for every yard gained, Rushing Yards, .1 point for every yard gained, Receiving Yards, .1 point for every yard gained, Two Point Conversion, 2 points, Reception, 1 point, Interception Thrown, -2 points, Point After Touchdown, 1 point, Field Goal (49 yards or less), 3 points, Field Goal (50 yards or more), 5 points

Quarterbacks

182.3 pts Orlan Lockhart – Sam Houston Broncos
(778 pass yds, 4 pass td, 2 int, 325 rush yds, 10 td)
156.5 pts Gene Pete – Iowa Yellow Jackets
(641 pass yds, 8 pass td, 8 int, 344 rush yds, 7 td)
148.3 pts Garrett McCain – Sulphur Golden Tors
(924 pass yds, 8 pass td, 5 int, 99 rush yds, 4 td)

Running Backs
180.3 pts Michael Guillory – Barbe Buccaneers
(655 rush yds, 13 rec, 178 rec yds, 14 td)
171.2 pts Landon Carmon – Elton Indians
(1012 rush yds, 11 td, 2 two pointers)
146.8 Darius Edwards – LaGrange Gators
(459 rush yds, 10 rec, 269 rec yds, 9 td, 5 two pointers)

Wide Receivers

Kevin Berrard – Barbe Buccaneers
(12 rec, 289 rec yds, 285 rush yds, 10 td, 214 pass yds, 3 pass td)
114.3 Caleb Kellogg – DeQuincy Tigers
(25 rec, 533 rec yds, 6 td)
112.3 Kenny Brown – Saint Louis Saints
(25 rec, 433 yds, 7 td, 1 two pointer)

Place Kickers

37 Gabbi Zahm – Barbe Buccaneers
(3 fg under 50, 28 pat)
23 James Bice – Saint Louis Saints
(1 fg under 50, 1 fg over 50, 15 pat)

Catching Up With Kennison

Eddie Kennison is one of the most talented and productive football players ever to come out of Southwest Louisiana. Kennison started at wide receiver for Washington Marion High School where he was a Parade All-American.
He went on to play wide receiver at LSU where he was an All-SEC performer in 1995. Kennison was selected in the first round of the 1996 NFL draft by the St. Louis Rams.
From 1996 to 2008 Kennison played for five teams, (Rams, Saints, Bears, Broncos, and Chiefs), and caught 548 passes for 8,345 yards and 42 touchdowns.
I spoke with Eddie at a Washington Marion football game in September and we discussed family, football, and business.

Lumpkin: What are you doing these days?
Kennison: My wife, two boys and I are living in Kansas City. We own a few businesses there. My wife and I own a beauty school, a non-emergency medical transportation business, and we’re part owners of a wine club called Cellar and Loft.

Lumpkin: It sounds like you’ve made a smooth transition to life after football. But I have to ask... You played last year with the Rams, and you’re only 36, so have you played your final football game?
Kennison: Wow this is kind of like ESPN or something! That decision needs to be made in the very near future as to if I’m going to continue playing or not. God has blessed me with a 13 year NFL career, and I’m at the point now where I can decide if I want to keep playing or not.
Lumpkin: What is it like coming home and showing your little boys where you grew up and went to school?

Kennison: We came in town for some family matters and heard that Washington Marion was playing LaGrange. This is supposed to be the big rivalry now that Lake Charles Boston is gone, so I brought my two boys with me to give them an idea about where dad played high school football because they’ve never seen it. Because I was always playing on Sundays, my boys were never able to come to a Washington Marion game so this is their first game.

Lumpkin: So they only know dad as the NFL wide receiver?
Kennison: Well, they know where dad went to high school, college, and the NFL teams I’ve played with, but they’ve never actually been to a Washington Marion game. They’ve been to LSU games, but never Washington Marion.

Lumpkin: Since you finished playing at LSU in 1995, the Tigers have had a lot of success winning three SEC championships and two national championships. But, they’re coming off a down year, so what are your thoughts on where the LSU football program is headed?
Kennison: 8-5 is still a pretty good record. It’s not what we’re used to, but we have to understand that football is a game of angles and inches. And as much as we’d love to win every year, it just doesn’t happen. I think they have an awesome recruiting class coming in this year, and I expect them to get back in the chase for national championships.

Lumpkin: You had many great moments, and plenty of highlights as an NFL player. Can you single out one accolade or one performance that stands alone as your proudest moment in the NFL?
Kennison: Wow, I have so many great memories of playing in the National Football League. I think it was 2003 when I was playing with Kansas City and we were in Green Bay.

Lumpkin: I remember that game, and it was 2003.
Kennison: We were down 17 points entering the fourth quarter. Our offense, defense, and special teams rallied and we tied the game at 34 and went to overtime. We took the field for our second drive of overtime and on the first play I caught a 51 yard touchdown pass from Trent Green and we won the game.

Lumpkin: The reason that I remember that game is because I am a die-hard Brett Favre fan, and when you caught that touchdown to beat the Packers, it broke my heart.
Kennison: I’m sorry man.
Lumpkin: It’s cool. I forgave you a long time ago.

One on One with Al Woods

Elton native, Al Woods, is a senior defensive tackle for the LSU Tigers. Woods was considered the top recruit of the 2006 LSU signing class. He was rated amongst the top defensive tackle prospects in the country by every major recruiting publication. During his first three seasons at LSU, Woods only started three of the 28 games he played in. However, this season Woods is expected to make a major contribution as one of the Tigers two starting defensive tackles. In the Tigers season opening victory at Washington, Woods matched a career high with four solo tackles.

Lumpkin: When I talked to you last spring you told me that you were in the best shape of your life. Is that still the case here in late August?
Woods: Yeah, I weighed 310 pounds then, now I’m down to 304. It’s been nothing but good for me. We have been playing good up front (on the defensive line) collectively as a defense. This has been a real good August camp and I’ve been having a lot of fun. I just thank my coaches and teammates for making it a good experience for me for my last time.

LSU Senior Devensive Tackle Al Woods
Lumpkin: Can you believe that you’re a senior now? It seems like it was just last year that I was interviewing you on signing day in Elton.
Woods: I know! Time has flown by, but I’ve enjoyed every minute of it.

Lumpkin: During August camp, have you taken most of your repetitions with the first team defense?
Woods: Yes.

Lumpkin: How would you rate your performance during August camp?
Woods: I think it’s been good. As a defensive line and as a defense, we’ve been practicing really well together. And to be honest with you, I have to keep it going at a high level. I have Charles Alexander and Drake Nevis that’s playing on the side of me and behind me so I have to keep it up. The competition level is so high that if one of us has an off day and another one of us has a good day the depth chart could change. I’ve been playing extremely well, but the competition level is extremely high.

Lumpkin: John Chavis was hired as your defensive coordinator in January. Working with Chavis over the last eight months, are you and your defensive teammates extremely comfortable with him and his defensive philosophy?
Woods: Oh yeah! We all love coach Chavis because the way he comes to work with his enthusiasm, it’s contagious. You may come to practice one day when you’re hurting, kind of feeling sorry for yourself, and you don’t feel like practicing. But you see Chavis with his energy and you’re like, ok, well I’m ready to go to work.
Lumpkin: If you could be any dinosaur that ever existed, what dinosaur would you be?
Woods: (Laughs) Oh, man! I would have to say a Tyrannosaurus Rex.

Lumpkin: Why a Tyrannosaurus Rex?
Woods: Because I’m a meat eater (laughs)! I love to eat meat and T-Rexes love to eat meat. It’s a good combination there (laughs).

Lumpkin: Has a reporter ever asked you that question?
Woods: (Laughs) Uh, no.

Lumpkin: Well, now you have been asked that question. And I have to say, I thought you were more of a Triceratops.
Woods: (Laughs)

Lumpkin: Alright, back to football questions. Last year the LSU defense struggled (allowed 24 points per game). It wasn’t a typical year for the LSU defense. Would you agree?
Woods: Yes, I would agree.

Lumpkin: How much emphasis has there been on improving this defense for 2009?
Woods: To be honest with you, it’s like the whole team thing. We all took that role, saying as a team we have to get better. Not just the defense or the offensive line or the running backs. Collectively as a team we are trying to get better. We want to get back to where we were a couple of years ago when we were a dominant defense.

LSU's Three Quarterbacks

In 2008 the LSU Tigers only won eight games, which was their lowest win total since 2002. LSU fans probably knew they would be in for a difficult season due to a lack of experience at the quarterback position. Four months before the 2008 season opener head coach Les Miles kicked his troubled starting quarterback Ryan Perrilloux off the team.

That left Miles with the following options at quarterback: Harvard transfer Andrew Hatch, Redshirt freshman Jarrett Lee, and true freshman Jordan Jefferson. The QB trio combined to produce the lowest passing totals for LSU since Miles took over in 2005.

Jordan Jefferson
Needless to say, LSU is in a much better position at the most important position (QB) heading into the 2009 season which begins on September 5. At my deadline, Miles had not yet named a starting quarterback. However, unless something catastrophic happens to Jefferson before the season opener, he will be the starter.

Jefferson played well in his only two starts of 2008. In the regular season finale at Arkansas he threw for a pair of touchdowns in a loss. Then one month later he led LSU to a 38-3 Chick-Fil-A Bowl victory over Georgia Tech.

Jarrett Lee
In that game Jefferson seemed to have command of the offense as he completed 64 percent of his throws with one touchdown pass and zero interceptions. And since that game at the end of December, Jefferson has made marked improvements to his game.

“He’s bigger and stronger,” Miles told me back in July. “He won’t go into a game that he hasn’t experienced in one way or another. He played on the road, and he played on the road in a bowl game and won. Really this summer he has probably shown more leadership than what’s due for a young guy. I think he’ll be much improved this fall.”

Jefferson’s teammates are equally impressed with the quarterback’s growth during the off-season.

Russell Shepard
“He’s quicker in and out of the huddle and has us going with a better tempo,” said LSU senior wide receiver Brandon LaFell. “He’s getting to the right checks quicker and faster and is just getting the ball to us way better than he did last year.”

“He came into this season with a lot of confidence and you can really see that because he is working hard,” said LSU sophomore center T-Bob Hebert. “He knows his calls. He has a quick mind and makes quick reads.”

“As far as a player Jordan has really matured,” said LSU junior offensive tackle Joseph Barksdale, who is Jefferson’s roommate. “Everything from making adjustments on certain play calls to calling audibles at the line of scrimmage. He definitely has a much broader knowledge of the offense.”

Jarrett Lee, who played the most of any LSU quarterback in 2008, will likely be second on the depth chart behind Jefferson. Lee may not have been ready to play as much as he did last year, but Miles was left with limited options after the Perrilloux fiasco.

Lee did some good things like leading the Tigers to comeback wins against Auburn, South Carolina and Troy. There were also some bad moments. Lee threw more interceptions (16) than touchdowns (14), and the Tigers lost four of the eight games that Lee started. And there was the downright ugly as seven of Lee’s 16 interceptions were returned for touchdowns.

“There were times in games where I would hear the boos and things being said in the crowd, but that’s just part of being a football player,” said Lee. “Our fans are passionate and sometimes that happens when you make mistakes.”

Lee said his teammates were behind him during the tough times. However, last January he contemplated transferring to another school.

“At the first of the year it was in the back of my mind,” said Lee. But that was it. It was only in the back of my mind and never did I want to go through with it. I wanted to stay with this team because I could tell that everyone was focused and really wanting to improve from last year.”

Lee said he has put a lot of focus into becoming a better quarterback, and learning from his mistakes of 2008. It’s a long season and Lee could be counted on to play a big role at some point.
Much of the talk concerning the LSU quarterbacks has focused on the Tigers prized recruit Russell Shepard. Shepard was widely considered the nation’s top duel-threat quarterback in the 2009 recruiting class. He is expected to make an immediate impact for LSU.

The question is, where will he line up?

Shepard took limited snaps at quarterback in each of the Tigers three fall scrimmages. However, he has received more repetitions at wide receiver and running back.

LSU cornerback Jai Eugene has had to defend Shepard during spring workouts and August practice, and he is a believer. Shepard came to LSU with lots of hype, and apparently the rookie is living up to it.

“You are going to have to watch him no matter what position he plays,” said Eugene. “Sometimes he lines up at running back. Sometimes he lines up at wide receiver. Sometimes he lines up at quarterback. His quarterback game is developing, but most likely we’re going to use him at receiver or running back, or to run the option.”

I don’t expect Jordan Jefferson to explode and put up JaMarcus Russell numbers, but I do think that he will manage games well. Also, I promise that he will not throw seven touchdowns to the opposing defense. Jarrett Lee says he has learned from his mistakes, and his experience is a plus.

If Lee does play significantly, I expect him to play smarter than he did in 2008. Russell Shepard adds a completely different dimension to the position with his speed and quickness. I expect to see Shepard come in on option plays, similar to the way that Miles used Perrilloux in 2007.
Winning games in the SEC is not easy, and it’s much more difficult to win without good, consistent quarterback play.

The Tigers should get much better production out of their quarterbacks this year. Will that result in more victories?

Only time will tell.

One on One with Toddrick Pendland

By Garrett Lumpkin

In 2008 McNeese State running back Toddrick Pendland took full advantage of the opportunity that he received. Given the chance to start for the first time in his collegiate career, Pendland did not disappoint. The Newton, TX native ran for a school record 1,431 yards, and scored a team leading 15 touchdowns. Pendland was named the 2008 Southland Conference Offensive Player of the Year, and he’s been tabbed a preseason All-American pick in 2009.

Lumpkin: Do you go by Toddrick or can I call you Todd?
Pendland: It really doesn’t matter. Toddrick is cool or you can call me Todd.

Lumpkin: Alright Todd. Last season you set the MSU single season rushing record after rushing for a total of just 647 yards during your first two years combined. How did it all come together for you?
Pendland: It was just a blessing really. My offensive line was doing their thing, and I’m just glad that Coach Viator gave me an opportunity to run the ball. I told coach for two years that I was ready, and I guess I just had to wait for my turn.

Lumpkin: Every college football player was a star on his high school team. What’s it like coming to college, where a lot of guys just like you, have to wait for their turn to play?
Pendland: Sitting on the bench, it hurts you know. I got here my freshman year and sat down for the first game. I hadn’t sat down like that since pee wee. I wanted to quit. I wanted to transfer, but I’m glad I stayed here. I talked to my coaches and they helped me out. They asked me before last season if I was going to be ready. I told them that I was going to be good. They put their faith in me and it all worked out.

Lumpkin: I’ll say! But instead of telling your coaches you were going to be good, you should have told them that you were going to set the single season rushing record!
Pendland: (Laughs) I tell my coaches all the time, I told you so!

Lumpkin: If you could single out one characteristic that makes you a special runner, what would it be?
Pendland: I work hard, that’s the main thing. At practice my coaches tell me all the time, it doesn’t matter if you get tackled or not. Get up and run and finish the play. That helps out in the games. I don’t take my helmet off at practice even if it is hot. I just spray a little water through the helmet. Those are little things, but they all add up.

Lumpkin: No offense, but your not a very big guy. (Todd is 5’9’’, 175 lbs)
Pendland: That’s alright.

Lumpkin: What has it been like having to overcome the “small back” stereotype?
Pendland: Man, I’ve heard that ever since I first started playing football. I’m tough you know. I come from a small school, and I feel like I have something to prove every time I step on the field.

Lumpkin: You ran for all of those yards last year behind an offensive line that returns only one of five starters. How has it been running behind a new group of linemen?
Pendland: Those guys have come a long way. At the beginning of the spring they were a little shaky, but by the time spring practice ended we were running the ball really well. They’ve gotten off to a good start here in August, and I think they’ll be ready by the time we kick off that first game.

Lumpkin: Can you turn in another record breaking season running behind these guys?
Pendland: I’m not worried about stats or records. All I care about is winning conference and making it to the playoffs. I haven’t been to the playoffs since I’ve been here, so I got to get my feet up in there.

Lumpkin: Wait. Weren’t you on the 2007 team that went undefeated during the regular season and made it to the playoffs?
Pendland: Oh yeah. We lost in the first round, but I didn’t get to play in the playoff game because I pulled my hamstring the week before.

Lumpkin: Maybe that’s why the Cowboys lost in the first round, because you were injured.
Pendland: (Laughs) I don’t know about that!

Lumpkin: Last year the Cowboys finished 7-4 and missed the playoffs. What is it going to take for this team to get back to the playoffs?
Pendland: Hard work, dedication and sacrificing. We have plenty of talent on this team. If we all stay committed, then we’ll be fine.