NOT RIPE FOR THE TAKING : Rebuilding Cal Lutheran Must Rely--for Now--on Its Defense

For Cal Lutheran the best offense might be a good defense.

New Cal Lutheran Coach Joe Harper has inherited a football squad with a defense that has remained somewhat intact since last season and an offense that has sustained heavy losses.

Only four starters return on offense, and everyone who carried the ball, except perhaps a manager or two, has departed.

In one area, though, Cal Lutheran (3-6 in ‘89) has achieved addition by subtraction, dropping Cal State Northridge--which had won the past seven games between the schools--from the schedule. The Kingsmen have added Division III teams Whittier and Claremont-Mudd and Division II San Francisco State.

Despite the tenderized schedule, Harper describes himself as “very apprehensive” entering the season.

At least in the early going, the defense will have to hold the fort for a team that will be considerably less offensive than an Andrew Dice Clay joke.

“I expect (the defense) to do well while we’re getting our act together,” senior tight end and co-captain Dave Deisinger said.

At Cal Lutheran, a California condor would be easier to find than an experienced offensive back.

Leading rusher Craig Ashley, who ripped Cal State Northridge for 151 yards and three touchdowns as a freshman last season, has dropped off the team, and Harper is looking to freshman Brian Kane (5-foot-10, 170) to contribute.

Kane, a transfer from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and a former Oak Park High star, spent the spring with the Kingsmen track team but has four years of football eligibility remaining.

Quarterback is more than a question mark; it’s an interrogation.

The four quarterbacks from last season, all underclassmen, have left the team. The leading returning passer is linebacker Cary Caulfield, who completed one pass for seven yards.

Freshmen Feliciano Ramirez (5-11, 175) and Javier Ramirez (5-9, 185), are expected to compete for the quarterback position, and Harper plans to ease their development by keeping the offense basic.

“We’ve got to kind of go at the pace that they can assimilate the material,” Harper said.

The receiving corps is probably Cal Lutheran’s strongest offensive unit. Deisinger (6-6, 235) is a two-year starter who caught 18 passes last season.

Junior wideout Tom Leogrande (6-0, 163), a big-play receiver, caught 11 passes (24.7-yard average), three for touchdowns. Sophomore Len Bradley (5-11, 175) caught three passes and also punted, averaging 38.7 yards a kick.

Returning starters Mike Pezonella, a 5-10, 260-pound junior guard, and John Milam, a 5-11, 255-pound senior tackle, lead an offensive line that lost four players who started frequently last season. Senior co-captain Dana Zupke (5-11, 195) will shore up the line after moving from defensive line to center.

Personnel will dictate the offense, but the playbook likely will include more play-action passes and shorter routes than it did last season.

“I’m sure things will click,” Deisinger said. “It’s going to be new for everybody so it doesn’t matter that we don’t have a lot of returnees.”

The defense has more continuity than the offense. Kyle Tarpenning returns as defensive coordinator and welcomes back several players who played extensively.

The basic 3-4 system reportedly will stay the same, but emphasis will be placed on pressuring the opposing quarterback.

The defense’s primary strength is the secondary, with three veteran starters. The linebacker corps also boasts a few good men.

Junior inside linebacker Caulfield (6-0, 236) and senior safety Nicko Rising (6-1, 190) hit like they’re wearing lead shoulder pads. Caulfield and Rising had 84 and 59 tackles, respectively.

Defensive back Kevin Evans, a 6-0, 195-pound junior, returns as the second-leading tackler from a year ago with 67, including eight for losses, and he also had two interceptions. Senior Mark Staley (5-9, 183) started at cornerback last year, and junior defensive back Mike Sylvester (6-0, 180) has caught Harper’s eye in game films.

Sophomore Chris Sestito (6-1, 200) played extensively at linebacker last season, and Eric Bowman (6-4, 210) returns to the defensive line after an injury-plagued junior season. Harper said defensive lineman Ron Matthews (6-2, 255) has been a pleasant surprise.

Kicker Greg Maw has graduated and Harper said he has not recruited a replacement.

For the first time in school history, Bob Shoup will not lead the Kingsmen into their opener. His replacement, Harper, has won 117 games in 18 years as a college head coach.