Rader connects with returning group

Penn's Matt Rader will see familiar faces split wide in the form of Doug O'Neill and David Rogers. With a ratio of five touchdowns to 14 interceptions, there is little question that the Penn passing attack last season was little more than an intermission in the Jim Finn show. Things, however, are looking up this season. While Penn football cannot expect a return to the days of quarterback Mark DeRosa, incumbent Quaker quarterback Matt Rader has showed enough signs of improvement from last season to reduce talk of the early 1990s. "He kind of got thrown into it [last season]," Penn wide receiver coach Rick Ulrich said. "We changed our offense. He struggled at times last year. But then again he showed some sparkles of being a Division-I player." On the other end of the passing game, Penn junior Doug O'Neill and sophomore David Rogers -- the foundation of the 1998 Quakers' receiving corp -- look to build on a rough 1997. Though the duo combined for just one touchdown last season, they gained important game-time experience that should translate into improved performance. While the passing game is unlikely to serve as the core of the Quakers' attack, it is important for the wideouts to come of age. Finn's running success will rely heavily on opposing defenses placing increasing offense on Penn's receivers. If the receivers fail to make plays, opposing defenses will collapse on Finn. The Penn captain tailback, however, is confident that it won't come to that. "I think we have a strong running game and a strong passing game," Finn said. "That opens up both sides of the offense." Penn's loss of last year's senior receivers, John James and Brian Bonnano, should have only a positive effect on Rader. Evident by their combined 39 receptions, they were not Rader's targets of choice. "Last year the receivers weren't as talented as the people we have now," the Penn quarterback said. "I don't think we really had that connection last year, because a lot of us were new and thrown into a new system," Rogers added. "We worked out all throughout the year, and I think we all have our timing down." The improved communication between Rader and his receivers is noticed by everyone on the field. "There is definitely a lot more chemistry between the offensive people this year," Finn said. "The receivers look like they are working really well with Matt and are going to put some points on the board." Last season, O'Neill led Penn with 32 receptions for 430 yards, while Rodgers ranked third both with 17 receptions and 211 yards. The duo's numbers could have been higher had they not spent the first half of the season submerged on the bottom of Penn's depth chart. Making crucial catches against Brown and Princeton, O'Neill and Rodgers took starting spots away from senior wideouts late last season. "It was exciting being thrown in there and being able to make a big play in a couple of the games," O'Neill said. "Hopefully we will be able to do it again this year and turn the table on some of the games." O'Neill has earned the attention of his coaches and teammates for having the most game-experience at his position and for performing well under pressure. Last season, O'Neill earned the Bagnell Award, which is given traditionally to the Quakers' most improved player. "We go to Doug because he has been on the field," Ulrich said. "He is the mainstay of our receiving group. He is the one guy that we can count on catching the ball." As the other half of Penn's one-two receiving punch, Rogers, as a freshman last season surprised everyone with his ability to adapt to a new playbook, quarterback and surroundings. Rogers earned the admiration of Penn coaches this season by helping this year's freshman receivers adapt. "It was tough at first learning all of the plays and adjusting to the system," Rogers said. "There were a lot of older people that I could look up to and learn from." Penn junior Brandon Carson joins O'Neill and Rodgers as the only other Quakers receiver with significant game experience. Last season, Carson made the transition from reserve quarterback to receiver -- catching 14 passes for 129 yards In addition, he played some running back and kick returner. "Last year we force-fed Carson into a role that we wanted him to carry the ball, wanted him to catch the ball, wanted him to return kicks." Ulrich said. "Unfortunately for him and unfortunately for our team, it didn't work out extremely well. He fumbled on a return and he fumbled a kickoff that led directly to a touchdown. We need Carson to respond favorably to the situations that we give to him." Regardless of Finn's performance, with three returnees from last season, the Quakers' wide receivers should expect to be a part of an increasing percentage of the offensive plays. "We are going into every game thinking that we are going to probably run 70 plays," Ulrich said. "If Finn carries the ball 25 or 30 times, there are still at least 30 pass plays." Adding to the mix, sophomores Dominic McNeil and David O'Neill (Doug O'Neill's younger brother) have shown some ability. At 6'2", 190 lbs., McNeil's size and strength adds a new dimension to the Quakers' passing offense, while David O'Neill's outstanding takeoff speed should enable Rader to throw the fly pattern. One way the Quakers hope to involve as many of the receivers as possible is to develop several different sets. Much of preseason was used to experiment with many different formations. "We are mixing it up a lot," the older O'Neill said. "We have gone from a single receiver all the way up to four receivers out on the field. We are seeing what works best against different defenses." In addition to mixing up the offensive sets, Penn coaches will also try a mixed bag of receivers on the field together until they find a combination that works. "The guys have all been told that if they don't produce, then we are going to play with the guys that really give us what we want," Ulrich said. "If they don't, then we are not going to be in a five- or six-receiver rotation. We will stick with two or three." This means, worst case scenario, the Penn football faithful will see a lot of O'Neill, Rogers and possibly Carson this season. Even if nobody else emerges, it's the best receivers Penn football has offered since the days of DeRosa.

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