‘Stats weren’t good enough’: McNeese quarterback James Tabary not resting on last season’s success
Published 5:48 pm Wednesday, March 22, 2017
Only one man in the 73 seasons of McNeese State football threw for more yards than James Tabary did last season.
None had more 300-yard passing games than the four Tabary produced and no quarterback completed or attempted as many passes as the Arkansas State transfer did in his breakout 2016 campaign.
“To me,” Tabary said following Wednesday’s practice, “the stats weren’t good enough.”
Wednesday was McNeese’s first full day in pads, a reminder to Tabary just how far both he and the team had come. At this point last season, Tabary danced in limbo at Arkansas State, unsure of his future plans. Miles away, McNeese faced the unenviable task of adapting to a new coaching staff and offensive system in a sometimes frenetic spring practice.
“Watching from last year’s film on their spring compared to this year, we’re getting stuff done,” Tabary said. “Our offense looks really confident in what we’re doing and we’re moving the ball really well.”
Tabary’s become renowned around the program for his relentless work ethic. After speaking to a reporter Wednesday afternoon, he asked for the time. Told it was 5:26 p.m., he calculated the adequate time needed to perform his post-practice routine — dropback work on the far side of the field — before running to a meeting.
The New Orleans native returned home during the summer to Sonic Boom Speed Conditioning & Strength Training Academy, where he’s trained under Wyatt Harris since his middle school days. Harris trained Tabary six days a week, the quarterback said.
“(We) nitpicked absolutely everything I could possibly do,” Tabary said. “I left a lot of numbers on the field, could have extended plays, gotten the ball to backs better. I broke down absolutely everything I could possibly do and started back from the basics, acting like I’ve never played football before.”
It’s made Tabary’s first spring as a Cowboy a much smoother process. The reigning team MVP who threw for 3,306 yards and 23 touchdowns said he didn’t fully grasp McNeese’s total offensive system until the team’s fifth game last season — a 38-13 win against Nicholls State on Oct. 1.
“For everyone to get to know the offense for an entire season, including the summer, that’s huge,” Tabary said. “For the coaches, they don’t even really have to coach anymore. Just nitpick and stuff here and there. We’ve been pretty good.”
Merka missing
Long-snapper Grant Merka, who was in attendance but not dressed out when McNeese opened spring practice last Friday, was absent Wednesday.
Coach Lance Guidry said Merka, a rising junior, remains on the team but declined to elaborate on the specific reasons for Merka’s absence. Guidry, though, did add the team is looking for another snapper.
“Just like we found (Merka), we’ll find another one,” Guidry said. “All across the United States, deep snappers are looking for a place. I don’t think it’ll be that hard to find one.”
In Merka’s absence, punter Jake Smith took reps at long snapper. Mason Knighton can also snap, Guidry said, but he is out with a concussion.
“Jake has done well,” Guidry said. “He’s got a ways to go. He snapped in high school, of course he was punting here, but he’s actually done pretty good. I’ve been very impressed with him. He’ll keep working on it.”
Blackwell out for spring
Former Hamilton Christian Academy standout Brandon Blackwell, a sophomore defensive end, is out for the duration of spring practice as he continues to recover from a foot injury he suffered against UL-Lafayette last season.
Blackwell joins punter Michael Mack and receivers Kent Shelby and Kylon Highshaw as those who will miss spring.