JONESBORO -- Arkansas State Coach Blake Anderson began his weekly news conferences a year ago much the same way each Monday. Before Anderson began a review of his team's previous opponent or previewed the team ahead, he'd run through a list of injuries.
At times, it was a lengthy and complicated list. Not so much lately, like on Monday, when the only injury Anderson detailed was offensive linemen Daniel Keith's recovering ankle, and even that was good news, saying the redshirt freshman is likely to return in some capacity when ASU plays Louisiana-Monroe at 2 p.m. Saturday.
Up next
ARKANSAS STATE AT LOUISIANA-MONROE
WHEN 2 p.m. Central Saturday
WHERE Malone Stadium, Monroe, La.
RECORDS Arkansas State 6-3, 5-0 Sun Belt Conference; Louisiana-Monroe 1-8, 0-5
RADIO KASR-FM, 92.7, in Little Rock/Conway; KFIN-FM, 107.9, in Jonesboro
INTERNET ESPN3.com
ASU does have one injury to starting nickelback Charleston Girley, who Anderson said Wednesday will likley miss Saturday's game with a knee injury. Girley should return for the final two games, and not even the loss of one starter compares to what Anderson dealt with almost weekly last year.
"We have not had to come in here every week with a list of guys and say that they're done for the year," Anderson said. "That alone has made this to be a completely different type of season."
The same can't be said for ASU's Saturday opponent, which is having its worst season under Coach Todd Berry and in danger of going winless in the Sun Belt Conference for the first time in 15 seasons in the league.
On Tuesday, Berry ran down a list of 17 Warhawks who are either lost for the season, out, doubtful or questionable for Saturday's game. That list includes five players who were listed as starters entering the season and six others who were listed on the two-deep depth chart. Two of them are backups to quarterback Garrett Smith and four of them are offensive linemen.
Berry said his team, in the middle of a seven-game losing streak, is "beat up" and "emotionally exhausted."
The good news for Berry is that preseason All-Sun Belt receiver Rashon Ceaser returned from an ankle injury last week, and receiver Ajalen Holley, a Hot Springs Lakeside graduate who leads the Sun Belt with 50 receptions, also is back after missing one game with an injury.
But the mass of missing bodies has affected the Warhawks' results. They'll enter Saturday last in the Sun Belt in scoring offense (20.1 points per game), total offense (325.4 yards per game) and with a minus-11 turnover margin and eighth in rushing defense (229.9). It's also altered how Berry and his coaches have wanted to play, rarely going into a game the last few weeks with their most preferred plan.
"You'd like to go in with a certain game plan that you worked up in the summer, but those were all contingent on you having your people," Berry said. "Then all of a sudden you don't have your people and all the prior work that you did is maybe not going to happen now."
Meanwhile, ASU is enjoying a much healthier season than last, or even from eight weeks ago.
ASU lost starting safety Bo Sentimore (ankle) and linebacker Tajhea Chambers (torn ACL) to season-ending injuries Sept. 12 against Missouri, and quarterback Fredi Knighten missed three games with a pulled groin muscle. Since Knighten returned for an Oct. 13 victory at South Alabama, the Red Wolves have had relatively the same team each week.
Center Devin Mondie missed an Oct. 31 victory over Georgia State with an ankle injury, but returned for last week's victory at Appalachian State. Keith started the first five games at left guard before going down with an ankle injury against Idaho on Oct. 3, but Anderson has said he likes his offensive line has adjusted in his absence.
Since the victory over South Alabama, ASU has started the same quarterback, running back, three receivers and tight end and the same two linebackers, nickelback, two cornerbacks and two safeties. It's a run of consistency not enjoyed at ASU a year ago.
"I don't know where we were last year," Anderson said. "I just know that the total for the season was was double digit sand we've been fortunate. We're playing more guys, they're staying fresher."
Nagging injuries meant ASU rarely had its preferred set of offensive skill players on the field or defensive line last year, especially in the final weeks of the season.
The difference in part this season, Anderson said, is adjustments to practice to keep the team healthy and fresh for its stretch run.
"I think we've learned some lessons," Anderson said. "We've been a little bit smarter about the load we've put on their bodies as well. we've done a lot of things with body maintenance as well.
"I'd like to think a lot of it has contributed to staying healthy and still being really physical and fast in the second half of football games down the stretch."
Sports on 11/12/2015