(EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the ninth and final of a nine-part series on Louisiana’s Division I college football teams other than LSU and Tulane, which will be covered in other areas on NewOrleans.com. Earlier stories chronicled Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) members Southeastern Louisiana, Northwestern State, Nicholls State, McNeese State, Southern University and Grambling State, and Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) members UL Monroe and UL Lafayette. Today: Louisiana Tech.)

Tank Calais (#4) courtesy of Tom Morris (latechsportspix.com)

RUSTON – New head coach Sonny Dykes had a wide-open attack at Arizona. He also has Hal Mumme and Mike Leach on his speed dial.

You think Louisiana Tech’s offense is going to take a significant step forward this season, especially since the Bulldogs appear to have the skill set of players needed for a high-octane attack?

“We definitely have the personnel to run this offense,” Dykes said. “We just have to get them on the same page, but we’ve got the talent to throw it and have success.”

The Bulldogs averaged almost 30 points per game last year, but in the high-scoring Western Athletic Conference that was below average. Tech was seventh in the nine-team league offensively and ranked 91^st nationally in passing.

This year, the ‘Dogs may reach last year’s 2,257 aerial yardage total by mid-season, and coupled with the return of most of the leaders from a solid defense gives a lot of optimism for an improvement on last year’s 4-8 final record.

“We’ve got a lot of returning starters, and with the new players that we have coming in we feel like we can play with anybody,” said big-play wide receiver and kick returner Phillip Livas. “With the new offense, we have a better chance to win and put a lot more points on the board. Our goal is to win the conference and go to a bowl game.”

The first goal will be tough since the WAC still counts Boise State as a member for one more year. But then again, Tech lost to Boise by only 45-35 last year in a nationally-televised game from the Bulldogs’ Aillet Stadium. One week later, they lost at LSU 24-16 on the way to finishing 0-7 on the road last year.

In addition, the ‘Dogs need to find the close-game magic they had in the Independence Bowl –season of 2008 when they went 5-2 in games decided by a touchdown or less. Last year, Tech lost three WAC games by a total of five points, all on the road.

“We’ve just got to find a way to win those close games,” said senior tackle Rob McGill, one of three starting offensive linemen returning. “Those three games are the difference between 4-8 and 7-5. It’s definitely a combination of things, but execution is probably the biggest thing.”

Execution is key in an air-it-out offense, and Tech will benefit from eight returning starters on offense. But all of them likely won’t be in that lineup for the historic Sept. 7 opener against nearby rival Grambling in Shreveport – including the quarterback.

Last weekend, Dykes named senior Steven Ensminger – who has never taken a college snap – as starter ahead of returnee Ross Jenkins. Ensminger, the son of former LSU quarterback and current LSU tight ends coach Steve Ensminger, has been on the scout squad the last two seasons and sat out 2007 after transferring from Auburn.

“We felt like it was the best time to name him the starter,” Dykes said. “There’s still a possibility it could change, but he has done enough to distance himself from the other quarterbacks. Now he will have some extra time to make sure he is on the same page with the rest of our offense.”

Philip Livas (#6)

Whether Ensminger or Jenkins, who threw for almost 2,100 yards and 17 scores with only five interceptions last year, is the long-term starter, they’ll have a plethora of targets in the new attack. Along with Livas and junior R. P. Stuart, LSU and Tennessee transfers Ahmad Paige and Tim Molton will figure in the attack.

Another Tennessee transfer, Lennon Creer, tops an experience-challenged running backs corps that will follow McGill, fellow tackle Cudahy Harmon and center Lon Roberts in the offensive front.

With the radical offensive changes, Tech’s defense will look almost staid, and that’s not a bad thing since the Bulldogs ranked second in the WAC behind Boise in total and scoring defense. All three linebackers are among the six starters back, but Tank Calais will move back to his former strong safety slot after totaling 77 tackles last season, second on the team.

Junior Adrien Cole led the ‘Dogs with 93 stops last season and is back at middle linebacker with Jay Dudley (75 tackles) returning alongside. End Matt Broha and tackle Ramone Randle are experienced up front and all secondary starters have seen significant playing time.

TECH AT A GLANCE
Location: Ruston

Nickname: Bulldogs

Colors: Blue & Red

Athletic Director: Bruce Van De Velde

Stadium: Aillet Stadium (30,600, FieldTurf artificial)

Head Coach: Sonny Dykes (1^st year)

Assistants: Rob Likens, assistant head coach/WR; Tony Franklin, offensive coordinator/QB; Tommy Spangler, defensive coordinator/safeties; Mark Tommerdahl, inside receivers/special teams; Stan Eggen, defensive line; Kevin Curtis, cornerbacks; Pierre Ingram, running backs; Pete Perot, offensive line; Jeff Koonz, linebackers

Offense: Multiple

Defense: 4-3

Lettermen Back: 42 (20 offense, 20 defense, 2 special teams)

Starters Back: 15 (8 offense, 6 defense, 1 special teams)

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2010 SCHEDULE

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TENTATIVE TWO-DEEP

Offense

QB          
7              Steven Ensminger
11           Ross Jenkins

RB           
5              Lennon Creer
2              Lyle Fitte

H             
6              Phillip Livas
1              Richie Casey

WR         
13           Ahmad Paige
82           Jacarri Jackson

WR         
80           Eric Harper
19           R. P. Stuart

WR         
8              Tim Molton
18           D. J. St. Julien

LT            
74           Rob McGill
79           Kris Cavitt

LG           
57           Kevin Saia
69           Vincent Cano

C             
60           Lon Roberts
66           Matt Sheppard

RG          
63           Stephen Warner
67           Jared Miles

RT           
76           Cudahy Harmon
78           Jordan Mills

Defense

LE            
91           Matt Broha
85           Randy Grigsby

LT            
90           Mason Hitt
75           Philip Longino

RT           
94           Ramone Randle
70           Justin Ellis

RE           
93           Christian Lacey
55           Jonathan Zeno

WLB       
45           Jay Dudley
46           Rufus Porter

MLB       
44           Adrien Cole
56           Solomon Randle

SLB         
48           Dusty Rust
40           Kiamni Washington

LC           
28           Terry Carter
24           Olajuwon Paige

SS           
4              Tank Calais
31           Chad Boyd

FS           
37           C. J. Broades
47           Javontay Crowe

RC           
15           Josh Victorian
11           DeMarcion Evans

Specialists

K             
33           Matt Nelson
10           John Hinton

P             
86           Ryan Allen
85           Stuart Scurria