LaPlace Playmakers Set to Star at Tulane
Aug 30, 2002 | Football
Aug. 30, 2002
NEW ORLEANS, La. - Just call them "Thunder and Lightning".
One is physical. One is swift. Together, they could be a lethal combination for Tulane's passing attack this fall.
Chris Bush and Roydell Williams of LaPlace were East St. John's version of "Thunder and Lightning" in 1999, setting River Parish football fields ablaze with their pass-catching heroics. Now, Williams and Bush are set to repeat their magic at Tulane.
Both are listed as starters and the primary receivers for Tulane as the Green Wave prepares to open its 2002 season against Southern University August 31 in the Superdome.
Tulane's offense will be basically the same as a year ago when the Wave averaged 291.5 yards per game in passing.
The LaPlace twosome has what Tulane receiver coach Trooper Taylor is seeking.
"Playmaking ability," Taylor emphasizes. "Catching the football when it counts and doing something with it after they catch the ball."
He is convinced Williams (6-2, 175, Jr.) is due for his best season. So do the coaches in Conference-USA, who voted him to the pre-season all-conference team. Williams caught 56 passes for 886 yards and 11 touchdowns last season en route to All-Conference USA second team honors. Williams led the Tulane team in receiving yards, average yards per catch (15.8) and in TD catches. His 11 TD receptions also led the conference in that category.
"Roydell (Lightning) has speed and he is explosive with the ball in his hands," says Taylor. "He is a deep threat that opposing teams must respect. He can run a reverse. He can go deep and catch the football. He does an excellent job coming out of his breaks."
"Chris (Thunder) is a physical guy and that is why he plays inside," Taylor says. "A linebacker can't knock him off his route. He has real strong hands. He can go over the top of people and pull the ball down. He also has 'smooth hips'. He comes out of his breaks so smooth that it helps create separation from linebackers and defensive backs.
"With one playing inside and one playing outside, we have a nice One-Two punch in our passing game," Taylor says.
Green Wave quarterback J. P. Losman sees Williams and Bush as his best receivers prior to the season.
"Roydell is going to rank up there with the best of them this year," says Losman. "He is a big time player and he has become a leader. All the receivers are looking up to him.
"Chris Bush is the key to our receiving corps," Losman says. "A lot of teams are going to double cover Roydell. Chris is going to be the guy to make the plays and free up Roydell. He follows in the footsteps of JaJuan Dawson, Adrian Burnette and Terrell Harris. It is an important position in our offense. He has good size and he can make the catch."
A team committed to the passing game, like Tulane, can expect to have its passer and receivers rank high each week in NCAA passing statistics. If their primary playmakers, can avoid injury, the Green Wave's top players should all be nationally ranked. - Williams and Bush in receiving, Losman in passing and running back Mewelde Moore, in all-purpose yards. Moore accomplished that last season.
Taylor believes his 2002 receiving corps will again be one of the strengths for the Wave football team. The primary reason is the presence of the spectacular twosome from East St. John.
"Roydell is stronger, tougher and more experienced," Taylor says. "And people won't be able to double team him as much."
Williams views the new season as an opportunity to get better and reach his full potential.
"This is a new opportunity," Williams says. "I think I played well last year, but not to the best of my ability. I dropped too many balls and had too many missed assignments last year. But we are all working hard to get better every day. The attitude of the offense has been great."
The major surprise in Tulane's attack this fall will be Bush. He caught only three passes for 43 yards and a 14.3 average as a sophomore last season. Bush (6-1, 190, So.) had such a good spring, that Taylor is convinced he is ready for a breakout season.
"We think Bush is going to have a good year, and defenses will have to respect him," Taylor says. "He really came on during the spring. He is a big kid and he is going to take some pressure off Roydell."
Chris is excited about his chance to add something to the Tulane offense.
"This is my first year starting and I want to make the most of it," he says. "Coming into every practice, every game, every play with the right mental attitude is important to me. I want to be the best out there on the field.
"A lot of the game is more mental than physical," Bush says. "Studying the playbook, going to the film room, looking at how defenses lineup in different coverages - we are always learning. And we must concentrate to execute properly."
The big play pair share the football on the field, and are roommates off the field. They have fond memories of their days at East St. John.
"I will always remember how the fans supported us at East St. John," Bush says. "That meant a lot to us." A three-year letterman for the Wildcats, he made 94 career catches for 1,260 yards, and earned all-district honors.
"We're like a family here," says Roydell. "The players are close on and off the field."
Bush agrees.
"J. P. Losman and I spent so much time practicing over the summer," Bush says, "that we became good friends. We got close off the field, talking football and playing video games. That brought us closer and will help us to perform better on the field."
The players' families are close, too. They attend games together and provide support for their sons - just minutes away from the Tulane campus.
Two incoming freshmen, quarterback Nick Cannon of Hahnville and cornerback Jeremy Foreman of Lutcher, are also members of the Tulane team this season, keeping alive a River Parish tradition with the Green Wave.
Cannon was chosen Nokia Sugar Bowl Player of the Year for 2001. He was also named to the All-River Parishes team and the All-District 6-5A team. Foreman was an All-Metro and All-River Parish selection at cornerback.
"Tulane has had great success in getting good athletes from schools in this area," Taylor says. "We want to continue that tradition. The River Parishes are an important part of our recruiting process.
"I always go to the River Parishes first when I start a new recruiting season," Taylor added. "The talent is there and the coaches have been great to us. The coaches want what is best for their players and they like to see them play ball in the state...LSU, Tulane or the state schools."
Over the years such outstanding River Parish players as Deron Smith of Destrehan; Hank Tatje and Horace Raymond of Hahnville; Corey Sewell of East St. John; Casey Roussel, Ray Laiche and James Ordineaux of St. Charles Catholic; Roger Gill and David Jackson of Riverside; Artie Delauneville and Terry Cunningham of Norco; Percy Millet of Paulina; Corey Geason, Craig Harrison and Derrick Elzy of St. James; Gaston and Brian Bourgeois, Julian and Donald Brignac, Terrence Jones, David Richard, Mark Zeno, Will and Jerry Ursin, Lionel Washington and Wilfred Simon of Lutcher; Peter Clement, Winnie Lodrigues and David Vicknair of Reserve; and Tyrone Smith and Donald Thomas of East Ascension; have played at Tulane.
