Lincoln football aiming for .500

Mike Jones knows it has been awhile since the Lincoln Blue Tigers finished above .500.

But that's what the head coach is hoping to accomplish this year as he enters his fourth year at the helm.

The Blue Tigers will start their journey at 3 p.m. today when they take on Langston in the second annual Missouri Classic at Arrowhead Stadium.

"We keep saying we want to improve," Jones said Thursday. "Last year we improved, we won three games. We were in four games in which we were seven points down, and we ended up losing all four of them. This year, the next step is winning those close games. You win those close games - you win two of them - and you've got five wins. If you win three out of the four, we've got a winning season.

"We've got to keep on progressing and we're just about there to take it over the top."

Lincoln had its last winning season in 1972 when the Blue Tigers went 9-1. They were 3-8 last season, and 1-10 in both 2012 and 2011 under Jones.

"The first year, it wasn't about wins and losses," Jones said. "It was about learning how to compete. We hadn't learned how to compete. The second year, it started coming along. We were a lot more competitive, but we still only had one win."

Jone saw his team take another step in the right direction in 2013, and he hopes that continues this season.

"Now we've got to learn to play for four quarters and finish," Jones said. "We were in two games last year where we were up and then we ended up losing two of those four games. We were up in the fourth quarter, so we've got to figure out how to finish."

A win against Langston today would mark Lincoln's third consecutive win. The Blue Tigers ended the 2013 campaign with back-to-back home wins against Northeastern State and Southwest Baptist.

The last time Lincoln won three straight was in 2003, and the final game in that stretch came against Langston.

"There's some things that we can accomplish this season, and they're obtainable goals," Jones said. "The guys are working hard. And that's what we need. We talked about it as a team, we've got to do things that will make us better by working hard. We can't go out there and expect things just to happen. We've got to work through it, work hard and we'll get results because of our hard work."

By no means are the Blue Tigers overlooking Langston. The Lions went 3-7 last season, but enter this campaign ranked No. 23 in the NAIA. Langston claimed a 31-21 win against Lincoln the last time the teams met in 2010.

"Coach (Dwone) Sanders - I don't know him very well, but I got to know him at the (Missouri Classic) press conference," Jones said. "He seems like he's an organized guy. He's a high-energy guy, so that's what his team is going to be like. His team is going to be a reflection of him."

Putting aside Lincoln's history with Langston, Jones is confident the Blue Tigers have the pieces in place to be a successful football team this season.

It starts with senior running back Morris Henderson, a third team Don Hansen All-American last year who rushed for a school-record 1,266 yards while averaging 6.8 yards per carry.

"I think what Morris has to do is be a leader," Jones said. "Talent-wise, I believe he has all the talent in the world."

While Henderson enters as the clear No. 1 running back, Lincoln's depth chart is full of experienced players capable of picking up tough yards.

Returning this season are Rashyied Melvin and Mustafa Rose. Melvin, a senior, averaged 6.3 yards per carry, while Rose, a junior, appeared in nine games in 2013.

Lincoln also returns senior quarterback Jacob Morris, who owns nearly every Lincoln single-season passing mark. Now entering his fourth season with the team, Morris is poised to statistically become the best quarterback in Blue Tiger history.

As a junior, Morris completed 173-of-303 passes for 2,076 yards. He also threw for 16 touchdowns and had 11 passes intercepted. The 6-foot-3, 220-pound Morris also proved he could gain yards on the ground. The Rolla native had 170 carries for 834 yards and eight touchdowns.

Despite putting up big numbers, Jones would like to see Morris take better care of the ball this season. And Jones is confident his veteran player is capable of doing that.

"As a quarterback, decision-making is critical," Jones said. "That's the reason you want older guys playing quarterback for you. As you get older, you make better decisions. I think Morris is a year wiser in what we're doing."

Khiry Draine was one of Morris' favorite target last season, leading the Blue Tigers with with 443 receiving yards and five touchdowns as a junior. Bryson Winfrey is also back at wide receiver after catching 19 passes for 230 yards and one score.

After losing four all-Mid American Intercollegiate Athletics Association performers on the offensive line from last year's team, it might come as a surprise Jones thinks the Blue Tigers will be a little stronger up front.

"I think we've got some guys that are going to step in and do a good job," Jones said. "The thing about last year's group - those guys were great leaders.

"We're borderline massive up front this year, with two guys over 400 pounds playing on the offensive line. Of course, being bigger, more athletic and stronger doesn't make you a better football team, but it gets you in position to make more plays."

J.J. Johnson (6-foot, 290), a USA College Football Preseason All-American, returns as the starting center. Kenyachti Beech (6-5, 295), a reserve last year, joins Carlos Lozano (6-7, 385), a transfer from Utah, at the tackles. Christian Winston (6-3, 288) and Dyron Hart (6-4, 380) will start at the guards.

Defensively, Kareem Joyner returns after missing 2013 to lead the linebacking corps, joining transfer Tim Patterson, Jeremy Rives and Stephen Marsh in a 4-4-3 formation. Davon Walls (6-7, 290), who began his collegiate career at Kentucky, and Eric Howard (6-2, 320) are the main defensive tackles while the likely defensive ends are Anthony McMillan (6-0, 200) and Julius Jackson (6-3, 240).

In secondary, seniors Kerry Roby and Tyrone Moore join newcomers James Harmon and Robert Daniels. Lawrence Hogue, a reserve defenive back last year, is the primary backup this season.

"On the defensive line, we're extremely long," Jones said. "This might be the tallest team since we've been here. We've got bigger, longer athletes and I think that's going to result in us playing a lot better."

Lincoln enters its first season as a football-only member of the Great Lakes Valley Conference. The Blue Tigers were in the MIAA for 23 season, including three straight from 2011-13, for football before making the switch this year.

Jones believes the GLVC will still present a solid test for Lincoln.

"It's going to be tough," he said. "We can't go in there think we're moving to a different conference and it's going to be easy. This conference is just as tough as the MIAA."