TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Football prepviews: Independents

ADVERTISEMENT

Tampa Tribune

Published: September 1, 2009

CDS PREP PATRIOTS

STADIUM: Eagles Nest, 1515 W. Bearss Ave., Tampa

CLASS-DISTRICT: Independent

COACH: Lane McLaughlin (4-7, second season)

ON OFFENSE: The Patriots were able to put up good offensive numbers in 2008, and with all of their skill position players returning this season it shouldn't be a problem in 2009.

Quarterback Billy Embody (2,027 passing yards, 18 touchdowns in 2008) should have another big year with receivers Matt Monteilh (48 receptions, 747 yards, nine touchdowns in 2008) and Mike Kanter (21 receptions, 302 yards, two touchdowns) back in the fold, but McLaughlin plans to run the ball a bit more this season with speedster Darius Bing, who had nearly 300 rushing yards in the spring game.

ON DEFENSE: Nearly all of the Patriots' players play both ways, which certainly had an impact in the team allowing 37 points per game in 2008. However, McLaughlin believes the unit should be much improved this year.

Deuce Gruden, one of the team's top tacklers last season with 94 stops, is moving up from defensive back to linebacker this season, and the stocky son of former Bucs coach Jon Gruden should provide good stability in the middle. McLaughlin has been toying with the idea of putting 6-foot-6, 245-pound lineman Mak Djewelabegovic at linebacker as well.

FAITH BAPTIST CHRISTIAN EAGLES

STADIUM: JC Handley Park, 3204 S. Kings Ave., Brandon

CLASS-DISTRICT: Florida Christian Conference

COACH: Gene Reynolds (2nd season)

ON OFFENSE: Last year's inaugural season for the Eagles ended with Faith Baptist's football team winning the FCC championship by defeating Haines City Landmark, 32-10. This season's team will have to fill some big shoes on offense if it hopes to bring home another title. Last year's offensive leader QB Aaron Despaw has graduated after providing the bulk of the Eagles' offense in 2008. Despaw had a hand in 23 of Faith Baptist's 27 touchdowns, while throwing for 1,626 yards and nine touchdown passes and rushing for 845 yards and 14 touchdown runs.

With most team's in the FCC focusing on the run, Faith Baptist focused on the spread offense last season and will continue to rely on its passing game, but coach Gene Reynolds said the team is working heavily on the double wing. Trying to fill the shoes of Despaw at quarterback will be junior Taylor Mashburn. Mashburn at 5-foot-8 is smaller than some quarterback's, but Reynolds believes this will play to the Eagles advantage in the double wing set as defenders might lose Mashburn behind the line. Reynolds said one of the reasons for the change to more running oriented plays is do to added depth and experience of his offensive line, which he hopes will translate into more production for his team's running attack.

Leading that rushing attack will be senior running back Deondre Smith and fullback Trevor Stuart. Smith is a strong runner who will be used primarily in an I-formation package with Stuart and asked to pick up the hard yards on short yardage gains.

The Passing attack will key in again on Eldrith Smith who led the FCC in receiving yards and touchdowns last season. Sophomore Josh Walker made some key receptions late in the season last year as a freshman and has shown coaches he is ready to play a big role for the Eagles wherever he is needed, but will at least early on be used as a wide receiver. Also exciting coach Reynolds at wide out is newcomer Addie Finlay, who although only 5-foot-9 has great speed and will stretch out defenses.

ON DEFENSE: The Eagles will run a mixed bag on defense this season. With most of the teams in the FCC focusing on rushing attacks Faith Baptist will mix up a 4-4, 4-4 and 5-3 focusing on plugging gaps and preventing the big play, while trying to contain the inside run. The defense is highlighted by its linebacking corps led by Eldrith Smith, Deondre Smith and Trevor Stuart. Stuart had six sacks and 88 tackles last season as he and Eldrith Smith were in the top five in tackles in the FCC last season.

PROVIDENCE CHRISTIAN KNIGHTS

STADIUM: Gil Athletic Complex

CLASS-DISTRICT: Florida Christian Conference

COACH: David Hubbart (19th season)

ON OFFENSE: Hubbart says the team will keep things simple mixing up running and passing and will depend heavily on play action. The team only lost three graduating seniors from the 2008 season and returns most of its skill players. Senior quarterback Matt Morris will lead an offense that will stack up behind a big line, which Hubbart hopes will make big holes for his running game spearheaded by senior tailback and four-year starter Josh Leigh. Leigh led the Knights' rushing attack last season with 855 yards and 11 touchdowns.

The Knights offense will also make use of some receiving threats including senior wide receiver Jefte Velez, who is looking to have a big senior season after missing much of the 2008 campaign after breaking his collarbone. The Knights will also look to senior tight end Brian Hubbart. Hubbart, stands 6-foot-1 and is one the team's captains along with Leigh and T Peter Littrell, had 292 receiving yards in 2008 along with four receiving touchdowns and four rushing touchdowns.

ON DEFENSE: As with many schools in the FCC, the Knights look to a number of players to play both sides of the ball. However, both lines will be big anchored by two good sized tackles seniors Peter Littrell and Dimitri Pierre. Both players stand 6-foot-5 and will tower over much of the competition the Knights will face this season.

Littrell and Pierre will be helped with plugging holes in opponents run game by Hubbart who along with his role as tight end for the offense will lead the line backing corps. Coach Hubbart said his main focus in preseason work is to get his defense tackling better and not get trapped into preventing only the running game or only the passing game. He says he hopes to improve on some areas from last season especially in the defenses ability to pick up changes in the opposing offenses pre-snap.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT