DAWG DAYS
Fri, 2016-08-12 05:00
News Staff
Dawgs look to reload offense, revamp defense in 2016
By TJ MAXWELL
Cove Leader-Press
For football fans across this planet, the month of August springs hope eternal that this year will be that year that everything comes together for their respective teams and a championship awaits them at the end of their journey.
That’s no different for the players and coaches.
Copperas Cove head football coach and athletic director Jack Welch and his coaching staff begin every year with the excitement that this could be their year.
“Football (season) is always an exciting time of year,” said Welch. “This is my world. We will know more when we get the pads on and really when we get up against Abilene.”
Gone is one of the top running backs in the state of Texas in Antonio Lealiiee and one of the top offensive linemen in the state of Texas in J.P. Urquidez and a cast of talented offensive role players, but in their places is a talented cast of skill players ready to fill those gaps.
Kylan Herrera, the fourth-best running back in the district behind teammate Lealiiee, Belton junior Davion Peoples and Midway senior Eric Clayburn, returns for the Dawgs after a busy offseason where he won AAU Junior Olympic gold as a member of the Team Texas Elite 7 on 7 team.
Last year starting quarterback Caine Garner will take on a more varied role as up-and-comer junior lefty gunslinger Jaylen Smith will see more time at signal caller after some promise in limit action last year as a sophomore. Caine is expected to play at the quarterback and wide receiver positions.
Smith will have a talented cast of returners and newcomers to help his transition into the varsity word. Seniors Isaiah McGriff and Kendall Small return in their slot roles while seniors Gabe Williams and Josh Canete will return on the outside. Joining that talented backfield will be running backs Elijah Washington and Tim Edwards along with wide out Floyd Connell.
“I think we’ll be alright offensively,” said Welch. We’ve got to have some guys step up when you lose a running back like (Antonio) Lealiiee. We’ve got some good ones back but you always have to see who’s going to run with authority, catch the ball and make good moves.”
The offensive line will be vastly different with the departure to college of Urquidez, Jacob Bonner and Josh Klenclo. They do, however, have several guys returning from last year’s squad in Fernando Ramirez, Alex Ramirez, Austin Czuhajewski, Kai Bocanegra and Sean Adams.
“We basically turn over our line every year,” said Welch. “We’ve been pretty fortunate because our coaches do a good job and we have some good kids there. You don’t know how they’re going to develop until you get out there and start mixing it up.”
Former lineman Andrew Patterson will join returning fullback Daveon Thomas in the backfield.
Tracy Welch returns as offensive coordinator, Reb Brock is the defensive coordinator, Vance McAnally and Tracy Ranes coach the offensive line, Jeff Shannon is running backs coach, Jeremy Shannon is quarterback coach, Ryan Youngblood is wide receivers coach and third-year coach Donald Buckram Jr. will start his first season as running backs coach.
Defensively is where the Dawgs have seen the most action in the offseason after several disappointing seasons from that side of the ball. Newcomers Stefan Demos and Eric Rider join the defensive coaching staff with Rider focusing on the defensive line and Demos coaching the cornerbacks.
“We’ve got to have a strong defense,” said Welch, who appears more involved defensively during practice. “Our defense has got to come and bring the authority to the ball game. For us to have a championship-type ball club, we have to have a championship-type defense. I think our defense has been struggling for a couple or three years and we’ve got to get it shored up.
“A lot of that has to do with talent. We’ve been a very mediocre group but we’ve worked hard and did some good things but I think the talent level (this year) is good. We’re not extremely big but I think we’ve got good talent and our scheme is good. It’s a matter of everyone being on the same page, not having broken assignments and everybody playing with authority – not guessing what to do but knowing what to do and playing very confident that way.”
Second-year coach Mitch Florez also helps along the defensive line, four-year coach Todd Ritchie coaches the safeties and longtime coaches Keith Stifflemire and Luke Barnes coach the linebackers.
Returning along the line for Rider and Florez is seniors Ronique Williams, Ethan Scruggs, Rylan Hunter, Lavon Stepan, Gage Danoso and junior James Vernardos.
Returning for Demos in the secondary are Blair Fraser, Edward Lopez and Jordan Speight and returning at linebacker is senior Tyson Curry and junior Zach Moody.
Welch knows tradition is only as good as the next class and his coaches and players cannot rest on their laurels or they’ll get left behind.
“The thing we see is tradition does not carry you,” he said. “Sometimes tradition hurts you so we have got to understand that everything is about attitude. We have to play every day like we want to prove ourselves.”
The Dawgs will get their first chance to prove themselves this Saturday during the annual Soap, Towel and Shampoo scrimmage at Bulldawgs Stadium and Welch just wants to see confidence across the board.
“(I want to see) that we’re not breaking assignments and that everyone knows what to do, playing confident and fluid, keeping the ball in front of them us defensively and playing very confident in our positions,” he said.