San Benito seeks improvement on both sides of the ball, will
play in annual jamboree next Friday
Official fall practices are barely a week old for the San Benito
Haybalers, and it’s already apparent the players themselves
wouldn’t mind hitting someone different.
San Benito seeks improvement on both sides of the ball, will play in annual jamboree next Friday
Official fall practices are barely a week old for the San Benito Haybalers, and it’s already apparent the players themselves wouldn’t mind hitting someone different.
But that much was expected.
“It’s early, going against your own team for the last four days,” defensive coordinator Tod Thatcher said following Tuesday’s practice. “But you get to that rut where it’s the same thing.
“Now we’re in the middle of that no-game grind. It’s been a long summer.”
Still, with section rules allowing teams to officially begin preparations for the upcoming 2009-10 season just last Friday – the Balers held practice at 6:30 a.m. on both Friday and Saturday mornings – San Benito has a ways to go on both sides of the ball before it opens with Andrew Hill on Sept. 4 in Hollister.
But that, too, is perhaps expected this early in the preseason.
“We’re miles away from stepping on the field,” Thatcher said, “and that’s typical.”
Head coach Chris Cameron feels it is the defense, though, with a handful of returning players, which is ahead of schedule. Anchored by linebackers Michael Murphy and Taylor Coustette, San Benito returns eight players on defense, including four linebackers and four defensive backs.
“So we’re way ahead of the curve there,” said Cameron, noting that seven of the eight returners were starters last season. “A lot of guys have been there and done that.”
While the great unknown for the Balers coming into camp was the defensive line, which was anchored by senior tackles Sam Doty and Robbie Sanchez last season, Thatcher feels his new front four has done “fantastic” to date.
What may be aiding those newcomers, though, is the team’s newly added platoon-style approach, where defensive players remain on the defensive side of the ball and vice versa. Sticking to one side of the football throughout the season may have its setbacks later in the year, but the platoon so far has allowed Thatcher to spend more time with his players and further detail defensive schemes.
“I love it,” Thatcher said. “Talk about being ahead in our schemes, that’s a product of the platoon.”
The Balers will have plenty of chances to show off its platoon and de-cleat an opponent next Friday at North Salinas High, where San Benito will be joined by Gilroy for the annual three-team jamboree, tentatively scheduled at 4:30 p.m.
Showcasing the Vikings’ usual strong run game, as well as the new era of the Mustangs under head coach Greg Garcia, the jamboree will also offer a first look at San Benito’s new attack, which is based in the triple option formation.
“We’re taking small, little steps,” Cameron said.
Although the Balers began running an option-oriented offense in 1998, frequent offseason adjustments moved San Benito further away from the attack it initially started with, making this season’s triple option new to those players involved.
“I think the kids like it,” offensive coordinator Bryan Smith said. “But for our base offense, we need to improve with a game two weeks away. We need to get better, bottom line.”
Added Cameron, “It’s new to a lot of kids … There’s a learning curve that’s involved.”
San Benito’s offense, unlike its defensive counterparts, does not return as many players from last year’s attack. Courtland Thompson is expected to be anchoring the front line, which will be key to the team’s success at running the ball, while Nick Acosta is the leading rusher to return from last year’s backfield.
Quarterback Trevor Fabing is expected to line up behind center, although the senior signal-caller was sporting a brace around his throwing elbow on Tuesday. Smith said Fabing has elbow bursitis, and is expected to miss at least a week.
“He’s out until he’s 100 percent healthy,” Smith said. “I’d imagine it will take over a week, but I don’t know.
“We need him for game one, that’s when we need him. So it won’t be a rush to get him back this week.”
Backup Tyler Decker took the majority of snaps on Tuesday, while Andre Cornell, who was predominantly at wide receiver last year, filled in to be Decker’s backup.
“We’ve got a lot of work ahead of us right now,” Smith said. “Our goal is to stay positive and keep moving forward.”
