Gilroy football learns new system from former ‘Baler
assistant
Gilroy – It’s only the fourth day of Gilroy High spring football practice. But the energy generated last Thursday afternoon at Garcia-Elder Sports Complex made it feel like fall is just around the corner.
With first-year head coach Rich Hammond watching closely, the offense runs through plays. He notices a receiver doesn’t run his route correctly.
“How deep were you on that route?” he says in his voice that can be heard over all the others. “It’s a little thing, but it makes a big difference!”
The little things, indeed, are what Hammond is stressing to his squad in the first days of spring practice.
The other part of his spring practice philosophy centers around giving one-on-one attention while running a team practice.
“High-repetition, fast tempo and ball security,” the coach says after practice, pointing out the objectives on his practice script. “It’s a big deal to me that we’re coaching someone on every single play.”
Of course, the first-year coach also has installed about 75 percent of the offense and 50 to 55 percent of the defense the Mustangs will use this fall.
The team appears to be buying into Hammond and his high-demand, high-energy style.
“The new coach is great,” said senior-to-be quarterback Matt Hemeon, a returner from last year’s 5-5 team. “He doesn’t take any lip. It’s a new system he has. I like it a lot.”
Added returning running back Vince Giacalone, who also will be a senior next season, “I’m excited…First of all, I only have one more chance. I just want to win and be the first CCS champion. So, whatever it takes to do that, I’ll do.”
Right now, Giacalone says, it means hustling at practice. Everywhere at practice. In the drills, between the drills, at all times.
“We’re a lot more focused this year,” Giacalone said.
So far, Hammond likes what he sees.
“They’re a very intelligent group of guys,” he said. “They’ve been pretty good in terms of work ethic and attitude.”
According to Hammond, his new offensive schemes will be very similar to what the Mustangs have run in the past.
With all-CCS running back Justin Sweeney and a veteran offensive line in the mix last season, Gilroy relied mostly on its running game. That’s not much different from the new coach’s philosophy.
“I would say it’s my personal style to play good defense and run the ball,” Hammond said.
But the coach said the defense he’s installing is completely different. The former Santa Clara High coach is using a 3-4 defense with three down linemen and four linebackers as opposed to the 4-3 defense – four down linemen, three linebackers – that the team used last year.
“It’s more adjustable, it’s more flexible,” Hammond said. “It puts more control in the player’s hands.”
Adjusting to the new system is the team’s big challenge as it heads into a busy summer that will include 30 days of practice and a 7-v-7 passing camp at Stanford.
“Learning plays has been the hardest thing right now,” Hemeon said.
But getting in the basics now should help the team achieve Hammond’s goal for the regular season, which will be a challenge from Week 1. Gilroy opens the first half of its season with Burlingame, Woodside, Serra (out of the tough West Catholic Athletic League) and Oak Grove, which made it to the CCS Large School championship game against eventual champion San Benito last season.
“Our goal is that we want to be extremely prepared,” Hammond said. “We have five or six teams on our schedule that could go to the section playoffs.”
Ana Patejdl is the sports editor of the Gilroy Dispatch. She can be reached at 842-1694 or by e-mail at ap******@gi************.com.
