Speed will change Elgin's approach
Don't pigeonhole Elgin football coach Dave Bierman.
Known in recent years for directing prolific spread passing attacks, Elgin's second-year coach said he will adjust his scheme this season to a more traditional offense based on what he sees as the strength of this group - speedy running backs and lots of them.
When Bierman took the reins at his alma mater last season after spending three years at cross-town rival Larkin, he inherited a roster of 30 players, few of whom were linemen capable of sustaining a consistent ground game. Thus, the Maroons ran the spread offense to offset their natural disadvantage up front. Things have changed 365 days later.
This year Elgin boasts a relative embarrassment of riches with 46 varsity players, a nice mix of quick skill-position players and improved strength in the trenches. Instead of playing up to seven key players full-time on both sides of the ball out of necessity as was the case in 2008, a more stringent platoon system should allow for better rest, sharper execution and a noticeable improvement over the final record of 1-8 overall and 1-5 in the Upstate Eight Conference.
"It's been good because you've got kids you can practice with without having to use the sophomores, which is a lot better than last year," Bierman said. "This year if a kid goes both ways, he won't go both ways for more than a series. We'll be rolling substitutes in so we can get them off the field and get them some water and talk to them.
"It's a difference. I can give you six names of players who will play three defensive line positions. Last year I couldn't do that."
Those defensive linemen include two-way starter Hector Hernandez (5-9, 203) and fellow seniors Brad Kruse (6-1, 225) and Craig McKenzie (6-0, 235). Substituting regularly will be juniors Toby Schimel (6-2, 217), Alfonzo Veneziano (6-0, 270) and Schaumburg Christian senior transfer Maxwel Snyder (5-10, 185).
Senior Cory Michalik (5-11, 190) returns at inside linebacker and will lead a corps of fast 'backers the staff will regularly substitute at four positions. Tyler Lake (5-11, 160) and Dan Muenzer (6-0, 192) will play on the outside.
Senior Tim Newcombe (6-3, 185) returns at safety to play alongside junior Earl Holloway (5-7, 165). The corners will be manned by juniors Will Wood (5-10, 170) and Jordan Dean (5-11, 175) along with seniors Nikil Satish (5-11, 145) and Dernaj Collier (5-9, 180).
Offensively, Bierman said either senior Ryan Parks (5-9, 155) or junior Jake Meyer (6-0, 165) will replace graduated three-year starting quarterback Tom Roth.
The tailback committee will include Lake, Dean and Holloway. The rotation at fullback will feature McKenzie, junior Larry Lockett (5-11, 185) and Michalik (40 carries, 105 yards in '08). "We have a bunch of backs with good speed and good depth," Bierman said. "It'll be interesting to see how it all comes together."
Newcombe and senior Alan Walker (5-7, 145) return as starting wide receivers with Muenzer and Wood substituting liberally.
The line has far more experience than a year ago with Hernandez (G) and Kruse (T) back in the fold. They'll be flanked by junior Bartlett transfer Will Lewis (5-10, 225), Schimel and tight ends Jeremy VanDerpluym (6-3, 205) and Michael Riggio (6-1, 185) among others.
Expect Elgin to line up in I-formation and split-back sets rather than the four- and five-wide sets so prevalent last year.
"We want to win," Bierman said. "If we win a 7-6 ballgame, or 10-7 so be it. The personality is going to change. We told the kids it's not about how many points you score as long as you win.
"It's always our goal to make the playoffs. If we don't make the playoffs, we as a staff and as players should be very disappointed."