Starpower's there, but can Vernon Hills' defense catch on?
Vernon Hills boasts maybe the two best offensive playmakers in the North Suburban Conference, but, like last year, the difference in winning and losing for the Cougars might be their ability to stop opponents from making plays.
Counting a forfeit win over North Chicago, the Cougars posted 4 shutouts and allowed only 42 points in Prairie Division play last season.
"It carried us last year," coach Tony Monken said of his defense, which helped the Cougars win the division title outright with a 6-0 record. "We struggled to move the ball sometimes last year."
Gone from the defense is three-year varsity linebacker E.J. Lannan (Washington University) and three other all-conference starters, but a strong nucleus returns.
"We don't expect to be quite as strong (defensively)," Monken said. "But we're hoping to be darn good."
The Cougars could be very good on defense with three returning down linemen in Jeremy Brazil, Wayne Didier and Cedric Lyons, as well as outside linebacker Austin Miller, cornerback DaVaris Daniels and safety Evan Spencer.
Daniels and Spencer make opposing defenses nervous. Daniels, a 6-foot-3 senior who's played varsity since his freshman year, remains uncommitted to a college, but he's a major prospect. Monken has heard the report that Daniels will wait until the season is over to make a decision.
"That's the plan anyway," Monken said before adding with a laugh, "You never know when a high school kid is going to change his mind."
Daniels' numbers last season included 20 receptions, 344 rushing yards and 323 passing yards.
"He's got an unlimited ceiling, there's no question," Monken said. "There's just not many guys his size who have his kind of speed and have a 411/2-inch vertical jump."
The 6-1, 190-pound Spencer, who has committed to Ohio State, put up even better offensive numbers than Daniels in 2009. Spencer caught a team-best 28 passes (15.2 average), including 5 touchdowns, and rushed for 380 yards (11.5 average) and 6 TDs.
"He gets stronger and faster every time you see him," Monken said. "He plays the ball up high so that you don't have a chance to take it from him."
While Spencer and Daniels are a threat to score every time they touch the ball, as he did last year, Monken will be cautious of their number of touches.
"You got to limit that, because they're so valuable to us defensively," Monken said. "You can't overuse them."
While Daniels figures to take snaps from center again this year, Steve Nelson will again be the Cougars' starting quarterback. The junior threw for 556 yards and 8 touchdowns last year.
"He got thrown into the fire as a sophomore, and the game at times was a little faster than anything he had seen before," Monken said. "But he's a tough kid, he's got some leadership and he's got some moxie about him."
The Cougars have never been shy about switching up their quarterbacks during games, and Monken has his backup QB in place again this season. He's Chris Argianas, a good athlete who concentrated on basketball and baseball the last two years.
Helping protect the QB - whether it's Nelson, Argianas or Daniels - will be an offensive line that includes veterans Didier (all-NSC as a sophomore last year), Lyons, Michael Donofrio and Alexander Guletsky.
Sophomore Drake Randall is a new starter on the line. His brother, former Vernon Hills offensive linemen James Randall, played on scholarship at Western Michigan.
"Drake has great feet and outstanding size (6-2, 225) for a sophomore," Monken said. "We expect him to go through some growing pains. But after Week 1, you're no longer a rookie."
Brian Palmer returns at running back after rushing for a team-leading 581 yards and 5 touchdowns as a junior in earning honorable mention all-conference honors.
His hard-nosed running complements the big-play abilities of Daniels and Spencer.
VERNON HILLS
Probable starters
OFFENSE
Pos. Name Ht/Wt Yr.
QB Steve Nelson 5-11/170 Jr.
RB Brian Palmer 5-9/200 Sr.
WB Jarrett Wood 6-3/205 Jr.
WB Marcus Bradford 5-7/165 Sr.
WR DaVaris Daniels 6-3/180 Sr.
LT Alexander Guletsky 6-0/230 Sr.
LG Cedric Lyons 5-9/188 Sr.
C Michael Donofrio 6-0/215 Sr.
RG Drake Randall 6-2/225 So.
RT Wayne Didier 6-0/225 Jr.
WR Evan Spencer 6-1/190 Sr.
DEFENSE
Pos. Name Ht/Wt Yr.
DT Cedric Lyons 5-9/188 Sr.
DT Wayne Didier 6-0/225 Jr.
NT Jeremy Brazil 6-4/290 Jr.
OLB Jarrett Wood 6-3/205 Jr.
ILB Brian Palmer 5-9/200 Sr.
ILB Robbie Guerrero 5-9/200 Sr.
OLB Austin Miller 5-10/195 Sr.
CB Marcus Bradford 5-7/165 Sr.
S Evan Spencer 6-1/190 Sr.
S Camden Levy 6-1/175 Sr.
CB DaVaris Daniels 6-3/180 Sr.