Scouting Libertyville: High expectations, low-key approach for Wildcats
Shhhh! Can you keep a secret?
Libertyville coach Mike Jones is trying to. And it's not easy.
This time of year, he's getting a lot of questions about his team.
"How's the team looking, Coach?" "What can we expect, Coach?"
Jones does his best to speak in very general terms.
He says the Wildcats have made some significant changes this year, but he'd rather keep the details on that under wraps for as long as he can. He likes the idea of the element of surprise for the season opener.
"This has been an important summer for us because we have some new looks and some tweaks," Jones said. "I can't really say what those are, but let's just say we are adapting to the kids we have and we are going to do what best fits our personnel."
Jones is also hoping that some fresh ideas will invigorate the program, which has limped into the playoffs the last two years. The Wildcats finished the last two seasons at 5-5 and qualified for the playoffs on points with 5-4 regular season records.
"When you look at who we lost to last year, we lost to the two state finalists in 7A (Lake Zurich and Batavia), Stevenson and Warren (8A playoff teams) and East St. Louis (10-2) in the playoffs," Jones said. "We had a tough schedule. We always do. But somewhere in there, we have to find some more wins. It's tough but we have to do what we do even better."
On offense, Libertyville will look to do that starting from the inside out.
The Wildcats will be strong on the offensive line with starters Alex Black and Bryan Bystol returning. Both are about 6-foot-3, 260 pounds and will be paving the way for returning running back Niko Christensen.
The quarterback situation is almost as mysterious as the new Libertyville offense/defense. Heading into the final week of the preseason, it was a question mark, a competition between junior Thomas Monken and sophomore Blake Ellingson.
"We don't have a decision on quarterback yet," Jones said. "It's a battle right now. Maybe by next week we'll settle on one. Maybe they will both play. They are both good athletes and they could both help us."
Receivers Ben Lopez and Jack Turco are two sure-handed targets for whoever gets the nod at QB.
A total of five starters return on offense, and that is the case on defense where Jonathan Palmieri returns as an all-conference lineman. Fellow lineman Jimmy Bolas also returns while the most experience on defense is in the secondary with Jonny Lauber and Shane Kearns.
Other changes at Libertyville include new uniforms and a revamped press box.
"The uniforms are nothing crazy, but new," Jones said. "But I like that we have made some changes. We don't talk about goals like conference or state championships. We just talk about controling what we can do every day and that starts with practice so that we can be consistent in every game."