Football

September 7, 2010

Change in the air

Cesar Grandes, Kearny

Cesar Grandez and Kearny look to make a statement with a new coach and divison.

Click Here for more photos from Kearny's football practice.

By Jason Bernstein
Editorial Director

KEARNY –From the moment Pete Llaneza took over as the Kardinals’ head coach in June, one thing was apparent to him – changing the structure of the Kearny program.

Many key players are back from last season’s 1-9 campaign. Just about everything else is different this year for Llaneza and the Kardinals. Among the biggest changes thus far has been an overhaul of the offensive and defensive schemes. Llaneza has installed a Triple Option attack on offense and an Odd Stack scheme on defense.

Llaneza, formerly the defensive coordinator at Morris Catholic as well as an assistant at Cedar Grove and Morris Knolls, knows it won’t be a quick fix for a Kardinals program which has won just six games in the previous four seasons.

“I think our goal is to keep building this thing,” Llaneza said. “To really establish the way we’re going to play football and how we’re going to practice and how we’re going to go about our business. That’s an important part of what we’re going to do this year.”

Offensive Overview:

Nelson Tavares, Kearny

Senior running back Nelson Tavares has impressed with his big-play ability.

The Kardinals have shifted over to a triple-option offense similar to what is run by Navy and Georgia Tech under Llaneza.

Regardless of scheme, the offense will feature a heavy dose of RB Nelson Tavares. What the senior lacks in size, he certainly doesn’t lack in toughness and big-play ability.

“He’s going to get most of the workload and he is extremely explosive,” Llaneza said. “In the first play of our first scrimmage he went 70 yards. He’s a little guy, but he can run.”

Cesar Grandes and a pair of juniors in Eddie Flores and Alex Potvin will also see time in the backfield. Potvin, who excels in open space, will also see time at receiver.

Alvin Zhang is the top receiver and uses his 6-foot-3 frame to create matchup issues. Dave Skorynkiewicz will also see snaps at receiver.

Wenner Nunes anchors the offensive line from the left guard spot and is one of three returning starters on the line along with right guard Michael Fernandes and center Rich Henry. Michael Nee, Claudio Lagos and Eric Fiore round out the offensive line for Kearny.

Defensive Overview:

Alvin Zhang, Kearny

At 6-foot-3, safety Alvin Zhang's height makes him a factor on offense and defense.

Kearny shifts over from a 4-4 to an Odd Stack attack on defense. Llaneza believes the heart of this defense rests at linebacker with Fernandes in the middle along with Flores and Grandez on the outside.

“Our linebackers are what I feel is going to make us go,” Llaneza said.

Rounding out the core at linebacker are Rodriguez and Skorynkiewicz who play an outside linebacker/safety hybrid role. Another linebacker who has emerged is freshman Gabriel Xavier.

Potvin and Tavares start at the cornerback spots with Zhang at safety.

Llaneza likes the depth at defensive line with Lagos and Fiore starting at the ends and Barry Jimenez at tackle. Henry, Nunes, Nee and Andrew Vega should also see plenty of time of the line as well.

Star Spotlight: Damaso Rodriguez, QB/LB/S

Damaso Rodriguez, Kearny

Damaso Rodriguez has lost more than 40 pounds since moving to QB last year.

Midway through last season, Kearny Damaso Rodriguez went through the unlikely conversion from offensive lineman to quarterback. Rodriguez would start the final five games for the Kardinals last season.

The transformation to quarterback has continued for Rodriguez. The most notable change being his size. After playing at around 215 pounds at the start of last season, the 5-foot-11 senior has dropped 40 pounds in the past year.

The effects of his weight loss have been apparent on the field. A pure-thrower last season, Rodriguez has added the ability to run the ball to his arsenal after an off-season of working on his agility.

“The biggest (change) has been getting faster,” he said. “All I’ve been working on is speed and agility. I went to some camps to get faster.”

Rodriguez also takes pride in his role as a leader on a Kearny squad which has struggled in recent years.

“I think he’s a leader and he’s a real take-charge kind of guy, lead by example kind of guy,” head coach Pete Llaneza said.