August 23, 2011
2011 Team Preview: |
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WR/LB Jonathan Jackson and the rest of the Bees have high hopes for 2011. (Photo: Jason Bernstein) |
| Bayonne Football Practice Photo Gallery |
By Jason Bernstein Editorial Director |
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BAYONNE – Rick Rodriguez wants to erase the memories of the past six years. Six long years where Rodriguez had lost his job as Bayonne head coach and six years where the Bees have experienced a downward spiral from title contenders to also-rans within Hudson County.
Rodriguez and the Bayonne program reunited again and the coach doesn't want to look back on what has happened as he tries to move the team forward.
"I haven't even seen the film of last year," he said, not wanting the past to influence his current decision-making. "I haven't seen one film of these kids play last year because it means nothing to me because that's not going to be the way I'm coaching them. I'm going to coach them differently, I'm going to look at them differently. I want my evaluation to be my eyes, not what I see on film from last year because they were coached differently."
The Bees have gone just 8-22 the past three seasons, but there's little doubt that in Rodriguez's mind that they can eventually reach the heights of his first tenure as head coach when they went 29-12 from 2001-04 with a state championship in 2002.
"I'm not coming here to be .500, I'm here to win," said Rodriguez acknowledging that transition process is far from complete. "Winning starts now and we can do it. I didn't come here to lose."
Offensive Overview:
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Six-foot-four junior Chris Wright takes over at quarterback for Bayonne. (Photo: Jason Bernstein) |
| Bayonne Football Practice Photo Gallery |
After rarely throwing the ball in recent years, Rodriguez plans to open up the offense thanks to junior quarterback Chris Wright (6'4", 205) and a talented collection of wide receivers, headlined by 6-foot-4, 205-pound senior Jonathan Jackson.
"We're going to throw the ball," Rodriguez said. "We're going to throw the ball 10-15 times a game because we've got to throw the ball. You've got to throw the ball to win and we got too many skill players not to throw the ball.
"There's a lot of colleges that will know about (Jackson). He's a sleeper. Nobody knows about him because there's no film on him and they didn't throw the ball last year."
Biaggio Cancro (a quarterback last season) and Tyhearn Williams will also see significant time at receiver with Malcolm Robinson providing an added dimension in the slot.
"Our receivers our impressive guys," said Rodriguez. "We're fast, athletic. When we go into a three-receiver set, we have a lot of speed out there."
Robinson, a senior, will also splits carries in backfield with fellow speedster Ceaon Marlin. Matthew Mullins is a three-year starter at fullback and Diante Adams will also see time.
Russell Fallacara is a three-year starter at left tackle. The senior is one of four returning starters on the offensive line along with left guard Brian Brown, center Jonathan Rodriguez and right tackle Roodbertho Melon. Sophomore Ralph Ocasio takes over at right guard.
Defensive Overview:
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Outside linebacker Ceaon Marlin is one of seven returning starters on defense. (Photo: Jason Bernstein) |
| Bayonne Football Practice Photo Gallery |
Rex Ryan is one of Rick Rodriguez's closest friends in football so it comes as little surprise that the Bees' defense bears many similarities in style to the one run by the New York Jets' head coach.
"We're a pressure front, eight-man with 46, play cover 1 just like the Jets," said Rodriguez, calling it a high risk, high reward scheme. "In this system when we're sending so many people you've got to know who's in coverage, who's not in coverage, who's coming, when are they coming. If we blow a coverage, just like in Rex's system, we're in trouble."
The aggressive system will put plenty of pressure on his secondary where Robinson and Matt Jackson will start at cornerback. Jackson, a 5-foot-11 sophomore, has impressed early on and Rodriguez believes is just scratching the surface of his potential.
"He can cover, he's got speed. He's pretty good for a sophomore," Rodriguez said. "He's going to be a big-time player in two years, he'll be recruited all over."
Cancro and Williams will split time at safety with corner Junior Aldano also seeing significant action.
Jonathan Jackson (a converted safety) and Marlins start at outside linebacker with Mullins and Nick Freeman inside. All four linebackers are returning starters with Adams, Anthony Scalia and Cole Walden adding depth to the position.
Sammy German, Brown and Gallardo will rotate at defensive end. Fallacara and Melon start at tackle.
Star Spotlight: Russell Fallacara, OT/DT
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Russell Fallacara is a three-year starter at left tackle and a leader on the offensive line. (Photo: Jason Bernstein) |
| Bayonne Football Practice Photo Gallery |
Summer practices were months away, but Russell Fallacara wasn't content to wait until then. To help prepare for his senior season, Fallacara and two of his teammates formed their own practices to further their development.
"Me and two other lineman we worked out every day in the school yard, working on technique and different things," said Fallacara about the off-season training. "We did one-on-one drills. I would have one of my fellow linemen line up against me, he'd try to block me, I would try to get by him. I would then try to block him. Before we even got on the field (this summer), we were ready for the season."
A three-year starter, the 6-foot-0, 260-pound left tackle has emerged as a veteran leader for Bayonne. It's a role that makes Fallacara "want to work harder."
A skilled run-blocker, Fallacara is also a returning starter on the defensive end at tackle.
"He's a tough kid," head coach Rick Rodriguez said. "He's a strong tough kid and a heck of a football player."
2011 Bayonne Overview |
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| HCIAL National; North 2, Group IV |
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