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Sports

Carrollwood Day School Football Team: Primed and Ready

An analysis of the Patriots' program

The Carrollwood Day School Patriots are in good shape heading into the third week of spring practice. They are ahead of schedule, and have the best turnout in the program’s short history, according to their coaching staff.

“We’re definitely ahead as far as learning plays; putting things in," said Head Coach Lane McLaughlin. "Seven-on-seven put us ahead. We had most of the passing plays installed then."

Early this spring, CDS participated in a Hillsborough County program that pitted area schools against each other in seven-on-seven drills.

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The practice curve isn't the only thing CDS is ahead of.

“We had a lot more kids show up in the offseason, a lot more in the weight room during the winter and early spring,” said tailback Robert Davis.

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Usually, a tiny 2A school is scrambling to fill gaps in their offensive and defensive units. Usually, a school the size of CDS is struggling to field enough players to play intersquad games, which you need at least twenty-two kids to do. Usually, a school like CDS is forging offensive identities and considering what plays they should add.

Call the Patriots unusual.

They only lost four players from last year’s team. Only three of them were starters. What CDS has this year that very few other schools have - regardless of size - is returning veteran leadership. That veteran leadership goes all the way across the board too and not just in one area.

Here's a breakdown of their team's positions.

Let’s start with the most important one: Quarterback.

The CDS Patriots return hard-nosed Deuce Gruden. Deuce exemplifies the CDS Patriots. The team will live and die by his success, both under center and as captain of the defense.

Deuce returns for his senior season after a great junior campaign. Last season, Deuce threw for 1,663 yards with just under 60 percent completion rate. He also threw 15 touchdowns to just four interceptions and led the team to an 8-2 record.

Those are very good numbers for any quarterback at any school. However, they are not good enough for perfectionist Deuce.

“I want to throw for more touchdowns this year," he said. "I want to not throw any picks this year, and I would like to rush for more touchdowns."

He rushed for five touchdowns last year.

Deuce is not the biggest guy. In fact, he’s one of the smallest, at least as far as height goes. He’s listed at 5'6," which might be a stretch, and he is also listed at 180lbs.

Most people would say he’s doomed as a quarterback at that height because he can’t see over his lineman or downfield and there’s merit to that. However, Deuce possesses intangibles that would lock him in at quaterback, even if he were 4'6".

“He’s smart, competitive, he’s got a rocket for an arm, and he runs like an unchained dog,” said Coach McLaughlin.

He virtually disappears behind his offense line when under center. His booming, deep voice can be heard across the field. Sometimes, you have to look around to see where the sound is coming from. His height could work to his advantage in some scenarios.

If the offensive line blocks well for him, the defense will have a hard time locating him in the backfield, but it’s Deuce’s leadership qualities that make him the only choice as signal-caller on both offense and defense.

“He(Deuce) knows where everyone is supposed to be on the field,” said McLaughlin.

Deuce’s physical ability and mental acumen for the game have not gone unnoticed at the next level, either. Georgia Southern, Navy, Kent State and Dayton have all expressed interest in him.

Running back

The Patriots are also rock solid at running back as Robert Davis returns for his junior year. Davis rushed for 1,523 yards last year and fifteen touchdowns. His averages of 152 yards per game and 12.28 yards per carry were all district-leading stats. The 12.28 yards per carry stat was fourth in the state last year. However, Robert, much like his captain, is constantly raising the bar for himself.

“I want to get 2,000 yards rushing this year and lead the county,” he said.

Robert’s dad, Derrick Brown, is the running backs coach, and he thinks it’s a possibility.

“He’s bigger, faster stronger this year. The whole team got a good head start in the weight room this year, and we think Robert has a chance at the 2,000 mark,” he said.

Nate Lewis also returns for his junior year. Lewis only carried the ball 22 times for 193 yards last season but has emerged as the No. 2 threat at running back for CDS. Lewis will also contribute at wide receiver, working out of the slot much of the time.

Offensive Line

“The interior of our offensive line is probably our strongest area,” said McLaughlin.

The CDS Patriots return four of five of their starting offensive lineman from last year. This will be a huge advantage over other 2A teams that will try to get replacement lineman up to speed as fall approaches.

The keystone of that line is Jared Smith, who returns for his junior year. Smith has been a starter at center for CDS since the eighth grade. He has 32 starts to his credit.

Adam Morse and Collin Debosier return for their junior years at guard, and are both over six feet tall and over 200 pounds.

The big heavies are at tackle for The Patriots. Chance Furman returns for his senior season and according to Coach McLaughlin, “is the best run blocker on the team”. Adonis Welch is going into his junior year and measures in at six-foot-five and over 230 pounds. Welch will have some big shoes to fill after Mak Djulbegovic graduated, but Welch has big feet and should develop well.

He’ll have plenty of help from an advantage no other high school in any class will have: The tutelege of an NFL head coach.

Super Bowl Champion Head Coach Jon Gruden spends his summer afternoons plotting the demise of opposing teams’ defenses. The Patriots have an exhibition game on Friday night against Cardinal Mooney and found out that they recently switched to a 3-4 defense.

No problem, since Gruden just installed a series of plays to counter that change. Gruden preaches to an eager and able choir. With all five starters on the line, veterans, the learning curve is much more sharp, and allows Gruden to implement his diabolical schemes.

Wide Receivers

The wide receiving corps remains entirely intact as well. Dillon Floyd returns for his senior season, and will lead the group. Floyd had 44 catches last year for 738 yards to lead the team, district and rank him the top fifteen in the state in both categories.

Floyd will be surrounded by second-year starters such as Andy Embody and Nate Lewis, who return for their junior years. Lewis is emerging as a viable option in both the running and passing games, and according to Wide Receivers Coach Hank Floyd, he “is right on Embody’s heels for the number two spot."

The Patriots will do all they can to keep defensives guessing.

“We have several sets where we’ll use all three receivers. Sometimes, we’ll even put Robert in the slot,” said Floyd.

The “X” factor in the passing game will be Dominq Sicardo. Sicardo will line up at tight end and should set up all kinds of mismatches in the secondary. Sicardo is six-foot-three and incredibly athletic to boot. He will go into his junior year with all kinds of potential. He only had 11 catches last year, but that is sure to change this year. Sicardo’s emergence as a legitimate receiving threat will open all kinds of doors for The Patriot offense.

“We have too many weapons for a team to double one guy,” said Floyd.

Defense

On the defensive side, Coach Sal Cuono is excited about the upcoming season.

“We’re really excited. Every one of these kids are a hard hitter, they will come after you,” he said.

The defensive line should be a strong point. Adam Morse and Chance Furman are the most likely to start at defensive tackle. Morse enters his junior year and Furman his senior year. Both players are over six feet and 200 lbs.

“Chance gives us a good, strong base up front,” said Cuono.

They will have their work cut out for them trying to slow down the opposition’s run game. Jared Smith and Shilpen Patel will push for playing time as well.

“They’ve all worked hard in the offseason and gotten bigger,” said Cuono.

The void left by Max Orr, Mak Djulbegovic and Markeith Kilgo at defensive end cannot be overlooked. Orr and Djulbegovic combined for 21 sacks last year. The team had 27 sacks for the year.

Dominiq Sicardo and Chris Cole will try to step in and replace some of that production. Adonis Welch might move over and play end as well.

The linebackers will need to most adjustment going into the 2011 campaign.

The Patriots lost two of their three linebackers from last year’s team. Robert Davis moves down from his strong safety position to cover the weak side. Patrick Ward moves over from outside to inside linebacker. Deuce Gruden will play strong side linebacker and call the plays in the defensive huddle.

The defensive secondary will have to adjust to Davis moving up to linebacker. Nate Lewis will move into the starting role at strong safety. Dillon Floyd will occupy the free safety spot. Floyd is in his third year at the position and provides a bit of stability.

Andy Embody returns to start at corner. He is quick, can cover, and, “plays the run well” according to Cuono. The big question mark will be the play of soon-to-be freshman, Max Frankel. Frankel looks to be the starter at the other corner spot and will have to play out of his mind to not get pounced on by opposing teams. Once teams find out he’s an under-classman, playing his first year at corner, they will go after him.

Hopefully, rolling coverages and zone defense will keep some of the pressure off of Frankel but he will have to learn a lot and learn it quickly.

Special teams

The special teams unit will revolve around Collin Debosier. Debosier takes over the kicking duties from playing defensive tackle. His development will be tantamount to success in special teams.

Andy Embody will continue to return punts as Davis, Embody, and Nate Lewis will play on kick returns.

Chris Cole is the best tackler on special teams and is capable of, “big hits” according to Cuono.

The Patriots will play their exhibition game against Cardinal Mooney on Friday night and will continue to work and improve as fall looms closer.

Stay tuned to Carrollwood Patch for updates on CDS football.

 

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