2009 PREP
FOOTBALL PREVIEW
'Cats'
leadership skills
match their deep talent
match their deep talent
BY ED WRIGHT
Members of the Plymouth football team's actions will speak louder than
their words this fall, but their words will make quite an impact, too,
according to head coach Mike Sawchuk."We have more vocal leaders this year than we've ever had before," said Sawchuk, whose team made its third trip to the Division 1 state football playoffs in 2008. "Our vocal leadership is awesome.
"This is a great group of young men. They worked their tails off during the off-season. We had about 90 percent perfect attendance at the off-season workouts, so this team will work."
Sawchuk revamped his program's weight-lifting program following a visit to the University of Miami's football facility this off-season.
"I talked to their strength-and-conditioning guy and learned a lot about what they do," he said. "We still do the core lifts every day, but there's more of a total body workout after the core lift."
Muscling up
The change has had a positive impact on the players.
"We're sore all over now after a workout, and that's a good thing," said senior center Keith Choma. "We used to kill our upper body or lower body every other day, but now we kind of do everything together. It seems like everybody is maxing out every day. We're all so much stronger than last year."
There will be some familiar faces across the field on Aug. 28 when Plymouth opens its season against Salem. Former Wildcat offensive coordinator Kurt Britnell was hired as the Rocks' head coach this past spring and he brought a few more Plymouth assistant coaches with him.
"It was already a rivalry, but it will be even more intensified with my former coordinator over there," said Sawchuk. "I'm very happy for them. Who wouldn't be happy to see one of their assistants become a head coach."
New-look 'O'
Like the workout program, the Wildcats' offense will also take on a new look. The team will utilize a spread, no-huddle attack that should leave defenses with little time to make adjustments.
"It's the same offense that the University of Michigan runs," Sawchuk said.
As of Friday, it was yet to be determined who will be guiding the offense as senior Ryan Barrera and junior Vic Hicks are both in the mix.
"They're both great athletes with great arms," said Sawchuk. "They're both smart kids, too, so it's going to be tough. One thing is for sure, though: Whichever of the two isn't playing quarterback will be on the field somewhere."
Spear-heading the Wildcats' talented group of running backs will be senior Jenarian Caldwell, who has been clocked at 4.4 in the 40-yard dash. Sawchuk also has extreme confidence in the abilities of Jerel Jenkins, Tommy Whitlow and Tony Rhodes.
"Rhodes is my Mike Alstott," he said, referring to the former Tampa Bay Buccaneers' bruising fullback. "He'll run over people."
Catching on
The catalysts for the 'Cats' receiving corps will be senior Brennen Beyer and junior Jake Morris. Junior basketball player Justin Moss is just some completed paperwork away from joining the team. With the 6-foot-6 Moss in the line-up with the 6-4 Byer, the Wildcats would be tough to defend in goal-line passing situations.
"Just throw it up there," Sawchuk said.
The offensive line is the deepest Sawchuk has been blessed with in his four seasons on the job. Among those flanking senior center Keith Choma will be Jordon Birman, Matt Priebe, Matt Sheridan, Mark Wallath and Tyler Goble.
Senior standout Daryl Cohn returns to anchor the defensive line, which will also include Wally Eppler, Austin Gosnell, Jacob Zawaski and Beyer.
The starting line-backing unit will be sparked by senior Jamie Emminger (the group's lone returning starter), Rhodes and Goble.
Tyler Grosh, Morris, transfer student Alex Ruffin and Phil Emminger will lead the defensive backfield.
Unique weapon
The Wildcats' kicking game will rest in the reliable hands, er, foot of junior Kyle Brindza, who is being recruited by several Division 1 college programs. Brindza booms kick-offs through the end zone with regularity and he's converted a 60-yard field in practice.
"Not only is Kyle a weapon, but he's an unbelievable person," said Sawchuk. "He does everything right. He's in Fellowship of Christian Athletes, he has awesome grades -- he's just an awesome kid who works his butt off every day."
Ed Wright can be reached at info@plymouthcantonsports.com or (734) 578-2767.
The Plymouth
football team's Leadership Committee consists of (from left) Tyler
Grosh, Jamie Emminger, Ryan Barrera, Jacob Zawaski and Jordon Birman.
