I spent last night over in Rockland and stopped by two events — the Block and Tackle camp at Clarkstown South and the weekly 7 on 7 held up the road at Clarkstown North. It gave me a chance to check in a little on six of the county’s 10 teams. Only Suffern, Ramapo and Tappan Zee weren’t in action Tuesday; even Pearl River was deep into its Florida trip, which was scheduled to end today.
Here’s a few quick thoughts on the teams going into August:
NYACK —
The first team that caught my eye at South was Nyack. Actually, maybe I should say the Indians caught my ear. Their pads were smacking together loudly during drills Tuesday afternoon, especially the boys up front. Not surprisingly, when I spoke to him during a break in action, Mike Ramponi said the line looked like a strength.
Look no further than a pair of big returnees: Stanley Dragon and Charles Francois. Both have added to their frames from a season ago. They are harder and stronger, and will anchor a line with the majority of its starters back. Dragon will be among the biggest players in the section at 310 pounds.
They will be fortified by one of the section’s top returning tight ends in Dashawn Rodriguez and a pair of starting linebackers who will share the load at fullback. One is Derwhon Bartley, who is now in his third season as a major varsity contributor. The other will one day say the same. That’s Adonis Alcime, who, as a sophomore, is already a physically imposing player.
Nyack will break in new players at QB and at every position in its secondary. Ramponi understands his team is under the radar after a tough 2011 that including heartbreaking losses to Pearl River and Somers, but perhaps it shouldn’t be. Either way, the schedule is not easy. The Indians open with Ossining and Brewster before drawing a rematch with Somers. They’ll be forced to play well immediately.
CLARKSTOWN SOUTH —
For a team that emerged last season, seemingly from nowhere, South returns plenty of pieces. That run to the Class AA semifinals was propelled by the seniors, but also by contributions from several juniors, including a number of returning all-county players. That group is led by QB Ryan McManus and RB Thomas Lent, but also by a pair of two-way linemen, Mark Annunziato and Raymond Manfredi, and the county’s best returning kicker, Shane Cronin. All five were all-county players a year ago as juniors.
Lent was the team’s second-leading rusher last season and is among Class AA’s most accomplished returning players. He, McManus and the rest of South’s skill players will have some blockers in place, but coach Mike Scarpelli said a couple undecided areas on the line of scrimmage still need to be fortified. The offensive line remains his biggest offseason concern, although the rest of the team remains strong.
A couple of players who stick out as potential difference makers are Zach Johnson and Hassan Auwater. They contributed last season and have the athleticism to do even more.
NANUET —
For Nanuet, it wasn’t so much about who did what last season. Coach Phil Carbone — the longtime assistant who took over for Rich Conklin — faced a major challenge in revamping the team’s offensive system. Carbone sought a return to the sort of power football that once thrived under Conklin. His team still ran the option last year and will continue to incorporate that and other facets into its play, but the primary focus has shifted to power running. That meant teaching players new terminology and new blocking schemes, and it required some effort.
Carbone also wanted to strengthen his team, which played competitive football with Class B’s giants (Croton and Lourdes) only to find itself overwhelmed as the games wore on. “Even our big guys weren’t strong,” Carbone said, before noting how the team’s offseason conditioning program has changed that.
Nanuet should be a bigger, stronger and more experienced team than last year, when it finished 3-6. All-county linebackers Liam Reilly and Pete Smith and defensive back Nick O’Connor will anchor the defense. QB Ryan Hanney and RB Dan Breit will be the main stalwarts on offense.
Hanney, of course, is the third member of his family to start at quarterback. He played the entire season as a sophomore before going down late with an injury and is already in his third season as a varsity contributor. He moved up as a freshman to play defensive back, but this is his team now. Carbone believed Hanney will be better prepared mentally after watching the example set by older brother, Tom, who recently left Wagner and its football team to enlist in the Marines.
NORTH ROCKLAND —
A team I really wanted to watch in action ended up watching from the sidelines. North Rockland was one of three teams at Tuesday night’s 7 on 7 at North, technically, but the defending Class AA champ didn’t have enough players to participate.
As I said earlier this summer and remains true now, the Red Raiders’ season could be determined by the play of their linemen. The same area plagued them prior to last season, but a group of unheralded seniors find their rhythm at some point during their Week 2 win over White Plains and never looked back. The line went from a major weakness to a strength.
This year, North Rockland has very little experience up front outside of Joey Scheffold, a returning all-county player on defense. The difference, I’m told, is that last year’s linemen had experience from 2010 even if it was something they’d prefer to forget. This year’s group will be largely a new one.
A major positive defensively is the expected presence of Eric Favors. The sophomore had perhaps more impact than any freshman in the section last year. He didn’t just fill a hole on defense, he stuffed them. It spoke to a bright future that St. Joe’s of Montvale wanted to unfold on its turf, but Favors has remained at North Rockland. He has attended every summer workout and appears poised to remain at the school.
North Rockland also expects to turn to junior Nick Imperato to replace Devin Bovino at QB. Imperato’s name — and YouTube highlight tape — has been bandied about previously on this blog. Now, he’ll get his chance for a team with very high aspirations.
CLARKSTOWN NORTH —
A few readers have suggested this could be a down year for the Rams, but the more you dig, the more that seems like the wishful thinking of rival fans. Yes, North will be without Travis Samuels, who was one of the county’s top players last year, but it returns about half its starters on offense and defense.
Billy DeLay and Eddie Ruckel are both two-way players who were big playmakers at linebacker and can run the ball. Anthony Termine was among the top players at Rockland’s HSPD camp early this summer and an all-county lineman last season.
The Rams have a penchant for playing players both ways out of necessity. At times last season, injuries to Samuels and co. cost them. But remember: They beat North Rockland and were right there with South late in the season. They could be again.
SPRING VALLEY — Of all the teams I saw on Tuesday, Spring Valley appears to be the one most in transition. Coach Andrew Delva had a big turnout for the 7 on 7 and has his team’s camp coming up on Thursday. He said there is talent there, but much of it is inexperienced. I keep talking about all-county players from last season. Well, the Tigers return none of theirs.
I’ve seen Delva a couple times this summer. He has said he likes the attitude and work ethic of his players. It will be tested against a deep Class A field.
287 Comments
Fancave July 30th, 2012 at 11:54 am
Listen Prince, no doubt Edney has talent. Big, fast, elusive and throws the ball well in Wing T set. However, throwing sideline waggles and stationary slot passes doesn’t show anyone how he would fare in a spread. If not saying he couldn’t it’s just unproven. I think he would do fine as far as creating space for himself If no ones open but decision making an reading defenses get pretty complicated in a spread. Have to be able to throw on the run from both sides and hit moving receivers. Not saying he couldnt be successful but wouldn’t be an easy transition either.
FAN.. NEW RO BEEN IMPLEMENTING THE SPREAD INTO THERE OFFENSE FOR THE PAST FEW YEARS!!! AND EACH YEAR THEY ADD MORE!! EDNEY CAN DO ALL THAT YOU LISTED ABOVE!! MOST HIGH SCHOOL QB’S ESPECIALLY INTHIS AREA HAS 1 OR 2 READS AT MOST!! THERE NOT TEACHING THEM TO READ THE WHOLE FIELD OR ATLEAST THEY ARE NOT ASKING THEM TOO!!! LIKE I SAID YOU HAVE TOO STOP WATCHING YOUR HOME TEAM ONLY!!.. I WATCH FOOTBALL EVERY WHERE!!.. AND MOST BLOGGERS CAN TELL YOU THAT I COVER NY, NJ, C.T., TX. PA, CA, ETC…. I COLLECT INFO THEN I SHARE AND TEACH!!!1..
Fancave July 30th, 2012 at 11:59 am
Wing T is more complicated from the line blocking aspect because spread is directional line blocking but spread is way more complex to skill players especially the qb. Maybe it’s time someone educated you Prince
FAN.. YOU ARE STUCK IN THE PAST!!.... THE WING BLOCKING TECH AND ASSIGNMENT THE RUN BACK FOOT STEPS ARE VERY COMPLICATED!!.. THE SPREAD IS USUALLY ZONE – TO AREA BLOCKING THE QB USUALLY HAS TO TAKE IN MORE INFO THEN MOST OF THE OTHER PLAYERS!! BUT YOUR OUT OF YOUR MIND IF YOU THINK THE WING IS EASIER!!.. WHAT POSITION DID YOU PLAY IN HIGH SCHOOL #CHEERLEADER?..
FAN CAVE
YOU ARE THE 1ST!!..NO 2ND PERSON TO EVER COME ON THIS BLOGG AND SAY THE SPREAD IS HARDER!!.. AND I KNOW THE REASON!!.. #B/C YOU DN’T HAVE A CLUE ON HOW TO THROW THE FOOTBALL!!... TYPICAL SEC1 TUNNEL VISIONAIRE!!!
Hoops fan July 30th, 2012 at 11:19 am
This is an interesting passing conversation – I think everyone is partially right.
You don’t have to go to FL, TX or CA to find teams that pass well. About 10 of the 12 teams in the CHSFL AAA can pass the ball well. Several programs on LI pass well and several teams upstate are running the spread and passing well. I think the difference here is the quality of coaching…not all coaches can teach a more complex passing game. If any of the local guys want to see the difference, look at Hoffer’s highlight tape or Tyrae Woodson Samuels’ – the sets, formations and routes these teams are running is night and day from the types of pass plays you see from most Sect 1 teams. Practicing it every day for years helps, but also having coaches who truly understand it makes all the difference. Just saying a program should pass more is one thing, but those coaches might not have the ability to teach and implement a real passing game – in that case the team is probably better off sticking with their run game.
HOOPS…..... I AGREE!! BUT THE LAST SENTENCE!!... THEY DO NOT NEED TO STICK TO RUNNING!! .. THEY NEED TO LEARN HOW TO THROW THE BALL!!! #FACT
FANCAVE
Prince, I can’t present an answer about your observations on the way offenses are run in these other states you mentioned. You must have TV coverage that I’m unaware of or do a lot of traveling
YOU ARE CORRECT ON BOTH!!!...
Just to add some thoughts on the passing game in section one:
1) you better have two great qbs that can run the offense because if one goes down you’re in deep trouble
2) the major college conferences are moving away for the spread to more of pro style offenses that’s the trend…away from the spread option
3) teams that recruit can get players to fit their scheme, local teams have pick from what they have. Many of the best athletes in the new York area play basketball not football (mount Vernon)where in Florida and Texas football is king more top athletes to run the spread
4) section one you must play defense and have an offensive scheme that’s easy to learn and teach.
5) to stay section one coaches are behind the times is false..they get the most out of which in many cases is second tier athletes.
CALL ME P(pr)RINCE!.. THE MOST HATED ON!.. Your comment is awaiting moderation. July 30th, 2012 at 4:15 pm
THE REAL
I TOTALLY DISAGREE!!.. I HAVE BEEN TO FL, GA, NC, SC, TX, CA, AND PA IT HAS NOTHING DO WITH THE PLAYERS ABILITY!!..... IT HAS “ALOT” TO DO WITH “COACHING” !!.... ALOT OF THESE COACHES ARE ALL LEARNING THE GAME FROM ONE PERSON!! I REMEMBER WHEN SEC1 CLASS AA SOUTH DIV HAD GORTON, NEWRO, MOUNT VERNON, ROOSE, LINCOLN ALL OF THEM RUNNING BASICALLY THE SAME OFFENSE AND DEFENSE!!!....THATS FUULZ BALL IF YOU ASK ME!!! COLLEGE IS ATTRACTED TO SPREAD FOOTBALL PLAYERS!!... #FACT!!... TRUST ME 6’2 IS ‘6’2 IN N.Y., CA, TX,FL 215LBS. IS 215LBS IN NY,CA, TX , FL!!... 4.3 FORTY IS A 4.3 FORTY IN NY,CA, TX, FL IT’S “COACHING” SEC1 FOOTBALL COACHING STAFF AND MIAMI NORTHWEST, SERVITE CA, STEEL TX, COACHING STAFF ARE NOT THE SAME IT’S NIGHT AND DAY!!... THATS WHERE THE DIFFERENCE IS AT MY FRIEND!!!...#FACT!!!
*ALOT OF THESE SEC1 COACHES!!!
THE UNREAL NR
YOU GUYS HAVE TO GET OUT OF THAT BUBBLE YOU LIVE IN!! “REAL” FOOTBALL IS A BALANCE ATTACK.
THE REAL
ALEDO TEXAS HAD THE TOP BACK IN COUNTRY JOHATHAN GREY HE RUSHED FOR 3,221.OO YARDS HI JUNIOR!!! AND 3,800 HIS SENIOR BUT IN HIS JUNIOR YEAR THE #2 RB HAD 781 YARDS RUSHING AND THE #3 RB HAD 392YDS RUSHING!!! BUT TO SHOW MY POINT THE QB HAD 2,709 YDS PASSING AND 27 TOUCHDOWNS!!! MY POINT THE COACH COULD HAVE EASILY RAN THE FOOTBALL ALL GAME LIKE YOU AND FANCAVE SUGGEST IS real football ( TYPICAL SEC1 STYLE) BUT HE KNEW THE QB AND WR NEED TO SHOW CASE THERE TALENT SO HE MADE SURE HE PASS THE BALL!!... THATS REAL FOOTBALL!!! #BOOM
THE UNREAL
HERE IS JOHN TAPE, I DID POST THIS ALMOST 17 MONTHS AGO
http://youtu.be/EjzdHNnwUBU
“THE UNREAL NR
YOU GUYS HAVE TO GET OUT OF THAT BUBBLE YOU LIVE IN!! “REAL” FOOTBALL IS A BALANCE ATTACK.”
Oh true true true true TRUE!!!!!
” #FACT!!... TRUST ME 6’2 IS ‘6’2 IN N.Y., CA, TX,FL 215LBS. IS 215LBS IN NY,CA, TX , FL!!... 4.3 FORTY IS A 4.3 FORTY IN NY,CA, TX, FL IT’S “COACHING” SEC1 FOOTBALL COACHING STAFF AND MIAMI NORTHWEST, SERVITE CA, STEEL TX, COACHING STAFF ARE NOT THE SAME IT’S NIGHT AND DAY!!... THATS WHERE THE DIFFERENCE IS AT MY FRIEND!!!...#FACT!!!”
More…...
Oh true true true true TRUE!!!!!
JUST A FACT ,
PAYNTER WILL WIN
Haywoood!!!! Are we talking Travers at end of August in Saratoga????
Your my type of guy!!! Don’t be taking that in the wrong way!!!
JUST A FACT,
YES SIR,
lol at Just. watch out Wood.
Statesman,
I’m safe,I got on metal draws,LLLLLLOOOOOLLLLL
I not talking about nor roc no doubt they could open it up a little more…but you have to marry a system if you’re spread you’re spread whether it’s pass oriented or read option. You can’t be part wing t or I formation or veer or midline. Look at the offenses used from state champions across the country over the last five years it’s varied one system is not dominant. Coaches install what they know in section one it’s wing t . At nor roc the I is what they know which is pro style are they too conservative, absolutely. Clarkstown south runs the best spread in double a and what beat them last year ground and pound in bad conditions. You are correct section one football teams do not have technically elaborate passing concepts, but they install what they know.
States,
Haywood, as we get clos-er we will have to bat around a few ideas!!!!
Posted earlier today…
Just a factYour comment is awaiting moderation.July 30th, 2012 at 10:57 am
“Not every high school players desire is to play college football Prince. Some kids play high school football just for the experience in high school. Most go on to train to be doctors, lawyers, police officers etc. A small percentage play college and even smaller pro. Hopefully a high school coach is concerned about teaching the idea of team, physical conditioning, and the importance of education side by side with football”
Fan cave, high school football is about getting kids to college for free… Most kids parents are not doctors lawyers etc… Some kids, believe it or not, come from working class families and cannot afford college without financial assistance…this is where HS football comes in… For the Players, and new ro has a lot of Players, HS football will afford these kids the opportunity go to college for free. Even State schools cost 20k a year… Some kids go to college for 5 years. Do the math… About $100 k savings at the minimum… Clos-er to $ 200k … Big business… And trust me the stuff don’t grow on trees!!!!!
College for free #1 priority for HS coach… No exceptions..
Wood,
llooll gonna need a pair of those for my daughter if I have one.
No Prince I’m only 20
Fancave it’s a joke have you ever been in a 3rd&8, then been told to run a counter by Coach Warner that whole post is just a joke on the North Rockland offense I was in it, I know it, if you asked me I could probably still describe it to you in detail it’s simple while they always try to install something new it always goes back to the same thing eventually run, run, run&more run while they’ve “Broken the mold” it’s still run heavy I’ve been out 2 years but people who’ve watched for 20 say that it hasn’t really changed from when they first started watching
football’s awesome July 31st, 2012 at 12:30 am
No Prince I’m only 20
??????????????????
Just a fact July 30th, 2012 at 10:03 pm
Posted earlier today…
Just a factYour comment is awaiting moderation.July 30th, 2012 at 10:57 am
“Not every high school players desire is to play college football Prince. Some kids play high school football just for the experience in high school. Most go on to train to be doctors, lawyers, police officers etc. A small percentage play college and even smaller pro. Hopefully a high school coach is concerned about teaching the idea of team, physical conditioning, and the importance of education side by side with football”
Fan cave, high school football is about getting kids to college for free… Most kids parents are not doctors lawyers etc… Some kids, believe it or not, come from working class families and cannot afford college without financial assistance…this is where HS football comes in… For the Players, and new ro has a lot of Players, HS football will afford these kids the opportunity go to college for free. Even State schools cost 20k a year… Some kids go to college for 5 years. Do the math… About $100 k savings at the minimum… Clos-er to $ 200k … Big business… And trust me the stuff don’t grow on trees!!!!!
College for free #1 priority for HS coach… No exceptions..
JUST…. #FACT!!!!...
The Real Nr July 30th, 2012 at 9:49 pm
I not talking about nor roc no doubt they could open it up a little more…but you have to marry a system if you’re spread you’re spread whether it’s pass oriented or read option. You can’t be part wing t or I formation or veer or midline. Look at the offenses used from state champions across the country over the last five years it’s varied one system is not dominant. Coaches install what they know in section one it’s wing t . At nor roc the I is what they know which is pro style are they too conservative, absolutely. Clarkstown south runs the best spread in double a and what beat them last year ground and pound in bad conditions. You are correct section one football teams do not have technically elaborate passing concepts, but they install what they know.
THE UNREAL
IT GOES BACK TO WHAT I ORIG. SAID IT’S THE PLAYERS!!;........
. I HAVE BEEN TO FL, GA, NC, SC, TX, CA, AND PA IT HAS NOTHING DO WITH THE PLAYERS ABILITY!!..... IT HAS “ALOT” TO DO WITH “COACHING” !!.... ALOT OF THESE COACHES ARE ALL LEARNING THE GAME FROM ONE PERSON!! I REMEMBER WHEN SEC1 CLASS AA SOUTH DIV HAD GORTON, NEWRO, MOUNT VERNON, ROOSE, LINCOLN ALL OF THEM RUNNING BASICALLY THE SAME OFFENSE AND DEFENSE!!!....THATS FUULZ BALL IF YOU ASK ME!!! COLLEGE IS ATTRACTED TO SPREAD FOOTBALL PLAYERS!!... #FACT!!... TRUST ME 6’2 IS ‘6’2 IN N.Y., CA, TX,FL 215LBS. IS 215LBS IN NY,CA, TX , FL!!... 4.3 FORTY IS A 4.3 FORTY IN NY,CA, TX, FL IT’S “COACHING” SEC1 FOOTBALL COACHING STAFF AND MIAMI NORTHWEST, SERVITE CA, STEEL TX, COACHING STAFF ARE NOT THE SAME IT’S NIGHT AND DAY!!... THATS WHERE THE DIFFERENCE IS AT MY FRIEND!!!...#FACT!!!
.....
THE UNREAL
YOU SAID GROUND IN POUND AND BAD WEATHER!!.. EVEN IF YOUR IN THE SPREAD AND YOUR GOOD!! YOU STILL NEED SOME DEFENSE TO WIN!!.. AND IF YOU DN’T HAVE A DEFENSE YOU ARE IN TROUBLE!!
Just,
I think it depends what school the coach is at. Some schools rarely have athletes that can compete beyond the DIII college level so the coach is hopefully focused on teaching the kid’s the value of hardwork and other useful life lessons if he isn’t focused on getting them athletic scholarships. At schools like New Ro, Step, Iona, Mount St Michael, the coaches obviously understand teaching kids in a way that can make them appealing for college coaches (at least on one side of the ball at certain schools) and certainly do a lot to keep them doing what they need to do. So yes, if a coach is at Step, Iona, Mount or New Ro they should be focused on getting kids college scholarships – and I think its fair to say all of those schools do a pretty good job of it. If a coach is at Byram Hills or Edgemont, etc, they might not need to be as focused on getting football scholarships.
yeah prince you’ve asked me if I’ve ever been in a coaches meeting no I haven’t coached yet I will coach in the future I’m planning on it
Hoops, a lot of free money at other D-3 and D- 2 schools. Every coach at every HS should focus on getting free money for the kids that have the opportunity to play at the next level. That is their main goal. Obvious Schools with lower enrollments (like Byram Hills) will have less College players. Also schools in “Rich” areas obvious free money might not seem as important.
But I say it dont matter, that should be the Coaches main goal. Yes the coach needs to make these Teenagers into men, but that is a given.
I am a perfect example. I went for free. I am just trying to S P R E A D the love!!!
football’s awesome July 31st, 2012 at 9:36 pm
yeah prince you’ve asked me if I’ve ever been in a coaches meeting no I haven’t coached yet I will coach in the future I’m planning on it
football awesome… it was a joke!! lol!!
Just a fact July 31st, 2012 at 9:41 pm
Hoops, a lot of free money at other D-3 and D- 2 schools. Every coach at every HS should focus on getting free money for the kids that have the opportunity to play at the next level. That is their main goal. Obvious Schools with lower enrollments (like Byram Hills) will have less College players. Also schools in “Rich” areas obvious free money might not seem as important.
But I say it dont matter, that should be the Coaches main goal. Yes the coach needs to make these Teenagers into men, but that is a given.
I am a perfect example. I went for free. I am just trying to S P R E A D the love!!!
just…. i like this post!!.... lol!!!
NY D-3’s are good. In large part due to only 2 FBS schools around.
ANY REPORTS ON WHAT HAPPENED YESTERDAY AT NEW ROCHELLE CAMP?
Statesman July 31st, 2012 at 11:56 pm
NY D-3’s are good. In large part due to only 2 FBS schools around.
I TOTALLY AGREE!!.. NEW YORK NEED MORE FBS SCHOOLS!!!
There’s 3 F.B.S Schools in the state of N.Y but one’s in the MAC&One is In the Big East so NY doesn’t represent any big time conferences, soon to be one in the A.C.C but in this day in age it’ll only help hoops the Big East isn’t in the days of Miami, Va Tech&B.C with some good Syracuse, Pitt&West Va sprinkled in it’s in ruin and can’t stand up to the other “power conferences” in turn the overall football culture of NY takes a hit!
Down south they have much more extensive programs with full spring ball sessions and football is front and center in almost every town with almost every person here it’s a priority thing I have relatives from North Carolina and Arkansas who go to the games along with the rest of the town hell they have friend’s in Texas who’s H.S’s have season tickets, if you brought that up here you’d be looked at like you had 7 heads&I’m not that far out of H.S students just don’t care as a whole, I have cousin’s who’re 16 now&go to school in N.C they say it’s the thing to do on a Friday night here it’s perceived as a wasted of time by a vast majority even in North Rockland of all places while there are students that go&support the program and go to games it’s generally a small percentage&it seems to get smaller every year