By Bob Badders - Senior Writer
E-mail: badders@digitalsports.com
There is obvious improvement across the board at
Brick Memorial in its second season under head coach Walt Currie, but one gets a sense of just how far the Mustangs have come in one season after hearing Currie praise his second-year quarterback.
"He really gets it, he reads it as well as (Rob) Orrok or Tom (Heuer)," said Currie of Mustangs senior quarterback Brian Staub, comparing him to a pair of ultra-successful signal-callers in Currie's flexbone offense when he was the offensive coordinator at Point Boro. "He has really done a nice job and he runs the ball like a tailback."
The growth within the Mustangs' offensive system is just one reason for optimism at Brick Memorial. After learning Currie's offensive and defensive schemes during a 4-6 season in 2007, a slew of returning starters on both sides of the ball have the Mustangs confident and in a much different state than the same time last year.
"Last year we were a little shaky early with the new offense, but this year we're way more used to it and definitely more confident," said senior halfback Anthony Piezzo. "When Brian took over at quarterback last season was when we really started to click and ever since then we've just kept on getting better."
Staub, a speedy and shifty quarterback, leads the way in the aforementioned flexbone option offense and is one of eight returning starters on the offensive side of the ball. He started the team's final three games last season. Piezzo and junior Glenn McGinnis will be the first-string halfbacks after starting last season. Three of the four members of the backfield are returning starters with the only newcomer being junior Vinnie Sabba, who will be the team's 'A' back.
Senior wide receiver Anthony LePore is a returning starter and will lead a unit that also includes fellow seniors Ryan Wood and Matt Heard. The passing game is an underrated part of Currie's flexbone offense and something that Staub worked on in the offseason and throughout training camp.
"Obviously we're a run-oriented team, but we work a lot on the pass and the play action to get the defense to bite and throw over the top," Staub said.
Not only do the Mustangs have experience at their skill positions, they also have an offensive line that returns four of five starters and could be the strength of the unit. At center is 6-foot-1, 230-pound senior Bill Brunner, who has equal amounts strength and athleticism. The right side of the line features 6-foot-3, 285-pound senior Anthony D'Elia at guard and 5-foot-11, 230-pound junior Anthony Spanola at tackle. Those three are all returning starters, as is junior left guard Nick Alvarez. The new man on the line is promising sophomore Russ Clayton, who comes in at 6-foot and 200 pounds.
"Our line has been together for two years now so we have a lot of confidence and we work well together," Brunner said.
"In the second year in this offense we are so much more comfortable and everyone is used to the rules," D'Elia said. "We feel like everything is coming together nicely and the line could be one of our strengths."
The Mustangs' offensive prowess will be tested early and often as they open the season with an always speedy and staunch Toms River East team. Also on the schedule is a pair of defenses - Southern and Toms River North - that should be among the best in the Shore Conference with additional games against some traditionally solid units like Manalapan and Brick.
"We're not over-confident at all but we have a good amount of returning starters and we'll have confidence now matter who we play against," Piezzo said."
Defensively, the Mustangs return seven starters in their 3-4 scheme. Junior Billy Miller, who contributed some heroics during the wrestling team's run to the Group IV championship, will be the starting nose guard. Powerful and athletic at 5-foot-9 and 220 pounds, Miller, a returning starter, could be a catalyst for a strong run defense. He will be flanked at defensive end by a rotation that includes returning starter D'Elia, Spanola and sophomore Will Wowkanyn, a 6-foot-2, 210-pound sophomore the coaching staff is very high on.
The linebacking corps has three returning starters minus only Mike Kiley, a starter last season who decided to sit out this season to concentrate on wrestling. The outside linebackers will be Piezzo and junior Jared Aksdal and the inside linebackers will be Brunner and McGinnis, both of whom are returning starters, while senior Mike Heitz is also in the mix.
The secondary has three returning starters that can each play either cornerback or safety in seniors Joe Pittius and Alex Berardi, and also Staub. Heard, LePore and Wood will also rotate in the defensive backfield.
A third sophomore the coaching staff feels will be a valuable contributor is Jordan Lodice, who will handle both the placekicking and punting duties.
Things are certainly looking up for a Brick Memorial team that is still riding the momentum from a win over Brick last Thanksgiving. Will the momentum carry over to the start of the season? That remains to be seen. The American Division offers a brutally tough opponent every week and it will take a lot for the Mustangs to jump into contention for a division title.
"We still have a ways to go before we're one of the best teams in the division," Currie said. "But we're going to be able to compete because we're much more physical and the players have really developed a lot of football intelligence."
Head coach
Walt Currie, second season
Career record: 4-6
Assistant coaches: Pete Brennan (def. coord.); Mike Cintron (special teams coord./running backs); Anthony Argondizza (def. line); Mike Bonventre (running backs); Gary Cittadino (secondary); Ryan Graham (def. line); Rob Merola (off. line); Paul Panuska (def. line); Jerry Petraccoro (wide receivers); Ed Sarluca Jr. (secondary); Dom Santoro, Tim Brennan (freshman); Vinnie Russo (admin. asst.); Sue Penrod (athletic trainer).
2007
record
4-6 (2-4)
BIG SHOES TO
FILL: Mike Kiley was a strong linebacker and also a very good punter for the Mustangs, so junior Jared Aksdal (LB) and sophomore Jordan Lodice (PK) will look to replace his production.
X-FACTOR:
Even with an improved offense, will the Mustangs be able to move the ball against the tough defenses of Southern and Toms River North? How will the Mustangs' defense look , especially against the pass with one great (Howell) and one good (Manalapan) passing team coming into the division?
IMPACT NEWCOMER:
The Mustangs have three sophomores that will see plenty of time, including Russ Clayton as the starting left tackle.
PIVOTAL
GAME:
In the American Division every game is crucial, but it's a nondivisional game against Toms River East, which is now in the Constitution Division, that has a chance to set the tone for the Mustangs' season. The Raiders have had Brick Memorial's number in recent years.