Daily Pilot Football Player of the Week, David Rodriguez: Zoned in

on the pocket

Barry Faulkner

Veteran Estancia High defensive end David Rodriguez has reduced his

position to simple terms. Causing piles and/or pileups is all that is

asked of this 5-foot-7, 225-pound cannon ball, who explodes out of his

stance as if blasted through a barrel.

But while power and passion are prerequisites to success, Rodriguez’s

repertoire also includes a few tricks of the trade.

“I’ve got some top-secret stuff,” said the three-year starter, who

politely sidesteps the specifics, ever-protective of his edge.

Simple observation, however, reveals some of these techniques, which,

combined with his unique leverage advantage, befuddled Laguna Beach

blockers throughout the Eagles’ 62-23 triumph last week.

“He starts out under most guys’ pad level, which can make him very

tough to block,” said Estancia High Coach Dave Perkins, who would draw

little dissent from the Artists’ offensive tackles.

“We really rushed the passer (against Laguna) and David was a big part

of that,” Perkins said. “Even when he didn’t quite get there, you could

tell their quarterback was aware he might be there any second.”

In addition to his three sacks, two of which were solo efforts,

Rodriguez had four hurries, one resulting in an unsuccessful two-point

conversion.

“Rushing the passer is my favorite time to be in the game,” said the

Daily Pilot Player of the Week, whose violent contact with Laguna

quarterback Todd Merz after one ill-fated pass attempt late in the third

quarter, left Merz staggering toward the sideline, out for the duration

with an apparent concussion.

“David is as nice a guy as you’d want to meet off the field,” Perkins

said. “But that all changes when he gets on the football field. Then, he

wants to hit anything that moves.”

Rodriguez, who has played some offensive line the past two years and

some fullback this fall (he had one carry for no gain Friday), prefers to

concentrate on defense.

That concentration carries over to the sideline, where he works hard

to remain focused.

“It’s like I get in a zone,” Rodriguez said. “When we’re on offense, I

stand on the sideline away from the group. It’s like I’m zoned out.”

On the field, Rodriguez fuels his intensity with verbal expression.

“Talking and yelling pumps me up and the team feeds off it too,” said

Rodriguez, who noted he never speaks with his opponents.

He did, however, overhear Merz addressing his frequent presence in the

pocket.

“I heard him telling his linemen to ‘Watch No. 55,’ ” Rodriguez said.

Those who watch him, see a rare package of strength (he bench presses

295 pounds and squats 485) and quickness.

“I like to bull rush, but I can also run around the guy,” he said.

Perkins said Rodriguez, a first-team All-Pacific Coast League and

All-Newport-Mesa District performer last year who had four sacks the

first nine games, appears to be picking it up.

“The last couple weeks, he’s really started to play like an all-league

player,” Perkins said. “He’s really playing with a lot of fire.”

Rodriguez will try to continue that trend Friday, when the Eagles

(7-3) make their first postseason appearance since 1995, visiting

Fullerton at 7 p.m. in the first round of the CIF Southern Section

Division IX playoffs.