Prep football: Transition cycle underway at Mesa

Barry Faulkner

COSTA MESA - Costa Mesa High football coach Dave Perkins and his

staff have changed their colors, having made the move just recently from

crosstown rival Estancia High.

But, whether there are enough of those colors to go around, is still a

bone of contention for members of Perkins’ staff, as spring practice

continues.

“They keep telling me they need more than two (black and green) Mesa

shirts,” Perkins said of his assistants, many of whom not only coached

but played at Estancia, where their on-field wardrobe was dominated by

red and gold. “I tell them they need to find a washing machine.”

The transition cycle is still in its early stages for the Mustangs,

who are learning their coaches’ personalities, as much as they’re

processing new offensive and defensive schemes.

“I think there’s still a feeling-out period going on,” said Perkins,

who began drills May 23 and will continue, with some days off, until June

8. “As a new coach, kids are going to test you, to see what you will put

up with and what you won’t.”

Perkins, however, is most pleased with the way his players have been

receptive to change.

“The kids have been really coachable, which has made it fun,” he said.

“We’re running practice a little differently than they did here before,

we’re teaching different schemes with new terminology and we’re even

lifting weights a little differently.”

Perkins said some of the changes his staff has encountered have been

for the good.

“We’re finding these kids have a little better base of fundamentals,

because more of them came up through the Pop Warner program,” Perkins

said. “And, there are a lot more bodies.”

Perkins reports an average of about 60 players have been showing up

for morning weight training, as well as afternoon workouts.

“It’s a real blessing having to deal with a whole bunch of lineman,”

Perkins said. “Coach (Jesse) Nuno is going crazy trying to put about 23

defensive linemen through their paces.”

Perkins said his staff has adjusted well to the new environment,

though their Estancia roots still seep to the surface on occasion.

“The only thing that has been a little difficult is, we used to call

one of our linebackers our Eagle ‘backer at Estancia. We’ve changed the

name to Mustang ‘backer, but one of the coaches will slip every once in

awhile and call it the Eagle ‘backer.”

Learning personnel remains an ongoing process for Perkins and his

staff, who meet daily after practice for more than an hour discussing

prospective lineup configurations.

“And we’re still trying to put names with faces,” Perkins said.

“Trying to find the best spots for the kids we have will go on for the

rest of the spring and part of the summer.”

Perkins said players such as Andrew Strickland, who will be a senior,

juniors-to-be Keola Asuega and Andrew Carich, as well as prospective

sophomore Brian Knox, are among those who have already made a big

impression.

Strickland, who started some at quarterback last fall, has converted

to receiver and will also be counted upon in the secondary.

Asuega will be a featured ballcarrier, while Carich will lead a

potentially strong contingent in the trenches.

Knox, who quarterbacked the successful freshman team last season, is

expected to compete with incoming senior transfer A.J. Perkins, who will

come over from Estancia to complete his prep career playing for his

father, the elder Perkins said.

Spring drills will conclude with a seven-on-seven scrimmage, as well

as a lineman competition. Both are set for 6 p.m. June 8.