Barry Faulkner COSTA MESA -- As the...
Barry Faulkner
COSTA MESA -- As the featured weapon -- perhaps target would be a
better word -- in a struggling offense, and with a nose for the ball
on defense, it would not be a stretch to estimate Estancia High
senior Lewis Bradshaw spent about half of last season at the bottom
of the pile.
A look at Bradshaw’s No. 12 jerseys (home and away), brand new to
start 2001 but now hopelessly stained with grass dirt and a few other
shades the weekly struggles under stadium lights produce, would
clearly confirm this hypothesis. Bradshaw himself commented on the
rather dingy state of his game gear when presented with his red home
jersey for a recent preseason photo shoot.
Second-year Estancia coach Jay Noonan would like nothing better
than to diminish the wear and tear on both Bradshaw and his laundry
this fall. But, if that means taking his two-way standout off the
field, Noonan would rather recommend Eagle equipment manager Tony
Cabassa use a fortified detergent and/or a pre-wash liquid-stain
remover.
“Lewis doesn’t want to come off the field and, frankly, I like him
on it, too,” said Noonan, who believes the talented 6-foot-3,
183-pound quarterback and safety has a set of skills so ample, they
could translate into a handful of other positions, as well.
“He would be our best receiver,” said Noonan, who, in other
circumstances, might have tried his college prospect at running back,
tight end, defensive end, linebacker, even the offensive line.
Alas, others will have to man those battle stations for the
Eagles, who, return four starters on offense and four on defense from
last year’s 0-9 unit.
Here’s an early position-by-position review of this year’s
Estancia depth chart:
Quarterback: Though sacked 19 times and buried dozens of others as
the trigger man in the Eagles’ split-back veer option, Bradshaw
managed to not only survive, but sparkle in his first season as a
varsity starter. He completed 77 of 165 pass attempts for 788 yards
and eight touchdowns, while throwing only four interceptions. He also
wound up with 171 rushing yards, despite the aforementioned sacks, on
122 attempts, en route to All-Newport-Mesa honors.
Under the tutelage of new quarterback coach Josh Tribe, Bradshaw
has improved his footwork and mechanics and aims to cash in the
experience he gained last year.
“Lewis understands the game a lot more this year,” said Noonan,
who believes Bradshaw will also benefit from a more experienced
offensive line, which has been well fortified by an offseason
weightlifting program. “He’ll be able to focus more on technique this
year, whereas, last year, he was just trying to do anything he could
back there to survive.”
Bradshaw’s improved passing skills were apparent over the summer,
when he helped the Eagles win the consolation championship of the San
Marcos High passing league tournament.
Brad Young, a junior transfer from Fountain Valley, is the backup
and Noonan said he will give him a taste of game action at some point
in the preleague season.
“Brad will play some this year,” Noonan said. “He could also play
in order for us to use Bradshaw at receiver in some situations.”
Running backs: Bobby Estrada, who played his first two seasons at
Estancia, before spending last year at Saddleback, may end up being
the featured back in league play. But, still recovering from a broken
collarbone sustained during the summer, the 5-8, 180-pound tailback
will likely be held out of the first few games, in order to insure
his health for the more critical league portion of the schedule.
While Estrada heals, junior Kyle Allen (5-7, 170), a transfer from
Newport Harbor, will get the chance to spearhead the running game.
“Bobby is a slasher who is 180 pounds of solid muscle and Kyle has
the ability to run away from tacklers and run over them,” Noonan
said.” Both like contact and both are very quick.”
Junior newcomer Art Harris (5-6, 150) and sophomore Geo Macias
(5-10, 185) are also in the tailback mix.
Macias, the fastest player on the team (4.5 seconds in the 40-yard
dash), was the featured ball carrier on the freshman team last
season. He also saw spot duty on the varsity as a part-time kicker.
The fullback position will be handled by committee. Junior Bubba
Kapko (5-10, 195), a returning starter at inside linebacker, junior
Mater Dei transfer Mike Cahill (6-1, 215) and junior Cullen Crom
(5-11, 185) will all get opportunities to run the dive play.
“When the fullbacks don’t get the ball, they’re hammering someone
as a blocker,” Noonan said.
Receivers: Senior Erik Andersen (6-1, 185), who started last
season at defensive end, and senior Marco Villalvazo, expected to
recover from a torn meniscus that left him on crutches the first day
of pads, should be Bradshaw’s leading receiving targets, while senior
Javy Ramirez (5-9, 155), senior Louis Valdes Jr. (5-8, 140) and
sophomore Dwight Horton (5-10, 150) have also shown the quickness to
get open.
Jason Johnston, an athletic junior expected to shift from
quarterback to receiver, underwent shoulder surgery in the offseason
and is out for the year.
Macias and sophomore Ryan Sanford could also supply depth here.
Tight end: Senior Tim Bates (6-5, 255), who gained 70 pounds after
starting one game at tight end last season, has been shifted to the
offensive line, leaving an opening expected to be filled by 6-4,
225-pound senior newcomer Jermaine Young. A former basketball player
with plenty of athleticism, Young is also expected to start at
defense end.
“He did some very good things in our passing league games,” Noonan
said.
Senior Fabrizio Gutierrez (6-2, 195) and senior Roger Bolanos
(6-1, 195) could also see action here, particularly if the two-way
burden is too much for Young, in his first season of football, to
handle.
“(Gutierrez) has really come out of nowhere and stepped up this
year,” Noonan said.
Bryce McKendry, a 6-3, 195-pound sophomore, also supplies depth.
Offensive line: Senior Matt Morrell (6-3, 265), who earned
second-team all-league recognition at right tackle last season after
transferring from Newport Harbor, will shift to right guard, where he
is expected to anchor a unit Noonan considers one of the team’s
biggest strengths.
Junior Gary Strawn (6-1, 280), who split his nine starts last year
between guard and tackle, will start at left tackle, while senior
Joseph Hernandez (6-0, 250) is the returning starter at center.
Sophomore Ian Morton (6-4, 290), begins work on a bright future as
the projected starter at right tackle, while Senior Sergio Arreola
(6-0, 260) will apply his extreme quickness as the starting left
guard.
“These guys have worked very hard and (no-nonsense offensive line
coach Phil Fogelsong, new to the program) has really done a lot to
shape the identity of this group,” Noonan said.
“If you can’t reclaim territory in the trenches, you’re not going
to win and be successful and we weren’t strong enough up front to do
that last year. But we’ll be much more physical and these guys
average about 270 pounds. They finished third behind Edison and Los
Alamitos in an offensive line competition during the summer and I
think that has done good things for their confidence.”
Noonan believes Morrell may get an opportunity to play at the
college level, which was another reason behind his move from tackle
to guard, since recruiters project him at one of the three inside
positions at the next level.
Junior Gary Jones (6-0, 260), a stalwart on the defensive line,
adds quality depth at guard and center, while senior Guillermo Flores
(6-0, 215), as well as Bates, could contribute at guard or tackle.
Junior Abel Bustos (6-0, 230) is a backup tackle and junior Yousif
Muradian (5-11, 190) could chip in at guard.
Defensive line: Noonan terms Jones a rock at tackle, where he
started eight games as a sophomore, while Jermaine Young is a clear
front-runner at one end spot.
“(Young) is going to be a big-time defensive end,” Noonan
predicts.
The second tackle spot could be filled with a rotation, while
McKendry held a slight early edge over Balanos in a spirited
competition for the other starting nod at end.
Among those who figure into the tackle picture are Bustos, Flores,
junior Landon Pulizzi (6-2, 235), Bates, Arreola, Hernandez and
sophomore Mike Jones (5-11, 250).
Morrell, Gutierrez and senior newcomer Oscar Nieves (5-10, 180)
are expected to back Young up at end.
Linebackers: Kapko, who started eight games last fall, and Cahill
are the projected starting duo inside, while Andersen, who started
six games at end last season, is a front-runner at one outside spot.
Brad Young, junior Mike Softa (6-0, 170), Allen and junior Joey
Marin (5-11, 180) are waging competition at the other end spot,
according to Noonan.
Crom should contribute inside, where returning defensive
coordinator Scott Wilkie may enlist a rotation.
“We’re well stocked at linebacker,” Noonan said.
Sean Harriman, who started five games at outside ‘backer last year
as a sophomore, has returned to Texas to live with his mother, Noonan
said.
Secondary: The search continues for someone to fill the big shoes
left by the graduation of Jermaine Snell, an All-PCL cornerback who
led the Eagles in tackles and shared the team lead with two
interceptions last season.
“You don’t replace a kid like Snell and we don’t have anybody
quite that good this year,” Noonan said.
Noonan considers Villalvazo a good tackler with solid coverage
skills. He will receive competition at cornerback from Valdes,
Ramirez, Macias and junior Kendall Meissner.
Noonan said Andersen could also be shifted to cornerback, if the
need arises.
Bradshaw, the only other returner with an interception (one), will
anchor the secondary at free safety, where Brad Young could provide
depth.
Sophomores David Moreno (5-11, 160) and Alex Sotomayor (5-10, 150)
are additional backups.
Kicking game: Ramirez will handle field goals and conversions,
while Macias will probably kick off.
Bradshaw returns at punter and Kapko is the leading candidate at
long-snapper.
Allen, Estrada, Ramirez, Marin, Horton and junior Omar Montillo
form the group from which the kick returners will emerge.
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