Eagles promote diversity

Rick Devereux

In an age when more and more football coaches are making players more

and more specialized -- situational defensive linemen, separate

kickers for kickoffs and field goals, blocking tight ends and

receiving tight ends -- Estancia High coach Craig Fertig will have

none of it.

“My philosophy is that the players should learn every position in

order to appreciate what their teammates are doing,” said Fertig, who

guided the Eagles to a record of 3-7, 1-5 in the Golden West League,

in his first year as the school’s head coach.

To that end, establishing clear starters and backups for the

Eagles can get a little tricky because so many players will be

plugged into so many positions.

One player who will see action in various spots is senior Geo

Macias. Macias will take a lot of pounding on his 5-foot-11,

185-pound frame. He will throw, run, catch, defend, kick and return

the ball for the Eagles. Fertig will use him in so many different

positions, he may not get time to rest.

“The only time I went to see him not on the field is during the

pregame meal with me,” Fertig said.

The most dangerous position at which Estancia can employ Macias

will be tailback in the I-formation. From that position, Macias is

able to run, catch or throw, giving opposing defenses fits trying to

find a way to stop him.

“We’ve got to figure out how to get him the ball because he is so

versatile,” Fertig said.

But Macias will not be the only Eagle flying from position to

position.

Senior Ricky Montgomery could play running back, cornerback,

safety and wide receiver. Dave Moreno has been asked to learn the

responsibilities of safety, linebacker, running back and wide

receiver. And the linemen are jumping from position to position on

both offense and defense. Some are also getting a look at linebacker

in practice.

While team unity might be an altruistic reason for the position

swapping, simple mathematics is another. With 36 players on the

roster, Fertig is forced to make sure everyone knows other positions

in case injuries occur. But the second-year coach has a plan to keep

kids out of the trainer’s room.

“Like I told a kid the other day, I’ll tell you when you’re hurt.

You don’t decide,” Fertig said. “We don’t have that many players, so

everyone is going to have to go 48 minutes.”

The biggest concern for the Eagles will be across the offensive

and defensive line. Some spots are set, such as third-year starter

Ian Morton (6-3, 270) at right tackle, but others are up in the air.

Sophomore Stephen Ruby (6-0, 175) is penciled in at left tackle, but

freshman Connor McKendry (6-3, 230) could be called into action.

“I have reservations [about putting young players at that

position] because offensive tackle is not an easy position,

especially on the blind side of a right-handed quarterback,” Fertig

said. “That’s the hard thing with young linemen. I do have some

reservations. But, what the heck, I got [the quarterbacks] rib

protectors the other day.”

The rib protectors will come in handy not only in games, but in

practice. Fertig doesn’t mind if the quarterbacks -- Ryan Watson,

Nick Cox and Tim Morley -- get hit.

“All three of them are tough guys,” Fertig said. “My quarterbacks

don’t wear red jerseys or green jerseys or yellow jerseys in practice

so they don’t get hit. You’re a football player, and in football, you

get hit.”

The Estancia quarterbacks apparently don’t mind hitting or getting

hit because all three also play on the defensive side of the ball.

Watson, last year’s backup QB to Brad Young, has practiced at

linebacker. Cox, who played tennis the last two years, will see time

at free safety. Morley, a sophomore, could play either linebacker or

safety.

With players expected to play in an almost continuous rotation,

the coaches have been working hard at getting them in shape. The team

runs the hill on Placentia Avenue everyday.

“It’s like boot camp right now,” Fertig said. “That’s what we say

about playing this game: you’ve got to sacrifice.”

The physical conditioning the team gets from the hill is

remarkable, but the biggest benefit may not be physical.

“We’re trying to make our team into a family,” Fertig said. “The

camaraderie of helping the freshmen and sophomores get to the top of

that hill is tremendous. While they’re all whining about it, they’re

all building esprit de corps.”

The military phrase means common spirit of comradeship,

enthusiasm, and devotion to a cause among the members of a group, and

Fertig is trying to build the spirit of togetherness around a strong

work ethic.

“I believe the harder you work, the better you get,” he said.

The players have seen other football players work hard and have

witnessed the benefits.

The last two years, the team has visited USC to watch the Trojans

practice. Fertig, a former quarterback and assistant coach at USC,

said the Eagles learned how to practice more efficiently.

“My guys saw how [USC] runs from drill to drill,” Fertig said.

“There was very little wasted time at that practice. The next day, we

had a practice and our guys were really zipping along.”

Estancia opens its season against Corona del Mar at Newport Harbor

High Friday at 7 p.m.