Big plays are a big problem

Rick Devereux

Through the first three games, one thing has been constant for the

Costa Mesa High football team: The defense has contained the

opposition for most of the game, but has lost due to big plays. Going

into Saturday’s matchup against Laguna Beach (2-1), the Mustangs (0-3) face an opponent who lives off of big pays.

“They looked awfully good [last week] against Ocean View,” Baldwin

said. “They give you a lot of formations to defend. They had a

96-yard pass and two runs for big gains. Almost all of their offense

came in big plays.”

That doesn’t bode well for a Mesa defense that was given up scores

of 44, 26, 40,64, 29, 95, 80 and 58 yards this season.

The Mesa offense, which has averaged just over 14 points a game this year, features a running game from Tyler Legg (60 carries, 253

yards, two touchdowns) and Jorge Quiroz (35-106). But the improved

play of junior quarterback Ryan French (27-66-2, 409, two TDs) has

Baldwin thinking about more of an aerial attack.

“I think French is progressing very, very well,” Baldwin said. “I

think he has been very cool under pressure. He has improved with each

game.”

French’s main target is tight end Jeff Waldron, who leads the

Mustangs with 16 receptions for 289 yards and two scores.

“[Against Huntington Beach] we tried to line Waldron in different

positions [to try to get favorable matchups,” Baldwin said. “I’m not

sure one person can cover him. He has good speed and he catches the

ball even when he’s highly covered.”

The Breakers will run an unconventional defense that has two down

linemen, five linebackers and three defensive backs.

“I guess you would call that a 3-5-2, but sometimes they’ll have

six linebackers out there,” Baldwin said. “They bring guys real fast,

blitzing two or three guys practically every time, which confuses the

blocking.”

Baldwin believes the offensive line is ready for the task.

“One positive for us on offense has been our pass blocking,” he

said. “French didn’t come close to getting touched in the last game.”

But no matter how many points the offense puts up, the defense,

and even special teams have allowed big plays that have resulted in

touchdowns for opponents.

“Everybody’s got to do their job, they just haven’t done it,”

Baldwin said. “We had a punt blocked and a punt returned for a

touchdown [against Huntington Beach]. We are our own worst enemies. I

have a lot of respect for the teams we have played, but I don’t think

they were that much better than us. We’ve beaten ourselves.”