Team optimistic for much improved fall campaign
High school football coaches have long preached the direct correlation between a dedicated off-season workout program and Friday night success, and Cloverdale High Eagles’ players are taking it to heart this summer.
Following a challenging 2016 campaign that included an overall record of 2-8, the Cloverdale coaching staff and players are focused on improvement, putting in the time and effort needed to get better both individually and as a team.
Second year head coach Chad Talley has installed an effective training program, combining twice-a-week weight room work with speed and conditioning drills that figure to have players stronger and more prepared for the season ahead.
The team has taken full advantage of a new weight room which opened in February, and this summer the Eagles have flourished in a seven-on-seven passing league hosted by El Molino, improving skill and consistency on both sides of the ball.
“We tell the kids that you’re either getting better or worse, so the biggest thing for us is putting in the work to improve,” Talley said. “There’s a lot more commitment this year on weight training and we’ve seen a lot of our kids jumping up 40 pounds on their lifts.”
One aspect that should work in Cloverdale’s favor is continuity, overcoming the growing pains associated with the coaching change made prior to last season. Entering his second year at the helm, Talley sees a big improvement with players simply understanding the offensive and defensive schemes.
“In the passing league we got a lot better on offense with our quarterback reads and receivers running routes,” he noted. “On the other side, the kids know the defensive system a lot better now and they realize how simple it really is.”
The Eagles graduated six seniors in June, but will benefit from a strong core of returning players. Among the key returnees are senior quarterback James Wirt, senior running back BJ Grady, senior TE/DE Alex Segobiano, senior wide receiver/quarterback Eli Arreola, senior RB/WR/DB Christian Chavez, junior fullback/linebacker Shane Scalese and junior RB/DB Cesar Buenrostro.
“Our offensive line should be better and we should have more depth this year, especially at the running back position,” Talley predicted. “A lot of the teams we faced last year were bigger and stronger, so we’re working hard to improve in that area.”
The Eagles will begin official practices on August 7 in preparation for the 2017 season opener against visiting Berean Christian on August 25.
