By DAVE WOODALL
Slidell sports writer
SLIDELL – Things are beginning to take shape at Salmen High School as its football team continues to evolve into a product that will be competitive in the very tough District 8-4A.
“It’s been a typical summer,” said Spartan head coach Jerry Leonard. “It’s hot and we are trying to get everyone a little stronger, a little bigger and in better shape for the upcoming season.”
When asked about which side of the ball has progressed the most so far this pre-season Leonard’s answer was swift.
“That’s the ‘Catch-22’ of our situation. We haven’t really put together an offense or defense because we have a bunch of kids that play both ways for us. But I think the linemen we have, even though they are a small group, have come a long way and have made some good progress. We are still looking for some skilled kids to emerge who we can count on Friday nights. The clock is ticking so they need to step up.”
One of the pluses for Salmen is the fact that they are a young team.
“We are a young team but we are going into this season with more experience than last year because we had to play so many of our young guys. Granted, most of our big play makers will be seniors but as a whole we will be relying on the younger players to be involved.”
On the offensive side, the Spartan’s return a number of outstanding players. Robert Hayes is one of the top athletes who will be handling wide receiver duties as well as defensive back chores. James Lambert is a returning wide receiver while Wallace Duplessis, Johnny Lowery and Ephrem Williamson return as running backs. Douglas Marquez will play wide receiver and running back roles. Rounding out the returning offensive starters are linemen Patrick Price, Alex Hughes and Markus McDaniel.
The quarterback position is still up for grabs with the competition being between Hayes and L.J. Leonard.
“It’s still too early to tell who will be the starter. We will have a better idea after our scrimmage with Destrehan (August 21) and the Jamboree at Chalmette (28 August).”
Returning on defense, McDaniel will double as a defensive lineman along with Michael Young, Jalil Robinson, Dylan Cross and Austin Pohlmann will operate at linebackers. Jeremy Hudson and De’ryk Marigny will also see extensive action on defense.
“Our offensive scheme will be to mix it up as best we can,” said Leonard. “We will try to play to the strength of our offensive line whatever that might be. We got a better nucleus of skilled guys on the line than we‘ve had the last several years as a group. Maybe we will be able to throw the football around more this year but that remains to be seen. We feel like our receiving group is pretty solid with a lot of speed. But can we get the ball to them and give the quarterback the time in the pocket to throw. We won’t know that until we get into a real game situation.”
The Spartans will run multiple looks on defense and will adjust to the game situations. The defensive secondary is still a work in progress. Hayes, De’shaun Short, Eddie Smith and Aaron Rouzan are competing for the spots.
On special teams Smith and Leonard will handle the kicking duties with the placekicker spot still up for grabs. Both double as soccer players so they possess not only good legs but accuracy as well.
Leonard summarized the season so far saying, “Right now it’s a numbers game. We need more bodies to keep us from having to play our kids both ways and to establish some depth.”
He also predicted that the team to beat in District 8-4A will be Franklinton which will be Salmen’s opening district game midway through the season.