Adding new wrinkles
Panthers still a running team, but offense will be more diverse
The visitor to an Oswego preseason practice saw it, but he had to rub his eyes before believing it.
Sure enough, coach Dave Keely's offense was lined up in a formation featuring four wide receivers, two split to the left, two to the right. And a few plays later, three receivers came out wide to the left and one went right.
(Terence Guider-Shaw/For The Beacon News)
All this week, the Beacon News satisfies your prep football appetite with our 2009 team previews.
Sunday: Sandwich, Plano, Mooseheart
Monday: Aurora Christian, Aurora Central Catholic, Marmion Academy
Tuesday: Geneva, Batavia, Yorkville, Kaneland
Today: Oswego, Oswego East
Thursday: East Aurora, West Aurora, Waubonsie Valley
This from the coach who ran defenses ragged the previous season with a power running attack that accounted for more than 2,800 rushing yards?
Apparently Keely isn't kidding when he says his offense will be more diversified under sophomore quarterback Ryan West.
"I think we have to be," said the veteran coach, who insists every year is different.
This team has "more overall speed," he noted.
And, he has to rebuild an offensive line that returns just one starter in senior Colin Seibert, although senior Mike Greenwood has seen enough playing time over the past two seasons to be considered a returning starter.
Linemen Mike Wulff (Ferris State) and 6-foot-7 Jordan Jeffries (Marshall) are two of nine Panthers from last year's Oswego team who have moved on to play at the next level.
"We're fortunate to have a lot of kids, good kids, who want to go on and keep playing," said Keely, noting that the work ethic has carried over from last year's group to this year's.
"We have some big shoes to fill but we're still gonna line up and come right at you," he said. "We're still a Power-I team, but with a different type of quarterback we'll be able to do some things."
In the process, Oswego will be shooting for its eighth straight playoff appearance and 21st in 23 seasons. This is its third season under Keely, a longtime assistant in the program before that.
The youngster at QB saw varsity action in basketball late last season alongside Seibert during the Panthers' run to the state final.
"(West) has really matured this summer," Seibert said. "At first, he was quiet but he's getting more comfortable.
"He may feel overwhelmed at game time (of the opener) but he'll be OK. He's telling the senior receivers what to do so that they're on the same page. And being QB, he has to be a leader."
West should be comforted when he lines up to take that first snap and looks to his right.
There, next to junior center Clay Boese, will be the 6-foot-4 Seibert at guard and 6-4 Greenwood at tackle. Seibert, who is pushing 260 pounds, has moved from left tackle.
"I've practiced it all summer," said Seibert. "There's a little more responsibility because the guards have to go out to the linebackers more and have to deal with double teaming."
Greenwood checks in at 250. He saw plenty of backup action last year and also played some D-line and was the team's "score back," which is the lead blocking back in short-yardage situations.
Together, they give the Panthers "a formidable combination," Keely said.
Seniors Ethan Szembruch, Jordan Frieders and Steve Sinnott are the leading candidates to fill in the spots on the left side of the line.
"We've got some pretty good juniors, too," Greenwood said. "I think we should be fine if we keep playing hard and keep getting better."
The program "keeps reloading," added Seibert.
He chuckled when asked about the four-wide receiver sets.
"Every year (Keely) puts more of the spread offense in," Seibert said. "But he's still thinking run."
Holy Toledo. The two (running and passing) do go hand in hand in that offense, even though the passing game garners most of the attention.
Keely was quick to echo the theme.
"We still can run out of those (formations)," he said.
And likely will.
