CCA chasing big goals in 2018
September 6, 2018
Tigers want to prove the experts right in 2018
September 6, 2018
Vandebilt Catholic football coach Jeremy Atwell sees a lot of familiar faces walking around his locker room this fall.
That’s a pretty darned good problem for a team that’s won 15 games combined in the past two seasons to have.
The Terriers have a wealth of experience in 2018 — a strength in numbers that coaches hope pushes the team deep into the Division II Playoff chase.
Atwell said the Terriers have had a good offseason and a promising start to camp. He added that while there’s a lot of work to be done yet, this could be one of the better Vandebilt teams that the school has produced in a while.
“Excited is really just not the word,” Atwell said. “It’s bigger than that. We really like these kids and the things that they’re doing — really both on and off the field. We have a lot of experience back on both sides of the ball and I think we’re doing the right things to put ourselves in a great position.”
Offensively, the Terriers are hoping that renewed health will play into the team’s chances.
Vandebilt will have to replace both pieces of its one-two halfback punch with both Brennan Rogers and Michael LeCompte gone to graduation.
But Atwell said a lesser-known is in line to have a great season to pickup the pieces.
The coach heavily sung the praises of senior halfback Drew Rios, who missed significant time last year with an injury, but who has gotten noticeably bigger, faster and stronger in the past year.
In the team’s scrimmage against Berwick, Rios had several nice runs.
Atwell said the team is counting on many more of those on Friday nights this fall, adding that the athlete can also play spot duty at quarterback at time for some direct-snap action the Terriers have in their arsenal.
“He’s going to be that lead back this year for us — the guy getting the heaviest work load,” Atwell said. “And we feel confident handing him the ball and putting that much responsibility on him because of the type of player he is. He’s gotten bigger. He’s stronger. He’s shifty. Drew is just a tough Bayou Boy and he is an all-around great kid.”
On the edges, the return of Brennan Patterson has Terriers excited. Patterson was electric last fall before going down with an injury in midseason.
Vandebilt also will rely on Cruz Theriot, JaCorey Wells and others on the edges — all gifted playmakers who will easy senior quarterback Emile Armand into the lineup.
Armand figures to be in the mix at quarterback for Vandebilt after two-year starter Andrew Robison transferred to Hahnville when the family moved out of the Houma area because Robison’s father, Drew Robison, was removed as Vandebilt’s boys’ basketball coach.
Atwell said he’s excited about all of Vandebilt’s quarterbacks. He also listed Patterson as another guy who can take a direct snap out of the shotgun, if needed.
“Having Brennan back just gives us a new dynamic in every phase — offense, defense and special teams,” Atwell said. “He’s just a guy who has the ability to always give us a big, positive play.”
Defensively, Vandebilt has luxuries a lot of local coaches would love to have.
Of course, Patterson’s return means that the Terriers have a versatile playmaker who can secure an entire side of the field in the passing game.
But the middle of the defense is in good hands, too, with linebacker Chandler Rhodes returning fresh off a 100+ tackle season.
Linebacker C.J. Detillier may miss some time early in the season after suffering a concussion in the team’s scrimmage with Berwick, but he is expected to be in the mix defensively, as well.
Atwell is a defensive guy by trade, having served as a defensive coordinator at the collegiate level.
But now, he calls Vandebilt’s offensive plays. He said he sometimes reverts back to his roots when watching this defensive group practice.
“There are times when they just show great hustle or run to the football or make just a really athletic play and I want to run across the field and then I realize, ‘Wait a minute. That was a play that I called that they just busted up,’” Atwell said with a laugh. “That unit is tough and hard-nosed. We’re excited about the things they can do as a team this fall.”
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