Squires Aim To Be Smart, Sharp And Smooth
August 17, 2018 at 11:44 a.m.
Squires Aim To Be Smart, Sharp And Smooth
By Aaron [email protected]
The Squires are coming off a long string of struggles; they went 4-6 last season and have not had a winning season since 2009. However, coach Greg Miller (15-36 in five seasons) said they have the tools to succeed this year.
“We have a lot of talent,” Miller said. “It’s just a matter of getting them the ball offensively.”
Miller said that another matter will be good ball management.
“We had some costly turnovers (last year),” Miller said. “We had too many 3-and-outs that didn’t really take a lot of time off the clock.”
Managing the clock will be junior quarterback Devin Marcum, who got some snaps under center last season while filling in for the now-graduated Hayes Sturtsman.
Miller noted that the Squires will miss Sturtsman’s size, but complimented Marcum’s mobility.
“Devin is not as big (as Sturtsman) but probably is more mobile to run the option, and I think he’d like to have the ball in his hand,” Miller said.
Delton Moore will line up at fullback, while Marcum’s receiving targets include senior leader Jackson Mathias, Tyler Andritsch and Trey Clark.
“We’re expecting (Clark) to be the dude out of our receiving core,” Miller said.
Bolstering what Miller called probably the biggest offensive line Manchester has had in his tenure there will be Keegan Shockhome, Bryce Kamphues and Chase Miller.
“We feel our offensive and defensive lines should be a big asset for us,” Miller said. “We’re pretty big up front and we’re hoping that we can control the game that way.”
The Squires have a surplus of defensive linemen. That depth will allow for rest and rotation on the line while new linebackers prove themselves in the absence the graduated Nick Wagner, who led the team in tackles in 2017.
“How our middle level of our defense (is), that’s the unknown for us,” Miller said, while noting Gavin Ream and Mason Meyer as players who might step into Wagner’s cleats.
Manchester lost in the first round of the sectional last year, and Miller is more focused on the immediate development of his players than on long-term goals.
He did mention, however, some accomplishments the team wants to achieve.
“We’re always looking to be over .500, and always want to be able to compete for a conference championship,” Miller said. “We set our goals high and we do what we can to achieve those.”
The Squires open the season with a pair of home games. They host Southwood tonight, and then entertain Bluffton on Aug. 24.
Manchester opens play in the Three Rivers Conference North Division when they travel to Northfield on Sept. 14.
The Squires are coming off a long string of struggles; they went 4-6 last season and have not had a winning season since 2009. However, coach Greg Miller (15-36 in five seasons) said they have the tools to succeed this year.
“We have a lot of talent,” Miller said. “It’s just a matter of getting them the ball offensively.”
Miller said that another matter will be good ball management.
“We had some costly turnovers (last year),” Miller said. “We had too many 3-and-outs that didn’t really take a lot of time off the clock.”
Managing the clock will be junior quarterback Devin Marcum, who got some snaps under center last season while filling in for the now-graduated Hayes Sturtsman.
Miller noted that the Squires will miss Sturtsman’s size, but complimented Marcum’s mobility.
“Devin is not as big (as Sturtsman) but probably is more mobile to run the option, and I think he’d like to have the ball in his hand,” Miller said.
Delton Moore will line up at fullback, while Marcum’s receiving targets include senior leader Jackson Mathias, Tyler Andritsch and Trey Clark.
“We’re expecting (Clark) to be the dude out of our receiving core,” Miller said.
Bolstering what Miller called probably the biggest offensive line Manchester has had in his tenure there will be Keegan Shockhome, Bryce Kamphues and Chase Miller.
“We feel our offensive and defensive lines should be a big asset for us,” Miller said. “We’re pretty big up front and we’re hoping that we can control the game that way.”
The Squires have a surplus of defensive linemen. That depth will allow for rest and rotation on the line while new linebackers prove themselves in the absence the graduated Nick Wagner, who led the team in tackles in 2017.
“How our middle level of our defense (is), that’s the unknown for us,” Miller said, while noting Gavin Ream and Mason Meyer as players who might step into Wagner’s cleats.
Manchester lost in the first round of the sectional last year, and Miller is more focused on the immediate development of his players than on long-term goals.
He did mention, however, some accomplishments the team wants to achieve.
“We’re always looking to be over .500, and always want to be able to compete for a conference championship,” Miller said. “We set our goals high and we do what we can to achieve those.”
The Squires open the season with a pair of home games. They host Southwood tonight, and then entertain Bluffton on Aug. 24.
Manchester opens play in the Three Rivers Conference North Division when they travel to Northfield on Sept. 14.
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