Change is the name of the game in Lynnfield for the football team this fall. Coach Neil Weidman had to look at his offensive depth chart going into the season and see holes at the quarterback, running back and the wide receiver positions.
For a senior-laden team that finished 9-2 last season and 4-2 in the Cape Ann Small conference, patience my be the key in the first couple of weeks of the 2011 regular season that will kick off Saturday against Newburyport.
“It’s going to take us, if we get back to that level, it’s going to take us some time,” said Weidman, who is in his fourth season at the helm. “We have some good players, but they need some more experience. I’m hoping we will be a much better team in the second half of the season.”
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In order to keep the spread offense clicking this season, new starting quarterback Mike Karavetsos will have to continue to improve upon the things he’s done in the offseason, according to his coach.
“He’s done a good job and come a long way,” said Weidman. “He throws a good ball and has the ability to run. We think he will be good in the passing game.”
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Mike Thomas will fill the vacancy at the running back position, while six new bodies will be lined up in the four wide receiver sets that Weidman likes to run out of the spread.
Steve Yobaccio, Dan Ashwell and Alex Pascucci will be called upon to carry most of the load at the wide-out position. John Rogers is in his first year of playing football, and Niko Varano will see some time as well.
Captain Jon Roberto will anchor the offensive line as a guard, and will come off the edge as a defensive end to lead the defense, which also is young at the linebacker position with a unit stock full of underclassmen.
The Pioneers will be playing in the newly formed Cape Ann League/Northeastern Conference division four league and to be a force again this season, Weidman will need a bit of quick learning on the job from his players.
“My biggest expectation is to improve every day and hopefully by the time we get to the league schedule we will have improved enough and gotten enough experience where we will be able to compete in our league games,” said Weidman.
He continued: “I’m pretty optimistic that we will continue to improve. I think we have some good players. They just need the experience. We just have to wait and see.”
