Well we’re within 7 days of “Friday Night Lights,” and no one is as excited as me for the start of the 2010 football season. So much talent, so much experience, with unlimited possibilities on how good this team can be.
I’ll break down the team position by position.
QB:
Nolan Tippy (SR): After two seasons of Varsity experience, Tippy looks to reload for his final season at OV. Nolan has seen a different look for his offense every year, as talent shifted from the exterior, to the interior in his Sophomore and Junior seasons respectively. Now, with a suitable offensive coordination scheme, the talent is equal all across the boards. Look for Tippy to be a much improved passer in terms of reading the defense and in receiver choice. Not only that, but the legitimate threat of him being a weapon in the running game should ease the pressures of a Cover 3, or multiple deep defender set for the passing game. If there was ever a time for him to break out, this would be it.
RB:
Timmy Robinson (JR): Oh boy, where to start? Last year, the coaches decided to forget about their two Senior running backs to take a chance on this sophomore, and Ocean View hasn’t looked back since. From first glance, you can easily tell him apart from the other running backs, Timmy is a physical, hard-nosed runner with deceptive agility and speed. The offensive scheme appears to limit his abilities from an observer’s point of view, but trust me, Timmy is going to be the biggest reason Ocean View wins games this year. Expect another breakout season for the Junior.
WRs:
Blake Walker (SR): Like Tippy, Walker boasts two years of varsity experience, and will look to have that breakout season everyone expects him to have in his senior season. Walker should continue to be a steady, balanced weapon at the exterior of the offense.
Josh Clay (SR): After Clay made his return to football last year, everyone knows who will be making the big catches this year. Clay has unbelievable hands and will be an important virtue to the short, crossing passing game.
Colton Johnson (JR): Colton is what you call a specialty player. He has blinding speed, impressive agility and a great deal of natural football IQ. Colton has the potential to be a real weapon on the interior, as well as in the deep game. I wouldn’t be surprised to see a few plays, like the newly added Jet Sweep, designed for his abilities.
Travis Sparks-Jacson (JR): After a somewhat quiet sophomore season, Sparks looks to take advantage of his remarkable athletic ability on the football field. In a new-age spread offense, you would see Sparks at an “F” or “H” Back spot, a hybrid running back/wide receiver/tight end position. It would be interesting to see Sparks in a similar role in this offense.
OL:
The offensive line is perhaps the cloudiest of the units, with the lack of true experience and natural offensive linemen, the Seahawks will need to fill some of the biggest shoes along the line, perhaps in the last 20 years for OV, with the departure of OV legend Kody Afusia, and another senior Charlie Webb, Juniors Ben Sumner, Tyren Hudson, and as soon as he is cleared, Eric Hernandez will need to step up to help 2 year Varsity starter Michael Congeliere along the front 5.
Michael Congeliere (SR): If there was ever an unsung hero of the team, it would be Mike. This spark plug has dealt with plenty of adversity week in, week out, and has always gone right back into the fire every week, playing every down. Michael has some huge shoes (both physically and metaphorically) to fill with the departure of Kody Afusia, who now is playing football at the University of Hawaii. It should be interesting to see Michael’s development throughout the year at the center position.
The only other senior to return is Jon Graham. Quite literally, no one knows how Jon will react to the pressures of a starting job, both on offense and defense, but questionable or not, Jon is a major part of the puzzle; the team (partially) will go as he does.
Posted by Josh 
Josh
