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Changes abound as two-a-days begin
BY ANDREW MAY, Staff Writer
When two-a-day practices got under way last season, Little Elm head football coach Mike Beasley had his spectator cap on. As he figured it, the senior-laden squad was capable of running plays and getting quality repetitions in without much instruction.
Safe to say the program has taken a 180 since then. The Lobos were hit hard by graduation. A new, less experienced group has been ushered in, one that requires Beasley’s undivided attention.
“There is a lot more teaching involved,” he said. “It is a lot different.”
The numbers are up from last season as 42 players currently occupy the varsity locker room. A handful of others have yet to report to practice for various reasons. The amount of athletes that will be forced to start and log heavy minutes on both sides of the ball will probably decrease in relation to last season, according to Beasley. But that is equivalent to taking a pail of sand from the beach.
“We will see what young players can step up for us,” he said.
The Lobos have very little depth on the offensive or defensive line. Returning starters Cuauhtemoc Magana, Aric Rodriguez and Garrett Sullivan will be counted on to stay healthy and battle in both trenches. Rather than spacing them out along the O-line, Beasley will bunch them up in the hopes of creating a gaping running lane.
“We can run behind them against pretty much anybody,” Beasley said. “That is one of our strong points.”
The line and the fact that all-time leading rusher Cole Beasley and Co. have moved on will force a few fundamental changes in the offense. Passing plays were frequently called last season with the idea that Beasley, now a freshman as SMU, could tuck and run if there was daylight. While projected starter Darnell Adams is also capable through the air or on the ground, he doesn’t match Beasley’s elusiveness. Adams, along with senior fullback Patrick Salerno and senior wide receiver turned I-back Christian White, among others, will mostly run between the tackles.
“There is not as much big play capability as in the past,” Mike Beasley said. “We will control the ball, wear defenses down and take longer to score.”
Defensively, the line and linebackers will provide staunch resistance against the run. Beasley is high on defensive end Clifton Murphy, a basketball player with good size and quickness.
At some spots, such as in the secondary, there won’t be as many two-way starters, but rather three guys rotating at two positions.
“We have a lot of guys we are still looking at,” Beasley said.
The Lobos began two-a-day practices Monday with helmets only, but will switch to full pads Friday, a week before scrimmaging former district foe McKinney North on the road.
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