Prep football: CdM picks up pace

Barry Faulkner

CORONA DEL MAR - Corona del Mar High football coach Dick Freeman

and his staff believe the hip hop generation could use a little hop in

its step.

So, in response to concerns about starting games slowly the past few

seasons, Freeman has increased the tempo at practice, beginning with

ongoing spring drills.

“One of our biggest problems, has been not coming out real

aggressively,” Freeman said. “Once our guys figure out they’re in a

football game, they usually start playing. But we’re trying to give them

the idea that they need to play that way from the start.”

Freeman hopes a quicker pace in practice, as well as relatively short

90-minute workouts -- three days a week during spring -- will help

instill a sense of urgency that will carry over to the fall.

“We’re hoping it keeps everyone focused,” said Freeman, who has also

captured his players’ attention by installing a new defensive scheme.

“It’s a four-two-five, which is basically a four-four with different

personnel,” he said.

The shift from the four-three traditionally employed by Freeman, also

the Sea Kings’ defensive coordinator, will, he believes, ease adjustments

to various offenses.

“We’re giving it to them in slow doses,” said Freeman, who kicked off

the spring session May 14, the earliest starting date of any Newport-Mesa

school.

Freeman reports strong showings from running backs Mark Cianciulli and

Keith Long, both of whom will be juniors, as well as returning linemen

Steven Russell, Steve Shipman and Adam Dunn, who will all be seniors.

Long, a star for the freshman team in 1999, took last year off to

concentrate on baseball, where he has started at shortstop for the

varsity the last two springs.

Freeman also reports Dylan Hendy, who will be a senior and the

returning starter at quarterback, has made progress. Freeman said

Jonathan Hubbard and Bart Welch, both of whom will be juniors next fall,

are also competing at the quarterback position.

Freeman said there are about 50 players on the varsity roster, but

only 40 have shown up consistently this spring.

“The turnout has been pretty bleak,” he said. “We might end up being

the dirty 30, so we won’t have a lot of people running on and off the

field.”

Freeman said the low numbers will likely create a lack of depth,

particularly on the offensive and defensive lines.

Freeman’s staff is also a little thinner, with the loss of former

defensive line assistant Mike Van der Weerd, as well as part-time

assistant Mike Freeman.

“We’re hoping we can replace (Van der Weerd),” said Freeman, who has

had discussions with at least one prospective candidate.

Matt Encinias, who had transferred from Newport Harbor, where he

returned kickoffs for the Sailors as a freshman in last fall’s CIF

playoffs, has returned to Newport Harbor, Freeman said.