2017 Team Preview – Notre Dame Green Pond Crusaders (11)

Written by: David Mika on Wednesday, July 19th, 2017. Follow David Mika on Twitter.

Head Coach: Philip Stambaugh

Assistant Coaches: Anthony Casciano, Jordon Hildabrant, Rob Irving, Scott Ransom, Scott Vaughn, Tom Campanaro, Tom Cooper, Lloyd Brooks, Marty Nesbitt, Dan Catino, Mike Kaulius, Mike Corpora, Greg Gabrielli

Team Name: Notre Dame Green Pond Crusaders

2016 Record: 12-3, 8-2 Colonial League

2017 Schedule:

Key Starters Lost: (11) Jalen Simpson, Mitch Daniel, Jon Moran, Christian Candelaria, Timmy Costantino, Austin Kaulius, EJ Medina, Matt DeBerardinis, Jack Nesbitt, Ryan Young, Tommy Weber

Offensive Starters Returning: (5) Jr., QB Cole DeFranco, 6-0, 190, Jr., RB/WR Isaiah Dejesus, 5-9, 175, So., OL Andrew Stackhouse, 6-2, 260, Sr., OL Mikey DeGaetano, 5-11, 240, Jr., OL Jack O’Hagan, 5-11, 190

Defensive Starters Returning: (6) Sr., DL/LB Mikey DeGaetano, 5-11, 240, Jr., LB Isaiah Dejesus, 5-9, 175, Sr., LB Sammy Viera, 6-1, 205, Sr., DB Josh Clark, 5-8, 185, Sr., DB Brandon Clark, 6-0, 175, Jr., LB Jake Gillen 5-8, 170

Special Team Starters Returning: (2) Sr., K Tucker Eighmy, 6-2, 200, Jr., K Alex Garrido 5-11, 185

Key Newcomers: (14) Sr., WR Danny O’Hare, 6-1, 175, Sr., RB Gerald Grube, 5-10, 195, So., DB-RB Ben Carlin, 5-8, 155, Jr., OL Connor McFadden, 5-10, 185, Jr., OL/LB Phil Caiazzo, 5-10, 180, So., LB Andy Matisz, 6-0, 190, So., WR Kobe Smith, 5-8, 155, Sr., DB/LB Kyshaun Myers, 6-1, 185, Sr., DB Kohlby Moyer, 5-8, 155, Sr., DL Drummond Thompson, 5-11, 240, Sr., DL Bobby Fiedler, 6-5, 225, Jr., RB Joey Cerar, 5-10, 195, So., QB/WR Andrew Darno, 5-11, 170, Jr., WR Jake Stubits, 5-9, 170

Key Stats: Last Season (2016)
Offense produced 5,453 yds. & 70 TDs
Defense produced 94 Tackles for Loss, 32 Sacks, 105 Hurries, 21 INTs & 14 Fumbles Recovered
Special Teams produced 25 Touchbacks, 35.0 Punt Avg., 6/11 FGs, 61/67 PATs & 1,083 Return Yards

2017 Offensive Outlook: Offense is replacing some very key weapons for this upcoming season. We feel good about the kids filling in those spots. Our QB & RBs have experience and our WRs have playing experience mainly on the defensive side of the ball. Upfront we have 3 players who started for us returning to anchor the OL. We had talent on our JV level last year and some of those players will contribute in many roles offensively for us in 2017.

Keys to success will be more overall speed on the field in 2017 and it will be a matter of how quickly our WR group can develop. We like to use a number of guys on offense in different packages so it will be important that we execute with all those groups.

2017 Defensive Outlook: Defensively we return key guys especially at LB. We feel very good about the LB group and having those guys play multiple spots for us in the defensive interior and secondary. We have DBs with good game experience and playing a multitude of guys in 2016 will pay off for us again in 2017.

Key to success are stopping the run and getting teams off the field on 3rd down. We want to continue to utilize our depth as well to help us in the post-season. We will have challenges throughout the schedule so we plan to use a larger group of players on defense to keep us fresh.

2017 Special Teams Outlook: We return both kickers from 2016. Both had excellent years for us and we expect them only to get better in 2017 because last year was their first year playing football. Our punter graduated so we will need to fill that position this off-season.

Key to a successful year is utilizing role-players to aid our team depth and contribute in a big way on special teams. Our kicking game has to continue to be strong.

 

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