PA’s Tim Montgomery shines at VWC Team Camp
Denbigh has to limit losing streaks in 2016
by Brandon Mitchell, recruit757
Team: Denbigh (Newport News, VA)
Classification/Conference – 4A/18
– 4-7 (opening round playoff loss to Lake Taylor, 55-14)
Head Coach – Marcellus Harris
Mascot – Patriots (Red, Blue, White)
Does anyone remember how Denbigh started off last season? On August 28, 2015, the Patriots traveled to Booker T. Washington High School to take on the Mighty Bookers. The Patriots were down 18- quarter before erupting for 18 unanswered points. Denbigh was able to win on the road and in overtime on an L.J. Taylor 10-yard scamper into the end zone. Taylor also was named the Buffalo Wild Wings Player of the Week for week one. Denbigh lost their next two games by a combined score of 73-13 before stringing together three straight wins bringing their record to 4-2.
Heading into week seven, only Hampton and Phoebus High School had a better record than Denbigh. Woodside also held a record of 4-2 during the same week. Following their three game winning streak; Denbigh proceeded to lose four straight games before limping into the playoffs. As their season ended with a first round playoff loss to Lake Taylor one thinks, what would’ve happened if the Patriots hadn’t lost four consecutive games? Perhaps their fate may have been different as they might not have drawn Lake Taylor in the first round. The time for dwelling in the past for the Patriots is over. Denbigh returns a talented crop of talent and are looking for a much different ending that’ll contrast last year.
The Patriot offense failed to live up expectations last season/ They fared better than the season before. Denbigh averaged 19 points per game on offense in 2015. The Patriots’ four wins came over teams with a record less than .500. In those four victories, the Patriots averaged 32 points per game. So far the Patriots stand to return five starters from last year’s team and four seniors in total.
L.J. Taylor is out and his replacement is yet to be determined. The backfield will look slightly different this season with Keyshawn Chisholm (SR RB 5-10 160) and Monte Banks (JR RB 5-10 150) getting the majority of the work. Donavyn Johnson, Justin Jeffries and Jordan Williams highlighted the receiver corps heading into last season. This season Kevin Anderson (SO WR 6-1 150) will be relied in just his second season with the Patriots. The offensive line is going to look very different without Shaun Mason battling in the trenches. Coach Harris will add a couple of six-footers to the mix in Kendall Patterson (JR OL 6-2 205) and Eddie Harden (SR OL 6-2 230). Depth will be an area of concern for Coach Harris, but he’s relying on his seniors to lead this offense.
On defense the Patriots weren’t good; but they weren’t bad either. Denbigh allowed 25 points per game on the season which was slightly better than the 2014 season. Slow progress is better than no progress. At the same time, the Patriots allowed 30 points or more on five different occasions last season. Linebacker play was extremely important for Coach Harris last season and he’ll stand to lose a couple of good ones in Gabriel Boyd and Casey Vick.
Ronald Livingston (SR LB 5-10 195) and Shaquan Jones (SR OLB 6-4 190) will be asked to pick up where Boyd and Vick left off. Both are returning as seniors this year; however, Jones has just a little more playing experience than Livingston. With Shaun Mason and Anthony Jefferson moving on, Alex Holiday (JR DE 6-3 205) returns to the defensive line where his leadership is now needed.
Teaunce Collins (SR DB 5-8 175) returns for his senior season as a starter in the secondary. His leadership will also be needed to guide a defense thus far that has only returned three starters. The biggest attribute for the defense this season will be their ability to adjust to multiple sets. This includes looks from multiple looks in-game and from game-to-game. In contrast, depth may present a concern for Coach Harris as the season progresses. Coach Harris is expecting his defense to be fast and physical.
All-in-all, the Patriots will look very different on both sides of the ball. Without a clear starter defined at quarterback early, the Patriots may be slightly behind the power curve. However, they may already have a starter and are keeping him under wraps until the time is right. The Patriots have lost a lot across the offensive line and have appeared to address that concern with size and strength. Although the defense has lost its core in Mason, Boyd, and Vick those three will be replaced with speed and physicality. The front half of Denbigh’s schedule is filled with winnable games. They’ll need these games early to prepare them for a three-game stretch that includes Woodside, Bethel, and Phoebus to end the season.
– Brandon Mitchell
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