Wildcats' offense to feature speed, speed and then a little more speed
El Dorado's offensive strength this season is simple - speed, lots of speed. The Wildcats boast scoring threats on the perimeter. How to get the ball into the hands of those scoring threats will be the key to the season.
“Every single year you're going to mold your offense around what you have in your locker room. This year we have some very speedy skill players,” said El Dorado head coach Steven Jones. “We're going to try to find a way to get the ball out in space to those playmakers and turn ‘em loose. So, yeah, I would say the focus has been finding a few extra ways to get the ball into the playmakers' hands. That should be the number one goal.”
Those playmakers include receivers, senior Jackie Washington and junior DeAndra Burns, Jr. Senior quarterback Sharmon Rester will be tasked with getting the ball into the hands of the explosive weapons, while also detonating the offense as a run-pass threat.
Rester, who will replace Louisiana Tech walk-on Eli Shepherd, played receiver and running back in addition to quarterback last season. This year, he will handle the signal calling chores solely.
“Starting quarterback is solidified. We feel good about Sharmon,” said Jones. “He's improved a ton this off-season in accuracy. He's such an explosive player. Jameson Dumas has come along. Right now, he'd be the second guy, our backup. He's a big kid, done a good job and becoming more confident each day. We feel good about those two guys, right now.”
The coach believes the team's rushing attack could be under the radar this season. He hopes the team can move the ball on the ground with some new faces in the backfield.
“With the talented group of receivers we have, I think people are probably going to overlook our run game to start out. We feel pretty confident we'll be able to run the football,” he said. “The way our offensive line is progressing throughout the off-season and the start of fall camp, Shadarrius Plummer and PJ Denkins, I think are going to be a great 1-2 punch at tailback.”
The offense will have weapons galore. Unleashing those missiles will be the job of the Wildcats' offensive line, which will feature three-year starter Devin Walter at left guard.
“The key to our success this season will be the offensive line. I think that group has progressed throughout the spring,” Jones said. “Starting fall camp, we have identified some guys that are going to be pretty good up front. I'm excited about that group.”
Of course, no group promises more excitement than the Wildcats' receivers. No group will draw more attention from defenses than those same receivers. That begs the question, how will El Dorado get the ball into the hands of players opposing defenses have prepared all week to deny?
“As far as pass game goes, we take what the defense gives us and try to get the ball to our playmakers,” Jones said. “If that's a fast screen we have on the edge or taking vertical shots down the field, we have some guys who can go get it. We have a group of receivers who can stretch the field both vertically and horizontally with the screen game. We should be able to get everything working together as far as the pass game goes.”