2004 Record: 8-3; lost regional final playoff game
Basic offensive set: I / spread
Basic defensive set: 4-3
Starters returning: Trent Lomason, sr. (WR/DB), Tyler Dietzel, sr. (OL), Josh Burtch, sr. (OL/DL), John Pavlik, sr. (OL), Tom Mead, sr. (LB), Tyler Leslie, sr. (LB), Kevin Tanner, sr. (DB).
Going their way: Lomason gives the Cards a big-play threat every time he touches the ball. Dietzel, Burtch and Pavlik return to anchor what should be a solid offensive line, while linebackers Mead, Leslie and Buddy Bright should be the strength of the defense. “Lomason is probably the only “big name” person we have,” Zeien says. “But what that’s done is make it a real team concept. Everyone understands they have a role to play, but no one is too concerned about getting their name in the paper.”
Something to prove: Cardinals took heavy losses to graduation on both sides of the ball. “We’re real inexperienced,” Zeien says. “We’re a little behind last year.” W-P won’t be as pass happy as it in previous seasons with Derek Harrison taking the snap; Zeien says with quarterback Judge Groves the Cards will still run the spread offense “maybe 30 percent of the time.”
X-Factor: Zeien says the Cardinals embraced their unfamiliar underdog role and put that motivation to use. “The kids worked very hard since last year and really took advantage of the off-season,” Zeien says. “Our initial goal is always to make the playoffs, since we’re not in a league. If we meet that goal, we can just take it from there.” |
