BY GREG LUCA | STAFF WRITER
McALLEN — When McAllen Rowe coach Paul Reyes looks at his roster, he sees a group of players fit for a very specific style of defense.
They may not have track speed, but they have football speed. And maybe they aren’t built to grind it out in the trenches, but they’re quick and agile enough to cause problems for offenses.
With former defensive line coach Noel Valero stepping into the defensive coordinator position after Mike Uribe left to take the head coaching position at PSJA Memorial, Rowe is using the spring practice season to execute a defensive overhaul.
“We’re starting completely fresh, because it’s a new defense,” linebacker Aaron Ramirez said. “It’s different, but I can see the potential if we put in the work to change it up.”
After finishing sixth in District 30-6A last year by allowing 364.2 yards per game — a big reason the team went 3-7 and missed the playoffs — Rowe is moving from a 3-4 to a 4-3.
Reyes said the team returns just one player on the defensive line, but the Warriors have been able to slide linebackers down, and Reyes is confident in the players coming up from junior varsity.
“They’re not strong to take a lineman on all game straight up, but we have guys who can fit in gaps and put some pressure and be quick on their feet,” Reyes said. “Maybe we can cause a little bit of havoc on the offensive side.”
The defense returns six starters, and the team believes the strength will be the linebacker group.
Ramirez, who tied for the team lead with 66 tackles last season, brings the ability to create mismatches because of his speed and strength, Reyes said.
Josh Holley also returns at linebacker after missing part of last season due to injury.
“Our linebackers right now are pretty stacked, because they know the game,” Ramirez said. “It’s not just that we have the ability, we know the game. So we’re pretty strong in that area.”
Jose Barrera, Rowe’s other leading tackler last season, headlines the secondary. Reyes called him a quick player who has a good feel for the game.
Barrera expects the latter will be a strength for the entire defense, given last year’s experience.
“Now that we’ve played together, the chemistry is there,” Barrera said. “We know where they’re at and where we need them to be. We can adjust.”
Quarterback and wide receiver Hector Bosquez is already seeing a big difference.
“Our defense is much more aggressive than last year,” Bosquez said. “We have a lot more speed. We have a lot more guys who can make plays.”
QUARTERBACKS
Bosquez was the district’s leading passer through six weeks last season, but by the end of the year John Perez had taken over the full-time job. Perez finished atop the district with 1,653 passing yards.
Heading into the 2015 season, Reyes said Perez will be the starter.
Reyes cited Perez’s intelligence as his biggest strength. He misses the team’s daily athletic period due to a class conflict, but is smart enough to catch up quickly during the after-school sessions.
The arrangement also allows Bosquez to take reps at quarterback during athletic period. Then, during the afternoon workouts, he can rep at wideout.
“To me, it doesn’t really matter where I play,” Bosquez said. “I care more about the team.”
OFFENSIVE LINE
Rowe was forced to experiment last season to try to find answers on the offensive line, but the team enters this spring with greater stability.
After settling on a group for the final three games of last season, four of those players are returning for 2015.
“They might be in different spots, but at least they’ve had some experience now,” Reyes said. “They know what we’re looking for. They know what they need to do.”
McALLEN ROWE
Returning Starters (offense/defense): 7/6
Returning Lettermen: 24
Key Players: QB John Perez, QB/WR Hector Bosquez, WR Joseph Moreno, RB Jose Chavez, DB Jose Barrera, LB Aaron Ramirez
Biggest question mark: Will a new defense produce better results?
2014 record: 3-7