GREG LUCA | STAFF WRITER
MISSION — On the walk off the practice field, through the weight room and into his office that overlooks Tom Landry Stadium, new Mission High coach Koy Detmer greets every player he passes by name.
He’s only been on the job since February — just enough time to start getting settled in and run the team through two weeks of spring practice. In that span, his primary focuses have been installing his system, evaluating talent and getting to know his players on a personal level.
“Some guys maybe are a little more figurehead and oversee the whole thing. I’m more right in the middle of it,” Detmer said. “I want to have my hands in on what’s going on. Getting to know these kids and what they have going on, even outside of football.”
Detmer has had numerous one-on-one meetings with his players in an effort to learn their background and set personal goals.
When he met with quarterback Rudy Treviño and center Sebastian Sanchez, he spoke to them about the leadership role they need to fill as seniors on next year’s squad.
“He’s awesome,” Sanchez said. “He communicates with us. He has a bunch of love for the sport and is just a great coach to learn from because of what he’s done at the pro and collegiate level.”
Given his background as a quarterback at the University of Colorado and with the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles, Detmer has spent the bulk of his practice time working with the team’s quarterbacks.
Detmer said he’ll be calling Mission’s offensive plays from the box this season, just as he did the past four years at Somerset. The Eagles plan to be multiple on that side of the ball, operating mostly under center after working almost exclusively from a shotgun set last season.
“It’s a lot different from the past years that I’ve been here,” Treviño said. “It’s a tough (transition), but I’m just learning.”
Off the bat, Detmer said the biggest hurdle is adjusting the players to new offensive terminology. Detmer is helping Treviño learn how to operate the offense from under center, and offensive coordinator Eric Mannheimer — previously with Brackenridge High — is teaching the offensive line group how to pull after the Eagles rarely used the technique last season.
“Honestly, we’re pretty far along for what I thought we might be,” Detmer said. “I wasn’t sure we would be this far into things, but it’s a credit to the kids. They’ve been focused.”
Defensively, Detmer said he’s turned most of the responsibility over to coordinator Chris Castillo, previously with Medina Valley.
Detmer sees signs of the work former coach Mario Peña put in with the Eagles’ defense last year. He said his group is aggressive and tackles well — attributes that will aid the transition from last year’s 3-3 stack into running multiple fronts.
Linebacker Josue Sanchez said Mission has run a lot of 3-4 to this point, often blitzing with outside linebackers.
“The new coaching staff is very different,” Sanchez said. “Different formations. Different techniques. It’s not the same. We have to get used to it, but we already have, for most of it.”
UNDER CENTER
After taking over the starting quarterback job midway through last season, Treviño is in line to do so again come fall.
He said his biggest strengths as a player are his fundamentals and footwork. He describes himself as a pocket passer most comfortable making short throws, but he’s said he has the ability to be a punishing runner when necessary.
“Rudy has done a real good job in a short amount of time picking up a new system,” Detmer said. “He’s a smart kid, and he’s processing the offense really well for it being a short amount of time. As a quarterback, that goes a long way.”
RISING STAR
Returning all-state honorable mention Steven De Leon highlights Mission’s defense. As a sophomore last season, De Leon racked up 129 total tackles, 19 tackles for loss and 10 sacks.
He was also used occasionally as a running back last year, and Detmer said De Leon is preparing to shoulder another heavy load in 2016.
“He’s definitely been impressive on both sides of the ball,” Detmer said. “You can see on defense, very aggressive kid. Great tools. Great work ethic. He’s strong in the weight room. Strong on the field. Has some real natural instincts for playing the game of football and is a tough kid. He’s a guy that has been impressive, and we look for big things out of him.”
MISSION HIGH
Returning starters (O/D): 4/5
Key Players: LB Steven De Leon, QB Rudy Treviño, RB Robert Martinez, OL Sebastian Sanchez, OL Zeke Gutierrez, LB Josue Sanchez, WR Azahel Arizpe, WR Omar Vera
Biggest Question: Can new coach Koy Detmer and fresh systems on both offense and defense help Mission High get back to the playoffs?
2015 Record: 4-6, 2-4