SAUL BERRIOS-THOMAS | STAFF WRITER
ALAMO — PSJA Memorial is a team in flux after a depleting offseason. The Wolverines graduate 38 seniors, the most of coach Michael Uribe’s career.
With only six returning starters, spring football is imperative for Memorial, which finished 2-7 last season and went winless in District 31-6A. These precious weeks present an opportunity for Uribe to find out who can fill the void left by seniors.
Uribe, heading into his second year as the program’s coach, said that even with the loss of players to graduation, the 2015 season went a long way toward setting his foundation.
“Where we are losing a lot of ability, we are gaining a cohesive unit,” Uribe said. “Last year, we got here right before spring football and we were trying to get our staff in place, we were trying to teach our system and schemes and we were trying to get to know our kids. Now, through a whole year, we have built better relationships with these young men.”
The biggest loss for Memorial is at the quarterback position, where Michael Gonzalez graduates along with his district-leading 2,168 passing yards.
Stepping into those lofty shoes is incoming sophomore Orlando Munoz, a dual-threat quarterback whom Uribe described as an all-around QB. Munoz says he is spending spring workouts attempting to improve his throwing and ability to read defenses. He plans to use the summer to “get bigger and faster.”
“That’s one of our biggest keys, because everything on our offense runs through our quarterback,” Uribe said.
The Wolverines relied almost exclusively on the passing game in 2015. In nine games, the team gained only 580 yards on the ground to average 64 yards rushing, the lowest marks in 31-6A. The team’s leading rusher Tony Perez totaled a paltry 169 yards.
But Memorial’s pass-heavy ways may get an upgrade in 2016. Uribe hopes to find more balance on offense with a trio of returning senior linemen: Alex Sevino, Jorge Contreras and Tommy Hernandez.
“Our strength on offense is going to be our offensive line,” Uribe said. “The guys that are returning as starters are extremely hard working as a unit. Being around football as long as I have, the key to any great team is always the offensive line.”
Great blocking won’t matter, though, without someone to hit the holes, and Uribe believes the Wolverines do.
Running back Joaquin Sanchez is penciled in as the starting running back as an incoming sophomore, and has fully embraced spring football as a time to improve.
“I have been working really hard. I am trying to get better for next season,” Sanchez said.
NEW-LOOK DEFENSE
The Wolverines’ defense last season worked out of a base Cover 2 scheme, zone coverage with two deep zones and five underneath. That was in large part due to the talent in the secondary, including senior Vicente Rodriguez. The lone returning starter in the secondary is incoming senior safety Isaiah Palomar.
With so much turnover, Uribe thinks the scheme could change a bit.
“Cover 2 is our base, but we have been running a lot of different coverages, even some man — a lot of man.” Uribe said.
One more potential switch on the defensive side involves another returning starter.
“Anthony Escalante was a star last year for us at the mike linebacker,” Uribe said. “We are going to continue playing him at the inside position, but we are probably going to move him to the weak side. He’s a kid with tremendous athletic ability and a motor that doesn’t stop. So he’s one of the young men that we are going to be counting on.”
The incoming junior linebacker is speedy and can put pressure on the quarterback or drop in coverage.
KANE IS ABLE
Incoming senior running back Kane Garcia will be a key to the Wolverines offense. As a senior, he is embracing the leadership role with a young offensive core. Garcia is a smaller “scatback” with the speed to do a lot of different things within the offense. Garcia gives Uribe several options with play-calling and formations.
“Kane Garcia is another young man that is very quick and a hard worker,” Uribe said. “He has a tremendous attitude and a tremendous work ethic. We plan to do a lot of two-back stuff because of Kane.”
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PSJA MEMORIAL WOLVERINES
Returning starters (O/D): 6 (3/3)
Returning lettermen: 12
Key Players: QB Orlando Munoz, RB Joaquin Sanchez, RB Kane Garcia, LB Anthony Escalante, S Isaiah Palomar
Biggest Question: How will the Wolverines deal with large turnover and a young roster?
2015 Record: 2-7, 0-6