By ANDREW CRUM, Staff Writer
The changes were evident as Port Isabel began football practices this week.
With a new head coach and a new offensive system being implemented, the Tarpons looked a little different than in past seasons.
Jaime Infante, who had been at the helm at Lyford for the past 15 seasons, has taken over for Monty Stumbaugh, who is now in charge of Hidalgo’s program. Infante brought with him a new offense that is more balanced with equal weight given to passing and running the ball.
Observations of quarterbacks throwing passes to receivers and tight ends during several passing drills, made it clear that a longtime Port Isabel mainstay— Stumbaugh’s run-heavy offense — is in the rearview mirror.
“It’s a learning experience … I got here in April and we installed very little of the offense,” Infante said. “It’s a work in progress. The kids are trying to make an adjustment, there’s a big difference between the offensive philosophy they’ve had the last 16 years and what we’re doing now.”
With a lot of work ahead and little time to do it, Port Isabel’s practices over the first two weeks will be filled heavily with learning Infante’s scheme.
“The emphasis is the install, the fundamentals of the offense,” Infante said. “We’re trying to get the basics of our passing game down, the fundamentals of our run game, the bread and butter foundation of our offense.
“I anticipate us getting better as the year goes on.”
The Tarpons players have welcomed the changes to the offense.
“It’s been good, it will just take time to get it,” junior quarterback Cesar Aguilera said. “It’s exciting though.”
Players were confident that with plenty of repetitions the new offense would soon become familiar.
“It’s a big change, especially when we’re used to something for so long,” senior offensive lineman Isaiah Reyes said. “Its new footwork, new plays … it’s just remembering everything.”
Port Isabel also is also focusing on conditioning and individual work within their positions, trying to get footwork, speed and blocking techniques down pat in the new offense.
The new offense consists of no huddles and constantly running play after play. Infante said his team likes the change from what they’re accustomed to in the past.
“I think they’ve adjusted and they like it,” he said. “They’re excited; it’s different.”
Even though the offense is in a state of transition, the defense will remain similar to last year’s scheme. Infante said it was by design.
“One of the reasons we didn’t change our defensive philosophy because I didn’t want two learning curves going on at the same time,” he said. “Defensively, we’re going to be doing mostly what they’ve done in the past. There are a few wrinkles thrown in, but the foundation is what they’ve been doing.”
While some things have changed at Port Isabel, the goals to win district and play deep into the postseason remain the same, which was evident as the squad donned shirts that read “Honor the tradition.”
But before the Tarpons can start to think about that, they will keep their focus on their new offense.
“Our goal is to be fundamentally sound,” Infante said. “Learn the basics of the offense, try to cut down on errors … if we can do that we’re going to be competitive early on.”
Andrew Crum covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him at (956) 982-6629 or via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @andrewmcrum.