By MARIO AGUIRRE | STAFF WRITER
LA VILLA — La Villa doesn’t have the luxury of time this season. Not when small schools — like the District 16-2A, Division I program — aren’t permitted spring ball. And certainly not when its head coach was hired in late May.
So, Shawn Alvarez, who was previously the defensive coordinator at George West, is trying to expedite the learning process. One way of doing that: keeping the slot-T offense that former head coach Joe Salinas had in place the past two seasons.
“I really do feel the sense of urgency,” the first-time coach said. So by keeping the same offense, “It’s really making the transition and the flow coming in much better.”
Alvarez didn’t fill out his staff until late June, at which point he hired Baldo Peña, the former Valley View head coach, to coordinate the offense. For six weeks, about 15-25 players showed up for strength and conditioning. And when two-a-days started last week, the Cardinals had 30 players suit up.
The spike in participation — La Villa had 22 players last year — is a welcome sign for a team that went 3-7 after significant departures. And with 13 seniors in the fold now, the Cardinals are looking to channel signs of the group that went 8-3 just two seasons ago.
“Last year, we were limited,” said senior Joey Espericueta, a three-year letterman. “This year, we actually have a good, solid scout team to run against the defense, and a good defense to run against our main offense. We have a lot of players to practice, and now we don’t have as many people going both ways.”
This year, Espericueta anticipates only having to play defensive tackle every other series, allowing him to stay fresh for his primary position, center.
Between that and returning 15 starters, life has been a little easier on La Villa’s big front line.
“That’s the good thing,” he said, “because we know all the schemes, the blocking. And we have good running backs in the field, so we just have to get them open.”
“I’ve been through three coaching changes in the last four years,” Espericueta added, “and it’s different with coaches each time. But (Alvarez), he’s running the same thing that we’re used to, so that’s going to help. We just have to fix the little things.”
TAKING INITIATIVE
Since the start of summer, Ramiro Cantu has taken an active role in being a leader. He regularly showed up in the weight room, offering advice to teammates ranging from upperclassmen to incoming junior high students.
His motivation? Avoiding the pitfalls of last season.
“We’re giving it 110 percent so we don’t have to relive that,” Cantu said. “It was very disappointing; not very fun. So we’re hoping it’s not like that again.”
Cantu figures to play a central role in La Villa’s rushing attack, once again. An all-district selection last year, Cantu has been described as “the base” of Alvarez’s push this year to develop more leaders within the team.
EARLY CHALLENGES
From the outset, La Villa expects to be challenged, facing Lyford, Taft, Brownsville St. Joseph’s Academy, Santa Rosa and Bruni — mostly schools with a larger enrollment than the Cardinals. And in Bruni’s case, it returns 22 starters from a team that went to the fourth round of the playoffs.
“Who knows what the scoreboard is going to look like Weeks 1-5?” Alvarez said. “But as long as we’re progressively getting better, we’re happy because the scoreboard does matter against Three Rivers.”
La Villa will face its former coach, Salinas, when it hosts Three Rivers in both teams’ district opener Oct. 9. Salinas coached La Villa from 2006-07 and 2013-14, never winning fewer than seven games, until last season.
NEW DEFENSE
While the offense remains relatively the same, Alvarez is introducing a split defense. He said he’s taking it “very slow” during two-a-days, and doesn’t expect his players to master it immediately.
The front six, however, has been a bright spot. Ramsey Cantu and Rodney Cantu, both of whom are also on the offensive line, lead that unit. And Noah Ramirez has made an impression at defensive end.
“We should be good this year,” Espericueta said.
LA VILLA’S PROGNOSIS
La Villa should stay in ball games with a larger roster and familiar offense, but plenty will hinge on how quickly its players learn a new defense.
Projected 2015 Record: 3-7.
TENURE
Coach: Shawn Alvarez
Year at school: 1st
Record at La Villa: 0-0
=======================
Check out more stories from The Monitor’s 16-day Two-A-Day Tour: