HSFB and others,
Here's an update on the Rams for the 2021 season. This may sound crazy but I think its a rebuild, reload and compete for championship again kind of team.
First, I think they lose the deepest senior class they have ever had in terms of numbers and depth of talent. On defense they lose the best defensive lineman (Jackson) and best LB (Miller) in school history. On offense they lose the best WR (Jochem) in school history along with a kid who at any other school would be the best QB in school history (Spencer) along with a G5 level OL (Hayes). So, that's a lot to replace. Overall 8 seniors started on both offense and defense.
Other big changes are in the coaching ranks. Coach K is rumored to have chance to go to Pitt as a LB Coach. Three other coaches have kids that played (Miller, Jochem, Neff) and may also stop coaching. If that happens, I have some thoughts on who could takeover.
After talking to a ton of people since the end of the season, here's my best guess at who's going to get first crack at positions. Defense first:
DE: Lenz 6'3" 240 SR - Returning starter and very good. Playing opposite Jackson, teams targeted him but he did well. Needs to step up and be dominent.
DL: Domer 6'3" 270 SR - Returning starter, all-conference and 5A all state player.
DL: Kerns: 6' 240 JR - Started at center but will have to go both ways. Likely a rotation player
DE: Klemm - more of an offensive lineman. See below
LB: Hasley, 6'2 210 SR - D1 LB. Best player on team. Will need to be a force
LB: Heckert. 5'10 200 JR - Played on their 3rd down package. Needs to find a home somewhere.
LB: Ansell / ?: I don't know anything about this kid.
S: Eastburn, 5'9 180 SR - A better offensive player but did get a lot of time at S as Jochem's backup.
S: Palmary, 5'9 180 JR - Am told he is best overall football player in the JR class. Also competing for starting QB job
CB: Gochis - will have to go two ways at this point.
CB: ?
Offense:
T: Jalen Klem, 6'4 250 SR - Transferred this past year to P-R. Was a QB. Son of Steelers Assistant OL coach. Raw but talented.
T: Beam, 6'4 270 JR - Played a lot this past year in sub packages. Potential D1 OL.
G: Domer, 6'3 270, SR - Will be playing both ways
G: Cory, 6'2 250 SO - Never heard of this kid but coaches speak very highly of him. D1 talent
C: Kerns, 6' 240 JR - Was first team 5A All state. Very very good player.
QB: Boyd 6' 180 SR - Great arm talent but lacks experience. Palmary also in contention.
RB: Eastburnn 5'9 180 SR - Was all conference as utility player. Needs to step up
RB/WR: Hasley - They used him as RB in state championship game. Look for him to see a lot of carries in big game.
WR: Gochis 6'3 190 SR - Returning starter. Needs to step up and be primary target
WR: Mellis 5'8" 170 JR - Played sparingly. Small but quick. Will take Jochem's spot.
WR: Wells 5'11 170 SR - This could be anyone. Wells will get first crack
FB/HS: Rottinghaus 6'1 200 JR - Another question mark position.
Bottom line - even with the turnover, people around here think that they should be the #1 team in WPIAL 5A and maybe in the state. Penn-Trafford and Woodland Hills is probably best competition. Look for Penn Hills to be better with a really good QB coming back. Peters, USC, SF will all be significantly worse than this past year with USC being the best of the 3. (Contrary to what people thought, they weren't close to being championship level teams.) Moon is building a program and brings toughness that the other teams in their conference don't. Gateway returns QB and good DB/WR, but they lose a ton of seniors.
Right now, I would rank teams:
1. P-R: They have best player in 5A with Hasley and best coaching staff. Need to find a QB though. That's what makes them go.
2. P-T: Yacamelli is very good RB and its the second best coaching staff in WPIAL 5A
3. Woody: Athletic QB and some skill, but need to make plays in big moments. Haven't beaten anybody.
4. Penn Hills: Will always be good on D, but QB needs to get better and carry the team.
5. Moon: Tough and physical but not sure they have any play makers
6. USC: Decent LB and WRs returning, but need to improve physically to compete with P-R and P-T.
IMO, the WPIAL Winner will likely play Governor Mifflin? (can anyone in 5A D3 stop their RB) and then either ECP or Imhotep in the state finals.
Here's an update on the Rams for the 2021 season. This may sound crazy but I think its a rebuild, reload and compete for championship again kind of team.
First, I think they lose the deepest senior class they have ever had in terms of numbers and depth of talent. On defense they lose the best defensive lineman (Jackson) and best LB (Miller) in school history. On offense they lose the best WR (Jochem) in school history along with a kid who at any other school would be the best QB in school history (Spencer) along with a G5 level OL (Hayes). So, that's a lot to replace. Overall 8 seniors started on both offense and defense.
Other big changes are in the coaching ranks. Coach K is rumored to have chance to go to Pitt as a LB Coach. Three other coaches have kids that played (Miller, Jochem, Neff) and may also stop coaching. If that happens, I have some thoughts on who could takeover.
After talking to a ton of people since the end of the season, here's my best guess at who's going to get first crack at positions. Defense first:
DE: Lenz 6'3" 240 SR - Returning starter and very good. Playing opposite Jackson, teams targeted him but he did well. Needs to step up and be dominent.
DL: Domer 6'3" 270 SR - Returning starter, all-conference and 5A all state player.
DL: Kerns: 6' 240 JR - Started at center but will have to go both ways. Likely a rotation player
DE: Klemm - more of an offensive lineman. See below
LB: Hasley, 6'2 210 SR - D1 LB. Best player on team. Will need to be a force
LB: Heckert. 5'10 200 JR - Played on their 3rd down package. Needs to find a home somewhere.
LB: Ansell / ?: I don't know anything about this kid.
S: Eastburn, 5'9 180 SR - A better offensive player but did get a lot of time at S as Jochem's backup.
S: Palmary, 5'9 180 JR - Am told he is best overall football player in the JR class. Also competing for starting QB job
CB: Gochis - will have to go two ways at this point.
CB: ?
Offense:
T: Jalen Klem, 6'4 250 SR - Transferred this past year to P-R. Was a QB. Son of Steelers Assistant OL coach. Raw but talented.
T: Beam, 6'4 270 JR - Played a lot this past year in sub packages. Potential D1 OL.
G: Domer, 6'3 270, SR - Will be playing both ways
G: Cory, 6'2 250 SO - Never heard of this kid but coaches speak very highly of him. D1 talent
C: Kerns, 6' 240 JR - Was first team 5A All state. Very very good player.
QB: Boyd 6' 180 SR - Great arm talent but lacks experience. Palmary also in contention.
RB: Eastburnn 5'9 180 SR - Was all conference as utility player. Needs to step up
RB/WR: Hasley - They used him as RB in state championship game. Look for him to see a lot of carries in big game.
WR: Gochis 6'3 190 SR - Returning starter. Needs to step up and be primary target
WR: Mellis 5'8" 170 JR - Played sparingly. Small but quick. Will take Jochem's spot.
WR: Wells 5'11 170 SR - This could be anyone. Wells will get first crack
FB/HS: Rottinghaus 6'1 200 JR - Another question mark position.
Bottom line - even with the turnover, people around here think that they should be the #1 team in WPIAL 5A and maybe in the state. Penn-Trafford and Woodland Hills is probably best competition. Look for Penn Hills to be better with a really good QB coming back. Peters, USC, SF will all be significantly worse than this past year with USC being the best of the 3. (Contrary to what people thought, they weren't close to being championship level teams.) Moon is building a program and brings toughness that the other teams in their conference don't. Gateway returns QB and good DB/WR, but they lose a ton of seniors.
Right now, I would rank teams:
1. P-R: They have best player in 5A with Hasley and best coaching staff. Need to find a QB though. That's what makes them go.
2. P-T: Yacamelli is very good RB and its the second best coaching staff in WPIAL 5A
3. Woody: Athletic QB and some skill, but need to make plays in big moments. Haven't beaten anybody.
4. Penn Hills: Will always be good on D, but QB needs to get better and carry the team.
5. Moon: Tough and physical but not sure they have any play makers
6. USC: Decent LB and WRs returning, but need to improve physically to compete with P-R and P-T.
IMO, the WPIAL Winner will likely play Governor Mifflin? (can anyone in 5A D3 stop their RB) and then either ECP or Imhotep in the state finals.