Finding depth

Published 2:00 pm Wednesday, May 18, 2011

The Catholic High football team had only a limited time to learn a new system under then-newly hired head coach Keith Menard last spring.

Now that he’s had a year to work with the Panthers, Menard and his staff are concentrating on finding depth, and coming up with an offensive identity in his second spring work with the team.

“There’s no doubt with all the kids returning, you always try to build on what you did,” said Menard. “But right now we’re concentrating on finding depth. We’ve got more kids out now. We have some kids that want to be out here.”

CHS has 76 players out this spring, an increase of about 25 over last year at the same time, said Menard. A couple of things factor into the increase, the coach believes, starting with the players themselves being excited and talking about the team in the halls.

“I’ve always said your players are your best recruiters,” Menard said. “Also, I think having (grades) 4-12 (in the school), with coaches at the junior high level talking about the program, helps.”

And the players are excited to get some work done in pads. CHS has 10 practice days, including an intrasquad scrimmage at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Panther Stadium. 

Admission will be charged, in order to pay the referees, said Menard.

“You work your tail off all year, and finally get a chance to put pads on,” said Menard. “I think they’re looking forward to Thursday.”

Menard said that the extra time he’s gotten to spend with the team this year — he only had five days of work last spring with the Panthers — has shown already. 

On the defensive side, the coaches have introduced as much of their system already what it took until the sixth week of the season to get installed last year.

“Really it’s like that on both sides of the ball,” Menard said, noting that eight starters return on offense and six on defense, along with a couple of others who had significant playing time on defense.

On offense, the Panthers are working to establish what kind of team they’ll be. 

With quarterback Joe Lissard returning for his junior season along with leading receivers Blake Byrom and Gabe Fuselier, CHS has a potent passing game.

The running game needs work, however. Leading rusher D’Shawn Etienne returns, but the Panthers don’t have much depth at the position yet.

“At the end of the year last year (Etienne) really came into his own,” said Menard. “We’ve got Rhett Gonsoulin, who played in the past, that’s come back (to play football). He’ll probably end up as a wide receiver, but he can be a running back if needed. Senior Jim Douglas is getting some reps at running back.

“But we don’t have much depth at the running back spot. After that, we go young.”

And the team must do a better job overall with its running game.

“Our whole deal is we’ve got to find a way to run the ball better,” said Menard. “We’ve got to keep our quarterback healthy.”