Added August 28th 2006
Scott Kirkness
Monday
August 28th the Chargers return to the Jungle for training camp. At 10:00 AM ALL Chargers will be on the
field running the First of many Laps around the field. There will be no screwing around this summer, the Chargers mean bussiness.
Last year training camp was different for many reasons. First and foremost there was a brand new coach. With new coachs
come new rules. The second difference is that last years squad was deep with veteran talent and leadership, many of whom had
been champions in the all to distant past.
This Year represents the final Changing of the Guard. Last year saw Mike Keen, Cory Bedard, Brendan Majewski and Scott
Kirkness move on on Defence. While this year see's Thomas Kirkpattick, Scott Zimmerman, Dave D'Antonio, Kevin Oldfield, Adam
Hebert, and of course the heart and soul of this D-fence, Mike Willcock. How will the team cope with these devastating losses?
That will be up to the Defensive Co-ordinator and his assistant, the former CSS Middle Linebacker, Scott Kirkness.
"We're much younger this year, but I think that has several advantages. For one, younger guys pay more attention when your
trying to help them, they're generally speaking more willing to learn"
Willing to learn? Maybe, but this year the rookies don't have a lot of veterans to learn from. But their are some.
Chris Ristomaki will be entering his 3rd season as a DT/MLB and he looks to play a huge role in the defence. Jamal Davidson
started several games last year at the corner spot and the Chargers will look to him to cover the likes of Chris Cull and
the rest of SDSSAA's best wide outs. He has the athletic ability and now has the experience.
On Offense, the changing of the guard here doesn’t look are dramatic as that on D. Trevor "TJ" Jessup made his first
career starts last year in relief the injured Shane Hutchinson. Jessup ended Hutch's SDSSAA record streak of 40 straight starts
(including pre and post season) when he went under centre against the former perennial powerhouse St. Charles Collage in the
Jungle. His back field will once again be home to Joe Longi and lead rushing leader Mike Switzer. The biggest question on
offence will be the line. Last year was the overhaul behind the O-Line, this year is the overhaul OF the O-Line. Gone are
starters Kyle Henri, Alex Balloway, AJ Lee, and the O-Dog him self, 5 time All star Kevin Oldfield. Can the new line block
well enough for Switzer to get first downs while Jessup gets used to being the Starting QB? We will have to wait and see.
There is something to keep in mind, over the past two seasons, the teams receiving leader has NOT been Adam Hebert, in fact
it was Matt Moss. That’s right, Matt Mott. Don't look for him to be under the radar this year as he plans on having
a break out year.
Confed may not have the depth its enjoyed over the past two seasons, but come on, who said they had depth on November 14th
2003
