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[Dave Johnson]

(Hey gang: Our preseason section comes out Aug. 29, but there’s no reason we can’t provide some updates over the next 2+ weeks. Some of it you might know, some of it you might not. So between now and Opening Night, we’ll try to throw out a nugget or two on everybody. As always, feel free to comment or ask questions).


MENCHVILLE SWITCHING IT UP
Monarchs coach John Byron is an I-formation guy, but he’s also a realist. So with an offensive line that frankly speaking isn’t very big, he’s switching gears this season. Out with the I … in with the Flexbone.
If you haven’t seen it, the Flexbone is basically a triple-option attack that often (but not always) resembles the Wing-T. Air Force used to run it under Fisher DeBerry, who realized his team was undermanned and got by with imagination and time management.
With the underrated Rakeem Kersey gone at QB, Byron is handing the offense to senior Steve Crisp. A fellow red-head, Byron says Crisp has the toughness and smarts (3.8 GPA) needed to run this offense.
"I like it," Crisp said of the new offense, "because it puts the game in my hands."
Among the runners will be Odis Wesby, who rushed for 373 yards and two touchdowns last season, and Don-L Whitehead.
Byron is also changing things on defense, where he’s switching from a 4-3 to a 3-5. Again, he says, "it’s a size thing." This year’s roster isn’t finalized, but of Byron’s returning players, only one weighed more than 220 pounds last season.