After a winless 2014 season, Marlboro High School head football coach Jason Dagato has switched things up.
“We’ve installed new offenses and defenses,” he said.
Early indications are that the Mustangs are adjusting well to the changes.
“We’ve been pretty productive in scrimmages this year,” Dagato said.
After giving the spread a go, the Mustangs have scrapped that for a Multi-I formation.
“We saw that we have quarterbacks, and we were not suited to the spread,” the head coach said. In Mike Wolff and Jared Wright, the Mustangs have two signal callers who can do what the Mustangs are looking for: be game managers who can distribute the ball, read defenses and stay away from turnovers. The biggest job is calling plays.
“It’s a lot of pressure on the quarterback,” Dagato said.
However, the Mustangs have players who can handle it.
In three-year starting wide receiver Tyler Tanen, the Mustangs have a genuine gamebreaker. He returned three kickoffs for touchdowns last year. Marlboro will look to get him the ball as often as it can.
Ed Spinello and Justin Marcus are complements to Tanen.
Jonny Helff and Cameron Caorsi will split time running the ball. They are downhill ball-carriers.
Up front, center Riley Keating and Bhanu Chadalawada are the cornerstones of the offensive line. They return from last year. Chris Manginelli, John Caruso, Anthony Damato and Joe Leander complete the down linemen, with Erick Vogel at tight end.
Dagato wants to avoid negative plays to make it easier to call plays. A solid offensive line will go a long way toward achieving that goal.
On the defensive side of the football, it won’t be the same Mustangs.
“We want to attack,” Dagato said. “We’re looking to outhit everybody and show we’re tough.”
To do that, Marlboro has moved to a 3- 4. Without a lot of depth on the defensive line and a strong linebacking crew, the 3-4 fits the Mustangs’ personnel.
“The kids are pretty excited about the defense,” Dagato said. “Our linebackers set the tone. They are the guys with experience.”
Vogel and Justin Cohen are the inside linebackers, with Jake Weiner and Chase Sandler on the outside. Vogel, Weiner and Sandler are all seniors.
Their pursuit to the football has been superb in the preseason — an encouraging sign for a defense looking to established its physicality.
Chadalawada is the nose guard in the middle of the 3-4, and he is flanked by Jim Caruso and Nnamdi Unachukwu on the outside.
In the backfield, Tanen and Rob Seno are the corners, and Caorsi and Geo Liscianbra are the safeties.
Dagato said Marlboro’s formula for success would be to control the ball, eliminate mistakes and play good defense.
Out of the gate, the Mustangs will learn a lot about themselves as they tackle their rival, Manalapan High School, last year’s NJSIAA Central Jersey Group V champion. The Doc Berman Trophy is the prize for the winner. This year’s game is in Manalapan Sept. 11.
Marlboro’s home opener is Sept. 19 against Middletown High School North.