Ridgefield Football Going To A Spread Offense

It is 90 minutes daily in the car for Kevin Callahan to practice. Plenty of time for Ridgefield’s football coach, now in his 12^th season with the Tigers, to think about his team.

About how and when his new offensive system jell. About how he plans to overcome the lack of size on the offensive and defensive lines. About how his new quarterback, Connor Rowe, with three games experience at the end of last season on his resume, will adapt fulltime to the position.

About his game plan and the Tigers’ jitters for Friday night’s season opener at Greenwich.

"I’ve been thinking about what is the mindset, the emotions, of the team," Callahan said. "I think we’re ready. As ready as we can be."

The Tigers, like many teams in the state, were shortchanged in their practices by Hurricane Irene. Ridgefield was allowed to practice and get a scrimmage in before school started last week, but that doesn’t mean Callahan's team is a well-oiled machine.

There will be timing issues early, especially on offense, where the Tigers are putting in a West Coast style of a spread, short passing game with Rowe, a junior, who started last season’s final three games.

"I think he’s anxious to get going," Callahan said. "I’m not worried about him being too nervous.’"

John Turner, Sam Gravitte, Will Bonaparte and Mickey Carbone will be in the backfield, with Turner’s 210 pounds accounting for the size.

Neil Gollogly, Jack Heller, Ian Word, Timo Muro and Matt Flanagan are Rowe’s outside targets, with all but the last six-footers.

"You’ll see us go a lot with four wideouts,’’ Callahan said. "People will say we’re more wide open with the ability to throw the ball than we’ve been in the past."

Quickness and timing are the emphasis because the Tigers don’t have much size on the line to do a lot of pounding. Andrew Barton, Kyle Cavalea, Garrett Vasquez, Tim Cozens and Mike Tarantino are the primary starters on the line, with Rich Mathes, Tyler Terbrusch and Peter Tortora rotating in off the bench.

Why the change in offensive philosophy?

"I don’t believe in changing for the sake of changing," Callahan said.  "It suits them. We have some pretty athletic kids."

The same applies on the other side of the ball, where the Tigers will primarily play with three down linemen, five linebackers and three defensive backs.

Barton, Tarantino and Flanagan will start on the line, with Luke Gallo and Cozens providing depth. Adrian Jones, Turner and Victor Fernandez are the inside backers. Chris Mirra, Bonaparte and Word rotate as the outside linebackers.  The secondary will be comprised of Gravitte and Aidan Mauro at the corners, Mickey Hicks as the free safety, along with Carbone and Muro.

"We’re not very big," Callahan said. "We’ll get a lot of people spread out. We’ll put on pressure, but it will be in a lot of ways.

"In general, we’re fast, but not the fastest team. We preach 11 helmets to the ball."

And, that is What they Tigers will have to do.