Robinsons Knights – Staring Down the Dragon

“We’re going to win a state title next year,” said head coach Mike DePue.

DePue is talking about the 2012 season when many of his younger players, including his entire offensive line matures into seniors. The departure of stars like JJ Hubbard, Blake Rice, Ruben Gonzalez and Frankie Williams left a lot of holes at the skill position; but younger players who have come up through the system are ready to step in and play.

“This is not little league, you are going to have to earn your playing time,” said DePue.

There are several jobs up for grabs at this point.

Starting quarterback is an open competition between juniors Antonio Hampton and Vidal Woodruff. Coaches are indicating that Hampton might have the lead at this point, but nothing is set in stone.

Right guard is an open competition between four juniors: Ted Kelly, Jesse Braddock, Ryan Woehlert, and Andres Nader.

The four linebackers in Robinson’s 3/4 base defense are still not quite settled into place. There are seven players that are legitimate contenders to start; all will play.

This year is not a throw away year by any means.

If you want to win a state title, you had better have most of your pieces in place the year before. That seems to be just what is going on at Robinson.

There will of course be a lot of adjustments this season.Positions aside, the Knights vaulted from Class 2A all the way up to 5A, this year. Many of the teams from the old District 5 have made the trek to the new District 8 along with Robinson.

The old 2A District 5 looked like this.

Jesuit   11-1(6-0)

Robinson   10-3(5-1)

Middleton   5-5(3-3)

Steinbrenner   5-6(3-3)

Lennard   6-5(2-4)

Strawberrt Crest   6-5(2-4)

St. Pete Catholic   2-9(1-6)

The new 5A District 8 looks like this:

Jesuit   11-1(6-0)*

Robinson   10-3(5-1)*

Lakewoood   6-5(3-2)*

Spoto   6-4(3-2)*

Middleton   5-5(3-3)*

Blake   5-6(3-2)*

Lennard   6-5(2-4)*

Gibbs   3-7(2-2)*

Dunedin   2-7(1-2)*

*= 2010 record

The new district is gigantic. There are some four-team districts in FHSAA football this year. Robinson was dealt into a nine-team district with several contenders. As long as Jesuit and Robinson are together, they should battle each other for the district title. However, the top six teams in that district should press the action and make it a photo finish.

“It makes it real tough unless you are a special team,” said DePue in light of the huge district. “You can’t take any games off. Every week, you’re looking at a major game.”

The Knights will play eight straight district games in the middle of their season, bracketed by Jefferson and Plant games to start and end the season. Needless to say, it will be a marathon for the Knights this year. However, DePue and his assistants feel like they have the right pieces in place and can contend for the district, this year.