Big Red hopes tweaks to offense is the answer

GAINESVILLE — Gainesville could have all the ingredients to finish the close games on top this season. 

The Red Elephants lost five games by a combined average margin of five points, including their two Region 6-7A bouts against region champ West Forsyth, 14-7, and runner-up Denmark, 24-21, last season. Those losses dashed Gainesville’s hopes of a region title in 2020. 

The solution to the problem was to find more offensive production in those tight games.

Coach Heath Webb wants his offense more explosive, to spread the field and force the defense to make tackles in space. Oh, and he wants balanced, too. 

“For me, it’s kind of getting back to the philosophy of the head coach more than anything else,” he said. “We’re looking for a little more balance -- spread the field, spread the ball around and get the ball to multiple receivers. We want to get our athletes in space which, in turn, will open up the running game, too.” 

So, for Webb to get closer to his offensive philosophy, he lured Gainesville grad Chad Bennett – from White County – back to his alma mater to lead the offense and so far, the change has worked out. 

“What Chad brings to the table is the ability to move key players around from different positions and get them matched up on players we need to get them matched up on,” Webb said.

Bennett began to put his mark on the offense in the spring when the Red Elephants put up five touchdowns against South Gwinnett in a scrimmage. The changes have continued into the summer with passing leagues and camps.

But there still are a few question marks as far as personnel goes. 

Quarterback Gionni Williams graduated. Offensive linemen Ced Nicely (Ole Miss) and Ignacio Olvera flipped the tassel as well, Lenny Chatman leaves a hole at wide receiver, and offensive lineman Michael Gosa opted out this year.

Webb’s determination to build depth is paying off now with plenty of talented players to fill those open spots – some of which have four or five vying for a starting role. 

“We’re deeper now than we have ever been,” he said. “We are practicing every player on both sides of the ball, that helps with that. I think in 7A we need to be able to put our best guys on the field at any given moment.”

Last season, as a freshman, Baxter Wright played some, even started, giving him some valuable experience at quarterback. He also completed 51 percent of his passes and added 251 rushing yards. Wright has the keys to the offense this season. 

“We feel good about Baxter,” Webb said. “He’s had a great spring and summer. I think changing philosophies offensively fits who he is and what he does well. He’s a guy with a lot of confidence. He does have some experience under his belt and that helps. I think he’s ready to break out.”

JQ Drinkard will return for his senior season as the leading target. He caught 27 passes for 404 yards and three scores. As in the mix is part time starter DJ Miller, JaQuez Sims, Macere Walker, Ellis Pitts and Zander Lipscomb. 

Webb said all of the aforementioned could be considered starters with more pushing for playing time. 

The new offensive mentality will benefit the entire unit, but finding the right offensive line combination, at O-Line U, is going to be a bit difficult heading into the Corky Kell Classic against Johns Creek in August. 

COVID quarantines, contact tracing and injuries in 2020 helped build depth in the trenches as Webb and his O-Line coach Bruce Figgins started seven different combinations upfront. At the time, Webb said it was frustrating to deal with but is now reaping the reward with so many experienced linemen.\

“That’s crazy when you think about an 11-game season,” Webb said about the combinations. “It was frustrating and a little difficult to deal with, but on the back end, we’ve got a lot of guys that played. So, it’s just a matter of finding the right pieces to the puzzle.” 

Elijah Ruiz, who played center in 2020, will shift to tackle. Ruiz stands in at 6-foot-4 and is 290 pounds. He’s currently on the verge of becoming Gainesville’s next Power 5 offensive linemen, according to Webb. 

“He’s a great player. He’s a Division I football player for sure,” Webb said. “How he performs at tackle will probably determine if he’s a group of five player or a Power 5 player. He wasn’t able to display his athleticism at center like our previous tackles, but, I think, he’ll end up being a Power 5 player.” 

Senior Tanner Valentine will take over center, and junior Lecorey Hutchinson steps over from right guard to right tackle. 

“We’re probably not as big as we have been, but we may be more athletic than in the past,” Webb said. “We’ll be able to do more things with screen (passing) game and pulling those guys. We’ll definitely be able to do more things from an athletic standpoint.”

There are no worries in the backfield. Junior All-Region 6-7A running back Naim Cheeks is back. He rushed for 1,207 yards and 13 touchdowns as a sophomore. Seniors Sam Perry and Marquis Ross will rotate to give Cheeks a break. 

“We should be able to roll those guys,” Webb said about the backfield. “We had times last year that Naim carried it 30 times. This year, we don’t want to be in that situation. Naim is the guy. But if he has to sub out, then Sam and Marquis are more than capable backups and can step in and play well.”

Defensively, the Red Elephants return five starters to their 4-2-5 defense that gave up just under 20 points per game last season.

“We’ll continue doing what we’re doing on defense,” Webb said. “We’re going to try to play fast and create havoc up front and, hopefully, cover well on the back end.” 

But they’ll have the task of replacing a lot of tackles, including leading tacklers in linebackers Quamaine Rucker (78 tackles) and Yusif Ali (68 tackles). Also, defensive tackle Lemuel Gayle (50 tackles), safeties Lenny Chatman (55 tackles) and Williams (33 tackles) and Jahleel Rivas-Dicks (48 tackles).  

Back is defensive ends Khaliq Maddox and Qua Coley and defensive tackle Jean Richmond upfront. Stacy Hopkins returns at linebacker and Chamarion Bush at cornerback. 

“Those guys are probably cemented,” Webb said. “All of them are good players. We feel good about those guys.”

Perry will either replace Ali or Rucker at linebacker. 

“Replacing those guys is tough,” Webb said. “But Sam will probably replace either Yusif or Rucker. We have four or five guys competing for the other linebacker now.” 

The secondary, besides Bush at corner, is still undecided. 

“I’ve probably got about eight guys that could fill those other spots,” Webb said about the secondary. “We’re just trying to figure those out. What’s the best combination.”

Tevez Blesand is leading the pack in the secondary and could replace Williams at safety, according to Webb. 

The region will be wide-open again this season, according to Webb.  He believes West Forsyth is the early season favorite, again, to win the region, but he also believes, overall, it’ll be a close battle each week. 

“I think it’s still that tight,” he said. “Look at Lambert who finished 0-5 but was so much better than the year before. They have a lot of kids coming back. I think our region is tight, though. Look at us last year, Lambert finished last, and we beat them by seven. West won the region and beat us by seven.

“But West Forsyth is the early front runner. I said that last year because of their line of scrimmage play, and they have a lot of kids coming back. West is the region champion and until somebody moves them from that spot, they’re the team to beat.”