We are nearly a month away from the kickoff of practice in North Carolina. I decided it was time to preview the Cougars for 2016.
Charlotte Catholic schedule:
Week 1: vs Charlotte Christian -The Holy War *at Memorial Stadium 8pm on Saturday
Week 2: vs Providence Day
Week 3: vs Country Day -56th annual Cook Cup
Week 4: @ Rocky River
Week 5: BYE
Week 6: @ Berry Academy *
Week 7: vs Harding*
Week 8: @ Olympic *
Week 9: vs South Meck*
Week 10: @ West Meck*
Week 11: vs Ardrey Kell*
Week 12: @Providence*
The Cougars should be good in 2016, the question for me is how good. The leadership core from the 2015 state title team is gone with Xander Gagnon off to Duke, Connor Miller off to Wake Forest and John Walton off to Centre College.
The QB position for the Cougars will be one area to watch in 2016, I am not sure who the front runner for the position is as I have not seen many 7 on 7s yet.
Here are the returning impact players for the Cougars:
John Newman (WR) senior should be a pass catching threat again, kid is a physical freak. He may not go D1 but he can play.
Angel Morrero(RB) senior has some of the best speed I have seen on the field, he'll be key on special teams and may be more of a wing back player in 2016
Ari Rodriguez (DE) just a sophomore, contributed in a big way last season including having a good performance vs Rose in the state title game. Remember that name.
Reid Brandt (DE) probably our best pass rusher coming back, he really suprised a lot of people last year and played really well. I think he'll end up playing college ball somewhere, kid has a great motor!
Brian Macuga (OL) Macuga was hurt in the title game last year and did not play, but he has pretty good size. One area the Cougars should improve on this season is the size of their OL, last season I had a friend comment "Oh my god, they look like a 2A team" when he saw the OL at the state title game.
I'm leaving players out because I just cannot remember all the names, but will add to this list as I remember them.
The most valuable returning asset for the Cougars is their coaching staff, to my knowledge all but one coach return from the title team a year ago and the coach who doesn't return didn't coach in the playoffs. Continuity with coaching is one of the big reasons why I believe CC has maintained the level of excellence they have had over the last 15+ years.
I do believe Catholic should be favored to win their conference and enter the playoffs playing some good ball. Whether they are the favorites in 4A, I don't know I think Dudley and Scotland would say something about that so I'm going to hold off on any state title predictions, but I do know Catholic will be a tough out for anyone in the playoffs.
