{"id":3405,"date":"2009-08-28T10:27:00","date_gmt":"2009-08-28T10:27:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/lbpost.com\/articles\/sports\/millikan-rams-the-back-to-basics-squad\/"},"modified":"2009-08-28T10:27:00","modified_gmt":"2009-08-28T10:27:00","slug":"millikan-rams-the-back-to-basics-squad","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/sports\/millikan-rams-the-back-to-basics-squad","title":{"rendered":"Millikan Rams: The Back-To-Basics Squad"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Two years ago, the Millikan Rams went to the playoffs.  <\/span>Last year, they got off to a 2-2 start in their nonleague schedule, with their offense kicked into high-flying mode, averaging over 30 points per-game.  <\/span>Then, something happened\u2014chemistry soured, execution broke down, and the Rams lost five in a row, not getting their first league win until their final contest, against Cabrillo.  <\/span>Worse, in their first three league losses, they mustered a combined 27 points.  <\/span>Millikan head coach Kirk Diego knew his Rams needed to get back to basics.<\/p>\n

So, this season, that’s what they’re doing, with a small, speedy team he hopes will inject some life back into his program.  <\/span>“Every year you start from zero,” he says.  <\/span>“It’s all a matter of how kids come together\u2014and these guys are together.”  <\/span>The Rams are going to run with a small, tight group of players, probably between 35 and 40 suiting up for varsity.  <\/span>They’re not ashamed of who they are, either\u2014Diego says he won’t suit up JV players this year to make it look like they’re a bigger squad.  <\/span>The smaller group means they’ve been focusing on athleticism, a necessity because all but one player on their roster is listed at two positions.<\/p>\n

Most importantly, the Rams are focusing on the team concept.  <\/span>“You don’t win on Friday night,” says Diego.  <\/span>“You win with preparation, and you can only do that if you’re all on the same page\u2014love your brother, be a champion for life, all those things we teach.  <\/span>Forty guys working together, bleeding together, not wanting to let their buddy down\u2014that’s how you become a success in anything you do.”<\/p>\n

Their offense should be exciting, as Diego wants to liven things up again after last season.  <\/span>Alden Darby, the Rams’ best playmaker, and Paul Slater, last year’s JV QB, will split time behind center, and will give Millikan a multi-faceted attack that should allow them to shift their offensive identity from week to week.  <\/span>Great team speed and some good size on the line should help this well-coached team begin a return to form.  <\/span>A lack of overwhelming force will give the Rams a smaller margin of error than some teams have, but Diego and his team are aware of that.<\/p>\n

“We just have to execute,” he says.  <\/span>“Line up right, know your assignment.  <\/span>Nothing about life comes easy, but especially in football because it’s just not natural to run into a guy at full speed.  <\/span>I’d like to think Poly doesn’t win year after year after year because they’re bigger, faster, and stronger.  <\/span>They may be, but I’d like to think that they’re focused<\/em> on each play\u2014and that’s what we’re teaching.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Millikan Rams 2009 Schedule (Games at 7pm unless noted)<\/o:p><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Week Zero: September 4th<\/o:p><\/strong><\/p>\n

@ Gahr<\/p>\n

Week One: September 11th<\/o:p><\/strong><\/p>\n

Vs. Artesia<\/p>\n

Week Two: September 18th<\/o:p><\/strong><\/p>\n

@ Redondo<\/p>\n

Week Three: September 25th<\/o:p><\/strong><\/p>\n

Vs. Fountain Valley<\/p>\n

Week Four: October 2nd<\/o:p><\/strong><\/p>\n

@ Cabrillo<\/p>\n

Week Five: October 9th<\/o:p><\/strong><\/p>\n

@ Wilson<\/p>\n

Week Six: October 16th<\/o:p><\/strong><\/p>\n

Vs. Jordan<\/p>\n

Week Seven: October 23th<\/o:p><\/strong><\/p>\n

Vs. Poly<\/p>\n

Week Eight: October 30th<\/o:p><\/strong><\/p>\n

@ Lakewood<\/p>\n

Week Nine: November 6th<\/o:p><\/strong><\/p>\n

Vs. Compton<\/p>\n

Week Ten: November 13th<\/o:p><\/strong><\/p>\n

Bye<\/o:p><\/strong><\/p>\n

Schedule Analysis<\/o:p><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

The Rams retain two of last year’s nonleague opponents, Gahr and Redondo, both of which were losses last year.  <\/span>They’ve swapped in Artesia and Fountain Valley, who were a combined 14-8 last season.  <\/span>It’s a slight schedule upgrade that should help the Rams evaluate where they are before league play starts.  <\/span>They could get a confidence boost out of their league opener, as they travel to Cabrillo, to face the only Moore League team they got the best of last season.  <\/span>They’ll need that confidence to get through just about the worst final five weeks a team could ask for\u2014they’ve got Jordan and Poly at home, before traveling to Lakewood and then hosting Compton (those are the Moore League’s four playoff teams from last season).  <\/span>Then, they have the dreaded tenth-week bye.  <\/span>You’d always prefer to use that bye week in the middle of the season to spend extra time preparing and resting up, but instead the Rams will just get a chance to go see everyone else finish their season.<\/p>\n

Five Players To Watch:<\/o:p><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Alden Darby, QB\/WR\/DB, senior #2<\/o:p><\/em><\/p>\n

Darby is the Rams’ best athlete, so they’re trying to make sure he gets the ball in his hands as often as possible.  <\/span>To do that, he’ll spend a good amount of time under center\u2014from the QB position, he’ll be a threatening runner who also has the ability to stretch the field when he needs to.  <\/span>Darby was a real bright spot last season, so it’s good to see his skills showcased in the Rams’ scheme.  <\/span>“Darby’s like a cat,” says Diego.  <\/span>“Sometimes you think he’s going to fall down, and then he lands on his feet.”<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Paul Slater, QB\/DB, senior #11<\/o:p><\/em><\/p>\n

When Darby isn’t threatening with his speed, Slater (who was last year’s starting JV QB), will be slinging it around.  <\/span>“He knows the offense inside and out,” says Diego.  <\/span>With all the things they want to do on offense, having a quarterback who can take a five-step drop and hit a man downfield (it could be Darby, at that) will definitely be crucial.<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Lonnie Adams, LB\/RB, senior #1<\/o:p><\/em><\/p>\n

Adams will start at middle ‘backer for the Rams, a spot he’s earned with his combination of size and speed.  <\/span>“He runs like the wind, and will just knock you in the mouth,” says Diego.  <\/span>At 6’4″, 200 pounds, he can be slippery to block, and could make a real name for himself this season.<\/o:p><\/em><\/p>\n

Kevin Marroquin, DL\/OL, senior #67<\/o:p><\/em><\/p>\n

Marroquin is a beast in the best way possible.  <\/span>When Diego mentioned he had a mammoth lineman, there was no doubt in our minds he was talking about #67, who clocks in at 6′, 292 pounds.  <\/span>The kid has spent a lot of time in the weight room, and it shows.  <\/span>On offense he’ll be crucial to everything they’re doing at the tackle position\u2014the line will be anchored on the other side by Brandon Davidson, another good-looking bruiser.<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Kilisi Suai, DB\/RB, senior #3<\/o:p><\/em><\/p>\n

Suai played linebacker last year for the Rams, where he was the third-leading tackler, and a highly competent pass defender as well.  <\/span>That athleticism led to the Rams moving him back to safety this season, where they’ll count on the sure-handed Suai continuing to get himself into the middle of things.  <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

After things fell apart on them last season, the Rams are getting back to basics, with a streamlined system and an emphasis on team.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":33,"featured_media":16972,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"newspack_sponsor_sponsorship_scope":"","newspack_sponsor_native_byline_display":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_native_category_display":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_underwriter_style":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_underwriter_placement":"inherit","inline_featured_image":false,"newspack_ads_suppress_ads":false,"newspack_popups_has_disabled_popups":"","_":"","_author_alias":"","cap-aim":"","cap-description":"","cap-display_name":"","cap-first_name":"","cap-jabber":"","cap-last_name":"","cap-linked_account":"","cap-newspack_employer":"","cap-newspack_job_title":"","cap-newspack_phone_number":"","cap-newspack_role":"","cap-user_email":"","cap-user_login":"","cap-website":"","cap-yahooim":"","newspack_article_summary":"","newspack_email_html":"","newspack_email_type":"","newspack_featured_image_position":"","newspack_hide_page_title":"","newspack_hide_updated_date":false,"newspack_post_subtitle":"","newspack_show_share_buttons":"","newspack_sponsor_byline_prefix":"","newspack_sponsor_disclaimer_override":"","newspack_sponsor_flag_override":"","newspack_sponsor_only_direct":"","newspack_sponsor_url":"","newspack_article_summary_title":"Overview:","newspack_show_updated_date":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"newspack_spnsrs_tax":[],"coauthors":[],"class_list":["post-3405","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sports","entry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/sports\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3405","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/sports\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/sports\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/sports\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/33"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/sports\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3405"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/sports\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3405\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/sports\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/16972"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/sports\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3405"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/sports\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3405"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/sports\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3405"},{"taxonomy":"newspack_spnsrs_tax","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/sports\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/newspack_spnsrs_tax?post=3405"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/sports\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=3405"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}