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Trojans upbeat heading into '09

Williams optimistic with return of star QB Jeremy Cannon, 20 seniors

Photo by James Nix

Northwest Cabarrus' Jeremy Cannon runs through drills with the Trojan football team.

By Mark Stein | Independent Tribune

Published: August 21, 2009

KANNAPOLIS - Rich Williams leaned back in his chair, pondered the question for a second, then he smiled.

"This is my favorite time of the year," said Northwest Cabarrus High's head football coach.

No surprise, really.

It's that way for most coaches.

But for Williams, preseason drills and the start of the 2009 prep season has even more of a special feel to it.

At this time a year ago, Williams was a week away from debuting as the Trojans' new coach when star quarterback Jeremy Cannon was lost for the season after suffering a knee injury during Northwest's final scrimmage.

Needless to say, it was a devastating setback, one the Trojans never fully recovered from.

Fast forward 12 months, and well ... Cannon is healthy and back under center and the Trojans can finally put those memories behind them and start fresh.

"The mood of our camp has been really, really good, and really strong," Williams said. "I mean our kids have had a good summer so far. They've been working extremely hard. We feel good about what we've got going into the season.

"Of course, it's a big lift to have Jeremy back, but we think we have other pieces that can fit in there just as well, and we feel like we can be a really successful team."

Before Cannon's injury, the Trojans were considered one of the favorites to contend for the North Piedmont Conference title. Instead, without their two-year starter leading the way, the Trojans struggled from start to finish.

Northwest went 5-7, 2-6 in the NPC, and were bounced out of the playoffs in the first round by perennial 3A powerhouse Charlotte Catholic.

But that was last year, a thing of the past, Williams said. This is a new start, and with Cannon returning, 10 starters back — five each on offense and defense — and about 20 seniors on the roster,
Williams believes the Trojans have all the parts to be a force in '09.

"It's a big boost of confidence for our team," Williams said of Cannon's return. "He's really taken hold of the leadership role, and he's been a really strong leader for us this preseason. We're looking forward to him having a good year for us.

"I think we have other cogs that can make his game even better, because we feel we have some receivers who can catch it and we feel like we have a couple of good running backs. I think our offensive line is coming together, too. So, you know, we think we can be pretty solid on both sides of the ball."

The numbers seem to back him up.

Despite losing 23 seniors from last year, Williams welcomes back not only an experienced bunch but a talented one as well.

But, as is the case for most everybody, there are question marks.

"We still have a pretty big senior class," Williams said. "We've still got a senior-laden team, and a lot of the guys who didn't start got some quality playing time in. So we feel good about where we are.
We're a little thin in a few places, but I'm sure everybody is. Our numbers, overall, are a little bit down, but with the new school (Cox Mill) opening, I guess that will happen. We have like 42 (players) on our varsity roster. We feel good about those numbers."

Offensively, the Trojans will be led by Cannon, a starter since his freshman year and the Independent Tribune's Offensive Player of the Year in 2007.

But the Trojans will be far from a one-man show. Running back Calvin Nelson also returns to the fold after showing flashes of brilliance a year ago as a part-time starter as a sophomore.

A Cannon-Nelson combination in the backfield has the potential to be an explosive combination. If Williams can find someone to step in at the wide receiver spots, the offense could be even more dangerous.

Williams isn't worried.

"We graduated our two best wide outs from last year, but Grant Keyes has been a three-year starter on defense and he's stepping over and playing offense a lot for us this year. Richard Cotton will also step in and play. We also have about three or four more — Richard Lane, Trevor Anderson, E.J. Rhinehardt, Dontre Posey — who could play that position. We feel pretty good about our receiving corps.

"Offensively, I really think ... our thinnest area is offensive line. We have some good ones and we've got some others who are inexperienced and need to step up and show they can play. But we feel good about our front five. After that, we feel like those kids have to develop and come along quickly."

As far as the defense goes, it's much the same as on the other side of the ball, Williams said.

"We feel good about our defensive line," he said. "We're a little thin at linebacker, but we think we have four or five who can play. But that's a big heavy contact area, so you need about six or seven who can play. We feel good about our defensive backfield.

"So I think it's probably the same for many of the high schools, where most probably feel good about their first group and not so good about their second group. And that's kind of where we're at right now. We're hoping those younger guys in the second group step up and do a good job when they need to."

All the work put in in the offseason is over. Preseason drills are complete. Now, Williams said, it's on to the business at hand.

"I think our biggest key will be continuity on offense and making sure everybody is doing what they're supposed to be doing and playing every play. And defensively, if we can tackle, I think we can be good."