Thomas, Choctaw prep for Year 2

By TRAVIS DOWNEY

Northwest Florida Daily News
315-4476 | travisd@nwfdailynews.com

FORT WALTON BEACH - Propped in a chair inside his office, second-year Choctawhatchee coach Greg Thomas had only seen his team on the practice fields for four days this spring, but already he felt confident about the direction in which it's heading.

"Compared to last year, I would say right now after four days we are probably better than we were at the end of spring last year," Thomas surmised. "As far as knowing what's expected of them and knowing the X's and O's, compared to last year, we're much further ahead."

As Thomas and the Indians prepare to enter Year 2 together, they do so looking to build on what was by all accounts a smashing debut in 2008. Expected to be in a full-fledged rebuilding mode by most outside the program, Choctaw instead battled its way to a 5-4 finish and placed itself in a three-team District 2-4A playoff for the district's two postseason berths.

And although the Indians missed on the postseason, Choctaw did enjoy its first winning season since 2004.

Now, with that first season under their belt, players and coaches alike are in search of bigger and better things in 2009 as the Indians make the move to District 1-3A.

In order to do so, however, Choctaw will have to fill some holes, the most glaring of which reside at offensive line and quarterback. Gone is quarterback David Weber as well as four starters along the offensive front, leaving only Donald Henderson as the Indians' lone returning lineman with much experience.

"We're very young on the offensive line," Thomas said. "When you lose two guys like Terren (Jones) and Jordan (Davis), size-wise we're a lot smaller but I think we're quicker up front."

Thomas and offensive line coach Addison Kendrick have had to get creative this spring, shifting former defensive lineman Paul Spikes to left guard in hopes of shoring up an area of concern.

So far, so good.

"I like offensive line better than defensive line," Spikes said, "especially when I know what I'm doing. From the first day to now, we know what we're doing better and the holes are getting bigger."

At quarterback, last year's primary back-up, Jesse Adams, returns and begins spring just slightly ahead of transfer Colton Kane, who like Adams is a rising junior.

Thomas feels "pretty good" about the Indians' skill positions with Justin Savage headlining the receiving corps and Gray being joined by Fort Walton Beach transfer Charlie Lott for what should prove to be a powerful one-two punch in the backfield.

Then again, as is often the case, it always comes back to the play in the trenches.

"We're probably as good or better than we were in the (offensive) backfield last year, but how we do (offensively) depends on our offensive line," Thomas said. "We're still putting together the puzzle."

Choctaw will hold its Green and White scrimmage on May 22 before concluding the spring with a jamboree game at Fort Walton Beach the following Friday.