Report card: Handing out grades on Little Giants football midway through the season

FREMONT – It’s hard to believe, but the football season is already half over. Before Fremont Ross faces Lima Senior for its Week 6 game, it’s time to take a review at the first five weeks and hand out some midterm grades by position.

Offense

Quarterback: Junior Hayden Lehmann has taken every snap this season and no player has shown more progress since the start of the season. He missed nearly all last season with an ankle injury so, understandably, it took him a few weeks to settle into his position as leader of the offense. The first three games he struggled with consistency and relied too heavily upon receiver Roger Burling. However, the last two weeks, he has taken some giant steps forward. He’s more comfortable inside and outside of the pocket, staying true to his mechanics and using more of the weapons around him. He’s completed 80-of-143 passes for 1,175 yards with 12 touchdowns and seven interceptions. Lehmann needs to be more definitive on running on broken plays and be more open to taking shorter passes rather than always looking for the long ball. But if he continues to play like he has the last two weeks, Ross will be in a very good place for the last half of the season and beyond. Midterm grade: B

Running backs: The Little Giants have lacked a true workhorse running back and it’s created some problems, most notably as Ross tried to run the clock with the lead against Springfield and Sandusky.  Ross’ struggles through the first three and a half games, forced the coaching staff to turn to defensive end Shawn Newsome, whose combination of power, physicality and just enough speed has shown an ability to wear down defenses. Though he’s only played about six quarters at the position, he leads the team in yards (123) and second in carries (28). Prior to Newsome, Ross showed little consistency running the ball. Remey Bulger (27 carries, 104 yards) has tremendous size and is a load for defenses to tackle, but frequently hesitated in the backfield. Ethan Chumley (33 for 93) is another big body and does a nice job running north and south, but defenses can often predict Ross’ intention when they see him in the backfield. Chrystjan Mancini (21 for 63) hasn’t been able to use his speed to gain the perimeter to break open plays. Midterm grade: C-

Wide Receivers: The receiving corps shook off a case of the drops early in the season and has become Ross’ most consistent unit through the first half of the season. Roger Burling’s speed and athleticism has made him Lehmann’s favorite target and the team leader with 28 receptions for 504 yards and five touchdowns. Noah Hotz and Devyn Jagodzinksi’s numbers are nearly identical, both have 217 yards and two touchdowns on 18 and 17 receptions, respectively. In addition to their speed, the trio run crisp, smart, routes and always know where the first-down markers are and have a knack for making sideline catches while making sure to get their feet in bounds. Midterm grade: A

Offensive line: The line up front has had its ups and downs. Run blocking was an issue against Southview and St. John’s, though the former often overloaded the box and the latter was a tougher matchup. Pass protection is far from perfect and has been bailed out several times the last two weeks by Lehmann’s athleticism and ability to move out of the pocket. The left side of the line, anchored by tackle Mike Thomas and guard David Heidelburg, has done a good job protecting Lehmann’s blindside. Center Tanner King’s snaps have been good, particularly for all Ross’ shotgun formations. The right side of the line took a major hit when 300-pound tackle Shawndre Koch was dismissed from the team after Week 3, but Jason Burling, Dontrez Brown and Seth Harder have combined to plug the right side. The line is better than it’s been in years past, but there is room for improvement. Midterm grade: C+

Defense

Defensive line: Ross entered the season expecting its front seven to be its strength and it’s largely been as-advertised. Led by Newsome, Jason Burling, and Dontrez Brown the Little Giants have been aggressive and fast, plugging holes and creating havoc. The defensive front has largely been outstanding, but a cloud of wonder remains from the way Findlay moved the ball with ease. Midterm grade: A-

Linebackers: Caleb Wood, Garret Schneider and Ben Rozzell have been nightmares for opposing offenses. The three seem to take turns making one big tackle after another, with Wood and Schneider living in the opposing backfield with Rozzell stopping runs on the perimeter and dropping back into pass coverage. Like the line in front of them, the linebackers’ lone exception came against Findlay while Rozzell was unavailable. Midterm Grade: A-

Defensive backs: Opposing offenses have gotten the majority of their big plays through the air but that speaks more to the strength of the defensive front than it should be an indictment of the secondary. The defensive backfield, patrolled by Roger Burling, Hotz, Mancini and Tanka Eckford, has plenty of skill and all are decent to very good tacklers. The DBs have combined for seven interceptions with each having at least one. However, if Ross is leading late, opponents are going to throw the ball and the Little Giants’ last line of defense has to be better in those situations. Sandusky beat Ross in Week 3 due, in part, to blown coverage. Coverage was lax late in the first half against St. John’s. Midterm grade: B-

Special teams

Punting: Hotz has been outstanding as punter, averaging 36.5 yards a kick and has pinned opponents inside their own 20-yard line 10 times on 27 punts. The coverage has also been excellent as Ross has not yet allowed a major return. Midterm grade: A

Place-kicking: Kicker Mikey Contreras is 3-for-6 on field goal attempts this season, with a game-winning field goal to his credit against St. John’s. But, he also missed two field goals in overtime against Findlay, though one was from 50 yards, which is a lot to ask of any high school kicker. He’s been very good on kickoffs, particularly on placing the ball away from opponents’ top returners. Midterm grade: B

Kick return and coverage: Ross hasn’t broken much in its return game, but it hasn’t given up anything either and, in this case, you take the tie and be happy. Nothing can swing momentum of a game like kick return for a touchdown. Ross’ special teams have largely been very good, with the very large exception of an awful roughing the punter penalty against Sandusky which led to the Blue Streaks’ game-winning touchdown. Midterm grade: B

Coaching staff

Chad Long and his coaching staff deserve full marks for knowing their personnel’s strength and weaknesses, playing to the strengths and trying to hide their weaknesses. First-year offensive coordinator Eddie Baptista’s offense is rounding into form as Lehmann gains experience and comfort under center. The Little Giants’ use of multiple formations and variety of weapons has largely kept opponents guessing, though the lack of a consistently-reliable run option in the early portion of the season was glaringly apparent. The only time play-calling could have been questioned was late in the Sandusky game as Ross’ desire to run the clock was negated by its inability to avoid three-and-outs. Defensively, Ross has hung its hat on its defense and with good reason. The defensive side of the ball has and will continue to carry the team and kudos to the coaches for not being afraid to be aggressive on defense. Midterm grade: B+