Deja View: Coach Stevens Talks Rams Football
"That's probably one of the biggest things as far as in my eyes, I feel better prepared. I can reflect back on the first time I did it, even after I was done, that there were certain things that I totally missed. Certain things I took for granted, and this time I won't take anything for granted. I know I have to do this at this time, this at this time, and it has definitely helped me at least so far to prepare for this upcoming season," Stevens would remark. Stevens would go on, "It's definitely a big advantage having done this before, and can reflect on it. What went well, and what didn't."
It also helps that Stevens has coached the junior high program the past few years. So the players add to that comfort level of the job. "I know the kids pretty well, having them at the lower levels. They kind of start to show at that age. You know who your playmakers are, who your leaders are. I do have a better knowledge of them coming into it, I'm not coming in blindly," commented Stevens. "At the same time, the kids already know me, they know how I operate, they know certain expectations I have, those expectations are a little bit higher talking the vasity level then junior high. One of my big things is conditioning. You have to be in great shape, the team in better condition going into the fourth quarter, less tired, they will make less mistakes, less mistakes usually means winning. The kids know I'm going to run the crap out of them, we're going to condition, that's a big thing for me and they knew that in junior high," Stevens would conclude.
Steven's is prepared for the pressures that will come with coaching again, and knows there are always going to be people who will be negative due to past incidents. But he is focused on what he has to do now. "I can't worry about what other people think, what other people say, I mean the administartion has the faith in me to come back to me. I'm not looking back, were not looking in the past. We're a close knit family in that locker room. People are going to say things, people are going to think what they want to think, I'm not going to get caught up in that or get concerned with it. I have a job to do. I think I'll do the job well, if I didn't, I wouldn't have put in for the job. Let people think what they want to think, and that's just a challenge to prove those people wrong," Stevens would explain.
As far as what fans will see from the 2009 Rams, Stevens was quick to point out that every position on the teams is open for competition. "I told the kids that every position is open at this point. If somebody wants to try something (a new position) early on this summer, we're going to give them the opportunity. I told every guy that started on the offensive line last year, every spot is open. I think competition brings out the best in everyone. So every spot is a competition," Stevens remarked. With that, the Rams may also look a bit different in how they play the game. "In my opinion balance is important. We'll definetly be more balanced. I'm not going to say that we're going to be slinging the ball all over the place, but our goal is to be a balanced offense," he added.
With so many returning players from last year, you would think the Rams may be a league favorite in the ITCL, but Stevens was a little more even keeled. "I probably put more pressure on myself than anybody out there. Having that many returners, I have my expectations, and of course the kids have expectations. I don't know that it gives us an advantage, but we are definitely going to expect a lot from ourselves with our varsity experience."
The Rams have always had talented athletes and will certainly play a major role in shaping how the ITCL will shake out in 2009. With the Rams kicking off the 2009 season against perennial state power Mogadore on August 28th, Stevens will find out quickly how well his second stint starts out.
-ITCLFootball.net Article
