Line play should be a strength for football team

Even though Custer High School head football coach Russ Bailey is entering into his fourth year as the man in charge of the Wildcat program, this is a season of firsts for his tenure in Custer.

For the first time in his four years he returns the vast majority of his players from the previous season. For the first time, he is a little more concerned about the depth on the team at the skill positions. And, perhaps the most bizarre first, is that he believes offensive line play will not only be much improved this year, but may actually be the strength of the team.

“Iâ��haven’t been able to say that (in the past),” he said. “We’re going to be solid up front. We have some good ball players. It’s going to be a matter of if they remember what they have been taught, and if they can get it done.”

The Wildcats are coming off a 2009 campaign that saw them win only a single game, a year ending romp over Hill City. That might lead some to conclude returning so many players might not necessarily be such a great thing. Bailey is not among those.

“You can look at it as you’re returning the full lineup of a team that didn’t have much success, or you can look at it as you have a team that has experience now,” he said.â��“The good thing is, coming into practice, now all of a sudden you don’t have to learn anymore. The kids know the plays, they know the positions. Now it’s a matter of playing and playing hard. We’ve got some bodies, all of a sudden. It’s not going to be, ‘we have to put in who is available.’ We can put in who we need.”

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