Football: War Eagles Searching For Consistency in O-Line

FILE PHOTO FLIP PUTTHOFF Kevin Merlos works out Aug. 5 with his Rogers Heritage lineman teammates at practice.
FILE PHOTO FLIP PUTTHOFF Kevin Merlos works out Aug. 5 with his Rogers Heritage lineman teammates at practice.

ROGERS -- Rogers Heritage returns three starters on the offensive line this season, but coach Perry Escalante and assistant coach Jason Upton agree the group as a whole has lacked consistency thus far in preseason workouts.

"We had a couple projected starters on the offensive line not here (Friday) and that's frustrating offensively," Escalante said. "We've struggled a little on the line because of that. That works great if you're trying to establish some depth, but we're trying to get those top five or six guys ready to play."

The Skinny

Position Battle: Offensive Line

Biggest Strength: Experience. … Three full-time starters return, while a fourth that saw playing time and one start comes back.

Biggest Question Mark: Staying healthy. … Injuries on the offensive line hurt the War Eagles down the stretch last season and senior Kevin Merlos battled a knee problem last season and during the spring.

Watch Out For: Noah Madryga. … The 5-foot-9, 243-pound junior has a season under his belt in the 7A-West and could be poised for a breakthrough year.

Upton said the group must work as a unit.

"Right now we have plays where four guys, doing great," Upton said. "One guys messes it up, and we've got a bad play out of it. We don't have have enough where all five guys are getting their blocks."

Escalante and Upton, who played on the offensive line at Arkansas, also agreed on one or two who have stood out in practice.

Guards Kevin Merlos (5-foot-9, 251 pounds) and Noah Madryga (5-9, 243), both returning starters, earned praise.

"You can tell those two are a little ahead of the others, but they should be," Upton said.

"Madryga is just very, very solid," Escalante added.

Senior Matt Reading (5-10, 305) also returns at center, while senior Brandon DeMello (6-2, 255) and junior D.J. Borman (6-4, 265) are currently working at the tackles with the first team.

DeMello started the playoff game at North Little Rock last year but played only on the right side last season. He's still learning how to play on the left side, Upton said.

"He's having to adjust and he's not real comfortable there yet," Upton said.

Merlos, who started all last season and the last three games of his sophomore season, said the unit has to correct mental mistakes.

"We've gotten a lot stronger in the offseason," Merlos said. "The coaches have pushed us really hard. We can fix those mistakes. We just have to focus on our job. I think this group can do some good stuff. It's just going to take a little time."

Sophomore Vincente Guerreo (5-8, 263) is another who could see playing time on Friday night, but is still adapting to pace of the high school game.

"He needs to come on," Escalante said. "He has the ability. Borman is coming on. He's gotta move though. It's a whole lot different than on Monday night."

"We're looking at him being a backup guard or center, but he's probably going to get his fair share this year," Upton added.

Upton also wants to see what Madryga would do at left tackle, which would put the sophomore Guerreo in at guard.

Upton said he's uncertain about depth in some spots but believes the offensive line is a strength for the War Eagles.

"We don't have a lot of depth, but just looking back to last year, if I had the backups I have now, I'd feel better about them going into a game," Upton said. "We don't have any Hunter Chasteens out here. That's why we have to be solid across the whole front."

Sports on 08/19/2014

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