I sat down with Head Coach of the Belleville West Maroons Cameron Pettus and asked him some questions about his first season as Head Coach of the Maroons, as well as what he has in store for the program's future.
Pettus: "It was a great learning expierience for me. Learning what my role is and how to balance offense, defense and special teams."
2) Coach Burianek has moved over to McKendree University after one year of installing and running a new offensive system. Who will serve as the new offensvie coordinator?
Pettus: "I will be calling the plays next season and will install the offense this offseason with the help of my staff."
3) Is this offense a whole new system?
Pettus: "It will be utilizing some of the same principles from last year, but we will be operating out of the spread. We want to attack the defense by getting our athletes out in space. We will be using an offensive system very similar to the one the University of Oregon utilizes."
4) Will you guys continue to two platoon (nobody goes both ways)?
Pettus: "No. The best players will play, and if that means a player starts on both sides of the ball if necessary, then so be it."
5) We know we will see that aggresive 3-4 defense again next year. What can we expect to see when the defense hits the field next season?
Pettus "You will see an expierienced and savvy group that will attack the offense and cause turnovers. We have to create more turnovers and score on defense."
6) What are some of the things in the offseason that you guys are doing to develop your players?
Pettus: "The breakfast club (morning workouts) is outstanding. The extra conditioning and lifting we are getting done is exciting. The change to morning workouts allows our kids to participate in another sport here, which allows them to compete and enhance their athletic skills. We are also hammering our guys on grades. A lot of college recruiting for next year has already started so kids are seeing that their grades are crucial because that is what the college coaches are checking out with our Juniors. It sends a very good message, Good grades = Good options."
To get an idea of what Belleville West's offense will look like next season check out this video of a breakdown of the University of Oregons offense.
Coach Pettus will be entering his second season as the Head Coach at Belleville West.
