NORTHWEST WHITFIELD BRUINS
Head coach: Josh Robinson (47-28 in seven seasons here and overall)
Returning starters: 5 offensive, 3 defensive
Key players: DL Zach Costlow (6-0, 260), LB Jamarey Hull (6-1, 195), ATH Matthew Redmond (5-10, 160), RB Dominique Sistrunk (6-2, 225), DB Daylin Young (6-1, 160).
Team strengths: With the powerful Sistrunk back, the running game should be strong. A deep corps of linebackers, anchored by the athletic Hull, will be solid in the team’s new 3-4 alignment.
Team concerns: A new offensive coordinator and a new defensive scheme could lead to some growing pains early. The Bruins need receivers to step up offensively or defenses may crowd the line to stop Sistrunk.
Newcomer to watch: Senior quarterback Ty Fisher transferred in from LaFayette when his father, Chad, was hired as offensive coordinator, giving the Bruins’ offense a new weapon.
Season outlook: Versatility might be the key word for describing the 2018 Bruins, and that has Robinson energized after a promising 2017 season was derailed by injuries and off-field problems.
Offensively, the Bruins can attack the weakness of a defense by going heavy on the run, throwing it around or mixing it up. Robinson and his new offensive coordinator have the region’s top running back in Sistrunk, so the threat of the imposing 225-pounder will always be a defense’s first thought.
Want some spread option? Sophomore quarterback Redmond, who filled in after star Luke Shiflett was lost for the 2017 season with an ankle injury, is adept at run-pass options. Want a play-action, downfield passing attack? Northwest has it in Ty Fisher, a 6-foot-3 senior two-year starter at LaFayette who can keep defenses honest and hit the big play.
“It won’t be uncommon to see us rotate quarterbacks quite a bit,” Chad Fisher said. “Both quarterbacks bring different elements to the game, and we can be very versatile.”
Defensively, the switch to a 3-4 base will showcase the Bruins’ athletic ability at linebacker, led by senior Hull, whose speed should help cut down the intermediate passes that have hurt the Northwest defense in recent seasons.
“It’s going to allow him to get out in space and make open-field tackles in run support while also showing off how well he is able to cover receivers in passing situations,” Robinson said. “Our linebacking group is deep, with six or seven guys who can step in and play. If we don’t give up big plays in the secondary, this defense can be pretty good.”