With three new coaches in the Western Big Six — all in the Quad-Cities portion of the conference — Alleman coach Todd Depoorter sounded like a coach in a strange spot at the Big Six banquet.
In Year 3 of his tenure as the head coach of the Pioneers but his 30th year overall on the staff, the gray-haired Depoorter is now the dean of the Q-C Illinois head coaches.
Yet, it’s clear Year 2 as a head coach taught him some tough lessons during a 2-7 season in which the Pioneers gave up 185 points in their first four games, all losses.
He’s added two assistant coaches with immense experience in Steve Ebner, a former Alleman and Rock Island defensive coach, and Sean Ponder, the former Quad-City Steamwheelers head coach.
“We are going to improve on the things we were deficient on last year,” Depoorter said. “We were a poor tackling team. We weren’t as prepared as we needed to be.”
Adding two additional assistants allows coaches to work more on their own area, including himself, he said. And it also gives the staff a new way to look at things.
So far, returning offensive linemen Eric Lange said there’s a new attitude this preseason.
“We have a lot of enthusiasm in practice,” said Lange, “which is where we struggled last year. I think if we keep practicing like we are, we will have a good season.”
The head coach has noticed the improved attitude, it would appear.
“I like their energy,” Depoorter said. “I like the way they approach things. They are working well together. I like their attitude.”
Alleman won’t lack for experience in its backfield with junior quarterback Sam Mattecheck returning after rushing for nearly 10 yards per carry and eight touchdowns a year ago while gaining 546 yards, plus four running backs. They include Hunter Hodge (21 carries for 110 yards), John West (77 for 338) and Corneille Logo (67-296). There’s also some returning help on the line with Lange, center Cal Wardlow and tight end Ryan O’Hern.
The backfield is clearly a strength, admitted Depoorter, whose Pioneers run out of veer with triple option capabilities.
Flexbone Association 
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