Experienced Rice aims to stay healthy

Updated: June 27, 2011 1:32PM

Wearing sweat-soaked Brother Rice T-shirts and maroon athletic shorts, the Crusaders left the Richards 7-on-7 passing camp having achieved their main goal.

Staying healthy.

“We don’t want to get anyone hurt in the summer here,” Brother Rice coach Steve Nye said.

No wonder. With 17 returning starters, 2011 should be a successful season for Brother Rice.

“We’re looking pretty good,” returning linebacker Mike Sheehy said after Saturday’s 12-team event. “We’ve just got to stay competitive every day.”

Nye acknowledged the benefits of the summer camps, even for a team that tends to keep the ball on the ground.

“It’s a great way to work on coverages and the passing game,” Nye said. “Our league is more run-oriented, but more and more teams are passing.”

And, the Brother Rice coach also used the camp to see if his players have the right demeanor.

“The biggest thing is, I want to see guys compete and how they react when something goes against them,” Nye said. “That’s what I get the most out of it. When you’re going against another team, the attitude you want to bring.”

But after all of that, staying healthy is paramount.

“The biggest thing I think is chemistry and injuries,” Nye said. “The teams that get on a nice roll early and stay away from injuries are the teams that are going to be there at the end of the year in the Catholic League.”

For a team with as much experience as Rice, chemistry shouldn’t be an issue.

Start with the running attack spearheaded by Martez Walker, who has committed to Central Michigan, and supported ably by backfield mate Andrew Walker.

“We’re a year bigger and stronger,’’ Nye said. “We’ll just see if we’re a year smarter. We weren’t very smart as a football team last year. A lot of that is experience. There’s a big difference between a junior and a senior.’’

Senior quarterback Pat Parrilli will mix the ground game with passes to Dan Lyons and Ryan McGaha, who missed last season with a torn ACL. Both receivers also will be in the secondary.

“This helps me get a look at coverages because it’s all passing,” Parrilli said of the Richards event. “It’s big for timing, big for getting a feel for what my receivers are going to do.”

Sheehy and fellow linebacker Cody Stull will be two defenders the opposition will want to avoid. Sheehy cited what the defense gained from the Richards camp.

“It helps us work on our pass coverage and identify different routes the other team is running,” he said. “It also helps us be competitive against other offenses.”

Brother Rice was 6-6 last year, including a first-round loss to Waubonsie Valley in the Class 8A playoffs. Rice opens this season against Orr and then renews a neighborhood rivalry against Marist in the second week.

“Back on, yes it is,” Nye said.

After Bishop McNamara in the third week, Rice begins its Catholic Blue season against St. Rita.

“We’ve got a ton of work to do,” Nye said.

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