Program Preview: Minnetonka

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It is year two as the head coach of the Skippers for two-time state champion (Mankato West) coach Mark Esch. Year one under Esch was undoubtedly a success. The Skippers went 2-5 in the COVID shortened season the year before Esch took over the head job. Last season, Tonka went 8-2 and won a playoff game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Not surprising, with the success Esch had with the Scarlets, the most significant improvement came on the offensive side of the ball. The program went from putting up double-digit points just once the entire season to scoring over thirty points five times in ten games.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Esch feels success for the Skippers will start at the line of scrimmage as he feels the team's strength will be on both lines. How quickly the new starters get up to speed – the team returns only eight of twenty-two starters – will go a long way to determine if they can be a factor in the postseason.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Players to watch</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_62fc2d4f4a80a","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["112045"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"For my money, Liwienski is one of the top two-way players in the state. He is one of the most physical centers in the game. One-on-one, once he locks onto a defender, the defender gets moved. He is great on double-team blocks, and his superior footwork allows him to get off the double to pick up a second defender. He is agile enough to get to the second level and handle interior pass rushers. At defensive tackle, those traits crossover to defense. His physical strength makes him a good run stuffer, but his athletic ability allows him to be much more than a two-gap defender.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["313153"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_player_featured_image":138827,"_player_evaluations_1_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Guion has solid instincts and breaks on the ball well while in zone coverage. His quickness coming out of his backpedal and straight-line speed allows him to make up ground in zone coverage. His speed also helps him recover on deep balls when in man coverage.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["140229"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"McCalla has good vision and patience at the line of scrimmage. He does a great job of waiting for his blocks to develop, then he makes his cut and explodes through the hole. His balance is a significant asset as his ability to navigate through the trash and stay upright while bouncing off tacklers. He is more effective avoiding tacklers than running them over, but defenders need to wrap up if they want to get him down. McCalla is not just a threat in the running game; he hurts defenses in the passing game – especially in the flat and on screens. He is also a willing and effective pass blocker.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["242398"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Worley has a great base underneath him. His low hips key everything he does. The junior has excellent lateral movement and can slide well in protection from his guard position. He often stones pass rushers with his low base. His footwork keeps that low base underneath him even when on the move. He avoids over-extending because of his controlled footwork getting to the second level. Worley has a very quick pass set and a solid initial punch. He has great instincts and can get off double teams to pick up blitzes or stunts.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["241907"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"I had to do a double take when looking at Speedling's film. I was having a hard time wrapping my head around the fact that I was looking at film of a then-sophomore. The Skippers' left tackle is an absolute road grader. Early in his highlight package, he stacked up pancakes quicker than IHOP. He already has the size you like to see in a left tackle, and his solid base and upper body strength make him tough to handle at the point of attack. Not just a road grader, Speedling's footwork and instincts keep him in front of faster defenders – allowing him to get his hands on would-be pass rushers and get to the second level when needed.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_5_player_details_player_name":"Hudson Poole","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_5_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_5_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_5_player_details_position":"2410","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_5_player_details_school":"Minnetonka","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_5_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_5_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_5_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"Poole has a big catch radius. He is long and lean and knows how to use that length to his advantage. He adjusts well to under-thrown balls, and his reach can make an over-thrown pass successful. His long striding style helps him get behind the defense, but the junior is agile enough to make sharp cuts while running routes and makes him tougher in the open field than he first appears. He is so solid in the open field that he takes snaps at the quarterback position to take advantage of his speed around the corner and his ability to quickly cut up the field.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_player":["242401"],"_player_evaluations_6_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"The most impressive throw I saw on Spasojevic's highlight package showed his arm's strength. Unable to step into the throw because he was getting hit, Spasojevic, using only his arm, threw the ball twenty-five yards downfield and about twenty yards toward the sidelines. The throw was right on target. His deep balls don't look forced when he can step into his throws. Although I wouldn't say he is a running quarterback, he has good movement in the pocket.","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":7,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview"} /-->