2023 Season Preview J.P. McCaskey

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The McCaskey Red Tornadoes finished their 2022 campaign 1-9 in the second season for Head Coach Ben Thompson. After a dramatic overtime victory over John Bartram week 1, the Red Tornadoes dropped their last 9 contests by an average of just under 40 points per game. Needless to say things did not go as planned in Coach Thompson second year as the helm. McCaskey did not have a number of impact seniors with the exception of Matthew Remash and Xavier Gates and by all accounts their returning playmakers have been busting their tales off in this off-season. Playing in Section 1 of the LL Berks will give you no cakewalks, but Coach Thompson squad has some nice building blocks for the future.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Key Returning Players:</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["855274"],"_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":"The go to on offensive for the Red Tornadoes should be this rising junior [player_tooltip player_id='855274' first='Deandre' last='Jones']. An explosive good route runner Jones took the conference by storm last year with many highlight reel catches. With the graduation of Remash he will have to adjust to a new quarterback, but watching his tape the kid is ready to play no matter who is throwing the ball to him. The second team all conference selection a year ago, Jones has the ability to become one of the most dynamic receiver in the entire LL Berks. Getting him the ball should be a priority for Coach Thompson's offense this fall.rnrnhttps://www.hudl.com/video/3/18899100/63b32b0717629508b4cd3ab3","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"Eliezer Santiago","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"5'9u0022","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"2496","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"Mccaskey","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_1_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"A gentleman who has been playing the game for over a decade, senior to be Eliezer Santiago has a chance to have a big impact for the Red Tornadoes this fall. A tough hard nosed outside linebacker who I would like to see use his pads more this upcoming season. A lot of his big time plays he is just using his hands to bring down an offender, he gets his shoulders squared away and he'll see a difference. The ability for Santiago to have a all-county selection season is their, it is time for him to prove it.rnrnhttps://www.hudl.com/video/3/16031079/6373bc375b3cab0e80563ed2","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"Luis Santiago","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"5'7u0022","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"2496","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"McCaskey","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_2_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Another linebacker that has yet to see the field a ton but has a chance to end his high school career with a bang is Luis Santiago. This young man plays with a lot of discipline at his outside linebacker position and is hardly ever fooled on play-action. He has the speed to keep in coverage and has a nice pop that he delivers with each tackle. When he is sent on a blitz he fires through the gaps and still is able to come in with good form to not miss many tackles.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"Eh Klu Soe","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"5'5u0022","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"2411","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"McCaskey","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_3_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"McCaskey long snapper/center/linebacker returns for his Junior season, looking to have a impact on all three phases of the game. A superb long-snapper Soe might have a future at linebacker as well. The way he comes up and thumps running backs is impressive and he has solid speed to add on to that. The do it all coaches dream Soe will line up wherever he is asked, he has the ability to succeed at multiple positions.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"Benginho Cadet","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"5'6u0022","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"2495","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"McCaskey","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_4_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Junior defensive back Bengiho Cadet has a chance to play a lot this year and play well. For a Tornadoes defense that gave up close to 40 points per contest having potential playmakers like Cadet should help. A very aggressive corner who is not afraid to take chances as he showed many times for their JV squad last year. For a defense that really struggled you need guys like Cadet who aren't afraid to mix it up and challenge people.","_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":"[player_tooltip player_id='1054288' first='Jalen' last='Cintron']","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_5_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_5_player_details_height":"5'11u0022","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_5_player_details_position":"2409","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_5_player_details_school":"McCaskey","_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":"Replacing Albright college commit and three year starter Matthew Remash will not be easy, but watching his tape [player_tooltip player_id='1054288' first='Jalen' last='Cintron'] may bring a new dynamic to Mccaskey's offense. While Remash could sling the deep ball with anyone in the district he was not exactly known for his running ability, this is where Cintron can have an impact. A dual-threat passer Cintron sees the field nicely for his age and now its his time to shine. He can throw the deep ball pretty well also, what may be his best quality is his ability to take a hit in the pocket and keep going.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_6_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_6_player_details_player_name":"Juan Colon","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_6_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_6_player_details_height":"5'9u0022","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_6_player_details_position":"2495","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_6_player_details_school":"McCaskey","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_6_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_6_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_6_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"Last one is another defensive back in Juan Colon who like Cadet has not played a ton of varsity football experience but can have an impact for 2023.  Colon will never give up on a play and is typically the defender who you see on tape making the last second tackle before the offensive player finds the endzone. Colon's energy cannot be replaced and they will need to continue his development at corner. McCaskey defense in particular against the pass struggled mightily last year, kids like Colon and Cadet can help stop the bleeding.","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":7,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64c2abc37a142"} /--> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Final Thoughts:</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last season was not pretty for JP McCaskey I do not think you will have anyone tell you differently. The past is the past and Coach Thompson and his staff are moving forward with an extensive off-season workout plan that by all accounts has a lot of participants. Competing in the LL Berks Section 1 does the Red Tornadoes no favors and non league opponents such as Cedar Cliff and Elizabethtown will not be a walk in the park. That all being said I expect McCaskey to be much improved on both sides of the ball and finish with 3 or more wins. Has to be mentioned the nonstop grind Coach Thompson is putting in has to be respected, he will not quit on his team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->