2024 Look Ahead: Shiprock Chieftains

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Looking to regain some stability in the program, Shiprock has dropped its independent status and rejoined Class 3A for the 2024-25 cycle.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After spending the 2023 season coaching at Rantoul High School in Illinois, former Newcomb head coach Jeremy Wooten has returned to New Mexico and taken the reins at Shiprock.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wooten recognizes he has a massive rebuilding project ahead of him. But it's not anything he hasn't dealt with before.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“Every program I've taken over has been struggling,” Wooten told Prep Redzone New Mexico. “Everything I've learned has been by trial and error. The first thing I've focused on here since taking the job has been our culture. I'm a huge fan of culture. I'm a big believer in it. Culture often beats strategy. My culture is family. We're a family on&nbsp; the field, off the field and in school.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wooten has created a Leadership Council on the team to help foster a culture-driven program. He meets with those players once a week.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“I want those guys to lead,” Wooten said. “Some of them haven't led before. But they volunteered for it. I want player-led, not coach-fed practices. That's one thing our guys learned throughout the summer.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wooten said about 25-30 players routinely showed up for summer workouts, an encouraging number for a program that has struggled in recent years.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Offensively, Shiprock will utilize a ‘ground and pound' attack featuring shotgun and single/double wing formations. <strong>Freedom Cobb</strong>, a strong contender for the All-Name Team in New Mexico, will be the starting quarterback. Cobb last played football for the Chieftains in 2022. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“When I got here in March, Freedom was one of the first players I built a relationship with,” Wooten said. “He reminds me of myself when I was a player. I see the potential. But there are little things he needs to work on. But he has stepped it up. I told him that if he's going to play quarterback for me, I was going to be harder on him than any other player on the team. He has to lead and calm people down. I'm proud of how far he has come.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Junior <strong>Elijah Shorthair</strong> (good size and speed at 6-feet-0, 185 pounds) and senior <strong>Antonio James</strong> (speedy scatback type) began preseason practice as the top two running backs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“This offense has been successful,” Wooten said. “It's ugly because we're not going to pass the ball much. But we believe if we do it right, the defense is&nbsp; going to start getting frustrated. The offense is designed to get four yards every play and wear the defense down. That's our plan.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In Shiprock's new scheme, tight ends are the primary pass catchers. The &nbsp;players taking first team reps have been <strong>Ethan Howe</strong> and <strong>Xavion Smith</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The offense line is filled with question marks regarding who will actually line up and play in a couple of weeks. Wooten said Shiprock is ‘mixing and matching' to find the right combination. Senior <strong>Blaine Nelson</strong> is expected to be one of the starting tackles. <strong>Wakiyan Stash</strong> should be one of the guards. They could end up being the anchors. Newcomer <strong>Jared Jim</strong> should start at center. &nbsp;The guards in Shiprock's scheme are required to pull frequently., requiring speed and mobility.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“Our guards will pull the most, so we need physical, quicker guys,” Wooten said. “We can't have guys who are timid to make contact.” On just about every play, we have at least one offensive linemen pulling and our quarterback is sometimes a lead blocker. We try to have more blockers than defenders, regardless of which side we're running.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Defensively, Wooten prefers a two-platoon system but the numbers right now dictate many players going both ways. Shorthair and James will play defensive back. Shiprock will utilize a 4-2-5 as the base scheme. Freedom and Cobb will play linebacker. Smith will play defensive end with Jim lining up somewhere on the DL.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2024 SHIPROCK FOOTBALL SCHEDULE</strong>:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Aug. 23 at Navajo Prep (7 p.m.)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Aug. 30 MORIARTY (7 p.m.)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sept. 6 at Kirtland Central (7 p.m.)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sept.13 Bye</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sept. 20 THOREAU (7 p.m.)*</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sept. 27 at Montezuma-Cortez (CO)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oct. 4 at Wingate (7 p.m.)*</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oct. 11 at Tohatchi (7 p.m.)*</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oct. 18 CROWNPOINT (7 p.m.)*</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oct. 25 at Zuni (7 p.m.)*</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Nov. 1 at Gallup &nbsp;(7 p.m.)*</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>* District 3A-1 Game</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->