2023 Season Preview Central Dauphin

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Central Dauphin Rams finished 3-7 in 2022 in arguably the best conference in Pennsylvania the Mid-Penn. Longtime Head Coach Glen McNamee is entering his 18th season at the helm certainly knows the tall task in front of them. The Rams record is a bit deceiving as they had many close contest including dropping a heartbreaker to Wilson 17-10 early on. As we know football is a game of inches and a few bounces go their way and they could of easily have finished at 5-5 or better. Coach Landis has a number of returning starters that are poised to lead Central Dauphin back to Districts. The Rams will be depending on them especially early as their schedule is maybe the toughest in the conference.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Top Returning Players</strong>:</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["649757"],"_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":"This sophomore to be came on the the scene strong last year as a freshman, he is monster at linebacker. Defensively as Coach Weider says below, he does a little bit of everything:u003cbru003eu003cbru003eBrown played linebacker for Central Dauphin East last year. He is a very strong and athletic player who makes many plays for the Central Dauphin East defense. A big part of Brown's game was Central Dauphin East sending him on blitzes to attack the offense. They would send the blitzes from different angles to use Brown's athleticism to create havoc for the offense. Brown is also good at reading and reacting to the play and then coming downhill to make a tackle. Brown is an athletic tough linebacker who makes a ton of plays all over the field. He should only get better going forward.u0022","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["855484"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Franz is another playmaker defensively for the Rams, leading the team in tackles and sacks last fall.  A very instinctive hybrid linebacker who is a terror off the edge to block and has the footwork to get back in coverage.  Franz has the size and speed to play at the FBS level, he just picked up an offer from Lehigh last month. With another monster senior season, Franz will be a hot commodity.u003cbru003eu003cbru003ehttps://twitter.com/jett8franz/status/1668420838465363970?s=20","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["377516"],"_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":"A force on the defensive line for Coach McNamee's defense and will command double teams come fall.  I agree with Coach Weider's assessment below:u003cbru003eu003cbru003eMoon played defensive line for Central Dauphin last year. He is a dominating force inside that is very difficult to block. He has great size standing 6'3 inches tall. He engages offensive linemen very well and gets hands-on right away. He has a good get-off and then uses his strength to push back the offensive lineman. He is really good when he is at nose tackle and disrupts the center. He can push the center back into the offensive player. Moon also has a motor that never stops. He keeps chasing the play all over the field. He recently started to pick up offers from Colleges including Wheeling University and Waynesboro University. I expect more to follow.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["130197"],"_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":"Have I mentioned I really like what the Rams have on defense enough, well [player_tooltip player_id='130197' first='Ayden' last='Smith'] is another reason why. This hard hitting free safety packs a punch and loves to come and meet the ball carrier for a bone crunching tackle. Perhaps being overlooked on a defense that includes some FBS level players, Smith's play cannot be ignored. I expect a big senior season out of him that should lead him to at the least division 2 opportunities.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["802258"],"_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":"The Terrapins went to the Mid-Penn to find possibly the future offensive tackle in [player_tooltip player_id='802258' first='Anthony' last='Robsock']. He will certainly fit the mold for what Coach Locksley is building in College Park. I could see this 3 star recruit playing guard or tackle for Maryland, he is excellent in his run game blocking. His pass blocking is top notch too, but the way he pulls and pancakes defenders, guard or tackle could be in his future.u003cbru003eu003cbru003ehttps://twitter.com/ARobsock/status/1667926631955017729?s=20","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["91618"],"_player_evaluations_5_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"Toland is a speed linebacker for the Rams, that caught [player_tooltip player_id='1156407' first='Vic' last='Castillo']'s late last year with his impressive junior season. Another kid with division 1 potential Vic shared his thoughts below:u003cbru003eu003cbru003eTen games out of Central Dauphin's u003cspan class=u0022pn-tooltip pn-player-linku0022u003eu003cspan class=u0022name-pointeru0022u003eXander Tolanu003c/spanu003eu003c/spanu003e, nearly ten tackles a game averaged by the “undersized” linebacker. u003cspan class=u0022pn-tooltip pn-player-linku0022u003eu003cspan class=u0022name-pointeru0022u003e[player_tooltip player_id='91618' first='Xander' last='Toland']u003c/spanu003eu003c/spanu003e might list shorter and smaller than those ranked around him, that should be a testament to his tape, as he still possesses some of the best linebacking tape in his class. Incredible closing speed, incredible finishing ability once he's got you wrapped up. u003cspan class=u0022pn-tooltip pn-player-linku0022u003eu003cspan class=u0022name-pointeru0022u003e[player_tooltip player_id='91618' first='Xander' last='Toland']u003c/spanu003eu003c/spanu003e plays like his head is on fire. A controlled/disciplined middle linebacker that hardly false steps or hesitates on tape. You can trust that this young man is going to fly hash to hash to bring down anyone carrying the football. Reads the run efficiently, usually meeting the ball carrier in the hole more often than not. Gap discipline is shown, even though he likes to step and go quickly off the snap. There's a great blend of groundedness and tenacity in u003cspan class=u0022pn-tooltip pn-player-linku0022u003eu003cspan class=u0022name-pointeru0022u003e[player_tooltip player_id='91618' first='Xander' last='Toland']u003c/spanu003eu003c/spanu003e . You can argue that's exactly the kind of player coaches want manning the middle of their defense.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_player":["618721"],"_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":"While [player_tooltip player_id='649757' first='Zachary' last='Brown'] took the conference by storm as a freshman last year, there is more up and coming talent for Central Dauphin including [player_tooltip player_id='618721' first='Gavin' last='Bonanno']. Playing multiple positions last season, Bonanno is a kid we should be talking about for years to come. Coach Weider shared his thoughts this past April below:u003cbru003eu003cbru003eGavin played running back, linebacker, and defensible end for Central Dauphin last year. He is another prospect with limited film. In that limited film, he did show good ability at a linebacker position to make plays. He is physical and does a nice job running to the football. At defensive end he is explosive and makes plenty of plays in the backfield. At running back he is a good running back who does a nice job hitting the hole and is a physical runner. Boanno is another player I am looking forward to seeing the film next year.","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_7_player":["558457"],"_player_evaluations_7_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_7_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_7_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"On the defensive line last year Bass made his presence known and is sure to soar up our rankings with a good senior season. [player_tooltip player_id='1156407' first='Vic' last='Castillo'] was very impressed after his junior year and had this to share:u003cbru003eu003cbru003eI have a strong feeling that u003cspan class=u0022pn-tooltip pn-player-linku0022u003eu003cspan class=u0022name-pointeru0022u003e[player_tooltip player_id='558457' first='Joseph' last='Bass']u003c/spanu003eu003c/spanu003e is going to outplay this rank sooner rather than later. Bass' tape proves he's one of the more productive IDL on the back half of our rankings. We can project all day, yet numbers don't lie. Bass is a defensive lineman that can legitimately win shading or head-up on guards or tackles. A multi-tech lineman that wins with great upper-body strength. His tape shows he can be disciplined when unblocked or targeted as the man left unblocked against RPO sets. Great feel for the flow of the play. Recognition of pulling linemen is a plus, good vision into the backfield.","_player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":8,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64b2e48ad4f1b"} /--> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Final Thoughts:</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Central Dauphin Rams have a ton of talent coming back especially on defense, they should be back over 500 for 2023. Again they may have the toughest schedule in all of the state but Coach McNamee has been doing this a longtime, he will have his squad ready. I fully expect the Rams to have one of the best defenses in the Mid-Penn, if they're offense can improve then they will be back in the District 3 playoffs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->