June 12, 2017 at 1:23 p.m.
Hodag gridders start offseason football program
Hodag gridders start offseason football program
The Hodags have failed to make the playoffs since 2012, haven't had a winning season since 1996 and haven't won a conference championship since 1989.
Last season, Rhinelander went 2-7 overall, and winless in the GNC, amid an injury-plagued year.
On Thursday, the Hodags began their quest to turn fortunes around in 2017 by hosting the first week of the Northwoods 7-on-7 Passing League.
This is a time for Rhinelander to start implementing its playbook.
"You're trying to get your playbook down, your passing routes down, your quarterback's timing in, defensively you're working on coverage," RHS head coach Chris Ferge said. "We are trying to use coverage that we are going to be using in our season, so it's all very relevant to us and we do throw the ball a lot so it's a great way to start the season, to get the kids to have camaraderie and be around each other. It's definitely fun."
It is just early June, so this is also a chance for players to start getting football on the brain.
It's also a time when Rhinelander can begin to gel as a team and build chemistry before fall practice begins.
"This and the weight room are two great ways to be around the guys," Ferge said. "This is my favorite time of the year because I know it's starting up again. It's easier than going into this cold turkey when we're handing out equipment in early August or late July. You get to ease your way into the season and give kids information slowly and they're able to learn a little bit better."
Winning obviously requires a team to be talented, but it also requires a team to have chemistry, which is something that Ferge continues to stress to his players.
Trust is something Ferge believes is very important amongst teammates.
"Anything that bring us together, anything where we're spending time together where we're learning about each other and spending time together is a great thing," Ferge said. "This is the number one team sport that there is, I'd argue that with anybody. You have 11 guys out there, you have to trust the person next to you. It doesn't matter if we're volunteering, it doesn't matter if we're doing 7-on-7 or we're lifting, anything where we're together at a team function, I place value in and very happy that we have the funds to do that."
On the field, the 7-on-7 helps install plays and schemes prior to the start of the season.
Ferge hopes to have the passing game complete by the start of the season so the Hodags can focus on other areas during fall practice.
"We'll have our passing game in," Ferge said. "So we can focus on our running game, we can focus on tackling, we focus on blocking - the physical aspects of football that are definitely very, very important. Knowing our formations, knowing our passing plays, knowing our coverages, understanding who has who in a man or zone situation - it just takes care of a part of the game so we can focus on other areas later on."
Anyone in attendance on Thursday night could notice Rhinelander had the most excitable team there.
The Hodag coaches and players were competing as if it were a real game and Ferge believes there is a correlation between 7-on-7 and success during the regular season.
"I've found that our best 7-on-7 seasons translate to our best regular seasons," Ferge said. "They do translate. The teams that you see at some of the bigger tournaments that we have for 7-on-7, those teams that make it the finals are very good teams and have very good seasons. So we're concerned about it and we want to do well every time we hit the field."
Nick Sabato may be reached at [email protected] or via Twitter @SabatoNick.
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