Blainefield doing things differently on, off field
Ed Thompson
Monessen’s returning lettermen from left are Dawayne Howell, Isaiah Beltram, Jalen Brice and Elijah Davis.
Ed Thompson
Monessen head coach Mike Blainefield expects changes on and off the field for the Greyhounds this season.
Now in his second year as the Monessen head football coach, Mike Blainefield is doing things a little differently this year on and off the field.
Having played for four different head coaches between high school and college, he picked up a lot of ideas and styles, but there is no greater teacher than experience.
“I took a little bit of a different approach,” he said. “I wanted to be more hands on in the district and make my face a little more recognizable.
“For whatever reason, the program seemed separate from the district and once you were able to connect those things and get people involved, the kids and faculty, it has helped.”
As far as on the field, Blainefield has made practices more structured.
“Practices are broken down to the minute,” he said. “College is structured like that and it gets the kids into a routine and there are no surprises.
“They know what is on the agenda each day, and at the end of practice they know what is coming the next day.”
One advantage Monessen has is that it returns eight starters on both offense and defense.
Blainefield is going to lean heavily on senior running back and linebacker Vaughn Taylor for leadership.
“Vaughn is a galvanizing figure and the kids look up to him,” Blainefield said. “His attitude has improved and he is a big reason the numbers are up.”
A self-described “knucklehead” as an underclassman, Taylor knows he has to step up and mature.
“I am doing better at becoming a leader because when I was younger, I made mistakes but I have learned from them,” he said. “I want to make sure the players are respectful to teachers, coaches and officials.
“I am trying to lead by example, and I want us to come together as a team and a family.”
Other returning skilled position players are junior quarterback Dawayne Howell, sophomore running back Elijah Davis, senior receiver Darnel Howell, junior receiver Marquell Smith and sophomore receiver Isaiah Beltram.
Senior center Jay Bonacci and sophomore guard Jalen Brice return as starters up front for the Hounds.
Taylor and Davis return as starting linebackers as does sophomore Darius Stevenson.
Brice is the lone returning starter on the defensive line, Howell and Smith return at cornerback, and a pair of seniors, Justin Towler and Thaddeus King, are back at safety.
“We are being overlooked and I prefer it that way,” Blainefield said. “We haven’t placed any long-term goals other than making the playoffs and the goal right now is to go week-to-week and the focus is on Charleroi.”
He also spoke about keys to a successful season.
“We have stay healthy and perform academically,” he said. “We did so last year as no one was ineligible and that is my main goal.
“We will be successful if we give a team effort, play well together and believe in each other.”
Monessen plays in the Tri-County Conference.