Palmetto football preview 2017: Tigers face tough schedule again

At a glance

Herald’s forecast: 6-4

The schedule is brutal. Head coach Dave Marino said it’s the toughest the Tigers have faced in his eight-year tenure. The first five games are key to Palmetto’s playoff fate: Get through that with a winning record and the Tigers are in good shape. They return a strong defense and have enough offensive skill to match up with most teams.

Deep at: Defensive back/linebacker. The Tigers boast a three-man rotation at every defensive skill spot.

Thin at: Defensive line. Specifically, Palmetto is a but thin at defensive tackle.

Head coach: Dave Marino

Career: Eighth year, 48-31

Needs a big season from: Jason Spicer Jr., Sr., Athlete

A pure athlete, Spicer is an offensive dynamo that Palmetto needs to do as much as possible – from wherever he finds himself on the field. His best position is wide receiver, and that’s where he played during former QB Jack Allison’s career. That changed last year, when he became a QB out of necessity for the Tigers. Now? Spicer took reps at QB throughout the summer, but the plan is to keep him at receiver to start the season. If needed, he has the varsity QB experience and the legs to make the offense zip.

“It gives you so much more flexibility and comfort in what you can do,” head coach Dave Marino said.

Marino has multiple options at quarterback, which allows Spicer more time in his most natural position – wide receiver. But possessing that QB experience provides the Tigers with the chance to use a proven signal-caller who learned the offensive playbook in 2016.

“We have that luxury if need be, but we feel like some of the younger guys can learn enough to step up to fill that void,” Marino said.

Anthony Marino and Lajohntay Wester are the two that Dave Marino will look to at quarterback to allow the athletic Spicer to drift into the receiving game for maximum damage to opposing defenses.

Schedule breakdown

Who’s in: Sarasota Riverview, Lakeland Lake Gibson

Who’s out: Fort Myers, Bayshore

Upgrade: Adding the Rams and Lake Gibson, last year’s 6A state runner-up, creates, arguably, the most difficult non-district schedule around.

Impact newcomer

Ethan Ingham, Jr., OL

Offensive line play is crucial to a team’s success at any level, and Ingham has impressed Palmetto’s coaches at the pivotal position during offseason work.

“He’s going to be a major impact on that offensive line,” head coach Dave Marino said.

Corey Brady’s graduation created a void at right guard, and the Tigers might not skip a beat with Ingham’s inclusion to solidify the offensive line this season.

“His dominance up front, we feel like he could be special up front,” Marino said.

This story was originally published August 23, 2017 at 7:45 AM with the headline "Palmetto football preview 2017: Tigers face tough schedule again."