When Carson High convened its spring football camp, tackle Bryceton Schilling was the only starter back on the offensive line, and he was playing for a new position coach.
If Schilling was concerned,it didn’t show. He just quietly went about his business, helping his new teammates and learning some new things himself.
“I just try to set a good example,” Schilling said as the Senators prepared for Friday’s game at Reno High. “We’ve had the whole spring and summer to get used to each other. We are starting to work together pretty well.”
You set an example two ways — work ethic or being vocal. Schilling falls into the former category.
“It’s more of a work ethic thing with Bryceton,” CHS line coach Vic Castro said. “He’s not a fiery guy. He leads by example. He’ll run scout team for you. He has a great attitude.
“He is an old school, bring your lunch pail to work, sort of player. He’s talented and a smart player. He picks things up really easy.”
And that’s a good thing, because Castro is using a new technique with his offensive line this year.
“He (Castro) is tough on us in terms of technique,” Schilling said. “It is definitely going to help when we go against bigger guys.” Castro’s change is all about footwork.
“We want to attack first, especially on pass protection,” Castro said. “We want the linemen to be attacking first even on pass plays. Bryceton had a bad habit of going backward, and he still does it sometimes, but we’re getting there. It’s jab, strike and drop.
“Bryceton has an amazing motor. He does such a good job at attacking. His nastiness comes out when he gets into game mode.”
Jab, strike and drop. Schilling probably repeats those words at least a couple of times a day.
The 6-foot-1 225-pound Schilling better have some nastiness because he’ll be giving up height and weight to many of his opponents. One has to do something to counteract that, and aggressiveness and technique are certainly two weapons.
Castro has worked on the defensive side of the ball until this year.
“Coach Castro isn’t a yeller,” Schilling said. “He likes to get you excited and pumped up.”
The sample size is just one game, but Schilling feels good about his performance.
“I feel pretty good about it (the Desert Mountain game),” he said Tuesday morning. “I need to be a little more intense, especially for this week’s game (against Reno). They are a hard-working physical team not a finesse team like Desert Mountain.”
Schilling likes what he’s seen from his o-line teammates.
“Dallin Schaffer looks really good so far,” Schilling said. “Dallin isn’t afraid to get hit. He gets his nose in there and does a good job. Sheldon (Miller) is playing well, and so are Bernardo (Lopez) and Brandon (Macias).”
Castro will have a better base to build on next year because Schaffer and Macias will be back along with reserves Blaise Bonomo (6-0, 230) and Chandler Tierney (6-1, 255). It will be a bigger and more experienced than the group Castro started with this year.