GARLAND -- Back to the basics.
Bear River coach Chris Wise knows that if the Bears want to get back to the glory days (which isn't that long ago), his team is going to have to get back to the smashmouth type of football that made them three-time state title winners in 2003, 2004 and 2006.
"We are a pretty good team in terms of our work ethic and the fact that we have some size this year," Wise said. "We decided to make things pretty simple and get back to the old Bear River style of football - running and tackling. We feel like we have the players and the mentality to do some things in the new region.
"You're league always goes down in terms of quality when you lose a couple of great programs like Juan Diego and Judge Memorial. However, I think the addition of schools like Ogden, Stansbury and Tooele will help upgrade thata as well. They are good programs that are starting to win and get things going, so we'll have to be ready from the beginning of the season to meet our goals."
Experience isn't one of the things that the Bears have a lot of, but they return their quarterback, Tayton Rose. Having a player like Rose running the offense is a luxury for Wise because he is so versatile and is already picking up the offense in its simpliest form.
Rose will be able to hand the ball off to a couple of quality running backs in senior Wes Fukui and junior Kyle Zundel. Fukui is a quick back that will be able to hit a hole with the chance of breaking off long runs in the zone-read offense.
Whenever the time comes to throw the ball, Rose will have a fantastic target to throw to in 6-foot-4 Wade Miller. Miller has some of the best hands on the team and will make plays for the Bear River passing game.
The offensive line has some question marks, but coach Wise is hoping that they will come together to find a starting unit for Friday nights.
Defensively might be where the Bears are the strongest. Returning starter Clark Jeppesen brings his bulky 245-pound frame to the defensive front along with sophomore Jeremie Selman. Those two should be able to get pressure in the backfield and disrupt many plays from the other teams in Region 11.
The only problem or question with the defense is breaking in a whole new linebacking core, but the secondary could help with that problem with Miller playing one of the safety positions while seniors Lane Miller and Taylor Day will lock down the receivers from their cornerback positions.
"If we can get pressure on the quarterback from Clark and Jeremie, it should help free up the linebackers to make routine plays," Wise said. "A combination of those things and getting some offense that we lacked towards the end of last season should be enough to get back to winning."
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