St. Petersburg: Pinellas Progress Report

Over the next couple of weeks, the Times will offer a comprehensive report on each football team and its progress during spring practice.

By JOE SMITH
Published June 8, 2007

Coach: Joe Fabrizio (second year)

2006 record: 4-7

Key losses: OL/DL Lawon Scott, DB Quinton Newton, RB Emmanuel Fleming, ATH Jernois Bradberry

Key returners: RB/LB Tae Jones, DT Tejay Brown, LB Alec Hayes, DB Marques Sumbry, S Amare Hart

Spring skinny: The Green Devils felt the graduation of Scott (now at Ole Miss) in their spring classic, as Nature Coast ran all over them in the 21-7 defeat. Fabrizio said hitting at practice was "livelier" than last spring - his first at St. Petersburg - and he expects his team will have a better chance to grasp the offensive and defensive schemes he wants to implement. The Green Devils, which lost in the first round of the playoffs a year ago, will need to make up for the loss of their leading rusher (Fleming) and win more battles up front.

Gamebreaker: Quarterback Robert Lemon. Lemon, who will be depended on more this season, has improved his confidence in the pocket, Fabrizio said, showing that in a 75-yard touchdown pass in the spring classic.

Key question: How will the Green Devils defensive line hold up in a brutal four-game stretch to open the season? St. Petersburg will have to tackle two of the county's top backs in Jeff Brinson (Northeast) and Brynn Harvey (Largo), sandwiched in between by East Lake's Micah Powell.

Schedule: Aug. 31: at Northeast; Sept. 7: East Lake; Sept. 14: at Countryside; Sept. 20: at Largo; Sept. 28: Boca Ciega; Oct. 5: Gibbs; Oct. 18: at Pinellas Park; Oct. 26: Dixie Hollins; Nov. 2: Seminole; Nov. 9: at Lakewood.

Joe Smith, Times staff writer

[Last modified June 7, 2007, 20:49:44]