Leto

By Mike Camunas
Published August 31, 2007

Multiple Choice:

In 2007, the Falcons will:

A) Upset at least one district foe

B) Find a 1,000-yard rusher to replace Dontae Ashley

C) Find a solid starting quarterback

D) Throw the ball much more than you think

Answer: D. Backs Darius McRoy and Marquis Nedd could combine for 1,000 yards, but likely won't carry the ball enough to reach the millennia mark individually. The Falcons are expected to scrap the option in favor of a spread offense to offset their lack of size up front. Leto won 25 of 45 7-on-7 games this past summer.

True-False

Defensive end James Guyton, who transferred from Hillsborough in the spring, will make a huge, immediate impact.

Answer: True. Guyton, at 6-2, 225 pounds, fits into a very young defense and "has a motor that doesn't stop," according to coach Hugh Dehnert. The coach said Guyton was "the most dominating lineman" in the Falcons' spring game and is expected to lead the team in sacks.

Yes or No

Will Leto post a better record than last season's 2-8?

Answer: It's a toss up, at least to Dehnert. Though in a district with county powerhouses Jefferson and Plant, Dehnert said Leto, which hasn't made the playoffs since 1999, already is a better team than last season. "We're head and tails about where we were last year," Dehnert said. "But we still have a while to go to be really competitive in the county."

Essay

Blake coach Sean Washington on Leto:

"I like that a new coach has come in and (Dehnert's) running it the way that he can have a lot of success. I like what he did because he came in and put in a different offense, which a lot of people are not into these days - everybody wants to throw the ball. And he has a lot of great athletes over there."e_SClBDehnert on the Falcons:

"Young, we're very young. We don't have a tremendous amount of seniors and we're very deep in the skill players, but we're not deep in the lineman position. There's just not a whole lot of 6-foot, 230-pound people walking around this neighborhood. But we're much more physical than we were last year."

Extra Credit

Former Leto player and offensive line coach Frank Rose, who has coaching experience in the college ranks, takes over as offensive coordinator/running back/quarterbacks coach. ... Former assistant Tony Hill is back for his second stint with Leto. Hill was Rose's coach in the early '90s.

Mike Camunas, Times correspondent

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[Last modified August 29, 2007, 15:33:04]