Lewis leads Flashes’ transformation|[8/8/06]

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, August 8, 2006

This summer, St. Aloysius sophomore quarterback Chris Lewis spent a week rubbing shoulders with Peyton and Eli Manning at the Manning Passing Academy in Thibodeaux, La.

Coach Jim Taylor and his Flashes are hoping some of that NFL star power can rub off on the team’s offense this fall.

Lewis is the front runner to win the starting quarterback job for the Flashes this season. His size (6-foot-2) and arm strength are a big factor in the Flashes modifying their offense from a grind it out rushing attack to a more potent mix, featuring the pass.

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&#8220For three years our opponents have been able to focus on Alex (Halinski),” said St. Al senior wide receiver Chip Donald. &#8220This year, we’re bringing in more motion and we’re going to pass the ball.”

Taylor said the key factor in changing the offense to a double-wing look was to take advantage of a bevy of skilled players.

&#8220Basically, we’ve got five skilled players, who we want to get the ball to them in the open field,” Taylor said. &#8220We’re not asking our quarterbacks to throw way down field. We just want to a make good throws. We want to be able to mix up our offense a lot better.”

Harris Martin, another senior receiver, likes the new attack.

&#8220It’s a lot different than last year and it’s designed to take some pressure off of Alex,” Martin said.

Halinski led the Flashes with 950 yards and 15 touchdowns last year but he was pretty much the only offense St. Al could generate against its tougher opponents. The Flashes’ two quarterbacks combined for just 650 yards passing.

&#8220We’re trying to bring more diversity,” said Halinski, who’s called &#8220Red Beard” by his teammates.

For the offense to be successful, a lot hinges on how Lewis progresses.

&#8220He’s improved a lot and we’re pretty confident he can get the job done,” Donald said.

&#8220This was certainly an area where we needed to improve on,” Taylor said. &#8220The objective is not to have a 1,000-yard passer but to be able to use play-action and get the ball to our skilled people in Harris Martin, Marsh Willis, Chip Donald, Jordan Muirhead and Joseph Sullery. And we’ve also got a good tight end in J.R. Burnett who can be an outstanding receiver for us.”

The soft-spoken Lewis says he’s ready for the challenge.

&#8220I feel good about the offense and I like how we’re going to spread the ball around a lot more,” Lewis said.

The Manning Passing Academy was one of three camps he went to this summer. The other was the Tom Shaw Speed Camp in Kenner, La., and the other was at Mississippi State.

&#8220I got to work with Eli, Peyton, Archie and Chris Leak,” Lewis said of the Manning family and Leak, the University of Florida starting quarterback.

&#8220With the Mannings, I worked on form and technique. Peyton also showed me some ways on how to study film,” Lewis said.

Donald said the Lewis Speed Camp was beneficial as well. Lewis was a former strength coach of the New England Patriots.

&#8220They had about 25 or 30 draft picks there including Jerious Norwood from (Mississippi) State,” Donald said. &#8220He (Shaw) was big about using form and relaxation techniques and stuff. It helped my footwork and I increased my speed by at least a tenth of a second.”