Buckle The Chin Straps. Rams Football Practice Starts Saturday

 After a summer of camps and  7-on-7 competitions, it's time for the Rams football team to put on the pads with two workouts scheduled for Saturday. Time to hit and be hit once again. As legendary coach Vince Lombardi said, "Football is blocking and tackling. Everything else is mythology." 

The Rams head into the new season after an 11-1 2009 in which they were Turkey Bowl Champions and Connecticut Class MM State Champions.

Coach Lou Marinelli, who hit his 250th career win last season at the Turkey Bowl, thinks the strength of this year's team will be in the offensive line. His two players in the middle can block out the sun.

Co-captain Conor Hanratty was All-State and All-FCIAC last year. "Hanratty is 6'4" and has added some weight, from 305 pounds up to his current 315 pounds," said Marinelli. His mate at tackle is Jack Atchue who, like Hanratty, is a senior and has also gotten bigger. Atchue is 6'6" and 260 pounds. 

Others on the "O" line will include junior Kalin Killinger who made Honorable Mention All-FCIAC last season as a sophomore.

Marinelli said that David Russell has the edge at center. Other candidates to start are senior Wil Canelas and junior Thomas Rochlin, both described by Marinelli as "looking good so far."

Replacing receiver Willie Ouellette, who was All-State and All-FCIAC will be key. Receivers are expected to be co-captain Kevin Macari, All-State last year. Macari is big, strong and sure handed at 6'3" and 212 pounds.

A pleasant surprise to the coaching staff has been the play of  junior Patrick Newton, younger brother of Cody Newton who was the leading receiver in the state last year with 83 receptions.

"Newton's looked good all summer and may have even better hands than Cody, which is saying something," Marinelli said.

Cameron Armstrong, who's arguably the best athlete on the team, will also play wide receiver. Junior Connor Kilbane is "a good-hands" receiver who should be in the mix along with sophomore tight end Ryan Minaglia.

Marinelli talks about the need for a stronger running game this season. The Rams lost two tough runners in Peter Park and Tim Robustelli, but all-purpose back Joe Costigan returns for his senior year along with Conor Goodwin, who saw limited time with the varsity after spending most of the year playing junior varsity.

Sophomore Duke Repko has been looking good along with Bobbby Distler. Jimmy Joe Granito provides inside power.

Matt Milano is pretty much a lock at quarterback. The junior "really worked hard in the off-season and learned a lot at the 7-on-7 camp in Maryland this summer," Marinelli said.  "He worked with James Franklin who's the quarterback and offensive coordinator at Maryland."

The college coaches at the camp voted Milano "Most Accurate Passer" among all the high school quarterbacks that participated. Milano, who saw some action last season as a backup replaces Turner Baty and Oullette.

The Rams take a big hit on defense, losing nine starters. Ron Balzano, John Sullivan, Hunter Elred, Austin Dowdle, Robustelli, Cole Duncan, Chris White and James Cody have graduated, leaving Granito (linebacker) and Ryan Shullman (nose guard) as the returning veterans. 

Marinelli's main focus will be on finding corner backs. Those expected to compete for starting jobs on defense are John Brainard, Joveto DeCarvalho and Kevin McDonough. Armstrong may be a two-way player and so may Goodwin.

The defensive linemen, at least in the pre-season, are Thomas Rochlin, Nick White, and Atchue who may play defense as well as offensive tackle.

The special teams kicker are all veterans. Briana Valente, was an accurate short distance place kicker last season including extra points while Collin Shapiro and Jack Bennett handled most of the field goals and kickoffs.

Granito twill likely do the punting again in addition to running back and linebacker duties.

With the retirement of  Joe Ditolla, defensive coach for the past 31 years, the Rams have added Bill Kurtz to the staff. Kurtz will take over a unit  that allowed just 20 points in three post-season games last season including a 28-0 win over East Lyme in the CIAC championship game. It was the Rams'  fourth consecutive state title.

The Rams will start their "Drive for Five" at Bassick on Sept. 16th.