High school football: Orem looks strong in all areas

OREM — Every year the Orem Tigers are very good in two or three areas.

This season the Tigers feel like they're good in every area. Normally, teams that have the whole package do very well in high school football.

"We really don't have a weak area," coach Robert Steele said. "I think we're pretty balanced and pretty strong in every part of our team. We're just bringing a better all-around package. So we're hoping that we can do a better job of putting both our offense and defense together, and I think we will."

Most of the confidence the Tigers possess comes from the school's success from the past, and because this group has won at every level. Orem has reached the playoffs for five straight years. As freshmen three years ago, this group won the Utah Valley Cougar Conference championship.

"These guys have always done fairly well as an age group, so I think they're expecting some good things from themselves again this season," Steele said.

Orem has traditionally been one of the stronger teams at defending the run, but a little weak at defending the pass. Steele is hoping that a few changes in his team's defensive scheme will correct that possible hole in its armor.

"We're going to put a few different things in on defense so we're not so vulnerable to the pass. We've always been able to stop the run, but teams have hurt us with the pass so we need to be able to defend the pass a lot better," he said.

The Tigers have a good nucleus returning on offense with quarterback Josh Hamblin, receiver Jordan Egbert and running back Tyler Boulter all back and healthy. With those weapons, the Tigers will probably throw the ball a little more this season. And to take advantage of Hamblin's strong arm they'll also use the shotgun formation more than in the past.

Steele also says his line is deeper than it's been in the past and feels that will help late in games and should someone get hurt. Orem's overall depth, however, might be the team's only weak spot. A lot of the key players will start and play on both sides of the ball.

"If someone gets injured and goes down, to us, that's like losing two starters. So we have to stay healthy if we want to go very far this year," Steele said.

Orem Tigers 2008 prep football preview