Bingham Miners 2009 preview
By Dan Rasmussen
Deseret News
Published Aug. 10
SOUTH JORDAN — Of all the things that could succinctly sum
up the current status of Bingham's football program as one of the
state's true juggernauts, consider just one number — 0.
That's how many two-way players will be lining up for Bingham
when the Miners take the field against Viewmont in Week 1 of the
2009 season.
Coach Dave Peck has been trending toward platooning his
entire varsity roster over the past few years — only three players
went both ways last fall — and Peck feels his program has reached the
point and has enough depth for him to have his players focus
only on one side of the ball.
As Peck pointed out, it's not that his stars couldn't shine on both
sides of the field — it's that he feels his program will be better off
for going to a platoon system.
"You can't tell me that (running back) Harvey Langi wouldn't be
one of the best linebackers in the state or that (right guard) Tuni
Kanuch wouldn't be one of the best D-lineman in the state. Braden
Anderson is our best receiver by far — he's our best athlete —
but he's also our best DB, so we've put him on defense," said
Peck. "We just kind of made a commitment that, 'Hey, we feel like our team will be stronger and better,
and we won't have to take kids away from their schoolwork and
other things (for) quite as long.
"Now," added Peck, "if at any point in the season I feel like
there's a glaring weakness on either side of the ball, I won't
hesitate to take one or two of my best players to help with that
weakness. But we're definitely going into the season with nobody
going both ways."
Virtually everyone expects the Miners to be one of Class 5A's
heavy-hitters again this fall, but heading into the 2009 season,
Peck says that the primary focus of his staff and players is to
simply do as good of a job as they possibly can each day.
"Our team theme this year is, 'Right here, right now," said Peck.
"Everyone wants to get caught up in, 'OK, we've got to win the state
championship' or, 'We've got to beat Trinity,' but what we've gotta
do is just be as good as we can be every day that we come
together."
One guy who's clearly been doing that is Langi.
A first-team All-State selection a year ago, Langi's stock continues to rise and rise. He already has
offers from Utah, BYU and Stanford, according to Peck, and if he has the kind of junior season many think
he will, many more offers will probably be on the way for the 6-foot-2, 220-pound varsity captain.
"Harvey has the potential to be the best back, I think, to ever come out of the state of Utah when it's all
said and done," said Peck. "He's got that type of ability. He could be, his senior year, a 230-, 235-pound
kid that's running a 4.4 (40-yard dash) and catches the ball really well out of the backfield.
"I think the sky's the limit for him, I really do. He's gonna get big-time national attention, and I think
there's no doubt he's a big-time player."
By Dan Rasmussen
Deseret News
Published Aug. 10
SOUTH JORDAN — Of all the things that could succinctly sum
up the current status of Bingham's football program as one of the
state's true juggernauts, consider just one number — 0.
That's how many two-way players will be lining up for Bingham
when the Miners take the field against Viewmont in Week 1 of the
2009 season.
Coach Dave Peck has been trending toward platooning his
entire varsity roster over the past few years — only three players
went both ways last fall — and Peck feels his program has reached the
point and has enough depth for him to have his players focus
only on one side of the ball.
As Peck pointed out, it's not that his stars couldn't shine on both
sides of the field — it's that he feels his program will be better off
for going to a platoon system.
"You can't tell me that (running back) Harvey Langi wouldn't be
one of the best linebackers in the state or that (right guard) Tuni
Kanuch wouldn't be one of the best D-lineman in the state. Braden
Anderson is our best receiver by far — he's our best athlete —
but he's also our best DB, so we've put him on defense," said
Peck. "We just kind of made a commitment that, 'Hey, we feel like our team will be stronger and better,
and we won't have to take kids away from their schoolwork and
other things (for) quite as long.
"Now," added Peck, "if at any point in the season I feel like
there's a glaring weakness on either side of the ball, I won't
hesitate to take one or two of my best players to help with that
weakness. But we're definitely going into the season with nobody
going both ways."
Virtually everyone expects the Miners to be one of Class 5A's
heavy-hitters again this fall, but heading into the 2009 season,
Peck says that the primary focus of his staff and players is to
simply do as good of a job as they possibly can each day.
"Our team theme this year is, 'Right here, right now," said Peck.
"Everyone wants to get caught up in, 'OK, we've got to win the state
championship' or, 'We've got to beat Trinity,' but what we've gotta
do is just be as good as we can be every day that we come
together."
One guy who's clearly been doing that is Langi.
A first-team All-State selection a year ago, Langi's stock continues to rise and rise. He already has
offers from Utah, BYU and Stanford, according to Peck, and if he has the kind of junior season many think
he will, many more offers will probably be on the way for the 6-foot-2, 220-pound varsity captain.
"Harvey has the potential to be the best back, I think, to ever come out of the state of Utah when it's all
said and done," said Peck. "He's got that type of ability. He could be, his senior year, a 230-, 235-pound
kid that's running a 4.4 (40-yard dash) and catches the ball really well out of the backfield.
"I think the sky's the limit for him, I really do. He's gonna get big-time national attention, and I think
there's no doubt he's a big-time player."
| At a glance Coach: Dave Peck has gone 83-28 in nine previous seasons as Bingham's head coach. Key players: Offensively, it starts with the Miners' stellar line, which will be anchored by Tuni Kanuch, Brandon Taukeiaho and Bradyn Heap. Those guys will blow open holes for star running backs Harvey Langi and Inoke Taufalele, and they'll look to pass-protect for senior QB Ty Hannay, who went undefeated in Bingham's sophomore and JV teams. On the other side of the ball, DB Braden Anderson, DL Baker Pritchard, FS Bridger Peck and NT Seni Fauonuku should all have outstanding seasons. Senior Braeden Loveless is one of the state's best kickers and punters. Strengths: From top to bottom, just about every aspect of Bingham's team and program is solid. They have tons of size, speed and athleticism in their starting units, and behind those guys, there's oodles of depth. Weaknesses: Are there any? Coming off a title-game loss to Alta last year, the Miners are hungry to prove that they can climb to the top of the 5A mountain once again. Last year: 11-3, lost in the state championship game. Predicted Region 3 finish: First. Postseason possibilities: Once again, expect Bingham to contend for the 5A state championship. |