Former Wilson coach has made a huge differene for San Dimas' defense heading into Smudge Pot
Brian Mustain loves his new role as San Dimas High School's defensive coordinator about as much as coach Bill Zernickow loves having him. "He is more detailed than any coach I have ever been around," Zernickow said. How ironic, because paying attention to detail was something the Saints defense needed to do a lot better.
Remember what happened last year?
The Saints finished 10-2 with arguably the best offense in the school's history, averaging 46 points per game and so fluid that Zernickow tried changing the phrase to "offense wins championships," but deep down he knew better.
For all the Saints' offense a year ago, they allowed 27 points a game, and 30 or more in five games.
Most importantly, their defense let them down in a 40-39 loss to Northview for the Valle Vista League title, and it let them down again in the quarterfinals of the CIF-SS Mid-Valley Division playoffs, losing 59-22 to Rosemead.
With defensive coordinator Craig Schuster leaving to Monrovia, it opened a spot for Mustain, who previously was just a Friday helper in the booth with Zernickow.
"We obviously had to focus on being a better defensive team," Zernickow said. "Being an ex-head coach, Brian knew exactly what he wanted to do and how to teach it. And the kids know he knows his stuff, so it's easy for them to buy into what he's teaching."
Mustain is a former head coach from Wilson, but also was part of two CIF-SS divisional championship teams as a Wildcats assistant in 1996-97.
Mustain most recently was the head coach at Beckman High in Irvine, where he still teaches. Beckman is a relatively new high school that opened in 2004 and Mustain was its first head football coach, going 2-8 his first year (2005), then following with back-to-back 6-4 records in 2006-07 before resigning and taking a lesser role with the Saints last year.
"It's been a blessing," said Mustain, who makes the 45-minute drive to Saints practices a few days a week. "I wanted to get back into coaching but with not a lot of commitment. Coach (Zernickow) gave me this opportunity without a lot of strings attached. He's made it workable for my schedule and I'm really enjoying it.
"By nature I'm a very meticulous coach, so asking me to just concentrate on defense has been a blessing. I'm taking a lot of pride and pleasure in it."
So far the results speak for themselves.
The Saints (3-1) allowed just 18 points in their first three wins before taking a step back in a 37-14 loss to undefeated Monrovia, the top-ranked team in the Mid-Valley Division.
Still, they're allowing just 13.5 points per game heading into Friday's Smudge Pot showdown at home against rival Bonita (1-3) at 7 p.m.
"Coach Zernickow wanted to make a defensive scheme switch to running the `50 defense,' which is something I'm pretty familiar with having run it for a lot of years," Mustain said.
Similar to the 3-4, it's a defense that maximizes size on the line of scrimmage, and effective against teams that run the ball.
"It's been a great change of pace for us," said Saints linebacker Tre Evans. "We wanted to show everyone we're not just about offense, that we have a powerhouse defense too. It was on us to listen and take care of business."
There is still much to learn, but Mustain is happy with the progress.
"We don't have any superstars, it's more of a workman-like group," Mustain said. "Each player has their talents and tools, but you have to get them in the right spots to be the most successful ... That doesn't happen overnight."
That's where Mustain's head coaching and championship experience could pay off.
"The season is long, you can't get to excited or to rattled over one game," Mustain said. "We lost a tough one to Monrovia, but we're not the team we're going to be five weeks or ten weeks from now.
"You don't change your defensive philosophy because you give up a few points, you have to continue to work hard and improve on the fundamentals. If you do that, everything else takes care of itself."
With the Saints losing nearly all of their offensive weapons to graduation, they're still a force averaging 36 points a game. But for a change, they feel like they have some breathing room when the defense takes the field.
"We're obviously playing much better," Zernickow said. "I wanted this to be more of a defensive-type year and coach Mustain is taking us in the direction that we need to go to improve as a program."
fred.robledo@sgvn.com
(626) 962-8811, Ext. 2161
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Hey Aaron
You're continual talk about schedule justs prove how WRONG you are! Its been the same old story for three years now, and guess what, we kickced your a@@ again! Your team is so soft and folded in the second half.
So, what do you have to say now? The Bearcats are just flat out bad! You guys might finish 2-8 if your lucky. It will be a toss up to see if Wilson or Bonita goes to the playoffs. Heck, LA might beat you guys.
Big Wayne!
If you have the means and dedication...
If you seek more than what they have limited...
Represent the San Gabriel Valley and kick some serious ass...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44JMjaKEasE
Aaron: Speaking of Santa Fe! in 2002 when they were just as good as they are now, Monrovia played them at their home field and beat them by 35 pts. That same year we went to the Finals and lost to a good Paso Robles team by 2pts. This year Monrovia would beat them with the same type of zeal that beat them in 2002. Each team has it's winning ways, sometimes speed, sometimes discipline and sometimes both. This year Monrovia has both. San Dimas is not a bad team at all it's just that they haven't harvested their players into playing on both sides of the ball when it comes to teams that have great skill players (aka) Rosemead/Monrovia that will change in time. It's hard to defend against teams that have players who run 4.3 40's or who have 42" verticals in the secondary. Tomorrows game will all come down to who really wants it more. It will run on emotion more so than finesse or skill. Good luck to both teams, this is usually the turning point for most teams who are thinking about taking it to the playoffs.
Don't need to be a jerk about it man...I was just stating the facts. And yes tough schedules help team grow up. Diamond Ranch proved that last year although I don't think it was right because of teir overall record but that rests with CIF.
If you're a proponent of cream puffs and crumbs by all means keep it that way, but it won't help once the Saints make it to the playoffs, as it show when they got run over by Monrovia.
And yes we will find out soon. Less than 24 hours away. If it's as bad as I have seen it this Season Bonita will lose, but if they are as good as I've seen them play then they can win in a close game. And I wouldn't argue last year's schedule as tough by comparison to this year's schedule.
37th Smudgepot, and to believe my Dad played in the first. Trivia: What UCLA position Coach played at San Dimas High in the first Smudgepot?
Aaron
Did your schedule help your team the last two years? Did the same old story come up last year? Did SD destory you the last two years?
Will Bonita win this year? We'll see tomorrow! Who has more wins between the two schools?
Enough Said!
Boomer may be a marked man, but Aaron is actually right. SD has played no one and Bonita sucks. Last years defense would be just as good as this years with the schedule. Two years ago, might even be better.
You're not welcome at SD tomorrow night. Stay the hell away, or it will be more than just your football team that gets there butt kicked!! Z is coming for you son!!!!
Baldwin Park was 3-0 when Bonita went there and won in probably the most lopsided 9-3 game that I've ever seen. I have no doubt that Monrovia is the real deal, but if San Dimas played Santa Fe instead the score would be much worse.
Also as of this week:
Bonita Opponents: 13-4
SD Opponents:6-11, with Monrovia having five of those wins.
Aaron
Just checking to see who you stopped or beat! Oh that's right Claremont..LOL
Monrovia would SMOKE Bonita too!
I heard that this Boomer was famous, that he was a munchkin from the Wizard of Oz and lead Oompa Loompa from Charlie and the Chocalate Factory.
To all,
That Monrovia team is the real deal. I'm going to say they will definitely be in the CIF Finals and probably win this year and next. They are that good. They will beat anyone they play this year bad. I just hope SD has a better showing if we meet up with them in the playoffs.
This is what I said in our larger Smudgepot thread this morning before this was up:
Fred you're such a good wordsmith. I read your article this morning, hoping tomorrow's feature has something good for both teams.
Alright friends, today is the day where the future plays. JV and Freshman games. As well as walkthroughs for Varsity.
Go Bearcats.
As someone also said it might help if the Saints defense had continuity. So I want to know what Fred thinks about Bonita. Because he fails to point out that this "dominating" Saints defense had no answer whatsoever for Monrovia.
You're a real class act for posting that trash Medrano. Grow up!!
Azusa Pride AKA Schuster: Stop hiding behind your computer!
This Boomer is a complete idiot! Sounds like he needs a "talking to" after the game. Name the place buddy!
R U kidding is funny. I agree best SD defense was 07-08. Come one Fred... the competition is nothing this year. Maybe if SD had the same DC for more than 1 year they would actually get better. That's what happened last year. I don't know about Z going to Ganesha. Get Real. Maybe Diamond Bar or Los Altos. How about that LA... Get Z in up there and bring back the Glory Days.
lol ur kidding,
keep posting boomer!
All i got to say is this aint a D u guys played no one do i think u can take bonita yes but really they are 1-3 come on now And hands down best D at SD was 08 avg less then 10 points a game so dont give me this pile of bull to please zernicow who wont ever win CIF championship and i see him at SD for maybe a year or to more and then maybe he will go coach at ganesha lol guy is a joke but give a shout out to max and kohler keep doing ur thing!!!!!!!!
If the hold down Bonita I'll give them credit otherwise, they haven't played anyone except Monrovia who scored at will. Oh yeah, Shuster part of a defense who is playing very well. I think he would have shut out Magnolia, LA, and South El Monte too. Waste of time Fred.