CdM short on experience

Corona del Mar High football coach Jason Hitchens’ eyes light up when he discusses the potential mismatches created by placing 205-pound running backs JD Abbott and Alex Swigert in the slot.

“We’d like to throw them a hitch and challenge a defensive back to try and tackle them,” Hitchens said.

But when it comes to mismatches elsewhere, the Sea Kings, who return four starters on offense, three on defense and who lost eight of their 11 All-Pacific Coast League players to graduation, might not be as concerned with exploiting them as avoiding them.

“Experience is our X factor,” said Hitchens, who guided CdM to a 10-3 record and a berth in the CIF Southern Section Southern Division semifinals in his first season at the helm in 2008, the program’s deepest postseason run since 1995.

The Sea Kings outscored opponents, by nearly 200 points, their 361 points ranked second in school single-season annals and the 288 points scored in the regular season were a school record.

And while an off-season strength program has produced impressive results, there remain enough personnel questions to cast doubt as to whether this team can sustain the level of prowess it exhibited last fall.

All three of Corona del Mar’s losses last season came to league champions, including both Southern Division finalists.

Here’s a position-by-position breakdown:

Quarterback: Mitch Sands fueled much of the aforementioned offensive prowess last year, en route to earning Newport-Mesa Dream Team Player of the Year recognition on his way to the University of San Diego.

But senior Michael Borchard, at 6-foot-3, 175 pounds, won’t represent a significant drop-off, at least athletically, Hitchens said.

“He’s the fastest kid on the team, he’s wiry strong and his arm may be stronger than [Sands’] was last year,” Hitchens said.

But Borchard, who started some games at enters unproven, having thrown just two passes, completing one for 17 yards, in mop-up duty last season.

Junior Mitch Gardner is the backup, while sophomore Brent Lawson and senior John Christian, a returning starter at receiver, also provide depth.

Junior Clark Cashion was lost for the season after sustaining a broken arm in practice.

Steve Harrington will coach the quarterbacks and assume the role of offensive coordinator from Hitchens, with whom he coached at El Modena and Villa Park high schools.

Harrington was the receivers coach at Servite last season.

Running backs: Abbott and Swigert combined for more than 1,600 rushing yards and nearly 1,800 yards of total offense and clearly represent the biggest strength at any one personnel grouping.

Abbott rushed for 1,072 yards and nine touchdowns and he scored two more TDs on receptions.

Swigert, a All-CIF inside linebacker as a junior, rushed for 548 yards and five TDs.

“Both those guys are about 20 to 25 pounds bigger and they’re stronger and faster than last season,” Hitchens said.

Jeff Condino, a 5-9, 170-pound junior, will also fit into the mix and provides a slashing counter to the more bruising styles used by Abbott and Swigert.

Condino saw limited duty last season, when he had a back injury and suffered a ruptured spleen. He carried three times for six yards.

Hitchens said sophomores Erik Fisher and Aaron White will provide depth.

Receivers: Christian started virtually the whole season, yet still managed just one reception.

“He wasn’t among our top three targets last year,” said Hitchens, who now expects the 6-5 Christian to be among the primary pass-catching threats.

Senior Justin Tam, who had two receptions for 11 yards a year ago, when he earned second-team all-league recognition as an outside linebacker, is expected to assume a leading receiver role.

“We’re counting on him to do a lot more this year,” Hitchens said of the 5-8, 165-pound Tam, who will also start on defense and likely handle much of the kick-return chores.

Junior Austin Jones, junior Donald Dalton and senior Nico Napolitano are also expected to factor into the passing game, Hitchens said.

When it uses a single-back set, CdM will put Tam and Swigert in the slot and use Christian and Jones at the wideouts, Hitchens said.

The 6-5 Napolitano is nursing a sore knee that may sideline him for Friday’s 7 p.m. opener against Costa Mesa.

Sophomore Cole Cottrell could also be a factor.

Tight end: Junior Dylan Salisbury (5-11, 200 pounds) is an option here, though Hitchens does not seem overly impressed with the candidate pool.

“We won’t put a tight end there if they are not effective,” said Hitchens, hinting that using slot receivers as an alternative may become the norm.

Offensive line: Senior right guard Riley Conroy (5-9, 195) is the lone returning starter up front.

Hitchens projected senior Max Priestley (6-2, 225) and junior James Roney (6-3, 225) at the tackle spots, with senior Andrew Conger (6-0, 215) getting the nod at the other guard spot.

Junior Alex Herrera (5-10, 200), a backup running back last season, is the projected starter at center.

Hitchens listed juniors David Detrick (5-9, 200), Aaron Vasquez (6-0, 190), Dan Steele (6-0, 195) and Shane Gray (6-4, 240) as the backups.

Defensive line: A whole new trio of starters will be unveiled by veteran coordinator Eric Johnson.

Roney is projected to start at one end spot, with either Priestley or Conger getting the nod at the other.

Condino is a candidate at nose, though Roney could also play there.

“We have some different configurations we have to sort through,” Hitchens said.

Linebackers: Swigert, a vocal leader, solidifies one of the inside spots. He could also be utilized as an edge rusher in passing situations, Hitchens said.

Detrick a transfer from Mater Dei, is projected to start at the other inside spot, with Herrera, Salisbury and White vying for time at the two outside spots.

Secondary: Tam shifts from outside ’backer to a cornerback spot, where Cottrell was expected to start on the other side. Cottrell, however, is battling plantar fasciitis that may sideline him for the first game.

Hitchens said Jones or Dalton would likely fill in for Cottrell.

Abbott returns at strong safety, while Jones or Dalton figure to compete for time at free safety.

Hitchens, however, said Borchard, a starter at free safety last season, could see spot duty there, particularly in passing situations.

Junior Will Morrow, who started at safety as a sophomore, will not play this season after undergoing recent knee surgery.

Special teams: Junior Andrew Boehm returns at kicker. He booted four field goals last season.

Christian returns at punter.

Priestley is the front-runner at long-snapper, while Gardner will handle holding duties, Hitchens said.