Three tidbits on the Hurricanes

1. The offensive line looks strong. A lineman in his playing days, Liberty coach John Truby jumped at the chance to single out his trench men when discussing his roster.

The Hurricanes return five offensive linemen who played extensively last season. That group suffered its share of injuries, contributing to a late-season fade after a 5-2 start.

Shane McLaughlin, Keaton Wesley, Jack Fineanfanofo, Anthony Caamano and Mike Warner should all be part of Libertys offensive-line rotation. That group is working with former Hurricanes head coach Dave Brown, who is in his first season as an assistant on Trubys staff.

Libertys projected strength on the offensive line plus a three-man running back group of Nasir Legree, Roberto Rivera and Justin Diaz has Truby excited.

Those three are doing just a bang-up job running the football, Truby said. I feel really good with those two spots offensively.

2. Erney has asserted himself. Junior Todd Erney started last season as Libertys quarterback but ended the year sidelined for a school discipline issue. His classmate, Tristan Reinert, finished the year at quarterback.

Erney has re-emerged as the Hurricanes starter with his work during the offseason and early in camp. He completed 57-of-128 passes for 795 yards, five touchdowns and four interceptions last season.

This summer, working with [offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Tom] Wills, really getting into what we want him to do in the offense and showing that maturity, hes done well, Truby said. Hes starting to pick up a leadership role a little bit. We have very good senior leadership, so were not asking him to do too much there, but hes starting to have better command of the offense. Thats the big stuff.

3. The linebackers will lead the defense. Liberty suffered key losses along its defensive line and in its secondary. While it looks to rebuild those units, its linebackers should provide stability and leadership.

Seniors Jayden Vazquez and Will Kandianis form Libertys defensive backbone. Vazquez is a Fordham recruit.

This defense, were up tempo, Vazquez said. We like to hit. Contact is a big thing.

Coach: John Truby.

2016 record: 5-6 overall, 3-5 EPC South.

Whos new: Former Liberty head coach Dave Brown has returned to coach the offensive line. Kenny Weid will coach the H-backs.

Millers first thoughts

Liberty graduated some of the EPC Souths top individual players (Jaohne Duggan, Darian Street, Gunner Anglovich), but that elite talent was surrounded by youth last season. The Hurricanes returning players now know what it takes to navigate a 10-game varsity season and remember the disappointment of ending 2016 on a four-game losing streak.

The Hurricanes need development along their defensive line and secondary the most before EPC South play starts Sept. 1. In a division loaded with playmaking wide receivers, pressuring the quarterback and covering on the outside are musts.

Scrimmage schedule

8/19: at Delaware Valley, 11 a.m.

Regular-season schedule

AUGUST

25: at East Stroudsburg South

SEPTEMBER

1: at Easton

8: PARKLAND

15: at Whitehall

22: BETHLEHEM CATHOLIC

29: at Dieruff

OCTOBER

7: NORTHAMPTON

13: at Emmaus

20: NAZARETH

28: FREEDOM, 1 p.m.

All games 7 p.m. unless noted; home in CAPS

samiller@mcall.com

Twitter @mcall_smiller

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Liberty Hurricanes preseason football report - Allentown Morning Call