2011 Preseason Top 25: #10 Pearland Oilers
By 5ATexasFootball.com on May 30, 2011 with Comments 3
#11 Cibolo Steele Knights | Preseason Top 25 Home | #9 Denton Guyer Wildcats
Coach: Tony Heath 
Mascot: Oilers
Region: 3
District: 24-5A
2010: 16-0 D1 State Champions
PROGRAM
| Rank | Avg. | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | |
| Wins | 5 | 11.40 | 16 | 8 | 11 | 10 | 12 |
| Adj. Offensive Scoring | 11 | 11.52 | 15.90 | 7.84 | 17.15 | 6.19 | 10.54 |
| Adj. Defensive Scoring | 19 | -7.61 | -7.08 | -9.33 | -9.44 | -11.91 | -0.29 |
| Dominance | 12 | 19.13 | 22.97 | 17.16 | 26.59 | 18.10 | 10.83 |
The Oilers rank fifth in wins over the past five seasons and have made the playoffs in 12 of Coach Heath’s 14 years in charge (11 straight). During this time, the Oilers made it to two state semifinals and added a state championship to the trophy case last season.
OFFENSE
Returning Starters: 3
Unit Rankings
Backfield: 
Receivers:
Offensive Line:
Key Players
RB Jackie Robinson, Senior (5’7 170)
TE Cole Staudt, Senior (’10 1st All-District)
OL Fermin Sanchez, Senior (’10 1st All-District)
Players to Watch
QB Tyler Basso, Senior (6’0 160)
QB Jake Garner, Junior
RB Adam Saunders, Junior (5’11 165)
RB Chase Miller, Senior
WR Chad Cobb, Senior (5’6 150)
WR Cody Sandman, Senior (5’11 155)
DEFENSE
Returning Defensive Starters: 8
Unit Rankings
Defensive Line:
Linebackers:
Secondary:
Key Players
DT Chris Alexander, Senior (’10 2nd All-District)
LB Kendall Ehrlich (’10 1st All-District)
LB Juan Trujillo (’10 2nd All-District)
Players to Watch
DL Tyler Helaire, Junior (6’3 200)
DT Ashton Duffy, Senior
LB/FB John Gibberman, Junior (6’0 190)
LB Turner Glasgow, Senior (6’0 165)
DB Dyquan Roberts, Junior (6’0 180)
DB Kevin Washington, Junior (5’9 150)
DB Dominic Rabago, Senior (5’11 170)
DB John Hardy, Senior
SCHEDULE
|
9/2 vs FB Kempner Going back to 2006, these two have played six times including twice last season. Pearland has their number, but several of the meetings have been tight. 9/9 @ Houston Memorial This will be the third consecutive meeting. Pearland has won the previous two by one possession each. 9/23 vs. Clear Springs Springs wasn’t a school yet when Pearland was last in 24-5A. When they moved back in last offseason, a new rivalry was born. The Oilers beat Springs in a 40-38 thriller last season that ultimately proved to be the difference in the district race. |
2011 Schedule: | |
| 8/26 @ Houston Madison | ||
| 9/2 vs FB Kempner | ||
| 9/9 @ Houston Memorial | ||
| 9/16 Open | ||
| *9/23 vs Clear Springs | ||
| *10/1 @ Clear Lake | ||
| *10/7 vs Dickinson | ||
| *10/13 @ Clear Creek | ||
| *10/21 vs Brazoswood | ||
| 10/28 vs Clear Brook | ||
| *11/4 @ Alvin |
THE BOTTOM LINE
Offense: The Oilers rewrote their offensive record books in 2010. Single season records were set in passing yards, passing touchdowns, rushing yards, rushing touchdowns, career passing yards, and points. These guys are graduating, but Oilers are hardly strangers to reloading after a very talented offensive class graduates. The process begins with replacing four of five along the offensive line. Doing so would allow guys like Robinson and Saunders to shoulder the load early on and take some pressure off of the new quarterback. Talent isn’t a question at Pearland, can they find another leader like Myles Kanipes or Trey Anderson whose swagger and poise permeates throughout the rest of the team?
Defense: Despite losing a little bit of bite on the edge with the graduation of DE Sam Ukwuachu (Boise St.), this defense returns tons of speed and athleticism starting with all-state senior LB Kendall Ehrlich. As a unit, the Oilers return eight starters on the defensive side of the ball. Earlier this offseason, we posted an article on the improvement of the 2010 Pearland defense from the regular season to the playoffs. This is a very tough-minded unit that now knows exactly the type of effort it takes to go the distance. Look for an experienced unit to carry the Oilers early on while the new faces on offense find their footing.
Overrated if: There’s struggles at the quarterback position. Confidence will be sky high in the team, but the pressure to fill Trey Anderson’s shoes both on the field and in the huddle may prove to be too much.
Underrated if: The bottom line here is that the Pearland Oilers are the defending 5A Division 1 champions. They’ve always reloaded talent very well and now they do so with an experienced defense to back them up.
Filed Under: 2011 Gridiron Guide • Featured • News • Preseason Top 25
[...] By 5ATexasFootball.com on May 30, 2011 with Comments 0 #12 Southlake Carroll Dragons | Preseason Top 25 Home | #10 Pearland Oilers [...]
[...] 5ATexasFootball.com on May 30, 2011 with Comments 0 #10 Pearland Oilers | Preseason Top 25 Home | #8 North Shore [...]
New QB and a few other questions i think will hinder Pearland this season. Im not saying that they are going to just nosedive but we all know how tough things get late in the season. Congrats on your state title once again. The Oilers will be a tough contender in their district and in the playoffs.