ANACORTES — The players were a little skeptical when Anacortes football coach Charlie Bell announced he was changing his offense.

Who wouldn’t have been? The new style was unlike anything the Seahawks had run.

“I was at first,” senior Alec Mavar said of being wary. “But then we watched a video on it. It was really exciting.”

By the time the players got into a special two-day camp to be taught the no-huddle, fast-paced offense of Auburn offensive coordinator Tony Franklin, they were thrilled with the possibilities.

“This should work to our advantage with all of our speed,” said running back and defensive back Caranza Farrell.

Teams best suited to this offense are those that don’t have particularly great size, but some good speed. It allows the quick players to find gaps in the defense.

“We don’t have the power game that we had before,” said Mavar. “We’re more quick, skilled players.”

The Seahawks graduated most of their offense, including all of their starting linemen, three capable running backs, a good tight end and two-year starting quarterback Kyle Dixon.

So here they are a largely untested group of players playing in a new offense.

“We’ve got a good group of receivers. We definitely will be quick,” said Bell.

The receivers will be a key to Anacortes’ success.

The new offense has the Seahawks ditching their tight end and fullback, and replacing them with another pair of receivers.

This year’s team includes only two returning starters on offense (Mavar and Wyatt Hendricks) and three on defense (Mavar, Hendricks and Chris Stoneham). Stoneham is also in the running for time at quarterback.

Needless to say, the Seahawks will rely on them a great deal.

Should one of the three go down with an injury, the Seahawks could be in trouble.

Many of the starters on this year’s team are seniors. Of the 17 players penciled in as starters or possible starters, 11 are seniors.

They are players, said Bell, who were behind older players last season as juniors.

So the Seahawks aren’t necessarily young, just inexperienced.

“We worry about it a little,” said Mavar, a wide receiver and defensive back “But we’re not concerned about it to the point where it’s a major issue. We’re just taking what we have and going with it.”

The Seahawks will have their share of two-way starters, having as many as eight.

Bell is still deciding between two quarterbacks.

Cody Addison threw 13 passes last season as a junior, while Stoneham did not attempt a pass.

Hendricks, a wide receiver, was the Seahawks’ leading rusher last season with 420 yards on 77 carries. Mavar is the team’s leading returning receiver with nine catches for 103 yards in 2007.

The Seahawks are new elsewhere, too. Particularly with their attitude.

After going to the state Class 2A quarterfinals in 2006, Anacortes had high hopes when it returned many of its top players for 2007.

But the team struggled, going 3-7 and failing to make the playoffs.

It was a disappointment.

“We didn’t come together as a team,” said Farrell. “There was selfishness.”

Players showed up late to practice, said Farrell and Mavar. Some players talked to back to coaches.

Hopefully, things have changed for the Seaahwks.

“Now, no one gets down on each other. Everyone respects each other,” said Farrell.

Bell likes what he’s seen from this group of players.

“We have excellent leadership,” he said. “It’s a very-hard working group. Quickness will be one of our strengths, and we’ll be physical.”

What is the goal for this Anacortes team?

It’s to do something last year’s veteran group couldn’t do — get to the playoffs — said Mavar.

“I want to make it to the postseason,” he said. “That’s a big goal.”

And what will it take to get there?

That’s an easy one, said Farrell.

“We need to come together more as a team,” he said. “We’re pretty decent right now. But we need to come together more.”

Dan Ruthemeyer can be reached at 360-416-2133 or by e-mail at