"Another thing, Woodbury is probably one of the smallest schools in South Jersey. We just don't have a lot of kids in our school."
Offensively, the Thundering Herd will run the wishbone. Ginsburg will be depending on junior quarterback Mike DiMarino and running backs Steve Petrose, Jim Bundy, Jeff Engler, Rodney Johnson and Vaughn Tonstal to move the ball on the ground.
"Mike was our JV quarterback last year," Ginsburg said. "He's done a nice job with the Wishbone in practice. I'm very pleased with the way he's handled the option. He has a lot of responsibility.
"We're expecting Jeff Engler and Steve Petrose to make some solid contributions. Steve missed a good part of last season with a hand injury. He had a deep cut in his hand. Engler missed the entire season with a broken collarbone.
"Jim Bundy is just a sophomore. This is his first year playing in our program. At any rate, we could have two surprise players in Tonstal and Rodney Johnson. Both kids have pretty good speed. They should be able to turn the corner."
Woodbury's offensive line consists of tackles Wesley Fortson, Ian Partridge, John Schmied, guards Robbie Brown and Steve Catando, and center Jeff Hack. Ginsburg is hoping the line can lead the way.
"We're not too bad up front," Ginsburg said. "Wesley is one of the biggest linemen in South Jersey. He's definitely a major-college football prospect. He has the ability and size to play for just about any Division I program.
"Hack is a good run-blocker. He's been one of our most consistent linemen. Jeff's a player who works extremely hard in practice. The other linemen we're going to have to develop gradually.
"But they all have good attitudes. I think Partridge, Schmied, Catando and Brown are improving each day. The more these kids work the better they're going to be."
The Thundering Herd will use their running game to open up the passing lanes. Ginsburg's receiving corps includes tight ends Tim Rolfing and Craig Carey, and wide receivers John Fisherkeller, Marc Harrison and Darnell Denby.
"DiMarino has a strong arm," Ginsburg said. "We just don't want him forcing the ball into double coverage. He may have to learn a little bit about different zones. But he'll pick these things up in time.
"Our tight ends (Rolfing and Carey) probably will run shorter pass routes. They'll run a lot of patterns underneath the zones. Fisherkeller, Harrison and Denby will be the deep threats.
"They'll run the longer patterns for us. DiMarino will try to get them the ball for the big play. The Wishbone could give us an advantage with teams constantly looking for the run. Maybe, we'll be able to sneak somebody deep."
Defensively, Woodbury's line will be comprised of two-way players Fortson, Partridge, Brown and Rolfing. Ginsburg will have his linemen playing in different positions at times. He doesn't plan to get too tricky. However, he will change the alignment on occasions.
"We'll have some different looks," Ginsburg said. "It depends on how we plan to rush the passer. Some teams have their linemen pinch the tackles and do some looping. We're not going to fool around with Fortson. He'll definitely be in the tackle slot. Partridge will play the nose tackle for us. He's a fine player against the run. Rolfing and Brown will be our defensive ends. We'll probably move them around quite a bit. No matter what we do, I know these kids will be very aggressive."
The Thundering Herd's linebacking crew includes Bundy, Brian Burkhardt and Catando. This could be an area in which Woodbury is vulnerable.
"The kids we have there can do the job," Ginsburg said. "I think Bundy, Burkhardt and Catando are fine linebackers. We just have to find some kids to back them up.
"So far, they've all played well in the scrimmages. I think they could use some work on pass coverage. I want them to be able to cover the backs out of the backfield. Overall, they've been playing good football."
Woodbury's defensive backfield appears to be well-intact with strong safety John Harper, free safety DiMarino and cornerbacks Tonstal and Engler.
"They're all hitters back there," Ginsburg said. "They know how to contain the end sweeps. Tonstal and Engler are two of the fastest players on the team. They both have pretty good man-to-man coverage. I feel very comfortable with these kids in the secondary."
Ginsburg thinks his team should be able to win a few games this year. He said the key to Woodbury's success was staying away from serious injuries.
''We can't afford to lose anybody," Ginsburg said. "If a lot of kids get hurt, we're going to be in trouble."
PLAYER TO WATCH
If Wesley Fortson was to point to one person who has been significant in his football career, it would be his father.
"My Dad (David Fortson) used to coach at Deptford High School during the '70s," said Fortson, a 6-2, 270-pound senior for Woodbury High School. ''He spent a lot of time with me.
"I couldn't play midget or weight football as a kid. I was too heavy to play on the teams. I didn't play organized football until my freshman year. So, my father took me aside and demonstrated the fundamentals of the game like blocking, tackling, running and passing. He still gives me pointers every now and then."
Fortson was a little rough around the edges during the early part of his career. However, the Thundering Herd's two-way performer has developed into one of the best linemen in the Colonial Conference.
"Wesley has improved each year," said Larry Ginsburg, Woodbury head coach. "He has good quickness off the ball. He's not only a big guy, but a very intelligent player. He's always thinking out there. He plays both ways for us. I don't know what we would do without him."
Fortson was named second-team all-conference last year. He is being recruited by Tennessee, Minnesota, Missouri, Vanderbilt, Indiana, Syracuse and Temple.
"I've heard from a lot of schools," Fortson said. "I haven't sat down and looked at any one particular school very closely. I'm going to take my time and make the right decision. In the meantime, I'm going to concentrate on studying and playing football. Right now, they're the most important things to me."
