I made the trip to Sterling yesterday afternoon to catch my final practice for our football preview series: the Potomac Falls Panthers.

After a 3-7 campaign last season (3-4 Dulles District), it's no secret that the Panthers are planning to rely on a pass-happy offense to take a big step up the district ladder. I watched as Coach Scott Woodlief ran his spread offense through seven-on-sevens and full-team play-calling and I can at least say this much - they have no shortage of weapons.

Here are a few of my observations from practice...

WHAT TO WATCH FOR

In senior wide-outs Chris Pelto and Chad McMichael and junior Tarrell Owens, the Panthers should have the best starting receiving trio in the district. But for those three to reach their potential, they need consistent quarterback play.

Enter senior signal-caller Gregory Woodlief. He's not the tallest or the quickest guy in the pocket, but Woodlief has the most experience as a starter at the varsity level of anyone in the league. When his father took over as coach in 2006, Woodlief took hold of the quarterback position and has been the starter ever since, giving him two full years at the helm coming into this season.

From what I saw in practice, he's got the arm to make plays down the field - where the speed of Owens and McMichael will be very difficult for opposing secondaries to match - and he's accurate enough to put the ball where only his guys can catch it. He threw quite a few good balls on a variety of routes to five different receivers and also mixed in a few draws of his own.

What most impressed me about Woodlief, however, is his maturation. I watched him as a back-up point guard for Coach Hawes' Panthers last season and as the starting shortstop on the baseball team this spring and despite relatively consistent play, he occasionally allowed his emotions get the best of him in big-game situations. Yesterday Woodlief told me he feels like he's now able to keep those emotions in check, which is essential for any quarterback to have. He knows the pressure is on him this year as a third-year starter, but with play-makers around him and a more mature disposition, Woodlief and his offense could really light things up in the Dulles District in 2008.

OTHER NOTES

-- Just because they're going to be throwing the ball a lot, doesn't mean the Panthers are planning on abandoning the run. Senior running back Michael Baker looked strong coming out of the backfield during inside run plays and sophomore Leo Pittman provides a change of pace with his smaller build and quick feet. Both will have to produce to keep defenses honest and keep the field open for their receivers.

-- There were plenty of helmet-on-helmet sounds on the field as defensive coordinator/offensive line coach Jerry Gordon had the big fellas doing one-on-one battle in the trenches. The Panthers don't have size across the board like a couple of the teams in the district but in senior center Trevor Cottom and senior left tackle Mason Mehalic, they have two big bodies with loads of experience blocking up front. The ability of the offensive line to hold off the pass rush will be critical to the success of the offense.

-- I mentioned the receivers already and they will be the primary focus of my Potomac Falls preview tomorrow, but they were very impressive yesterday. All three guys caught everything thrown their way, laying out to make catching on short curl routes and going up to grab deep balls out of the air. If the Panthers can get the ball in their hands 15-to-20 times a game, look out.

And now for today's poll question...