RallyNorth.net

Vollmer masters mental side of football to shine on field

Tuesday, November, 20 By Matt Jenkins
Staff writer

Masconomet two-way lineman Teddy Reed is well aware of teammate Eli Vollmer's penchant for studying film on any upcoming opponent.

Reed wasn't exactly prepared for what Vollmer had in store for Winthrop during the Division 2A playoff game last season, however.

"He knew every single Winthrop player's name, he knew their number, he knew where they lived. It was weird," Reed said. "He studies everything."

Sensing a second meeting may have been on the horizon during a regular season affair last September, Vollmer assigned a friend to tuck a Winthrop football program away for a rainy day. In between practice, schoolwork, and watching game tape, Vollmer, the Chieftains' senior middle linebacker, read up on the Winthrop players. Every ounce of information he retained, he spit back at the Vikings during last year's playoff game.

Anything to get an edge on the field.

Vollmer would not reveal what he had in store for North Andover in the Thanksgiving Day rivalry that will determine who will represent the Cape Ann League Large in this year's postseason. But he hinted that it would go beyond the typical swim moves and tackles.

"It's not just a physical game. It's a lot of X's and O's, but a lot of it is mental, too," the 6-foot, 215 pound Vollmer said. "When you get in someone's head, you learn a little about them. It helps you on the field.

"At Winthrop (last year), I was calling them all by their names. I read the program before we played them, so I knew all of their personal information. As soon as I was on the field I was calling stuff out, like what their mom said about their dog or something like that."

Ever since being introduced to film study as a starting defensive lineman as a sophomore, Vollmer has been hooked. In addition to watching game film with the team, Vollmer routinely takes tapes home with him to study every night during the week.

Vollmer takes his leadership role on the Chieftains' defense very seriously, and he feels he has to be prepared for his teammates.

"The juniors and seniors started showing me the ropes (as a sophomore); that's when we started watching film, which was new to me at the time," Vollmer said. "I started to see how much I could learn from watching myself on film, seeing what I need to do better, seeing what the other team does and what we needed to do to get a win."

Immersing himself in film study has made Vollmer a terror on the field.

Already fast and hard-hitting, the knowledge picked up from studying makes Vollmer's first step a little quicker and his hits sting a little more.

"As soon as somebody makes the block (on me), I could know the play," Vollmer said. "You can see what the other coach is trying to do, how he's trying to get the defense off balance. It shows you the different formations, and what plays they run out of different formations."

Vollmer may not get the outside attention that teammates such as Chris Splinter, T.C. Mannetta and Reed draw, but he's only interested in what happens on the field. If he can do something to help his teammates or to better prepare his team for a game, consider it done.

That's why he approached the coaching staff before this season about a position change.

Vollmer was firmly entrenched in a starting defensive lineman spot, but he felt the team had a hole to fill at middle linebacker with the graduation of Eric Dinarello and Rob Modoono. He pleaded his case and let the coaches decide.

"We struggled with the decision because he was so dominant on the defensive line. It was one of the situations where we looked at the kids and asked where he could play in college," Masco coach Jim Pugh said. "One of our top defensive linemen was Justin Belakonis, who graduated in 2005. He's playing at Santa Barbara City College in Southern California, and that's who Eli reminded us of.

"At linebacker Eli's getting double-teamed and people are gunning for him, but we've been very impressed. He's got a great football mind. He's a hard worker in the weight room, and he's as physically tough as anyone we've ever had."

Vollmer has battled some nagging injuries all season. He missed the game against Hamilton-Wenham earlier this fall, but he's healthy now.

There's no doubt Vollmer already knows what North Andover likes to run on second-and-short. He's probably also well-versed in what the favorite pig-out food is for the Scarlet Knights' left tackle.

It's all related to being a student of the game. "It's not exactly studying for me," Vollmer said. "It's just another part of the game. I love it."