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Quarterback trio making waves for New York City
By Marc Raimondi June 21, 2009
Port Richmond's Jeremy Ramos gives up quite a few inches to the other quarterbacks, but has impressed coaches with his intelligence and playmaking. Photo by Damion Reid
Bayside's Damir Dukanovic, at 6-feet-5, is a big guy with a bigger arm. Photo by Damion Reid
BROOKVILLE, L.I. -- Three’s a crowd. At least that’s what New York City coach Lou Vesce thought when Outback Steakhouse Empire Challenge football practice started last week. His squad had three quarterbacks – Xaverian’s Najee Tyler, Bayside’s Damir Dukanovic and Port Richmond’s Jeremy Ramos – and that was far from ideal in a one-game setting.
“We were only gonna use two,” said Vesce, who coached Port Richmond to the PSAL city championship in the fall. “But that’s not gonna happen. They all earned it.”
Tyler came in as the clear-cut starter. He has the pedigree – he’ll play at Purdue in the fall – and all the tools. The 6-foot-6 Fresh Meadows, Queens native has a tremendous arm and can hurt a team from the pocket or on the run. He hit Xaverian teammate Gerald Mistretta in practice Sunday with a 60-yard touchdown strike moving forward and to his right, drawing ‘ohs’ and ‘ahs’ from onlookers.
The 6-foot-5 Dukanovic is a prototypical pocket passer, who can drop back and throw the ball 60 yards all day. He led the PSAL in every single passing category in his first year starting, helping propel Bayside to a 6-3 record and a playoff berth. The Commodores were a combined 3-15 the previous two years.
“Both of them can throw the ball three-quarters of the field,” said Holy Cross coach Tom Pugh, one of the team’s offensive coaches. “They’re unbelievable.”
Ramos, it seemed, would be the odd man out – especially because, Vesce said, he can play other positions. He played some linebacker for the Red Raiders this season and could see time at safety or running back at St. Lawrence University in upstate New York next year.
But Ramos made too many plays in practice this week. He gives the NYC team a different look. Pugh’s eyes lit up when asked about the kid who helped lead Port Richmond to the PSAL city title.
“He’s so smart,” Pugh said. “He knows the game. He’s got guts. He’s a winner.”
At 5-foot-9, Ramos is never going to be mistaken for a pocket passer – “hopefully everyone doesn’t take me lightly,” he said. But his arm is good enough, he has speed and is patient waiting for plays to develop. He was the Red Raiders’ undisputed leader this season.
“You can’t measure what’s in here,” Kennedy coach Alex Vega said, pointing to his heart. “When we played them this year, he took over that game. He said, ‘Get on my back.’”
Vesce said he had “misconceptions” about Dukanovic coming in, perhaps thinking that his numbers this season were the product of Bayside’s pass-happy system. But all of those went out the window when he saw him wing the ball around.
“He has an excellent arm,” Vesce said.
With three threats under center, all of whom can hurt a team in different ways, New York City has a dynamic this year that it normally lacks. Long Island is much more known for developing quarterbacks. The city, on the other hand, usually features scrambling quarterbacks, like Dominick LeGrande of Curtis last year.
A big play offense isn’t usually part of the strategy. But this year it has to be.
“It’s gonna throw [Long Island] off a little bit,” Tyler said. “They’re used to covering running quarterbacks.”
Now they’ll have to deal with a little of everything.
mraimondi@fiveborosports.com
“We were only gonna use two,” said Vesce, who coached Port Richmond to the PSAL city championship in the fall. “But that’s not gonna happen. They all earned it.”
Tyler came in as the clear-cut starter. He has the pedigree – he’ll play at Purdue in the fall – and all the tools. The 6-foot-6 Fresh Meadows, Queens native has a tremendous arm and can hurt a team from the pocket or on the run. He hit Xaverian teammate Gerald Mistretta in practice Sunday with a 60-yard touchdown strike moving forward and to his right, drawing ‘ohs’ and ‘ahs’ from onlookers.
The 6-foot-5 Dukanovic is a prototypical pocket passer, who can drop back and throw the ball 60 yards all day. He led the PSAL in every single passing category in his first year starting, helping propel Bayside to a 6-3 record and a playoff berth. The Commodores were a combined 3-15 the previous two years.
“Both of them can throw the ball three-quarters of the field,” said Holy Cross coach Tom Pugh, one of the team’s offensive coaches. “They’re unbelievable.”
Ramos, it seemed, would be the odd man out – especially because, Vesce said, he can play other positions. He played some linebacker for the Red Raiders this season and could see time at safety or running back at St. Lawrence University in upstate New York next year.
But Ramos made too many plays in practice this week. He gives the NYC team a different look. Pugh’s eyes lit up when asked about the kid who helped lead Port Richmond to the PSAL city title.
“He’s so smart,” Pugh said. “He knows the game. He’s got guts. He’s a winner.”
At 5-foot-9, Ramos is never going to be mistaken for a pocket passer – “hopefully everyone doesn’t take me lightly,” he said. But his arm is good enough, he has speed and is patient waiting for plays to develop. He was the Red Raiders’ undisputed leader this season.
“You can’t measure what’s in here,” Kennedy coach Alex Vega said, pointing to his heart. “When we played them this year, he took over that game. He said, ‘Get on my back.’”
Vesce said he had “misconceptions” about Dukanovic coming in, perhaps thinking that his numbers this season were the product of Bayside’s pass-happy system. But all of those went out the window when he saw him wing the ball around.
“He has an excellent arm,” Vesce said.
With three threats under center, all of whom can hurt a team in different ways, New York City has a dynamic this year that it normally lacks. Long Island is much more known for developing quarterbacks. The city, on the other hand, usually features scrambling quarterbacks, like Dominick LeGrande of Curtis last year.
A big play offense isn’t usually part of the strategy. But this year it has to be.
“It’s gonna throw [Long Island] off a little bit,” Tyler said. “They’re used to covering running quarterbacks.”
Now they’ll have to deal with a little of everything.
mraimondi@fiveborosports.com