Training camp 101: Camden

Training camp 101: Camden.

Coach: Dwayne Savage (36-17 entering his sixth season).

Last season: 3-7 overall, 2-3 in WJFL Constitution Division.

Last five seasons: 3-7, 9-3, 9-1, 10-1, 5-5.

Schedule: 9/2: Cahokia, Ill. (at Gateway Classic in East St. Louis, Ill.)

9/8: Camden Catholic

9/22: at Seneca

9/29: at Cedar Creek

10/7: Cherry Hill West

10/21: at Pennsauken

10/27: Rancocas Valley

11/3: at Winslow Twp.

11/23: at Woodrow Wilson

Outlook: The Panthers will look to bounce back from a frustrating 2016 season. Camden went 3-7, losing in OT to Top 15 teams Camden Catholic and Cherry Hill West. Camden should be strong up front with five offensive lineman who started at times last season, led by senior tackle Dayvohn Washington (6-1, 230). Other key members of the front line include seniors Jamel Cooley (6-2, 265) and Steve Jones (6-3, 250) and juniors Hirim Castro (5-10, 240) and Kyle Brown (5-10, 250). Junior WR Juluan Hudson (5-10, 160) is a playmaker with track speed. Junior Najere Edwards is a top running back who missed the second half of last season with an injury. "We weren't the same when he went out," Savage said. The coach plans to emphasize the ground game and take advantage of the team's front line. "That's our engine," Savage said. Senior WR/DB Damon Rice (5-9, 150) is a player to watch. The quarterback likely will be senior Permiere Wilson (5-10, 170), who has looked strong in preseason drills.

Early start: Camden opens the season with a 13-hour bus trip to East St. Louis, Ill., for a game on so-called Zero Week. Savage said Cahokia "is similar to us, spread offense." The Comanches were 4-6 last season. The game will be part of a showcase event run by East St. Louis High School, a state power coached by Camden graduate Darren Sunkett. Timber Creek also will participate in the event. Camden and Timber Creek were able to participate by mutually agreeing to drop their scheduled game with each other. "That's the only bad thing, not being able to play Timber Creek," Savage said.

Schedule analysis: Camden faces a quick turnaround after the long road trip, hosting rival Camden Catholic, which should be a Top 5-10 team, on Friday Sept. 8. That's tough duty. The good news is that Camden will have two bye weeks, with open dates Sept. 15 and Oct. 14. The out-of-division slate is demanding, with games at Cedar Creek and at home vs. Rancocas Valley as well as a battle with all-sport rival Pennsauken. And traditional Thanksgiving Day foe Woodrow Wilson looms as one of South Jersey's most talented teams.

Player to watch: Washington is an athletic lineman who ran the 40-yard dash in 4.9 seconds at an off-season combine. He also is a top student with a 3.6 GPA and a 1050 score on the SAT. Camden has flourished in the past with big-play athletes. The Panthers this season might rely more on their muscle up front. "We're going to pound on people," Washington said.

Last word: "We're building a brotherhood," Rice said of the Panthers.