There won't be tons of changes for the North Allegheny Tigers this season, which is good news for a team that came within one game of playing for a WPIAL championship last year. Perhaps the best news for Tiger fans is that both quarterbacks, Geoff Greco and Mike Locke, saw significant playing time last year, and both are looking solid in camp.

"It is going to be very similar to last year," Walker said about his two-quarterback system. "Geoff does some very good things as a quarterback and he has developed more as a passer over the summer, and he is a very good receiver.

"Mike got some experience last year and he is way ahead of where he was last year at this point."

Walker does not expect to handle things very differently with the duo than he did last year.

"They both know their role and they are both very competitive," he said. "They root for each other."

The backfield will be anchored by running back Carl DeCiantis. DeCiantis got off to a slow start last season with some injuries early, but he is primed to be a contributor when called upon. DeCiantis will be joined by Corey and Zach Watts, two runners who have shown they can wear a defense down. Junior Jordan Kraus also should factor into the mix to give Walker a deep backfield.

The Tigers offense is by no means one-dimensional, as Greco will be lining up as a wideout when he is not taking snaps. He will be joined by Brian Austin, Curtis Balcastro, Dan Hoover and Dan Wentz to give the quarterbacks a nice mix of size and speed.

Mike Furhman will take over for Tom Keiser at tight end and give North Allegheny experience at that position. Furhman filled in for Keiser in the past, and should be solid for the foreseeable future. With a bevy of receivers, Walker will be able to move players around, thus limiting the opposing defense's ability to focus on any one player.

The offensive line also looks to be in good shape with the return of Austin Fedell and Mike Passodelis, both three-year starters. Ryan Schleiper and Scott Linkowski will fill positions along the line. The fifth slot has not been decided, but Walker said it is a three-player battle for the spot. It is possible to see Fedell play more along the defensive line. The defense will be anchored by inside linebacker Corey Watts and defensive end Zach Watts.

"They are both three-year starters and we will hang our hat on them," Walker said. Alex Calder will man the other inside linebacker spot. Calder saw a good bit of playing time last year. The rest of the linebacking corps is up in the air, with six players trying to earn two positions.

The secondary also has a pair of returning starters in cornerbacks Chris Totera and Kyle Butson. Butson and Totera's play will be critical early, as the Tigers need to fill the two safety spots.

"We have more shoes to fill on defense," Walker said.

The special teams are ahead of where they were last year at this time.

Greco will take care of the punting duties, and Furhman will resume his role of long-snapper, but there is a question mark at kicker. With no true kicker on the roster, Walker will look to his best athletes to fill the position.

"I look for the guys on special teams to be major contributors," Walker said. "We are trying to make people understand how important their role is."

Walker said he is not setting lofty goals for his squad, but the team's success last year, falling to the eventual state champions in the playoffs, has the team thinking positive.

"We want to win the conference, get to the big game and win," he said. "We're not looking to go out and just put on a good showing."

Walker is not big on pumping stuff into his players' heads rather he and his staff are week-by-week coaches who focus on the task at hand.

The bottom line for Walker, "We want to control our own destiny."