Spring Insider: Six things to know about Tesoro

1. The biggest difference when Brian Barnes took over as coach last season was how coaches and players became friends.
“They were all young,” receiver Preston King said of the Titans' coaches. “They immediately bonded with the players, which is kind of a change. We weren’t afraid to make mistakes. We’re close. The coaches have brought the team closer. We’re doing more stuff off the field (together) than we’re doing on the field."

2. The players didn’t buy into Barnes' system immediately a year ago.
“It took a while,” King said. “It was a young staff and you never know what you’re going to get with a young coach. But it opens the players’ eyes because you have to prove to another coach you can play. It started in the spring. The practices were completely different, a lot more team stuff. Into summer we worked really hard for it.

3. Don’t call the Titans the favorites in the South Coast League.
“We’re still an underdog and we like to look at every game (as) an underdog because you go in too cocky, you never know what’s going to happen,” King said. “You take every game as if it’s a championship game.”

4. Players to watch: OL Josh Cabral, WR Brett Gudim

5. Areas of need: offensive line, defensive line

6. Areas of strength: linebacker, receiver

Contact the writer: amaya@ocregister.com