SLIPPERY ROCK - Clyde Conti isn't getting much sleep these days.

When August rolls around each year, the Slippery Rock High School football coach doesn't get much shuteye anyway. But his time for slumber this year is even more limited as he tries to find some answers to what ails the Rockets.

Last year was a disappointing one for Conti and Slippery Rock. A season of promise quickly disintegrated into a 3-6 campaign.

This year, with key cogs missing and playing in a league solid from top to bottom, Conti will be burning a fair share of midnight oil.

"I'm certainly well aware of how talented the other teams are," Conti said. "There's nobody in there that you can point to as being easy. Maybe people are looking at us that way. That's OK.

"You don't get involved in coaching - at least I don't - because you feel you have a group that is loaded. I hope they take this as a challenge and hopefully they'll be able to rise up to that challenge."

If the Rockets do, senior quarterback Ben Collins probably will have a lot to do with it.

Collins started the final four games, including three playoff contests, during his freshman season and has been under center in every game the last two years.

This year, the offense will be tweaked to feature his arm, a marked departure for Conti.

"I think Ben has come a long way," Conti said. "His role, and he realizes this, has changed from a few years ago. He has a good grasp of everything we're doing and trying to do."

Collins and Slippery Rock participated in 11 passing camps this summer and Collins focused solely on football during the past year.

"I worked pretty hard in the off-season because I anticipated the offense being on my shoulders," Collins said. "It's a more balanced attack. Hopefully, it will work out for the better."

It will have to, because Slippery Rock lost a big chunk of its running game.

Gone is Trevor Gallo, who gained 1,055 yards and scored eight touchdowns last season. Also gone is Sean Ray, a 1,000-yard rusher two years ago who opted to play fall baseball this year instead of football.

But Conti said he believes he has some young running backs who can fill the void, especially at the fullback position that has been ultra-successful for the Rockets the last three seasons.

"The last three years - Travis Sarver for two years and then Trevor - that position has run for over 1,000 yards," Conti said. "Maybe we can get a couple of kids in that position that get us to that point."

The leading candidates are Jesse Kniess, Ryan Ferguson and Adam McCormack.

At wingback, a trio of sophomores is in the mix in J.R. Thompson, Adam Brydon and Steve Jones.

The line also is in flux, but Conti is pleased with his candidates John Bennett, Taylor Riding and Dustin Sefton.

He moved Dan Dillman to tight end and Mike Regal remains on the line as the lone holdover.

"We just want our guys to maximize their potential," Conti said. "And enjoy the experience."

Conti believes his team will have better chemistry this season.

That may be Slippery Rock's secret weapon.

"That can overcome Xs and Os sometimes," Conti said.

Conti said he was pleased with his team's work ethic in the summer.

He's hoping that will translate onto the field this fall.

"We have a core group of kids who have worked as hard as any group I've had," Conti said. "We have a number of kids that have given an awful lot to get back to being good again.

"We'll definitely have better chemistry this year, which is important."

But will the speed on defense - a major bugaboo last year - be better?

Maybe. Maybe not. Conti still is stirring the caldron of players on defense, trying to find the right recipe.

"Team speed," Conti said. "Everyone wants that. I'm one of the ones who believes to win a championship, you better be able to play team defense. We're still sorting that out."

Collins, who also will be a key figure on defense, said he and his fellow seniors don't want to end their careers with another losing season.

"Last year was pretty disappointing," Collins said. "But we have a good core of seniors, and we all decided we needed to work harder this year so we wouldn't end on a disappointing note."