Chiasson: VC’s lone returning offensive lineman

Vermilion Catholic High center E.J. Chiasson may have to wear a name tag for a while so that his fellow offensive linemen know who he is.
Last season, as a junior, he was surrounded by seniors to his left and his right during the Eagles’ semifinal run in the Division IV playoffs.
As the only returning member of the offensive line, Chiasson becomes the most experienced and elder statesman of a new group of linemen for the 2021 version of Vermilion Catholic football.
“Last year, our starting O-line jelled very well even with COVID and everything,” he said. “We practiced every day over the summer.
“Now the second string guys are all on the first team with me, and we get along great, and we’ve meshed well. We understand each other, and it’s like we’ve played together all our lives.”
Being the only junior on an offensive line full of seniors last year was an experience.
“It was a little bit weird,” Chiasson said. “I think the other short guy on the line was 6-1, and I’m 5-8. So I was the shortest guy on the line, but it was fun last year.”
At 5-foot-8 and 205 pounds, Chiasson is not the most physically imposing guy you’ll meet. And it’s a state secret as to how many reps at 225 pounds he can do on the bench press, but when it comes to football field smarts, the VC senior might be a Rhodes scholar.
“I think coach put me at center last year because I knew the majority of the plays, and I was able to work things out,” Chiasson said. “With me being at the center, it allowed the other guys to do what they do best.
“Center is the most challenging position on the football field. You have to do three or four different things at once.
“You have to snap the ball, and you have to pull and pin down, you have to know where the linebackers are coming through and call the blocking schemes. So it’s a very mentally tough and physically tough position to play.”
Not to mention that the center and the quarterback have to be on the same page all the time.
“I had a great relationship with Drew (Lege) last year,” Chiasson said.
“He relied on me to make certain calls, and I relied on him if I was making the wrong calls to fix my mistakes.”
Chiasson considers himself more of a run blocker than a pass blocker because run blocking is where the action is, but he said he could do both as needed in the VC offense.
But with a new offensive coordinator this year for the Eagles, Chiasson has been working overtime to make sure he knows the new plays.
“It was kind of hard at first because last year we based most of our plays off of names, and we’re doing more numbers this year,” he said. “But if everyone can get on the same page, then this offense will be even deadlier than last year.”
And the VC senior feels that the offensive line will be better in 2021.
“I feel like our O-line is going to be a lot better this year,” Chiasson said. “We are going to rely a lot more on our run-game and our passing game this year.”
And he’s not concerned that it may take some time for the line to jell.
“It will be the same as last year,” he said. “We have such a great group of guys that it’s going to come together quickly for us, and I have faith in our guys that we are going to come through and win every single game this year.”
Joining Chiasson on the offensive line are Brennan Broussard, Alex Golden, Caleb Broussard, and Aaron Bertrand.