Interlake Saints head coach David Myers is optimistic about his team’s chances for success in his third season on the sidelines.

Myers, who was hired as head coach prior to the start of the 2013 season, said continuity is key for running a successful football program.

“The kids on this team right now have been in our system for a while. When you’ve had a couple of years in the program as a coaching staff, it allows you to have some consistency. We’re excited for year three,” Myers said. “The kids know our philosophy and that is starting to pay off for us.”

The Saints started off the 2014 season with a 3-3 record but faltered down the stretch, losing its final five games. Myers said the Saints return a multitude of valuable skill players including receiver Naoki Harmer, running back/defensive back DeJhion Parrish, quarterback Duncan Varela and linebacker/running back Riley Schroeder.

“We return just about everybody that got most of our yards, reps and touchdowns,” Myers said.

Myers said both the offensive and defensive lines will be relatively young this season compared to years past.

“We will have to replace quite a few guys on the line so that will be a place where we are looking for guys to step up. We don’t necessarily think that will be a weakness but it definitely will be a young group,” he said.

Saints’ starting left offensive tackle and defensive lineman Jonathan Palagashvili is one of the most experienced players in the trenches.

“I need to protect my quarterback because I’m on his blindside,” Palagashvili said. “I need to make sure I don’t let anybody through. I just got to focus and make sure that I do that on every single play.”

Palagashvili said he likes what he’s seen from the youthful players on both the offensive and defensive lines during spring practice sessions.

“I feel like being a leader is going to be an important job for me because I need to keep pushing and keep encouraging the younger guys,” he said. “I feel like we’re going to be fine if we keep this up because our practices have been going pretty well.”

Myers enjoys setting the tone and pace of the upcoming season during its spring practice sessions.

“We want to teach our players how we want them to practice. We teach them the tempo we want to play at,” he said. “We definitely go back through the basics. We don’t assume anything. We start out every spring fresh and make an effort to reinstall the offense and defense.”

Shaun Scott: 425-453-5045; sscott@bellevuereporter.com