SHORELINE — For the Shorewood football team there’s nowhere to go but up.

Last year, the Thunderbirds finished 1-8, ninth in the Western Conference South Division, and 1-9 overall, but several things have changed in the offseason.

On offense, the Thunderbirds have started to master the I-pro package introduced by second-year head coach Paul Christianson.

“We’re three pages ahead of where we were last year,” senior quarterback Tysen Allumbaugh said.

Shorewood’s primary runner last year was Taylor Williams, a track sprinter who rushed for 930 yards, sixth-best in the league. His replacements, seniors Kelley Neubauer (6-foot, 3-inches, 205 pounds) and Morgan Marchant (6-0, 180), are bigger backs who expect to pound the ball inside as opposed to gliding through tackles like Williams.

“He’s done a great job in the weight room,” said Christianson of Neubauer, a co-captain, who has attracted the attention of several colleges including Washington, Washington State and some of the Ivy League schools.

Two other running backs, senior Phil Vallejo (5-11, 220) and sophomore Dorian Lair (6-1, 180), could also get playing time. Senior running back Jae McLain (5-8, 160) is nursing a sore hamstring and is questionable.

Allumbaugh (6-0, 175) is expected to take most of the snaps at quarterback with sophomore Jordan Kellington (5-11, 185) serving as the backup.

“I think we’re both fully capable of being able to produce numbers,” Allumbaugh said. “It’s a matter of making smart decisions.”

Senior wide receiver Devin Whittle (6-2, 175), a returning starter, was the fastest receiver at a nine-team University of Washington Husky team camp in July. He’s drawn some attention from Idaho and the Ivy League. Fleet-footed junior Colin Walker (5-9, 145) also starts at wide receiver. Junior James Danner (6-3, 195) earns the nod at tight end.

The starting offensive line includes junior guard Tyler Nichols (6-1, 215), senior tackle Ryan Shearer (6-2, 270), senior tackle David Lockett (6-4, 270), senior guard Troy Williams (6-2, 200) and junior center Nick Setterberg (6-1, 203).

Christianson wants to see his offense take better care of the ball.

“We gave up 15 turnovers in 10 games last season,” Christianson said. “That’s got to be improved.”

On defense, the secondary led by Whittle, the strong safety is much improved and more experienced. Allumbaugh is expected to play strong safety, while Kellington and Tysen’s brother, junior Jordan Allumbaugh (5-11, 185), fill the cornerback slots.

Neubauer anchors the defense at middle linebacker, with Vallejo and Marchant rounding out the linebacking corps.

The defensive line features Lockett and Nichols at tackle, and Shearer and Rich Johnson (6-4, 212) at defensive end.

“We’ve worked a lot harder this season on defense,” Shearer said. “We have pretty good depth at defense this year.”

The Thunderbirds also need to find ways to put teams away. Shorewood led in the fourth quarter in three of its last five games last year, but ended up losing all of them, including a 23-19 heartbreaker to eventual co-league champs Edmonds-Woodway.

The T-birds lacked depth and got physically worn down.

“We just couldn’t close the deal,” Tysen Allumbaugh said.

“That’s not going to cut it this year,” Neubauer added.

Christianson said Shorewood is much deeper this season and that should show in the fourth quarter.

About 60 players from the upper grades are out for the T-birds along with 30 freshmen.

“We grew and got bigger at every position,” Christianson said. “They’ve worked hard in the summer to get better.”

Edmonds-Woodway and Jackson are expected to be at the top of the Wesco South, followed by Kamiak, Meadowdale and Shorecrest.

“I think we’re going to be underrated and make some upsets,” Neubauer predicted.