The Way Forward (Football Version)

Posted by KT2000 at September 9, 2008

I am opting out of the usual post-game review because their really isn’t much to say. The scoreboard is self-explanatory. I’d rather focus my energy on looking at the path in front us now, and where we might go from a strictly football point of view.

The guys were up at the field house as usual this morning to break down the film and analyze the technical side of what happened. One way the team can instantly help itself is by eliminating the unforced errors (QB-center exchange, punt snaps, kick fielding ,etc.). Any team can be competitive if they take care of the football. When you make these fundamental errors, you aren’t giving yourself a chance as a team. However, fundamental errors are very correctable.

I’d guess the coaches will, or already have, look at everything and everyone on the depth chart, as well as their own personal performances. My thought is we’ll see some players switch positions. Now that real games have been played, the sub-varsity players will also get looks in the coming weeks. The coaches have them on film, and can better evaluate who might be able to help on varsity where needed. We actually saw some of this evaluation at work last night. Will Jeffrey was taking snaps at RB late in the game, and he would add more speed to the offense. Jeffrey was last year’s JV back, but has been working at corner since early off-season. Sophomore Vernon Jeffries also worked in carries with the first team. Perhaps Jeffries will also work his way into more first team carries, so Webber isn’t carrying the RB load single handedly. It also gives defenses more to think about.

I look for shuffles on the OL as well. Everything starts up front on both sides of the ball. Two things that’ve happened on just about every pass attempt are:

1. Backfield pressured…forcing QB into scramble mode and away from downfield progressions.
2. No options downfield…QB can’t get a pass off or tries to run, no one open, dropped ball

Again, everything starts up front. Cohesive OL play works wonders.

Defensively, stamina has been the big issue so far. They’ve been on the field a ton, and been gassed as a result. They may be teenagers, but they are also human. In the second half of both games, I saw a lot of tired play. Tired play=sloppy play. Potential cures for this are:

1. Players working into game shape…of course, totally different animal than anything they’ve been doing since last year. Everyone deals with this.
2. Offense sustaining drives..this is a team, each part depends on another for success- give ‘em some rest!

The kicking game, aside from the sailed punt snap, has been a bright spot along with the kick coverage. We also saw some very nice returns from sophomore Greg Morris. The errors we’ve made in the kicking game so far are of the unforced variety and, as noted above, very correctable.

As is often the case, I think fundamental football is the primary way forward. If this team can shore up the fundamental aspects, then other things will start to fall into place as a result. Show the guys the 1997 State Championship game tape. That is vintage Katy. We have a film library full of motivational treasures.

Overall, I think we have a case of the very correctable (fundamentals) versus more concerning issues regarding the depth chart, and how to better manufacture production.