Week one news and notes

[ravensrooster2]

Flight A a seems to be best division in the state this year with Middletown, William Penn, Concord,Newark, AI and "maybe" Appo all fielding quality teams..

Hen North seems to be up for grabs.. and very unpredictable at this point.... Smyrna may be heads above the rest but they have to play someone first... that looming Sallies game will be a must see...

Sallies is Sallies....

D2 seems down this year in talent and top teams.... The two best teams may have played this week in HVT and Lake.... There definitely is a size and talent difference in D1 and D2 this year... Its a bad sign for the rest of D2 when HVT wins its first game... HVT runs away with it IMO....

 

[nuk59]

Agree with most of your points rr2, but way too early to crown HVT at this point imho. I wasn't at the Caravel game but I'm impressed that they stayed with Concord. I was going over what most of the top D2 teams lost and the majority of those teams only have 5 or 6 returning starters tops. That's a whole lot of rebuilding and uncertainty for all of those teams. This point really came to light last night at the WP/St.G game once I thought about it. WP looked like a well oiled machine while St.G appeared a bit disorganized compared to past years. Once I realized how much WP had coming back and how little St.G returned, it made a little more sense. As you said, Smyrna has a real opportunity to step up and that Sals game will be a must see. I was at the Smyrna/WP scrimmage and I was really impressed with the intensity and coaching Smyrna's staff did. We shall see...

 

[GateKeeperRefugee]

Not quite ready to back off of St. Mark's as a D2 fave. They were able to move the ball against Newark in spots Friday night, the Jackets just had a bigger line and that was key because Newark must've had a 2 or 3 to 1 time of possession ratio. I doubt St. Mark's sees anything like Newark til Sallies at the end of the season. But yeah, Hodgson looks dangerous as usual. I really think it'll come down to Hodgson and Glasgow in Flight B this year with Howard and SGT lurking.

 

[ravensrooster2]

Not quite ready to back off of St. Mark's as a D2 fave. They were able to move the ball against Newark in spots Friday night, the Jackets just had a bigger line and that was key because Newark must've had a 2 or 3 to 1 time of possession ratio. I doubt St. Mark's sees anything like Newark til Sallies at the end of the season. But yeah, Hodgson looks dangerous as usual. I really think it'll come down to Hodgson and Glasgow in Flight B this year with Howard and SGT lurking.

I dont see Howard as being in the picture at all.... CA demolished them... Howard will be 5-5 IMO.. the Howard v Archmere game did more in me devaluing Archmere than bringing Hpward up

 

[delawarenole]

Will know more about STM this week. Reality is if they ran the ball at the end of the Newark game they probsbly win. No need to throw that slant pass with 3 minutes left and the ball on Newark 20.

STM started real slow but if you impressed at all with Newark then you should think STM is going to be a contender in D2 because they should have beaten Newark IMO.

 

[GateKeeperRefugee]

Will know more about STM this week. Reality is if they ran the ball at the end of the Newark game they probsbly win. No need to throw that slant pass with 3 minutes left and the ball on Newark 20.

STM started real slow but if you impressed at all with Newark then you should think STM is going to be a contender in D2 because they should have beaten Newark IMO.

That slow start cost them. You go down 19-0 at halftime and it's hard for any team to come back from that. Newark almost gift-wrapped that win for them with some turnovers, but yeah, until the QB and his receivers develop chemistry, StM's best bet is running the ball. They had some success with against Newark, maybe a better showing against D2 opponents will give them more confidence in the run game going forward.

 

[DEFENSEREST]

Agree with most of your points rr2, but way too early to crown HVT at this point imho. I wasn't at the Caravel game but I'm impressed that they stayed with Concord. I was going over what most of the top D2 teams lost and the majority of those teams only have 5 or 6 returning starters tops. That's a whole lot of rebuilding and uncertainty for all of those teams. This point really came to light last night at the WP/St.G game once I thought about it. WP looked like a well oiled machine while St.G appeared a bit disorganized compared to past years. Once I realized how much WP had coming back and how little St.G returned, it made a little more sense. As you said, Smyrna has a real opportunity to step up and that Sals game will be a must see. I was at the Smyrna/WP scrimmage and I was really impressed with the intensity and coaching Smyrna's staff did. We shall see...

 

[DEFENSEREST]

Hey Nuk I was at that scrimmage game too with Smyrna vs Penn and I wouldnt be putting too much faith into that game if you follow Penn at all that looked like most of their second teams playing on both sides of the ball. I counted at least 9 starters not playing . I think if you play that game again the outcome is totally different just saying.

 

[nuk59]

Hey Nuk I was at that scrimmage game too with Smyrna vs Penn and I wouldnt be putting too much faith into that game if you follow Penn at all that looked like most of their second teams playing on both sides of the ball. I counted at least 9 starters not playing . I think if you play that game again the outcome is totally different just saying.

Yeah I follow WP as Dooley and I are buddies. He told me he suspended 6 of his starters for that game. However, I don't think it would have mattered that day. WP did not match Smyrna's intensity and the scrimmage obviously meant more to them. Scrimmage scores don't mean a whole lot in my book. I look at the way the kids play and how prepared they are to play. I came away from that scrimmage with total respect for the Smyrna coaching staff. Those kids were well coached and they are running a system that appears to be vastly different than what most others are doing. It's just my opinion, but I think Smyrna is poised to give other teams fits this year. Just showing up and thinking you're gonna win because you're state champs doesn't work. Charlie Hope was on the WP kids because of their attitudes that whole scrimmage. As you can see it changed between then and the St. George's game. Don't sleep on Smyrna my friend...

 

[Mobhits]

Yeah I follow WP as Dooley and I are buddies. He told me he suspended 6 of his starters for that game. However, I don't think it would have mattered that day. WP did not match Smyrna's intensity and the scrimmage obviously meant more to them. Scrimmage scores don't mean a whole lot in my book. I look at the way the kids play and how prepared they are to play. I came away from that scrimmage with total respect for the Smyrna coaching staff. Those kids were well coached and they are running a system that appears to be vastly different than what most others are doing. It's just my opinion, but I think Smyrna is poised to give other teams fits this year. Just showing up and thinking you're gonna win because you're state champs doesn't work. Charlie Hope was on the WP kids because of their attitudes that whole scrimmage. As you can see it changed between then and the St. George's game. Don't sleep on Smyrna my friend...

NUK ,Not sure that much has changed, they had at least 3-4 unsportsmanship penalties against St G?

 

[ravensrooster2]

nuk...That is one of things I am liking about Smyrna.. They are approaching everything like it matters, 7on7, practice, scrimmages. .. Allot of energy in that program right now..

 

[nuk59]

NUK ,Not sure that much has changed, they had at least 3-4 unsportsmanship penalties against St G?

I think that was kind of to be expected. A lot of those kids are from the same areas and I think WP wanted to show St.G just who is the big brother. Talked to Dooley this morning and he and the staff will be all over the boys about the penalties for this week. Trying to repeat is a tough feat especially with a group of 16 and 17 year old boys. Hell we were all knuckleheads at that age weren't we? Hostile environment with a team seeking revenge for last year, should make for a good test of the WP moxie.

nuk...That is one of things I am liking about Smyrna.. They are approaching everything like it matters, 7on7, practice, scrimmages. .. Allot of energy in that program right now..

That's exactly what I took away rr2. If you're gonna run with the big dogs, you gotta act like the big dogs. That scrimmage was a miserable hot day. WP looked like a team that had ridden over an hour on a hot bus. Smyrna took it to them that day. Gotta give credit where it's due. I really hope those 2 teams meet again in the playoffs. I'm no expert and maybe Smyrna doesn't even make the playoffs, but they sure have the look of a playoff team. Coaching staff is putting in work and seems like the players have bought in. Makes for exciting times. Where you headed this weekend rr2? Isn't next week CA v. Delmar? Road trip still on? I'm definitely in.

 

[ravensrooster2]

nuk I'm still in.. thanks for reminding me I have to put in for a half vacation day..

I really want to to hit the WP v MT game but I might be obligated to go to CA for Attack Addiction night..

I'll look over the Saturday games and see if there is one I might go to..

I work 9-noon Sat.. some pretty ugly games this Sat.. Might slip over to Baynard after I close and check out DMA vs Milford that could be somewhat interesting.. Mt Pleasant v Newark could be interesting but it 10:30 start..

 

[JeffMullen]

And Smyrna stays fresh... None of their kids go both ways...

And they're young... They're going to be good for the next 3 years at least...

 

[nuk59]

And Smyrna stays fresh... None of their kids go both ways...

And they're young... They're going to be good for the next 3 years at least...

Not sure about the whole no kids going both ways thing. At the high school level I think your best athletes gotta play both ways most of the time. Sure you can rest them, but I think it weakens the team overall. Last year HVT had too many kids going both ways and once the coaching staff made changes, that's when the team really got better. But in the end they still had 5 or 6 key guys going both ways. It'll be interesting to see if Smyrna sticks to this plan. What are your thoughts Jeff, rr2 and others?

 

[Mobhits]

Not sure about the whole no kids going both ways thing. At the high school level I think your best athletes gotta play both ways most of the time. Sure you can rest them, but I think it weakens the team overall. Last year HVT had too many kids going both ways and once the coaching staff made changes, that's when the team really got better. But in the end they still had 5 or 6 key guys going both ways. It'll be interesting to see if Smyrna sticks to this plan. What are your thoughts Jeff, rr2 and others?[/QUOTE
To me it comes down to the numbers if you have that much talent, getting fresh legs on the field on both sides of the ball makes sense, but I'm pretty sure with the exception of Sals, MT who consistently have 80-100 out, most teams don't have that luxury, it also comes down to position! Personally I like to see more kids have an opportunity to play!

 

[ravensrooster2]

Not sure about the whole no kids going both ways thing. At the high school level I think your best athletes gotta play both ways most of the time. Sure you can rest them, but I think it weakens the team overall. Last year HVT had too many kids going both ways and once the coaching staff made changes, that's when the team really got better. But in the end they still had 5 or 6 key guys going both ways. It'll be interesting to see if Smyrna sticks to this plan. What are your thoughts Jeff, rr2 and others?

Depends on your numbers.. Ideally you would love to not have players going both ways.. From a coaching perspective its a huge advantage not having to split practice time for Offense and Defense everyday is Offense or Defense day.. On game day you can address and make adjustments with your squad as a whole when the other is on the field.. etc.. Typically players will establish themselves as a Defensive or Offensive minded player and its easier to coach up a LB who is focused on being a LB rather than a RB who is asked to play LB as well..

As far as DE HS football the numbers just arent there...If you down south or to Texas big schools players rarely play both ways.. Even in DE its an advantage to have enough players where you can get a rotation on the DL and the OL all only play OL as a unit.. JMHO

 

[Mobhits]

Depends on your numbers.. Ideally you would love to not have players going both ways.. From a coaching perspective its a huge advantage not having to split practice time for Offense and Defense everyday is Offense or Defense day.. On game day you can address and make adjustments with your squad as a whole when the other is on the field.. etc.. Typically players will establish themselves as a Defensive or Offensive minded player and its easier to coach up a LB who is focused on being a LB rather than a RB who is asked to play LB as well..

As far as DE HS football the numbers just arent there...If you down south or to Texas big school players rarely play both ways.. Even in DE its an advantage to have enough players where you can get a rotation on the DL and the OL all only play OL as a unit.. JMHO

I can't agree with you more, it really is about the numbers! If your fortunate to field 80-100 players this can be a real advantage but most with exception of Sals and MT don't have that luxury! I like fresh legs on both sides of the ball! I also like to see more kids have the chance to play!

 

[nuk59]

Totally agree about the numbers game. Not many if any teams here in DE have that luxury. Sure some teams have a lot of kids on the team, but to find 22 starters is tough. Even the high school games that are on ESPN, a few of the best athletes go both ways but are given breaks. I guess that's why Smyrna is intriguing to me. The coach has said he'll only play his guys one way. It'll be interesting to see if he holds to that for the whole year.

 

[ravensrooster2]

Personally defensively speaking I believe in playing the best player at playing that particular position who will read his keys and do his job and that is not always the best athlete.. but if you don't have a player like that for a position then yeah just stick an athlete out there.. you see way to often the great athletes doing their own thing trying to make plays putting their teammates in conflict. Looks great if you make the play but causes issues if you don't. Every team is different and has its own challenges but yes it will interesting to see if Smyrna sticks with that..

You saw that in the Blue-Gold with #14... There were plenty much bigger a, faster and better athletes on the squad to put at corner only none were better at playing the position as #14.. Thats why he played.

 

[delawarenole]

The best HS football teams in the country - TX, FL, etc - kids usually dont go both ways.

But as stated its a numbers game

 

[7nonstop3]

Just to harken back to this week I felt it was a terrible one for all de