Ironman80

I can't believe I'm going to say this, but I think we (Halls) may have a chance to compete (A SMALL CHANCE). My two cents: 1) We can't complete more passes to Maryville than we do to ourselves. 2) We need to avoid 2nd & ten or more (limit penalties and incomplete passes on 1st). 3) We must be ready to get SMACKED in the mouth - if we smack back we have a chance. 4) Limit pass attempts to quick releases - we won't be able to block Smith and co. for long. If we have fewer than 10 plays called as passes we have a chance. Otherwise it will get ugly. 5) BE PATIENT!! It could be a lower scoring, field position type game. Consider: - Does Maryville ever use an onside kick to start the game or trick plays during the game? - Did DB beat Halls by 5 TD's, and lose to Mville by 3 TD's - Could this game get UGLY quick with some turnovers or sacks? I hope Halls comes out ready to play PHYSICAL. I think that is our only chance. Last point, the team that runs the ball more effectively and limits the turnovers will win. Most of the time that is Maryville. Alcoa fans, are you calling the rebels out already? Wait until their tune-up game with Halls is over. It sound like most people are saying the streak will end next week at Alcoa - I wonder how that makes the Maryville players feel when told they can't compete with Alcoa this year?

-Sounds like Alcoa is lookig good -Is Maryville gettig worried? Less than two weeks before the big game!! -I've noticed alot of Alcoa fans talking smack - Beware of the Rebels. They will be ready. Teddy Rosevelt used to say "talk softly and carry a big stick". That sounds like Maryville.

My two cents: - We took a step forward last night. Let's hope we continue to move forward tonight. Unofficial stats: - Total Offense - Halls 130 yards(8 yd per play average), Fulton 28 (2 yards per play average) - First downs - Halls 7, Fulton 2 - Time of possesion - ?? The good: - Offense kept it simple and flexed it's muscles. Glad to see us get away from so many passes. - BIG hit by Gibson(#3), and HUGE play on defense by Case (#40) - Players seem to be gaining more confidence each time out. - O'laughlin impressed with speed on the race - at the twenty he appeared even or ahead. - Coach J and staff have really worked some magic. Remember how bad this offense looked when they tried to open it up at DB? The bad: - Open WR was overthrown or the score would have been 7-7. - To much yardage given up on first down, I believe the defense can get alot better. - Fulton is young and green, don't put to much into the 1 quarter. Without the defensive holding call against Fulton, we would have had negative yardage on the 2nd series. WE HAVE TO STAY AWAY FROM NEGATIVE YARDAGE SITUATIONS! I predict that if we have a downfall, that will be it. Finally, still not ready for Maryvile, but I don't think they can beat us by 100 (I felt that way after DB)

My final comment about CAK - - I really feel like the 7-7 score with first teamers is the most accurate. Who would have won in real game? Who cares. One thing is for sure, CAK would have scored alot of points early. They thru the ball accurately and effectivly, there is no dening that. We (Halls) had no answer to there passing game. It is foolish to sy we did. Maybe that is why we subbed so early, since no starter is locked in yet. To deny that the depth and line play would have taken helped Halls is also foolish. Would that have been enough to come back, I don't know. I personnaly don't think we (Halls) were taken out to the woodshed, has many on here have said or implied. Like I said, I feel 7-7 or 21-21 reflects the accuracy of the scrimmage. - Govolsknox - I think your posts are accurate. Like myself, you seem to know more about your team than the others, but your posts are honest and objective. Check my posts,and you will see I usually tend to talk our weaknesses, not strenghths. To deny your offense had a field day against us would be silly. What about tonight? My two cents: - If we turn the ball over it will be UGLY! I don't expect us to have much success throwing the ball against their speed. Three and out will be alot better than six the other way. I think AE picked off a pass and returned it for a score last year. Expect to see the same thing tonight. - I feel we will be shocked by Fultons speed at first, and may give up some early scores or big plays. However, I expect us to play better at the end and take another step forward for the season. What does everyone else think?

- I watched the tape of the scrimmage, and the moment CAK's backup QB stepped on the field, the score was 21-21. Any one who says differently is lying, and I don't know why. - A scrimmage is a scrimmage, but why do all the CAK fans want to compare there #1's to our 1,2 and 3's. Then they jump off the ship on the first play they had a sub ? Is there a nerve, button, something they want to prove? - I don't get on here saying "we beat CAK last night 49-21", but we did. I don't say"we had over 500 yards of offense to there under 200", but I could have. Those are accurate numbers. If you want to question our coaches for going to the bench early, can we not question why the ones and twos didn't continue for more than a total of 5 series (less than a half). Against Catholic, the ones and twos went 12 series. I wolud have liked to have seen something similar last night. - I think most Halls fans, including myself, have tried to compliment CAK and the scrimmage. Nice place and both teams uncovered weaknesses(CAK cant stop any runs, Halls cant stop any passess). If we look at the whole, 49 - 21 would reflect the overall night. - Again, when we brought our backup QB on the field the score was 7-7. Maybe that is the most accurate score.(Both teams had 70 yards of offense). When CAK 's backup QB stepped onto the field, the score was 21-21 (Halls had 267 yards/CAK had 135). Read into the numbers what you want to. - If anyone from CAK wants to say the score was not 21-21 when your backup stepped on the field, tell me what play and when and I will check again. Otherwise, why not just say the truth!

Haveityourway - - The reason I asked about track times/races was because they are electonic/official times. At Halls our forty times are done by coaches (not electronic), thus many appear odd. - On the field last night I thought Gibson got to the hole MUCH faster, to me it seemed quiet a bit quicker. Thus, I asked the question. (No I am not his Dad, and have no personal ties) - Also, I'm not trying to pick a starter. I just made my observation. I'm actually glad to see them decide on one - I'm sure they have given all 3 enough looks. - What will happen when Pixley gets back? Many people I talked to thought he was the best runner on the JV team last year. - I agree it was wise to rest all the starers last night. I think three scrimmages in four days is alot. Coach J used good judgement be letting many play.

From the Halls perspective: - At QB #14 (Dowdy) is the backup , #4 (Turner starts). Dowdy came in the 2nd series and 4th or 5th series. Note - I didn't think the pick was his fault, pass should've been caught. - At WR (as you saw we only use one WR), #2 Johnson starts. #10 gresham (2nd)was out injured, along with #12 Zab. (3rd) and #8 Bab (5th). # 37 Bright is next, then Beeler, Smith and finally #9. We all pull for #9 (fan favorite) due to severe injury last year at QB. It was honorable of the coaches to get him in(senior year). - No disrespect to CAK, the first drive (70 yards) came against our starters. CAK made our defense look silly on that drive. 2nd series three & out (starters). Next series we subbed for at least 6 starters. - Finally, our 3rd & 4th drive had #4 at QB, but our two RB's were subs. - It sounds like after 5 series the score was 21-21, but most TD's came when the teams subbed (at different times). Again, true starters 7-7. Best of luck to CAK this year, and best of all I don't think anyone got injured. Halls Fans - Unofficial stats after 5 series(then JV's came in): Rushing: Halls 261 yards, CAK 3 (on three attempts) Passing: Halls 6 yards (4 attempts), CAK 132 yards Total Offense: Halls 267, CAK 135 First Downs: Halls 12, CAK 5 Note> CAK scored on our only turnover (70? yard INT). We had several (3?) picks that didn't count because the whistle had blown (touched QB). Rushing: Waggoner - 81 yds/10 carries O'laughlin - 80 yds/10 carries Gibson - 42 yds/3 carries Burton - 21 yds/5 carries McGill - 12 yds/1 carry Turner - 12 yds/2 carries Bridges - 8 yds/2 carries Fitz - 5 yds/1 carry Cottrell - 0 yds/1 carry Again, unofficial summary after first 5 series. Quick comments: - People are eating crow about coach Williams. The calls looked right on the money (pick was a good call, could have been caught). He showed the patience of an experienced OC, didn't try to do too much and it showed. Offense did a great job. - Is it just me, or does it seem that Gibson gets thru the hole MUCH quicker than any of the other backs? Does he not know the plays or blocking assignments? He really showed me alot tonight when he got the ball (explosive)! I know he and O'laughlin both ran the 100 meters on the track team. Could someone tell me who posted the fastest times, or were they back and forth?

SwingingGate29 - - What scrimmage did you watch?? CAK scored their 2nd TD on an interception thrown by our 2nd string QB to our 4th string Wideout. Also, your next TD came with many 2nd and 3rd team defensive players on the field. - After 5 series, it was 21-21. Both teams had subbed (thus a scrimmage) to see what they had. True starters was 7-7, then Halls brought many backups in. CAK may have had all their starters in, but Halls did not. - I thought when #10(Fromke) was throwing to #7(Moren) on the 4th and 5th series that was still some starters. Maybe you could feel me in on when they lost their starting jobs?

Pirateman, where do you get your info?? - Starters/Varsity = 21-21 (one TD for CAK was an 80 yard INT) - Final Halls 49 to CAK 21 Taken out to the woodshed? I don't think so.

Some general info.: - Bad news, Gresham has TWO broken bones in his thumb (one is a complete break). Heard the doctor report was not good today(bone has not healed ANY since the cast). - Also heard that he talked the doctor into waiting another week before surgery, just to see if there is any hope of him getting to play. Doesn't sound good. - Has any one else noticed that he (Gresham) has been the only starter to score for us this year in scrimmages? I know we keep saying others are going to step up, but my question is when? Questions about the scrimmage on Tuesday: - Will our offense score any points? - Will we have more positive yardage plays than negative? - Can we sustain long drives, or will we depend on the big play? - Our defense looked great against a running team(Catholic), how do you think we will do against a passing team? - I think coach Williams improved from the DB scrimmage to the Catholic scrimmage alot. Let's support him and give him time - the hardest part of a OC's job is to learning to be patient, and that only comes with time. I think he will do fine , he just needs to simplify things a little. - Good news - against Catholic we had 11 runs of 8 yards or more, plus another 2 or 3 that got called back. Not counting FB dives (19 yards on 9 tries) we had 124 yards on 15 carries (8.3 yard avg). - Let me say that AGAIN -(O'laughlin, Gibson, and Waggoner) averaged 8.3 yards per carry on the 15 plays they were used(in 11 series)!! I don't care who ya are, that's pretty good!!

LSMFT - not a real coach, I just play one on TV. I like sitting up in the bleachers and second guess all the calls that don't work (It's easier to do after the fact). - I saw the offensive part of practice and thought it was by far the best of the year.Work on the running game appeared to show dividends. - Saw #10 (Gresham) out with a cast on his hand. Heard he is out 2-4 weeks min., maybe all year (if surgery is needed). - Let's hope the injury bug is over - Zabouski, Babcock, Pixley, now Gresham. All 4 of these would have started and/or played alot.

- I have to give coach Williams credit for tonights turn around! He is going to do a fine job this year, (I didn't think so until I watched the film). Consider this: - Offense started out with a bang, then struggled. However, after watching the film, 3 penalties (negating about 60 yards of offense), 4? fumbles, and 2 INT's will make any offense look bad (many penalties on 1st down). - Statistics (note> I count a sack, scramble, etc. as a pass play call): -Rushing: Halls=133/26 carries (5.1 yds per), Catholic=73/30 carries (2.4 yds per) -Passing: Halls= /12 ( per call), Catholic= 71/16 (4.4 per call) - Total: Halls= 111/38 for 2.9 per play, Catholic= 144/46 fpr 3.1 per play - 1st downs: Halls= 7, Catholic = 5 Also consider this: - Catholic got it's 2 TDS on their 11th and 12th series, and almost 70 total yards on those last two series (60 on 2 passes). - I owe Coach Williams an apology, he called a good scrimmage. 4 or 5 penalties(many on first down), and 6 or 7 turnovers altered the outcome of many good palys, Also, many backs and line combinations were looked at throughout the scrimmage. Some times these subs were the ones who missed blocks. Many players are banged up, but we have a week to heal (3 outings next week will be tough). Coaches will keep working the players hard, and hopefully they will continue to improve. This team may not have scratched the surface of it's potential. Let's hope we can get some consistency (W.O mistakes). Nice step forward tonight.

Goldenboot - #11? looked good at WR, #15 at QB made several nice throws, and #99 made some big plays and two nice catches. - However, #99 probably would have playd better if #67 would have been there. Also, with Vann out your offense struggled most of the night. (Vann and Coulter are two studs, but you still out played us)

Two cents: - Halls came out strong(1st three series): - Rushing - Halls:15 rushes/87 yards Catholic: 6 rushes/19 yards - Passing - Halls: 5/ (-)4 yards (complted 1 for 10, sack -14), -only 3 were thrown Catholic:4/ (-)10 yards - Total - Halls 83 yards, Catholic 9 yards. However, things went down from that point on. GOOD NEWS, we started strong!! Bad news, we lost 14-7. Note> running 5.8 yard avg., passing a little under 0 per pass called. (1st three series)

- Heard practice tonight was better - I heard we ran the ball with a little more success. - How do you think we will do against Catholic?? - I hope we can find a runnuing back to go with Waggoner (with only 8 practices before Maryville), it's about time that one emerges so we can start working on our timing. - Why is evryone being so quiet about the Red Devils?

Positives: - O'laughlin's 40+ yard TD run looked good! Penalty was away from the ball (offside end), and had no effect on the play. In a scrimmage type setting, probably could have told coach and not marked it off. Although many subs were in for DB, some starters were in also. - McGill looked good on his two carries (about 16+ yards?)! - Gibson looked good on his long (40+ yard)run! - Nice throw by Turner and nice catch by Gresham on the 50+(?) yard TD bomb! - Great call by coaches on pass to a wide open Waggoner that feel incomplete (obvious TD if caught) ! - Great call on first 3rd and short by going on two! Every DB lineman jumped! - Ifs, could've beens, should've beens, etc. - Coach J and staff have alot of work to do Monday, but I believe they will work hard to fix all of the problems. I know Maryville fans brag about GQ (rightly so), but coach J is no slouch! (last years coach of the year) My two cents (maybe only one cent, as I hate to play coach): - Hopefully in practice Monday we go back to the basics. Spend 90% of the time getting all 11 starters on the same page (at this time some decisions have to be made or we will not have time to gel, doesn't have to permanent). - Build a solid foundation with some low risk, smash mouth (Halls trademark)plays. Once the timing looks good on these, spend the last 10% with all those new high risk/high reward plays. Last year everyone new Kitts was our bread and butter, and the we had a solid running game as the foundation. - I love all the new screens, short passes, etc. we do in practice. The problem is our "foundation" has not been established yet. Hopefully we can get back to the basics this week. - Where was Hodge at FB - it looked like our FB's could not block there LB's (6 or so sacks off the edge). Someone told me our starting two FB's bench less than 200lbs. It looked like they had trouble blocking. 4mer...player - I like your comments. What do you think? - Note, these comments are just for fun. In no way do I think we fans should tell the coaches what to do, just have fun on these boards playing grownup.

4mer..player - - GOOD POINT! Like I said, I will still support and encourage this team AND staff. I just hope we can get a FEW of the plays working consistently in three weeks (14 pactices down, 11 practices left). - Also, I think coach Williams and Kilgore will eventually be really good coaches. I don't believe enough people in Halls realize what a good Coach Mr. ward was. Experience, patience, etc. doesn't come over night. Let's give the new guys time. Glad tonight was just a scrimmage.

I notice I'm the only one talking on the Halls thread, so I'll keep my comments simple: - I saw trhe DB scrimmage, and for those who didn't - after the first four series DB was ahead 28-0. By then DB was down to many of their 3rd teamers. At this point DB had 250+ yards of offense, while we had -6. - Question: What is the biggest loss, Kitts, Dayton, Gunter or Coach Ward? I don't believe I have ever seen an offense this bad. - Good news - we tried to pass as many times as we ran (balance?). I'd say the new RB's (we know what Waggoner can do) got a solid two or three carries apiece. Bad news is we lost more yards on passing downs than we gained. (Jack of all trades, master of none) - Good news - defense is not going to be much worse than last years. I don't remember the first team giving up any long plays (40+ yards). DB almost had to punt once. Since some consider me Mr. Negative, could someone else comment/tell metheir thoughts about the scrimmage?? I will still support, and even encourage this team. Maybe we should try to simplify the offense the next few weeks - better to do a few things well than many things poorly.

Halls just got taken out to the woodshed tonight by DB. - After the first four series the score was 28-0. What's worse is DB had 250+ yards of offense in those four series, while Halls had -6. -The good news is it could have been worse, the one time we held them was due to a holding call that brought the ball back fron inside the 20. Should have been 35-0. (DB scored on our offense) - Although we had trouble moving the ball on DB's 1st and 2nd teams, we finally connected on a TD pass against their 3rd string. - Does anyone question why I said Maryville wolud have no trouble with Halls now? - I will make my prediction now, Maryville beats Halls by as many as they want to. It won't be by 100 because GQ has too much class, but it could be if he wanted to.

Hey DB, a Halls fan here! Looking forward to the trip up and seeing your new field. A quick review of Halls for those of you going: - Many are calling this the slowest Halls team ever . I don't agree with that, but I will say we will miss the speed of our WR Dayton (#1), and Kitts (#12). Although we don't have any real fast players, I feel overall team speed is pretty good. - Offensive line is supposed to be solid, although one of our best lineman (#66) is working his way back into the lineup. (He missed a week of two a days, and went to the church that had two members killed on Sunday. Was actually friends with one of them, so missed additional time. He starts both ways for us.).He will play, but we don't have alot of depth that will start right now. - Defense should be improved, but the lack of speed may show up. Expect to see some solid hits, as this defense makes up for lack of speed with some toughness. However, I expect to see some long runs against us. - Hope we can give you some comp, and I pray that no one gets injured. Look forward to seeing your star running back! - After the scrimmage, could someone give me your opinion of this years Halls team. Thanks!!

Hallsinsider - - My understanding is that Waggoner had a 24 hour virus, and Laddish is still earning his way back.

After watching tonights practice, I will offer my two cents worth (since no one else will): - I don't think this is going to be the "slowest Halls team in the past ten years", as some are saying. Too many good athletes to be considered a slow team. We may not have a Daniel Dayton, or a Wes Kitts, but to me we look plenty fast enough. Overall team speed may actually be one of the faster teams I've seen in awhile (Junior class has several speed guys). - The biggest question, running back, appears to still be unanswered. I saw Gibson, McGill, and O'laughlin make good runs for long yardage-TD's. Unfortunately, it was not done behind our 1st team line. The three only had about five carries between them. - As a matter of fact, first team really sputtered against the scout team for the first series (I'm not sure if there was a mix up, but the QB ran alot with little success - he had no where to go. It could have been pass calls, I'm not sure) - Nice catch by Brad Steinke!! Offense ran 5 plays for about two yards until then. Big catch started the Offense in the right direction. - I hope the Offense gets out of the gate OK Friday - didn't look to be clicking very good yet. - My prayers go out to Taylor Babcock and the Babcock family. He is a great kid, and so is the family. Hopefully will see him before the season is out. Someone else tell me what the defense is looking like - better than last years?

It's been quiet on the Halls thread, so let's see if we can get something going. I plan to see th DB scrimmage on Friday, so I have a couple of questions: - After a week and a half of practice, how does the new Offensive Cordinator look? I know it's against scout team, but does the offense look crisp? Are they blowing out the scout team in practice? - Biggest question, which of the backs have stepped up to replace Kitts!! Is any of them making good runs during team parts of practices?? Has anyone seperated themselves from the pack?? - Also, Who is going to replace Gunter/Kelly/Dayton?? Again, I know it is scout team (I'm sure they are all looking good), but has anyone stood out? I hope to watch practice tonight and see for myself, but could someone who has watched so far help me out. I thought what I saw in shorts last week looked good, and hope that has continued this week.

- Not really trying for reverse psych, most would agree with me that a program that went 15-0 for the fourth straight year is much further along than one that seems exicited to go 8-4. How Halls fans can trash talk against Maryville is crazy to me! - Most Mville fans show us respect and flatter our team, I think we should do likewise. - Finally, I stand by what I said. Slow(I didn't make the 40 times up), and not real tough is my opinion. If you check all my posts you will see that I say alot about what we do well. - Halls fans, do you really see a Rock, Cat, Banks, Lusby, Hall, Powell, Sain, Julian, Copp, Nichols, etc. on this team (as far as toughness goes?) What about Shaw, Hoff, Kontz, Thomas, Mchee, Nichols, Whitlock, etc.? Satterfield, Wison, Carter, Qualls?? Toughnes is relative, and these are the players I respect as being tough. We ain't there yet.

What is the noise after one week in shorts?? My two cents: - Other than not being that fast(see 40 times on another thread),from what little I've seen in practice things are looking pretty good. - Love the discipline that the coaches have instilled this year!! Guys are hustling around and appear to be showing more respect for practice. - I don't remember having so many "athletes" on the practice field! Players look sharp in drills. - Concerned about depth on the O line. First team looks solid, but after that we don't seem to have alot of size. - I know it's just shorts, but from what little I've seen I'd have to give the first week of practice an "A". - However, next week is the real test (pads). If this team can get a little tougher, we might have a good year. What does everyone else think?