Ironman80

Heard some bad news from Red Devil Country: 40 times came out today: - Fastest projected starting DB ran a 4.7 ish, one ran a 5.0+ - Starting LB's ran 4.95, 4.96, 4.97 - DL were all above 5.2 Oouch!! I'll expect Maryville lineman to be faster than our Running backs. This game could be very ugly! (three and four years ago we had several 4.5 guys, this year none)

4merhhsplayer: - yes and no. Some of the numbers in the program are wishful thinking (sad but true). Let's just say I've been around the program for awhile. You are welcome to check/question my numbers, but I feel they are pretty accurate. - What about Dorian Cottrell !! From what I hear he has 745lbs on the power clean and squats to lead the team. Way to go Do!! With only the bench press left, can anyone catch him?? IF he can bench 255 or more he will be in the 1,000 lb club. Good job!

- Can someone check my math, but it appears Coach J's weight program is paying off!! Check the Squat results for starting offensive lineman since he took over (including TE): 2005 - 346 avg. per player 2006 - 370 avg. per player 2007 - 394 avg. per player (AB was 505!!) 2008 - 408 avg. per player (not including RT, Juniors didn't squat today)

- Maryville fans help me out, someone said Maryville is 99-1 in thier last 100 games. Is that true?? I think that says it all! - I expect the Alcoa game will be the biggest game of the regular season for Maryville, I hope they get ready for it! Halls probably won't offer much of a challenge.

- Maryville is too "tough" for Halls. Look for Maryville to come out and smack Halls right upside their head!!! Halls doesn't hit hard enough to have a chance.

- I made a post that said I felt we (Halls) could go 9-1 with a few breaks and everyone questions my loyalty, saying I'm a PESIMIST?? - Consider this: - Central has beaten Halls about 10 years in a row, last time at Halls 35-0 - Powell at Powell will be a slugfest as always - Clinton will be much improved, along with South Doyle (whom we barely beat last year) - West beat us 52 -17 last time we played at their place (could have been worse) - S.County beat us 34-6 last time we went to their place - Bearden spanked us last year at home - Maryville beat us 42-10 last time they came to Halls - I think 9-1, when you consider all this, is very positive. I just think we (Halls) fans should do better than 8-4 before we get on here and talk alot of smack. Truth is, we could miss the playoffs with a few injuries and/or a poor attitude/work ethic. Players better be ready to play there best in most every game or we will lose. - Finally, the last time I heard so many people saying Maryville was going to lose a game was against Alcoa @Alcoa a few years ago. A bunch of no-name Maryville players won 42-21, were up 28-0 at half, and went on to win 45 more games in a row. Anyone who thinks Maryville will be down is crazy.

My two cents: Bad News - There is NO WAY Halls beats Maryville in week 0! Halls has too many playmakers to replace that early in the season. Expect Maryville to come out trying to show everyone how good they still are and push Halls all over the field (Maryville players are alot TOUGHER than Halls players). Good News - Halls may be able to win the rest of them if everyone works hard and we (Halls) get a few breaks to go our way.

-defensewinschampionships- - Not pickig sides here, but wbballer22 makes us think. #9 Lail (WB)made 1st team all prep-xtra, and was the only junior on the defense. - #1 Hood (Cath), #7 Kolinsky (CAK), and #8 Clark(OR) didn't make the team. - Only other Juniors to make the team: #2 Jackson (Farr)-OL, NR Leonard (Halls)-OL, and NR Thompson (Alcoa) - ATH - However, this was based on how good the players actually performed on the filed. Recruiting has taken on a whole game of itself. If someone gets on a list, look out! Likewise, if someone doesn't go to the combines, camps, etc. they will get passed over. Best prospect is not always the best player. - If I had to pick the best the best PLAYER in East TN, probably Cole Lail followed by Jackson or Leonard. Best prospect, check all the lists going around.

- Heard Tyler Turner ran a 4.5 forty at a combine in Florida - can anyone confirm? - Also heard that Brandon Johnson ran a 4.6 forty at the same combine. - If so, that's great news for Halls' fans.

Additionally from Halls: Daniel Hodge 5'10/205 LB - should leave Halls as 3rd or 4th all time tackle leader Kevin Waggoner 5'11/185 RB - great blocker/pass receiver, look for breakout season Steven Hill 6'4+/285 OL - If feet hold up should be tough Matt Laddish 5'10/230 DL - wrestler that stays low, comes off the ball quick Also: Brandon Johnson DB (if ankle/foot heals) 3 year starter Tyler Turner DB/QB - 3 year starter at DB

- wbballer22- - agree that Coil Lail should be higher - diagree about Army Junior All American Combine, know for a fact that Caleb Leonard from Knoxville Halls was also invited. (didn't go because of tonsils)

Pirateman894 - - Did you see the ones vs. ones on Friday?? You make the comment that the O'line looked weak, but we averaged over 4 yards per carry (95 yds on 23 carries). Also consider this average when the longest run was 15 yards. - #33 Stansberry made his runs against the two's and three's. Maybe these were the O'lineman you are referring to. #55 Raby had an outstanding srimmage, both on offense and defense. Again, maybe you refer to the backup center, who will get better with time. Raby will be a big asset to this team. - Also, both starting tackles were out(Hill and McFalls) and backup Shaddox got hurt early. Still, I thought the O'line was the bright spot on Offense. Kitts would have had over 100 yards in this scrimmage. - #32 Hodge had the best night for the running backs - 48 yards on 8 carries. As the game wore on, he got stronger.

- Overall scrimmage was about what you would expect at this point. Both teams moved the ball and did some positive things, then would turn around and shoot themselves in the foot. - #2 for DB made some good runs, one really nice one when it looked like he was hit for a loss (bounced out for about 30+ yards. - QB made some really nice throws and ran the option real well. - Line of scrimmage seemed about even for both sides. I'll try to offer more info. after I eat some supper. Good look to DB this year and hope we can give you a good scrimmage in August.

- I heard the start time for Friday (5/9) is 6:00. Is this true?

Thanks DBWATCHDOG for the info. - Looks like both teams will be using mainly backups. We (Halls) should have our starting O-line (Big tackle is injured, but plans to play) and possible starting linebackers. Db's look really thin (scrimmage starters may find themselves deep on the depth chart - maybe as low as 4 or 5). Expect to see DB throw the ball with success Friday.

- Can someone help us Halls fans know what to expect in Friday's scrimmage? Who are the big guns to look at (what # and position)? Also, who do you have out due to track/baseball/soccer? Our players are not allowed to participate in spring practice at all until their respective sports are over. If interested, see a list of non-participating players we have on the Halls thread. Finally, should we expect a butt kicking like we took two years ago?

- Heard the injury bug took a big name today - Big Stevo. Let's hope he is able to return in a few days. From what I've seen/heard he was beginning to come into his own. Looks like Shaddox will get a look in his place on the O-line, but who will replace him on the D-line? I hope it's only a slight sprain.

- sixsons - - I agree, Dowdy looks bigger (20 - 25 lbs)and stronger than last year. I think saying that in no way takes away from Turner. From what I here, he is bigger and stronger this year also. I enjoy reading your commens and updates. - What should we expect to see in the scrimmage on Friday with DB?? Who do we have missing?? Here is what I see missing: Offense: QB - Turner/Snoderly (Turner starter) RB - McGill/Gibson/O'Laughlin/Hillard (One of these may be the starter) FB - Burton - (probable starter) WR - Gresham/Bright/Bridges (one may be starter) OL - Bolden - looks to play more on defense this year Defense: DB's - returning starters - Gresham-CB/McGill-SS/Turner-FS Other DB's - Bright/Bridges/O'Laoughlin/Gibson LB's - Fitzpatrick/Hillard DL - Bolden/Burton - With at least half our returning starters out, how do you think we will do Friday?

rebelron - You show why most people feel good losing to Maryville. Most Maryville fans complement their foe before and after they destroy them. Everyone seems to feel "hey, we payed them pretty good." All the while people continue to lose to them. A good sign I noticed was when we lost last year, most Halls players were really upset with themselves. Questions were asked about how we should have played better, not how good we played. I agree with an earlier post, "to be the man you have to beat the man." Right now Maryville is "the man" and we ae all playing for second place. If anyone thinks Maryville wil be down this year, they are crazy.

- Does anyone know how this weekend's speed camp went? How many people showed up? Any big surprises on 40 times? Can someone give us an update?

- I hear basketball player Zaboski from Georgia has been working out with the football team. He was an all district performer this year in basketball. Goes about 6'4 or 6'5 and can really jump. Does anyone know if he has played football before? I expect to see him contribute sonewhere if he stays with it.

Speed may be the missing part of this team. Hope everyone takes advantage of speed camp!! Does anyone know when spring practice begins??

Here's what I have : Player of the year - Burnette (Maryville) Ofensive POY - McMillan - (Central) Defensive POY - Coley (West) Lineman of the year - Douglas/Leonard (Mville/Halls) Specialists of the year - Courtney/Duchame (Cent/Powell) Coach of the year - Julian - (Halls) Add by team: Central - Burns, Hanson, Styles Clinton - Hazelhurst, Stone, Harbin, Davis, Wilkerson Halls - Kitts, Dayton, Blair, Hughes, Waggoner, Kahn Powell - Allen, Presley, Goodman, Franklin, Houston Lenoir City - Edwards South-Doyle - Moore, Courtney West - Ryan, Whaley, Easterly, Waggoner, Klotzbach Maryville - Shiver, Smith, Jordan, Clement, Clendenen, Hollingsworth

coachtinsider - When you say "stronger" do you actually mean stronger, or better? - stronger? - yes, this will be the strongest team Halls has fielded in a long time! For example, on the bench (I know it's not everything, but let's use it for an example) Halls had two players that benched over 300lbs- Leonard and Blair. The year before that, only one - Leonard. The year before that only two - Vandergriff and Collette. This year look for that number to get closer to 8. This group of seniors have been in Coach Julians weight program for four years now. Look to see a stronger team on the field this year. - better? - I doubt it. Kitts and Dayton cannot be replaced. Add Kelley, Gunter, Blair, Hughes and Plunk and you had a really nice group of seniors that knew how to win. The good news - I'm not sure any of the teams in this district will be better than their last years squad. If I am right about this, look for the winner of the Halls vs. Maryville game in week zero to content for the district championship.

Let's get the guessing game started - who is likely to start where next year? Here is my two cents: Offense: *TE - D. Cottrell (SR) *RT - S. Hill (SR) *RG - C. Leonard (SR) C - J. Raby - (SR) *LG - M. Laddish (SR) LT - ?? *SE - B. Johnson(SR) / G. Gresham (JR) *QB - T. Turner(SR) *RB - K. Waggoner(SR) FB - D. Hodge (SR) / J. Burton(JR) RB - ?? *Punter - T.Turner * - returning starters - 8 out of 12 positions return, but what big shoes we have to fill ! (Dayton, Kitts, Kelley, Gunter, Plunk, and three year starter Blair) - Any comments? Someone else can give their two cents on defense.