fromthetop2

Muff, this topic should be in the humor section /roflol.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":roflol:" border="0" alt="roflol.gif" />

Glad to see a Cellblocker entering the thread. Dandy and I could use some more input. Hamhuis is on my watch list. . . /dry.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="

Part of the talent drop-off has been Rector's refusal to put together a freshman team. You just need an opportunity for the young guys to get their feet wet all together and assimilate into the school's culture as a unit. It is such a large jump from being a 15 year old stud to competing against 18 year old guys who've been pumpin weights and playing ball. Maybe the new coach will see things differently. And DAD1, you just need to move them into the house next to VY that you will buy for your daughter to insure they go to the right place!

Jack Daniels obviously spotted some talent when he selected Brian as the coach in waiting. While many will have disagreements over his coaching style and decisions, you can't overlook the fact that the man took a new program to unprecidented heights in a very short time. His teams played to their strengths, and posed a challenge everytime they took the field once they got up and going. Who knows the direction of the program now and in the future, but from a Bruin perspective, his replacement has some big shoes to fill. Best of luck in this future direction; I personally hope that it doesn't turn into a David Caruso-type decision. Rector has always struck me as a man who was going to do it his way, and I hope his way now brings him much success.

Trotz is about 213 in hockey-coaching years at this point. Unfortunately, I fear you may be right that the players who need to listen have zoned him out. And of course, it is far easier to fire one guy and shake the ship up than it is to fire 10 who might need to be shown the door. Trotzie is a good coach, but the blame will have to fall somewhere if things don't change.

Congratulations on your first experience. I promise you, you don't have to know a lot about the particulars of the rules to grasp what is going on. A lot of penalties translate from sports you know, like holding, tripping, offsides (puck has to be past the blue line first before a player on the same team), etc. Offense and defense remind you a lot of sports like basketball or soccer. Finally, the scoring concept is so simple, a caveman can do it- your team puts more in the net than the other guy, you win. Don't worry about shift changes,or why they fight in the NHL. Someone who knows will tell you if you ask. Finally, the fan experience is hard to top. Unfortuanately, the Preds are stuck in the mud right now. Saturday's fiasco should require management to refund all of the ticket prices. Personally, I am glad to hear they got booed off of the ice. To me, it means a couple of things: 1) The hockey paying public knows now bad hockey when they see it and are fed up to here with the effort being put forth by some of the players. It's a good sign. 2) The Preds rarely if ever get booed (they must live in some kind of Vince-Land). Hopefully, it got to the players enough that they'll straighten up and turn things around. 3) The booing will give management and the coaches a point of emphasis when they chew out some behinds- or changes will be made. Keep coming back. If we are fortunate enough to land back in the playoffs again, you'll never regret buying a ticket for that experience.

Last year, all the prognosticators said Tennessee needed a wide receiver. The Titans stated they needed a "playmaker." There is a difference, and the Titans saw that CJ was a better "playmaker" than any available WR. They still need some playmakers- at whatever position you can grab. Michael Griffin was just such a pick. Right now, I only see Gage, Brandon Jones, and Hawkins at the WR position staying. Titans are high on Leroy Harris and love Loper. Mike Otto might be a fall back guy if Loper leaves, but he's never really played. Don't know what Ryan Fowler's future is. The backup LB's didn't have a chance to do much this year, so if a stud is available, I see them picking that up.

(I am still in a funk over the loss to the hated Ravens) The Raven loss pointed out something to me- that the Titans need another running back to carry the load if Lendale or CJ go down. Quinton Ganther is a nice guy, but won't make any more yards than Lendale "Martha" White. Chris Henry had better polish up his resume' and hire a headhunter to locate a job in the private sector. A field stretcher at WR is a perennial need, but even if you draft one, it will take three years for him to develop. Other than TJ "whose's your daddy", there are no names in this years FA class worthy of a contract. Paul Williams #11 jersey will be assigned to someone else next year, as will Chris Davis' number. Algee Crumpler is past his days as an effective option. Maybe a LB to be groomed to replace (eventually) Keith Bulluck? My hope is that the Titan's land Percy Harvin- which would solve a multitude of needs. How would defenses react with CJ and Harvin on the field at the same time? You can't stretch that far.

I forgot that Centennial was going to 5A. I don't know how this is all going to work out as far as who makes playoffs and not, beyond that the 5A and 6A teams will separate at this point within the district. One would have to assume the top team in each classification in 11-AAA will go, but beyond that I am not sure who else would be eligible, if anyone. The point of the previous posts was, in the discussion of Hillsboro's prospects for 2009, it will be a different set of circumstances they'll face from anything they've faced in recent memory. In a matchup between Centennial and Hillsboro as to who is more likely to represent 11-AAA in the playoffs, I'll take the Burros going away. However, Hillsboro will be facing the toughest regular season schedule they've faced since the mid-90's, and that will either make them battle-tested- or out of gas- for the playoffs. It is a classic argument in all sports; "what does a very tough regular seson schedule bring you when you hit the playoffs?" Being a long-time follower of the Brentwood program, I do know that this upcoming season might have the toughest schedule in 6-A. Their out of district games are: Oakland, Smyrna, Gallatin, and Blackman. Add that to a district slate of: Hillsboro, Centennial, Ravenwood, Indy, and Franklin. /blush.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":blush:" border="0" alt="blush.gif" />

(dandy, you can chime in any time. . . /popcorneater.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":popcorneater:" border="0" alt="popcorneater.gif" /> ) how the heck do you beat the Wings, overcome a three goal deficit to the Pens, but can't score more than one goal against everyone else? Wish for Saturday- that Sully has a successful outing and doesn't get hurt.

Yes, it is obvious information, but information that needs to be interjected into any discussion of Hillsboro's prospects for the coming year. It is probably the biggest change the Burro's will face coming into the next season. As you probably know, (but some newbies don't) the old Region 6-5A has been for over a decade one of the two strongest 5-A regions in the state. With the rare exception, one of its teams has been in the state final. Adding the current 4A champion to the mix makes a tougher region even more so. But, IMO, it is less of a change to the now 6A teams when you add one strong program, then it will be to the now 5A program having to face the cream of 6A week in and out. Franklin and Brentwood, and most recently Ravenwood since its inception, have been the standard bearers for the last ten years. No one really runs away and hides, it is a war of attrition with many teams being separated by one tie-breaking defeat. However, in this new 11-AAA (which just might be THE toughest in the state), I don't see any fluff, and the teams who don't make the playoffs will be pretty stout. Not again to restate the obvious, but it never hurts to make sure.

One thing that the Burros will have to contend with is the region they are now assigned to. They will be teeing it up against the WillCo squads week-in-and-out, which means your "bye" weeks where you just showed up and steam rolled someone will have to come from your out of region games. A steady diet of Franklin, Brentwood, Ravenwood, Indy, and Centennial will challenge you weekly to be at your peak. Crowds will be bigger, squads will be deeper, particularly in special teams. You'll get your share of victories, but that is a daunting gauntlet to survive physically and emotionally. You probably will end up losing more regular season games than you've become accustomed to, but come playoff time- you'll be very battle-tested which will serve you in the long run. It will help you (this new region alignment) and you'll be very competitive, but it will come at a price.

Since between Detroit, Nashville has looked just about pathetic. No offense, no fire, no nothing. We all knew that they'd be offensively challenged after losing Radulov, but this effort is pitiful. The big 4 money players are not producing. Key on my you-know-what list are Mr. David (17 points so far) Legwand, and Casper the Ghost Martin Erat. They are playing like empty sweaters. The last two losses to Calgary and Vancouver were unexplainable. Here's the point: Is it time for either they, or Barry Trotz, to go?

Wow, everyone needs to get a grip. These All-Region awards are based on what the region's coaches think. Depending on where you finished up in the standings, you are awarded more "slots" than the team behind you. Coaches know what they see, who they had to prepare for, who they played against. They've seen all of these players on film. Their eyes are a little more trained than virtually every poster on this thread. You have your opinions, they have theirs. Guess what- Their opinion is the ONLY one that counts. Congrats to all of the people selected- job well done. /thumb[1].gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":thumb:" border="0" alt="thumb[1].gif" />

Fulmer has had terrible assistant coaches, save from Chavis or Cutcliffe. He also won't get rid of them even when they stink. I believe this all stems from his time as an assistant with Majors, when Johnny treated them all like dog doo and they would leave for better jobs at the first chance. Fulmer wanted stability and it worked- for a while. Only Cutcliffe and Chavis were candidates to move up; Trooper left because he didn't get OC (in hindsight, how much worse could the team be now if HE was given the job? What a blunder!), but outside of that- no one stands out. The assistants don't make these kids any better than when they arrive. Fulmer is terrified to play true freshmen. That is a major turn-off to recruits. No where is the drop off any more alarming than in the O-line. They haven't had a player stick in the NFL since Fred Weary, Cosey Coleman, and Scott Wells era; let alone be a high draft pick. And any speculation on who the HC will be is moot: the search firm is handling everything behind the scenes, will report orally on all interest, and everything will be held in strict confidentiality until after it is done. Only they and Hamilton know the true story. Descretion is their life blood. Our speculation is about as informed as knowing what the weather will be a month from now.

Muschamp was announced tonight as the "coach in waiting" for when/if Mack Brown steps down some day. Up the ante, paying him double his salary. Seriously, the FIRST criteria for a new coach at the Hill would be can he recruit his brains out? Unfortunately, everyone now will be measured against Saban first, then Meyer. Even Richt will start feeling the heat. The Vols need to offer Rodney Garner whatever he wants as a starting point to be on the staff. Then add Trooper Taylor. Keep the RB coach, and from that point on just someone who can put together a staff that can teach HS kids how to be better football players than when they came in. That, IMO, is what ultimately doomed Phil.

Biggest rivals had been the Ravens and Steelers. Nothing worse than those two. Then the re-alignment brought the Colts, who weren't squat until Peyton showed up. Then all of the UT/Peyton/Colt worshipers in Tennessee bought #18 jerseys and showed up to the games. (All the Titan fans predict that when Peyton retires, the Tennessee Colt fans will retire as well.) Colts went on a roll, and since they've won the division the last few years;they are the team to beat. They would probably be #1 Jags hate Jeff Fisher because Jeff Fisher owns them- and there is nothing they can do about it. They still have that 1999 AFC Championship Game beat down sticking in their throats. Jags talk smack and rarely back it up. In and around Nashville, there seems to be fans of darn near every pro football team they'll play: Browns, Steelers, Packers, Bears, Bills, even meaningless Lion and Bengal fans. The newest craze is the cult worship of the Vandy/Cutler/Bronco fans. You've just got to hate everyone in your division.

Let me help make the point a little simpler so those that don't understand might start to grasp what is being discussed. To use the argument that "your school has more students than mine" as a rationale for losing to another school (unless we are talking a major discrepency), is a non-starter. Won't fly. Centennial at this point has a many students as Brentwood did after Ravenwood was sliced out of it's zone. Brentwood (at the time and for four years was the smallest school in 5A) still went to the playoffs and advanced. Franklin will ALWAYS be the largest school in the county. Indy and Ravenwood will be big- until they are sliced off. If it were numbers only, BA should never have won anything. Dobyns-Bennett could punch their playoff ticket every year. McGavock's size does not translate into any more victories, either. Doesn't work that way. Be it 1995 or before or since- it will always be the case. It is about coaching. It is about experience. It is about expectations and tradition. It is about support. It is about scheme, conditioning, preparation, and will. I have seen every game that Centennial has played Brentwood in football. What has always happened is that Brentwood knew it was going to find a way to win. Be it Van Horne's sack, be it Heimerdinger's catch, or be it Lifsey's kick-off return and Everson gutting his team down the field while Centennial celebrated taking the lead- it just happens the same way. Chaz Scales is an exceptional player. They rely too much on him, which means to neutralize him is to neutralize the Cougars. It is pretty simple to see. Good season Cougars.

That's right- change back to the offense you ran so successfully for years under that game management mastermind Gregory. Better yet, change it during the week of your second round playoff game. Even Better yet, do it against a team that is adept at stopping the run, and runs a version of it every day in practice. Yea, that'll work. /roflol.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":roflol:" border="0" alt="roflol.gif" /> IMO, Bruins will worry more about what they do then what the Cougars might do. I think Coach Crawford's scheme will attempt to take away what Centennial does best and force them to do what they don't want to do. /hungry.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":hungry:" border="0" alt="hungry.gif" /> And that's not inside locker room knowledge- that's just football.

I've seen this sort of thing each year, and I say the same thing each year. DO NOT "REPORT" INJURIES HAPPENING TO YOUR TEAM ON THESE THREADS! It is idiotic to do so. You are not a journalist, and are not bound to "report" on your team's status. First of all- you are releasing information that opponent doesn't need to know about in it's preparations. Secondly- you could be right, but if the athlete plays, that injury is like blood in the water for sharks, and you may really get the athlete injured. Thirdly- unless you are the team physician, you could be wrong. Spreading false information about your team is not smart. And I am saying this as a Brentwood supporter. If indeed it IS true (and I won't believe it to be until game time and he's in street clothes), that is a terrible blow to a very gifted athlete.

AJ and Cole are back. Yes, Brentwood had zero passing yards against Antioch. Antioch had a number of passing yards. Two plays that should have been receptions would've resulted in TD's. After seeing Davis this week for Antioch, the Bruins will see the same QB in Scales. Centennial has improved since their first meeting. So has Brentwood, more specifically on offense. They are now averaging nearly 30 points per game. The difference is defense- Brentwood allows only 10 points per game- Centennial double that. That is the difference and will be the difference Friday.

Good job last night Bruins in taking the first step. AJ looked like he hasn't missed a beat. Bruins, frankly, could've made the score a lot worse a lot earlier. Two wide- open- as- Kansas-slam-dunk-TD-passes dropped (catch the ball, run the ball; not run the ball catch the ball), and then Webber taking a knee with the continuous clock running from the Antioch 3. Reggie Farmer was on fire last night. Going back to the wide open receivers: on numerous plays in certain formations, inexplicably the slot receiver had NO ONE covering him. What was up with that? Bruins still stuck to the ground attack, doing only what was needed. Davis for Antioch is a Scales clone, but even more elusive behind the line of scrimmage. Gleaves was easily the best receiver on the field, as well as the hottest head on defense- which resulted in his game ejection in the 3rd Q. After that, Antioch had no playmakers to compliment Davis and made a comeback impossible. Now it's on to round 2 and an old friend in the Cougars. Congrats to all the victors in Region 6. Three out of four ain't bad! PS. Dobyns-Bennett should henceforth be banned from all serious or mild consideration in the polls and playoffs until further notice.

Crawford will have his troops zeroed in for the playoffs. The offense is getting very productive at putting points on the board, and the defense can be counted on for at least a TD each game. Getting healthy will be the main point. Game planning is a given, and game planning against a coach who has been to the playoff wars every year either at Riverdale during their glory years, or Brentwood since 2002, is not an easy task. HL got the win against the least imposing Bruin teams in a long time the last two playoffs. One victory came inexplicably on a ref's complete botching of an extra point call that was kicked too fast for him to see, I guess. Athletic teams don't bother the Bruins. If they want to run east and west, they will be there to greet them-hard and physically. This may turn out to be the best Bruin team since their state championship squad. Good luck to the rest of Region 6 in your showdowns.

So, if the pre-game responses were 5-1 Indy posts, why are the post game responses almost a shutout the other way? I'm just looking for some game analysis from the Southern end of Williamson County. My analysis of Indy: A shell of last season. Short passing game attempts to make up for the lack of running game, but the lack of a running game still stands out. I still don't get this rush to the line, look to the bench for the play; it's not like the defense is going to radically change from play to play at this level. To me it destroys momentum. Both QB's looked capable of making most throws. Deep game is very sporadic, but that is normal. No running game at all- where did THAT go? Heckman- and I've read posts saying he should be a RB- would not make it a full season at RB, IMO. He's not built to take the punishment. He's quick, but that will only buy you so much time. Either QB looked capable of playin that position, both have decent arms. Concerns in the stands over Indy's overreliance of Heckman was exposing him to some serious hits. What was shocking was that the Eagle defense- beyond the front line- was so smallish. 77 and 75 have decent size (how is 77 doing?) and made some plays. Beyond that, the LB's and secondary look undersized from a physical standpoint. Not a lot of team speed. These comments might be viewed as harsh, but I've seen a lot of football in this region over the years and this is just my opinion. Bottom line, I was a little surprised.

Realized the gaffe later that morning, but couldn't get back to the computer. Sorry about that one Clay. /blush.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":blush:" border="0" alt="blush.gif" /> Isn't it worth a chuckle that the majority of the posts pre-game were from Indy, but post-game the silence grows each day from their side? How about some analysis from that side now that the deed is done? How is Davis doing and the others who were banged up going into the game?