direwolf

The DB vs WB thread is locked. But I have to respond to Recon's comment there: "One thing no one knows is the first play that was called after the long throw to Throp. Clark called for a sweep to 17 out of an I with a tight end and twins. The fullback looked like he just got confused and ran out and then Clark called a timeout and changed the play. This would have been a good call because even if it didn't score, the ball would have been in the middle of the field." On the 1st and goal, when #15 (wide Rec) and #42 (tight end) came into the game, there were 12 players on the field. So #19 came off the field (as normal when #42 comes in). Heads up...I think so. I don't think is was #19 that was confused, I think it was the coaches. On Regardless, the ultimate play calling on the last three plays was dead wrong. Everyone (but Clark it seems) knew it at the time. Everyone I have talked with all agree that a power I formation would have scored, and IT WAS CLEAR AT THE TIME. We DB fans are not bashing Clark. Just calling it the way it is. After all the bad breaks, the boys put themselves in position to win, and Clark did not come through. Why did he leave a timeout on the board? He should have regrouped his offense and reinforced the need to get the ball in the middle of the field. As I have said before, Clark is good enough to win in NET. That's it. Perhaps DB can overcome this next year. As history has shown, this is doubtful. This is nothing personal. It's purely business.

No broadcast. So, no, Clark will not admit his mistakes.

Jaco....Its good to see your vision is coming into focus. Yeah, Yeah, I know you alluded to this early on, but it IS the reason the db seniors are not playing this Friday night. This loss rests on Clark's shoulders. These boys overcame all the bad breaks (not to mention a very tough WB team), to position themselves for victory. To see Clark blaming the refs is sad. The man lives in a fantasy world. Do I sound angry....you bet. We fathers in the stands were screaming to put a power backfield in. Clark has yet to admit his mistakes. He will make them again. Very sad that Basham has badly torn ACL, and Sensabaugh broke his leg. Would have been very challenging to continue thru the playoffs without these young men.

Direwolf is well aware of the situation with Clark's daughter's and am grateful that everything has gone well and she is recovering. I am very sympathetic to his family situation, and have nothing against Clark personally. In fact, I think he does run a good football program. I am just questioning his ability to run the DB offense at the playoff level. The plays he called in that last series makes no sense. He did not use his strongest players in the short yardage situation. He put his QB in a difficult position. Why risk and interception? This in not a case of Saturday morning quarterbacking. I was aghast that he sent in #17 without a fullback, as were most of the fans in my section. Then, when he called pass plays, it was Déjà vu all over again. It's not rocket science here folks. It's smash mouth football. Everyone could see that Pappas was pancaking the WB defenders as FB. Pappas or Thompson could have easily plowed the way for Sylvester or Barnes. The assistant coaches for DB are second to none. If Clark was not up to the task, there are other of coaches to run the offense. It's so frustrating that he did not use the talent at his disposal. They should have won this game. Would they have won the next one? I don't know, but they should have been given the chance. These seniors have worked for years for this chance. They had the skill and talent to get the job done. They just needed a coach who could deal with the clutch sitations. Short and goal...its not that uncommon. Should have had a decent plan for this, and should have had it well rehearsed. I do agree that DB should be playing more competitive teams in the regular season. Without this challenge, making it through the playoffs is unlikely. But we did play Ootlewah last season, made the same coaching mistakes, so unless one can learn from the experience, does it really matter?

Clark lost the WB game for the Indians on the 4 yard line. The team fought through some bad breaks to put them in position to win the game. In the end, Clark executed a repeat of last years goal line effort against Ooltewah. It is insane to run up the middle without a fullback to block and unwise to pass with such a short field in heavy traffic. You recall last year the pass into the zone was intercepted to essentially end the OT and seal the loss for DB. Clark does not seem capable of learning from his mistakes. To put Burton right back into that situation was idiotic. The Indians would have scored with 3 runs up the middle using a fullback to carry or to block. And even if that did not work, the ball would be in the middle of the field to set up a easier FG attempt. This DB team did go from GOOD to GREAT, but the the offensive play calling and the use of personel was pitiful. Clark is good enough to beat NET teams, and thats it. If DB is satisfied with Conference Championships, then Clark is your man. It's unforgivable what Clark did to this outstanding group of young men. DB needs a new offensive coach, and until that happens it is unlikely any DB team will be able to overcome the coaching incompetence to make it through the playoffs. And Jaco...your lead post is drivel. This team has the talent and chemistry to beat any opponent. And to suggest that the DB football players and fans be satisfied with anything but the State Championship is sad and misguided. To say "The result, not even close" reveals your ignorance. It doesn't get much closer than the game on Friday night. All the playoff teams are very good teams, and had DB won and played on, every game would continue to be close. It's clear that Clark is popular with the good old boys, with his glib comments and seemingly witty remarks, but I am sick of it. Will see if he can admit his mistakes, or just blame the players (or worst yet, fate - a la the worm comment in the Times-News), as he has done in the past. Perhaps he should spend less time coming up with cute sayings and learn how to coach. Thas it for the other one.

Skunk, One of the best posts I have ever read......

Let me assure all the D-B folks that the Indian team is NOT taking WB lightly. A few of the first string players were at my home last night discussing the game and the tone was very serious. They know they have to bring their best game on offense and defense to win.

AMEN Chomp!

Fantastic game. Sevier County deserves everyone's respect. An outstanding team. Congratulations to Sevier for a hard fought and well played game. DB never gives up. Those kids have a lot of heart. Roll Tribe

Pappas and Burnett will continue at FB, joined by Thompson. Hey, it turns out the linebackers are also beasts at FB. Taylor has an infection, but hopefully will return next week.

Thanks for the catch...I removed that remark from the post.

A few stats to contemplate….. QB Stats DB - Bo Burton, 55-89-2, 807 yards, 7 TDs thru 6 games SC - Corey Watson 48-66, 607 yards 4 TDs thru 7 games DB – top rushers thru 6 games Marchez Barnes, 62 carries, 281 yards, 4.5 per carry, 5 TDs (47 yds/game) Justin Sylvester, 33 carries, 218 yards, 6.6 per carry, 3 TDs Bo Burton, 38 carries, 138 yards, 3.9, 5 TDs Trevor McNew, 16 carries, 89 yards, 5.6 per carry, 1 TD Andrew Pappas, 11 carries, 84 yards, 7.6 per carry, 1 TD Sevier County – top rushers thru 7 games Corey Watson 54 carries, 298 yards, 5.5 per carry, 6 TDs (42 yards/game) Tyler Thomas 40 carries, 425 yards, 10.6 per carry, 8 TDs Blake Wallace 28 carries, 194 yards, 6.9 per carry, 3 TDs Shawn Hodge 24 carries, 130 yards, 5.4 per carry Blake Cupp 18 carries, 128 yards, 7.1 per carry 2006 DB thru 6 games (According to Tricitiesports.com) Team Stats...........DB..............................Opponent Rushing................1054 –275/game............365 – 61/game Passing.................896 – 149/game..............527 – 88/game Total Offense.........1950 – 325/game............892 – 150/game Passes C-A............57-91 - 62%...................103-50 - 48% Points...................210 – 35/game................37 - 6/game Sevier County thru 7 games (According to Knox News) Team Stats...........Sevier Co.......................Opponent Rushing...............490 –70/game..................372 – 53/game Passing................318 –45/game..................128 – 18/game Total Offense........808 – 115/game...............500 – 71/game Passes C-A...........50-76 -93%.....................10-27 -37% Points...................198 – 28/game................72 – 10/game Sevier has 35% of the DB offense, but so far their defense has allowed 48% of what the DB defense has allowed. Somehow the tribe managed to keep points off the board. I guess its those clutch defensive stands and turnovers that makes the stats look misleading, Of course, TN high put up quite a few yards on DB, and I thought TN High played very well and is a good team (I thought they would beat South). According to Tricitiesports, the total DB rushing yards are 1054, and adding up the individual rushing stats, the total is 1078, which means there are -24 yards in losses. According to the Knoxnews.com, the total Sevier rushing yards are 808, and adding up the individual rushing stats, the total is 1302, which means there are -812 yards in losses. Sounds suspicious, or else Sevier suffer a lot of sacks. Of course, I have not been watching Sevier Co games (to busy cheering on the Tribe), but is appears that the Sevier Stats published by the Knoxville paper are wrong. The stats that are clear are the points. The offenses look matched, point wise, but the DB defense comes out on top in that category. As usual, I give DB the edge with the intimidating defensive play, and an offense that can take advantage of the resulting field position. The DB kicking game will also give DB an edge. It will be hard fought, but DB takes this game by at least 17 points.

D-B

Bearden was not better than I expected, but they are an excellent team. Well coached. I was very impressed with the Bearden defensive squad. They were very aggressive and hung in there with DB for three quarters. A very hard hitting game. Thanks Bearden for a much needed tough opponent. DB – 10 Bearden and the Officials – 6 Normally I would not comment on the officiating, but this was some of the worst I have seen, perhaps since the Science-Hill, / DB game in 2004. I expect a penalty could be called on any play…but it seems Friday night was glaringly lopsided. Of Bearden’s 10 offensive series, 5 were extended by defensive penalty calls. Perhaps some were justified, but I witnessed holding and pass interference on Bearden to the same extent that were not flagged. The most glaring call, and a game changer, came in Bearden’s 4th series on a 1st & 10 from the Bearden 20 yd line. DB #19 (Pappas) put a hit on the Bearden Receiver (#19) causing a fumble which DB recovered. Although it’s not clear, it appears the ruling was foreword progress was stopped so it was ruled down (2-yd reception). At the time, and later confirmed by game film, this was a tackle and fumble. Of course his forward progress was stopped!!!!!! That’s what the DB linebackers do to ball carriers. He was not stopped and driven back; he was hit, fumbled and driven to the ground in an instant. Had this play stood as it should, DB would have very likely scored a touchdown, and perhaps prevented the ensuing punt fumble that lead to the only Bearden score. Oh- by the way, Burton did score that touchdown on the last DB offensive series in the 1st half. DB – 21 Bearden - 0 If I were DB, I would protest this crew.

Hey, thanks for the scrimmage. I thought your quarterback and receiver (#1) looked pretty good and gave the D-B secondary some heart attacks. Your biggest weakness was the defense but after reading you lost 11 starters, wow, hard to recover from that. D-B's defense will lose lots of starters after this year. Best of luck to you this season.

Today (7/31) is the first day in full gear.

Actually, some of the team is going to a passing league camp at Wake Forest in July and maybe another one - last year the second one was at Wofford.

Yes, he will be a senior.

Not happening! Luckily, I had read info. before on CoachT and addressed the whole NCAA Clearinghouse registration as the meeting ended - they weren't going to mention a word about it.

Thanks for the information. We need it!

Our thoughts and prayers are with Logan from D-B and the Kingsport Community.

What a great post for a parent who has a son just starting the recruiting process. I will keep your words of wisdom in mind as he goes through this...good luck to Spencer...my son always enjoyed playing against him and thought he was one good football player and a heck of a nice kid.

Bo Burton also was invited from Dobyns-Bennett High School

Hey, thanks for the info. about the NCAA Guides......had no idea this should be done.