catswild

OR 48 - LC 7

It is GAME DAY !!!

Not sure what he'll say, but to me, it doesn't seem like Powell ever practices defense. If they hadn't had the best defensive player in Tennessee (when he wanted to be) move in last year, they wouldn't been nearly as good on defense. This year, and beyond, those types of guys won't be moving into the Powell area...they'll be going to Bearden. I actually want Clinton to win this game (I'm never for Clinton), but since we've already beaten Clinton, it's good for us if they win the rest of their district games!

With all of the talent OR has, I thought 10-0 was possible. We could've beaten Bearden, Farragut isn't as good as normal, Greenville isn't as good as last year, Powell isn't as good as last year, DB lost a lot of starters...and I picked OR to win 31-21...not a blowout. I still stand by what I said...OR will have more talent than anyone OR plays, but we won't be 10-0. At this point, I'll go with 7-3 and a deep playoff run! Something else...why didn't we use our timeouts before the half? And two other questions, one about each team...why did OR bleed the clock when they had the ball in the last 5-6 minutes of the game? That made no sense to me at all...there was no sense of urgency...we were running out the clock on ourselves!!! And why did Farragut throw a single pass in the last 5-6 minutes? That made no sense to me either...they're up 24 and stopping the clock on purpose or risking a pick six. Wait...maybe they passed the ball because they knew OR was bleeding the clock on ourselves...it was taking OR forever to get a play off when we should've been in two minute mode. Oh well...time to move I suppose

He's an option guy and that's what he believes in, so I have no problem with that call. If it worked, everyone would be talking about how ingenious the call was!

Too much talk of injuries and kids being "uncoachable". Stop with the excuses...take your lumps, get back to work, and move on!

I agree that I've heard enough excuses...every team deals with injuries. OR wasn't ready to play last night and I agree with whoever said that Farragut isn't as good as normal...they're good but is NOT a great Farragut team. We have QB issues but it goes beyond that. If we can figure out a way to get the ball to our playmakers (22 and 13) MANY times a game, we win. I don't like to criticize play calls after the fact BUT on the goal line, get the ball to 22. At midfield, get the ball to 22. Deep in your own territory, get the ball to 22. And when you don't get it him...get it to 13.

I'd love to but I'll be working until 6:00 and probably won't arrive at the game until a little after 7:00

Yes I did and even with our injuries, I think we'll be more talented than anyone on the schedule...but since we're 2-1, I'm not sure how we can go 10-0.

Ridiculous post...OR 31 - FHS 21

It is GAME DAY !!!

Your pessimism is troubling! What's the matter with you? Have you forgotten who we are? OR will NOT lose this game!!!!!!!

It is GAME DAY !!!

Good point

Get this straight...this is the OAK RIDGE vs CLINTON thread. I don't know who AC plays this week, next year, or the next decade. I don't care if OR ever plays AC...but let's talk about it when the two teams play. All of you OR fans stop responding to this guy because what he says is meaningless. Let's focus on beating Clinton and with regards to AC...it will be just another great regular season until Greeneville beats them again in the playoffs...or Elizabethton.

Just looking at the AC schedule...No Maryville, No Alcoa, No Beech, No Oakland....they do play Greeneville and get their tails kicked EVERY time they play them!

I don't care what any "fake" website says, Clinton is NOT the 9th best team...they haven't beaten anyone worth a #$@#%$! !!! If the game with OR is close at all, it will be because of the OR injuries!

Beat Greeneville or Elizabethton in a playoff game and then come back on here...until then, stay on your own thread.

Are you saying that scheduling Greeneville, Farragut, D-B, South Doyle, Mt Juliet, and Bearden in non-region games is not challenging?

Are you telling me that scheduling Farragut, D-B, Greenville, Mt Juliet, Bearden for non-region games in recent years indicates that OR coaches are afraid of a challenge?

Here's what I think. When I say "talent", I'm talking about "skill players"...running backs, wide receivers, defensive backs, linebackers, etc. The best running backs on the field for either team were Dozier and Hundley...did you think Bearden had a better back than either of them? The best receiver on the field (for a half) was Rogers. I don't think Bearden had anyone as good a receiver Izzy...if they did, I never saw him. Rembert is a better "athlete" than anyone I saw on the field for Bearden. I don't think the Bearden QB was any better than the OR QB...did you? The best LB on the field was Kelly...Bearden had nobody close to him! The Bearden defensive line was better than the OR offensive line...that's for sure. When a high school team has better athletes than their opponent, they should win...at least that's what I think. It would be better to have better talent AND a better line...but if you only have one area where you're better than your opponent, I think the more important of the two would be the "skill" players. Sometimes they can make something out of nothing...but it does little good to have a better line if you don't have a talented back to give to or a talented receiver to throw it to....that's my two cents worth.

The execution of the two minute drill at the end was very good! Every team deals with injuries so that can always be an excuse, although ours are very numerous. Even without a few of our top players, I felt like we had the superior talent and therefore should have won the game. I was very happy to see a major reduction in penalties. OR will defeat Clinton

Generally speaking I would say that I'm not sure...but last Friday night...yes

I'll take a few of your points one by one and address them. You are right about Bearden...they will NOT be a force in 6A this year (not a chance in the world). Sharp isn't great but when the game was on the line he put the ball right in the receiver's hands while on the move...not bad in that pressure packed moment. I put no stock at all in what a few high school players say about their coach. How many state titles has West one since Cummings left? I'm not saying he's a great coach...we'll see about that over the next few years, but I sure wouldn't rely on high school football players to tell me how good a coach is or isn't. I would give the edge to the Clinton QB as well...not so sure about the playbook though. I haven't really seen Clinton other than highlights but I hope you're right about the OR d line and defense being better. Running back definitely goes to OR and I don't care who Clinton has at running back. You better be careful pressuring that Clinton QB...we better mix it up because when we pressure him and he runs, that could spell trouble for OR unless we contain him...we might rather see him throw than run, but you're right, he can't have too much time to throw. No way OR loses this game. Even with the OR injuries, OR has way too much talent and speed for Clinton, and I'll bet you the OR kicking game is way better than Clinton's. I'll take OR coaching over Clinton's coaching too. If Clinton's staff was all that good, they would be coaching at OR, where most of them are from! Oak Ridge 24 - Clinton 13

I know...I know...we won't be 10-0. The Bearden defensive line dominated our offensive line and their offense did just enough to win. Too many sacks in the first half hurt us badly. I thought we should've thrown the ball down the field more but I think this team will still win a lot of games. I definitely loved the fight in them at the end. While the QB isn't great, those of you who say he's the worst in the region are stupid...with the game on the the line on the last play he was on the run and threw a perfect strike to the receiver who just missed the ball. So the QB did his part to win this game...I don't think he's the worst in the region. This game will make us better....but we were the better team and never should've lost. GRADES: OFFENSIVE LINE.....D...Poor pass protection and poor run blocking RUNNING BACKS.....B...Nowhere to run for the most part but they have to hold onto the ball. Hundley ran hard, strong, and was impressive WIDE RECEIVERS.....C .......Dropped the pass to win the game and I don't think they blocked very well...Izzy was good QB.... B....Threw a perfect pass to win the game but took too many sacks in the first half. Threw the ball well to Izzy Mitchell DEFENSIVE LINE....B....Put lots of pressure on Bearden early but seemed to play more conservatively in the second half (coaching decision) LINEBACKERS....C....Didn't really notice them and we really miss Berven DEFENSIVE BACKS....B+....I remember one pick and I thought the tackling was pretty good. I don't remember any real busted coverages KICKING GAME.....A+....Kickoffs all in the zone...Good punts...Kicked a FG and a PAT COACHING....C...Not sure why we would attempt a pass first and goal on their three yard line with Dozier and Hundley available (we got sacked and lost 10-12 yards and had to settle for a FG). Also, even without Heyward and Rogers, we had more talent than they did (Hundley, Rembert, Dozier, and Kelly) ...and we still lost. The good news is that this team and staff will be just fine and they will win the region, and make a deep playoff run. They won't go 10-0, but they just lost a game that doesn't matter at all! RWR!!!!!!!