tnsparty

Thoughts and prayers from the Independence family.

I thought a bigger surprise was Hillsboro getting blown out 35-6.

I was there. It was a very exciting game. The Eagles can run the ball. They had almost 300 yards in rushing. The yards were spread around. Their running game has a lot of weapons. Siegel definitely had trouble stopping them. Other positives, in my opinion were the kids played very hard and didn't quit, the pass defense and special teams (minus field goal/PAT). Things to improve on would be the run defense, FG/PAT and too many penalties. All in all a very good first game. It gets no easier as they play another RC team next week (Oakland). Congrats to the Eagle players, coaches and fans.

Have you personally seen any of Indy's scrimmages? If so how can you tell if it is going to be a long season or not based on someone else's posts. They are not a one trick pony this year. They can and will run the ball and they can pass also. I have seen 3 of 4 scrimmages and they are an improved team. They still have a lot to improve on. The only poster on Indy's threads that causes the s storm is you with your constant negativity. Please pick another team to follow and post about. Your posts are sos/dd in my opinion.

They have done well in scrimmages. Learning a new offense and defense with Coach Bennett. They scrimmage Dickson County tonight at Indy in their final scrimmage before their first game next Friday at siegel. (sp?)

DC scrimmaged Centennial to a 0-0 tie. Tonight they scrimmage at Independence.

They scrimmaged Page Monday morning. They scrimmage Station Camp at Indy on the 7th, at BGA on the 11th and Dickson County at Indy on the 14th. They start around 6.

Coach Bennett is on staff and is the DC. Coach Dyson is an Assistant Coach and the AD. Todd Jones was the AD and an Assistant Coach last year.

Unless TSSAA changed the rule, you can only have 3 non-faculty coaches on staff.

I don't think offense was the problem last year as much as the defense's inability to stop the other team. When that is the case the offense has to take more chances. Eubanks is a very good OC. It would be better if he were allowed to hire an OC so he is just the HC, but it doesn't seem to be the case.

TSSAA not only limits the total number of days/scrimmages you can have but they also say they have to be completed in so many days. They ran out of time and couldn't reschedule. I am not sure of the particulars, I'm sure someone will answer.

Scrimmage was cancelled due to wet field at Blackman.

It is not the spread or the wing-t. And there were a lot of other players that ran the ball beside Heckman.

I don't understand your reply. Please explain.

Page's passing scheme had a lot to do with the pass rush. Page was in a pistol (shotgun) look and they were throwing the quick passes. There isn't a lot of time to rush. I didn't see many blitzes so Page was blockig 4 with 5. Heckman is pretty tough and they will be able to spread the ball around more than last year. After the first series the defense settled down and did a good job. I thought for the first spring game they played well. Everyone shouldn't make more of this than what it was...a Spring scrimmage.

At Blackman around 5:30.

Both teams scored on their first posession. Indy went down the field throwing just 2 times and scored. The running game looks pretty good for just a hand full of practices. Page gained 40 yards on its first 2 plays (passes) but then stalled out until its next to last play when they threw a TD pass. Indy outmanned the Patriots and moved the ball consistently with its ones. Page played hard and should be good in its region. Indy picked off 5 passes I think. All in all it was good for both teams to play against someone other than themselves. The scrimmage vs. Blackman will be a good test against a bigger school.

Coach Eubanks had nothing to do with hiring either Gates or Alexander. They were hired by the previous school administration. I don't know where you come up with calling them Eubank's Boys. If you ask anyone on the coaching staff they will say that the O and D line did not perform as they wanted, but I think it had to do more with talent and varsity game experience than coaching. I am not saying the coaching couldn't have been better because it could have. Head football coaches in high school do not always have a say in some of their assistants, especially in Williamson County. I won't say anything about Coach Hammonds because I don'tpersonally know him. However, just because someone has football pedigree doesn't always mean they are going to be a good coach. I am not saying he won't be a good coach, just that pedigree doesn't always translate to the field. I know a bunch of very excellent football coaches that don't have pedigree as you put it.

The Page scrimmage is this coming Friday around 5 or so at Indy. The Blackman scrimmage is the following Fri (May 8) at Blackman. Not sure of the time.

Actually Tuesday was their first practice. I've observed 2 of the practices and offensively they look pretty good considering they have put in a new scheme and there are some new coaches. Looking forward to see them scrimmage Page and Blackman. Still a long way to go, but they seem to be catching on to the changes.

You may already know this, but go to www.tssaa.org and check out the open coaching positions on the message board.

I bet if you asked any of the Indy coaches if they underacheived they would say yes. But, it happens. It would not be a red flag for me unless it happens more than 1 year in a row. Football has traditions and sometimes remembering the past is good. If the past can't be remembered, why are there trophies in the school at all? You should never let go of the past. If the past was successful, then what does it take to get there. If the past was not successful, then that should motivate you to not repeat what made you not successful.

Fundamentals are taught and sometimes it is execution that is the problem. Blocks and tackles are missed for a lot of reasons and sometimes it is the players fault. If the coaches are not teaching it (which I highly doubt) then it is the coach's fault. Have you ever taught blocking and tackling? If not then you don't know what it takes. Let's say you are a rec league baseball coach and you teach and practice bunting every practice. In a game you want someone to bunt and they strike out, should you fire the coach?

It is scary for everyone in that group not just Indy. They should be better next year. They have some good kids coming up so they will compete.

You have the benefit of calling it a bad call after the fact, when it doesn't work. If it works, he is a genius. EVERY football coach has called plays that if they had to do it all over again, they may do it different. If that play call makes him a bad coach, then there are no good coaches out there. Answer this. In the MSU/UM game MSU goes for a 4th and 1 inside the UM 20 up by 7 with about 6 minutes to go. A field goal puts them up by 10. Good call? They made it so it was a good call. If they didn't make it and UM ties score, would you be posting about it? Coaching is more than just Xs and Os. It is easy to critique after the fact. Try calling the plays in a game sometime. It is not as easy as it looks.