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Are you kidding? We are Halls we never change. To be fair the hook & Ladder the other week did look good. But overall Halls are a creature of habit and whinning won't change anything we will have to complete this year before I hope major offensive adjustments take place.

I'm feeling sick about all this. The kids are trying but no love on the scoreboard. I'm afraid we will have to grin and bear it this year. But if we don't change the offense next year to accomidate our team we will be following the road well taken the past two years.

It really wouldn't make much difference. I know I have a bad attitude but a Halls team 0-4 and just got taken out to the woodshed by a well executed wing-t offense. You can't run our version of the wing-t when your passing game is better than your running game. We need some developing linemen and fast or we will struggle to win three this year. Playoffs are a distant memory I now agree 0-6 isn't out of the question. I knew upfront this would be a difficult year but I had no idea we would drop off this much. Defense is trying very hard. But it's time to put the whole offense under a microscope next year. I think Karns will finally have our number this year. Back to the game Oak Ridge picked up a coach that is a winner and if they can go to Powell and disrupt them I can't even speculate on this weeks score or next weeks against AC either.

Very good post. I think Halls still could upset Webb but they will play hard and Webb will know they have been in a game. Hearing good things about Dowdy making a quicker return than first thought. Hope he gets the chance because of his senior season. Coffman's 8/10 last week was a silver lining in a tough loss. The QB position looks stronger this year.

Thanks for that breakdown very imformative I think?............

Any time you strap em up you have a chance. Webb being a private school has certain advantages that public schools such as Halls may not be afforded. Halls got behind the eight ball when there starting QB was hurt. They are just trying to find what works at the moment on offense a slow process to be sure with some deflating penalties that have kicked us in the butt at the wrong times. Borderline psychotic perhaps but we will finish strong in my opinion. We could be anywhere from 4-6 to 6-4 but I'm still proud of our Devils no matter what. I like the Monday morning QB talk these threads provide. I try not to knock Kids or the coaches because they are trying to do there best but perhaps the philosophies are in error and not being afraid to try something new if the standard gameplan is broken.

Sad if this becomes a trend losing some of our better players. Most on here know I won't bash the coaching staff but I have never liked the wing-t because I'm not so sure it plays to our strengths with the personnel we currently have. We do seem to be very predictable for the most of the game then try to come alive in the final period when teams are guessing we have too. I still think one great game can turn this ship around. We have some playmakers to torch opposing defenses we just need the ball in their hands in space. Sad fact is space has been hard to get into so far this year. We have to keep a positive frame of mind and move on.

Although I agree Grant Painter is a very good player and will get his chance next year. The running back position is loaded with great talent. We have to turn that potential into finished products....wins. Halls now has a identity problem they can't seem to win the close ones for the better part of two years which is frustrating everyone. Teams have to weather these type of cycles and move on stronger. In reality this team isn't a playoff team top to bottom at the moment it is a good team but not a great team. The good news is this team wasn't over hyped like last years team when they failed to perform so not a lot of undue pressure was put on them from the get go. When Dowdy went down what chemistry the passing game had going into the season opener seemed to collaspe then the running game struggled as many teams are keying the run stacking the box. We seem to be contained at the moment. A big win at Webb could change all this and we could finish with a very successful year. In another post someone is saying 0-6 start with the next three games away to Webb,Oak Ridge & AC. But remember a 4-6 record will be no worse than last year when we had a stout offensive line. Most had a feeling both Clinton & Powell would be a tough game to win and neither team blew us out. Keep the faith we need just one upset to jump start this year.

Thought the same so I did some digging. The only time since 2003 that we have attempted over 20 passes was once. On 9/3/2004 Trey Lucas aired it out 31 times against Marville and completed 14 of them rascals for 89 yards. Unfortunately, we lost 24-0. Thats why I was blown away by the number of attempts by a unseasoned QB who I would have thought we would of tried to blood in slowly. Don't get me wrong I love the passing game and especially if Halls is doing it to keep teams off balance like the powerhouses we have had to play in the past. Coach Ward was a master of this.

Rico don't be so hard on yourself or the boys. I've seen many Halls teams stumble early and really get it going by mid season. New young QB has to find his feet and his receivers have to help him which they will. Once the running game starts clicking this should open up the passing lanes again and vice versa. Remember these last two teams are always tough opponents and we played them close in each game. Clinton is now listed 4th or 5th in the state. So they were our Maryville game this year.

I thought the same. If we are having trouble finding our wideouts do some safe short screens or bubble screens to O'laughlin the kid has talent and open field he is the bright spot for us in going the distance. He certainly has a nose for the endzone. Does he have good hands like Gresham?

I agree 100% with you HTV. Throw out the records and all the past this is always a chess match. Everyone enjoys these rivalries. My main concern this year about Halls football is the offense. With Dowdy missing like Rico said we are finding our legs and we will get better. But it's the running game that concerns me most. We had that breakout run for 50+ last week but that was it. Not discounting that the Smokey Bears kept us contained but to keep us under a 100yard night at our house thats mighty unnerving.

Always a very close game. This is a huge game for Halls. I believe the Halls D will stand up and be counted. I'm going for a low scoring one with a special teams score being the deceider. O'laughlin kick off returns have been electricfying these past two years so that may be the difference. Halls 17 Powell 14

I agree on two points. The delay of games shot us in the foot. We have to trust the QB to get signals from transfering in and out a receiver or Running back with the play so he is ready to roll. That has been a thorn in our side for far to long. I know it won't change this year but I'm hopeful for the future. Second point I admire KJ. For as long as I remember he also takes the blame. That my friends is a stand up coach and one who is respected by both his peers and media. Takes the heat off the young players. Causes for concern passed 21 times completed 6. Has Halls ever passed that much in one game in over a decade? I think we would be hard pressed to find those stats even in the Matt Loy days. Go figure. Then I realized looking in the sentinel we ran the ball 29 times for 82 yards that isn't Halls numbers at all. 2.82 yards per carry. We have good looking backs but we miss the Caleb Leonards on our line to open up the holes. Now the scary part our pass defense was exploited for 144 yards in the air that's CAK type numbers. Two picks were good but this was our strong suit last week against the formidable Stone.(look what he did this week against DB). We must keep working hard for the big matchup against Powell.

Halls has the look of the 06 team in some respects. They will have to throw more to Bright & Gresham to mix it up. We look faster but not as bulky on the line. I was impressed with their tenacity and speed in this game. They have a little more uptempo from last years unit which seemed very lethargic with timing issues. I think this is a playoff contending team as the season wears on. So even though I'm saddend with the loss the future looks very good.

I was impressed with the team spirit and unity this years team has displayed. Playing a formidible team like Clinton to virtually a stalemate for most of the game was great. I think Clinton noticed our secondary was tougher for Stone to break down thus giving Hazelhurst his Kitts like numbers. In reference to onemoreopinion The 07 team had the most balance that I have seen in a Halls team in sometime. Most remember Wesley Kitts ( the Jolt factor) but they had a great receiver in Daniel Dayton (look what he did to Maryville that year) that made it all work plus a chemistry we didn't seem to have last year. If we can find Gresham more this should open up Gibby and our other talented backs. The little fella as devilsden like to call him needs to find balance for us to be successful. We are on the right track. Keep it up Red Devils Seiver County is always tough but I think my Devils will win this one. Halls 24 Sevier Co. 17 Impressed with Coffman at the helm.

Dynamic reply for your first post. I agree wholeheartedly on what you are saying. Trouble is this is a board of peoples individual opinions and can air out a few things to create a interesting dialogue. I think KJ is up to the task I just wish the offense could be tinkered with. We will see this fall.

Devilsden, Some excellent posts. I wish Halls would only run 75% of the time. I think they are mainly around a 90-10 run pass or a least the last couple of years we have been around that mark. Check out a well oiled machine like Maryville. Ask the question why they are very hard to defend against on offense and why they continue to get prospects(cough) to run said offense. I personally hope KJ stays he has brought excitment back to the program. I agee Coach Ward was underrated in my opinion running the offense. A huge loss that was reflected last year in the wins and losses. The good news is we have a clean slate moving forward and anything could happen.

I have to admit I'm still scratching my head over Halls football. I think they have some good looking athletes but we can't seem to take the next step. I'm not sure it's because we are not assessing the talent on the field correctly. It may be our offensive gameplan that Devilsden seems to cut up about directed at the "little Fella". Last year a huge dropoff did occur in the offensive numbers and it showed up in the win and losses. With that last point the absolute biggest concern for me is finding the right QB this year. I'm sure that on the minds of the coaching staff as well. Anyone catch that West Halls game a couple of years ago when the final score was in the stratasphere thats the kind of can do offense Halls needs to aspire to again. It means more than just the running game you have to have a threat on the outside or the better teams will beat you. It's just the sign of the times in todays High School football. I know you have to find the talent to execute that plan but once you have them I hope we don't waste them. Coach Ward before he stepped down seemed to have a grasp on how important the aerial game was. It wasn't a throw every down type offense but a sneaky one to keep teams off balance. It just so happend we had a receiver that could turn a short gain into a big play and complimented a very good running game. Teams didn't really know how to defend us. I think we need that back to be successful and start the climb to Murfreesboro. If not then a single dimensional offense will result somewhere between a 6-4 to 4-6 record and not much better hoping for a little luck to shine on us.

Woody Hayes wouldn't stand for that type of talk. Look at that!...... short sleeves in inclement weather.

Correctamundo. 100% Sneaky Pete you are the voice of reason. This year we need to take one game at a time and not over hype our squad. Last year the kids couldn't live up to the high expectations burdened upon them.

I'm very confused on this one. I really believe he has changed and deserves a chance as long as he keeps towing the line. I hope Lane Kiffin by clearing house this summer knows what he is doing and is a good judge of character. I was always uncomfitable with the law Fulmer laid down in the latter years and it showed on the field of play as discipline went down the toilet and so did our record. But UT football has looked the other way on many occasions and trust has wained. So I have given up on getting a recruit at all costs. I do like UT considering local talent and Daniel is talented. But the more I read about the incident the worse it seems. If I had a daughter I just don't know if I could forgive him over it. Duct tape on seventy percent of the body thats not normal. Thirteen years old is not to young for accountabilty especially in this act. I am very torn as more information has become public. But.............. we are suppose to forgive so I think he could use this chance to help others. I hope he truely has repented and uses his talents to further his future in his education and life pursuits. Because we are all God's children I can't cast the first stone. Good luck Daniel

I don't think anyone will think the #6 seed will be a pushover. The Halls offense has ignited the past couple of weeks. I think this will be a exciting tournament. Go Red Devils. /thumb[1].gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":thumb:" border="0" alt="thumb[1].gif" />

Agreed. Especially in this financial mess we are in at the moment. You have to weigh the best options available.

Julian is a stand up and classy coach. His defenses are solid and he mainly lets his assitants develop the offense. He gets along very well with both parents and players. Last year the hype was way over done. Halls lost to many talented athletes to graduation from the playoff year and nobody could pick up the slack. Also when Coach Ward called it quits that put the offense in the hands of a newbie who couldn't get the offense kickstarted. All that with sickness, injuries and the whole gambit then you had a recipe for disaster. Hardly a head coaches fault. Personally if a good offer comes along you can't feel bad if he takes it. But I hope he can finish what he has started at the crossroads. Success could be just round the corner. /thumb[1].gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":thumb:" border="0" alt="thumb[1].gif" />