Freakazoid

Looks pretty accurate but I would put West at 1, East in 2nd, and a tossup for 3rd between JC and Greeneville. I am surprised there is no more interest in IMAC baseball this year - no posts in Coach T is a schock versus prior year activity.

Who will be the top teams this year and why? Opinions?

Congratulations yes - jealous NO! The only thing I get jealous about in Greeneville is that other schools can never seem to get the same calls from those referees that Duncan gets! I don't know if I would call it jealously or not - probably not.

I assume you did not purposely leave out Jefferson County in the previous response to PT. Hawkins Co., Hamblem Co., and Cocke Co. are not alone in this conference.

Careful Warlock - Those Patriots are 6-3 right now so don't give up on that last game yet.

Good recap. Tackling must improve and IMO our DE's and CB's must improve for us to beat Science Hill. I think we are strong up the middle with our DT's and LB's but if the other team gets around the end our LB's usally have to make the tackle. That has to improve. The offense is still very erratic but I have to contribute that to the play calling. Seems like we are afraid to open it up - until we just have to! We can't be afraid to spread it around a little early in a game - heck we might be able to move the ball in the 1st quarter if we give it a shot. But we got the W and lets just be happy, and hope the Patriots learned a lot from last night (players and coaches).

I think we`ve been trying to do too many things with the passing game ever since Meadows left. We had WR's running 15-20 double moves with the QB rolling out in the Euverard era where by the time the WR got open the QB was eating grass. Here were trying to set up the one big play down field, after cramming it down the other teams throat for 2 quarters.? Yeah Tyler Brown made his living down field, but some of his best work was off all the 5yd stop routes that we ran. We do not need to run anything all that special to do some things in the passing game, and we don`t need a Jarrod Houston, David Yokely, Tyler Brown type guy to do it either. If the guys we have now aren`t capable of running 7yds down field and turning around we need to start forfeiting games. Slants, outs, and stop routes with a stop and go or fade every now and then is all we need. They are simple plays to run, and for the most part have little risk involved. Yeah it would be great to be able to run 20yd post routes or dare I say........ it a post corner, but we can looses up a defense with the short passing game as well. All we have to do is make one guy miss off a stop route and its nothing but green grass for days. We really are making things more complicated than they need to be.I agree with you 100%.? Euverard's passing game did not fit the personnel he had to work with and this year I feel we have good personnel to run the short passing game to our benefit.? I'm not saying abandon the veer, use it but spread the defense a little with the 6 yard out, the 8 yard curl, and the TE hot pass that we have ran for years.? You are right - they are safe routes and some of those 6 yard outs will turn into big plays (missed tackles).? Seems like our passing game is home run or nothing.? Stepp runs nothing but the go route.? Looks like we have some adequate WR's and 2-3 good TE's that we really don't use.? IMO - if your QB and WR's have the timing down on the quick out and curl patterns then it can't be defended if your QB can roll out and have enough time to throw it.? I know I'm not a coach and don't want to sound critical but things change over time and you have to adjust to how the game changes.? I love the veer and it is effective, but you have to keep the defense honest.? Spread it a little on them.? As far as a grade for the coaching - I would say a B for defensive coaching and a C for offense, just because we are so stubborn and conservative, unwilling to spread the defense a little.? (Oh yeah - an unwilling to utilize a 6'5" wide receiver).?

I get tired of hearing a group of our fans constantly criticizing the officials.? At MW it was embarassing, a group of 8-10 grown men sitting in a group screaming at the officials that they are idiots every 5 minutes.? I did see some questionable calls last night but did they beat us?? NO.? Like someone else said we beat ourselves.? #5 needs to play ball and keep his mouth shut - coaching staff should take care of that issue.? The fumble on the 1 yard line hurt - looked like Long got hit before handoff on a straight dive play over guard to Brooks.? Better learn from that one boys and coaches.? If we want to be a smashmouth veer offense? we have to be able to run a basic dive play.? I really hoped they would run the QB sneak.? I think this group has a lot of heart and that we will see some good things from them before the end of the year.? Looks like we are afraid to throw the ball.? I can't figure out if the coaching staff thinks we can't catch it, we can't throw it, or if we run the veer so well we don't have to throw it.? A few slants, quick outs, and curls would spread that defense a little and might open a few things up.? I'm not saying throw it 15-20 times a game but at least mix it up a little, and let's see if we can use a short passing game to keep the defense honest.? Keep them honest and then the veer will work a lot better.?

It is time to move on and forget about this one. It was a great win for the PATS but I would have to agree with Evertonesfan that West does have some talent, some heart, and they will probably bounce back. I'm a JCHS fan myself but let's don't get on a roll criticizing 17 year old kids. We do need to make a lot of improvements or some of these silly things will cost us a game or two down the road. Clock management is a concern, punt team not being aware that you don't let the ball bounce backward (we had 2 guys stand and watch it), and the secondary coverage (that was 2 seniors that let him 10 yards behind them). We won that game based on emotion and adrenaline flowing, but we must eliminate these mental mistakes if we think we can make the playoffs and compete with the DB's, Bearden's, etc.. Let's forget West and go after Campbell County. Last Friday is history, but it was a sweet win.

Part of the problem is that the veer is not designed to be thrown from a pocket - it is a rollout passing attack and quick hitting slants. Very few pass plays are designed to be thrown from the pocket in this offense. They will get better, both the offensive line and all the backs, not just the QB. It takes a lot of repetitions to get confortable running the veer (especially if you are truly reading the tackles and ends. ) The only problem is they have to get better in a hurry and the defense has to carry us until the offense starts to click. I think it will click - but will take some time and more discipline.

It is time for a new thread. A couple of questions for anyone to answer. Who can we expect to step up this year and make big contributions (excluding those that have already proven their value)? I expect Brooks to have a good year, and would love to see the big boys up front push some people around (Kelton, Stewart, Griffin, Plont). I'm sure some others as well. Will Jeff County be the first home game on the new turf for MTW?

3-1 would be great. The guys just need to build a lot of confidence and learn how to win. I hope some of those guys start showing up since dead period is now over and it is time to get serious. We had some guys out there in spring that had not played in a few years but have good size and strength and could really help if they are serious about playing football. I hope the coaching staff will contact these guys if they don't show up and encourage them to get out there. As for Sherrod - he would be a great asset for the offense but I don't think you will change his mind. We need someone to step up and become a go to receiver.

So does Bump mean you agree or disagree? I hope when dead period is over that some of these guys start showing back up. I don't just mean the ones I mentioned in the above post but also some of the guys out for spring practice that have not been around since school has been out. If they don't show - then someone needs to be calling them and see what is going on (and it doesn't have to be coaches, some team leaders should take the initiative to contact them on their own).

It rained the entire time and you could not base much on it. Zach threw the ball OK, Darby threw it better (with no pressure), but we need receivers. With Nick not playing and Hoerner not there, we had a lot of balls go through hands. The score was probably pretty even. My concern was that some of the key players were not there (Brooks, Devan Allen, Tolliver, Hoerner, Stepp (if he is going to play). That is some key backs and receivers that need to get work with the QBs and work on timing.

Jefferson County is looking for a couple of assistant coaches - don't know exactly what position they are looking for.

So what would you do with Long if you made McFall the QB? I think Long is the QB you build the offense around and you build a group of running backs that allows you to keep people fresh and able to go both ways. I know McFall, Brooks, Allen look to be frontrunners but it appears we have some good depth at the running back position this year. My immediate concern is finding a good backup at QB and 2 or 3 receivers that can get the job done. Zach will grasp the offense but we need the OL to grasp their blocking assignments just as quickly. They have a lot to learn in a short period, but they can overcome that hurdle. They just have to build confidence and learn how to win. I do hope that Justin makes some good hires to help the staff in some areas they need help in. Keep a positive attitude and an open mind and lets see what happens.

That is a tough call. Denton and Robbins will be sorely missed. Zach will step in at QB and do fine, but we MUST have 1 or 2 backup QB's that can do the job if he goes down. We also need a quality backup at tailback if McFall goes down. If our injured guys are OK (Brroks/Sherrod/etc) then we will be OK - but need some leaders to step forward. We really need some depth and need to not have to rely on upcoming sophmores to be impact players. It is a plus if you get 1 or 2 that contribute but as a coach once told me - "for every sophmore that starts you can count on a loss" - and that is about right. Sohpmores aren't ready to compete against Jr/Sr's from 5A programs. Coaching will play a big part as well on the success of this team, as well as injuries. We will have to sit back and see what happens. I look for us to be better than last year with big years from Yeary/Long/Sherrod/McFall/Plont/etc... I don't see 7 wins however, I'm looking at 5-5, maybe 6-4 at best. Anybody heard any names of new kids that may be coming out that did not play last year (jr or sr)? There are 6-8 kids at that school that could be impact players but just will not play for coach U.

I heard that Jeff County is on the schedule for next year - can anyone confirm if that is true?

I agree and disagree with your viewpoint as well as JC4LIFE. You do have to unite and believe and I do truly believe coach U is a good man, knows the game of football, and agree with his discipline and hard work. But everyone and everything has to adapt and change in this world to survive. My main concern is can he change and become a communicator and social person in the community? We know he needs to develop a bond with all middle school coaches in Jeff County and yes JC4LIFE, he needs to do more than just show up at the end of season Jeff/ Maury and the Rush Strong/WP rivalries. I understand he left the Jeff/Maury game as it ended and never spoke to the players (who had huddled at midfield to hear him talk). He did speak to the RS/WP players a few days later. In a head coaching role you also must have a strong support group to be successful (staff, boosters, and fans). IMO the head coach builds the first two, and the third develops based on the excitement his team generates (win or lose). I do believe kids are lazy and spoiled today, but as someone else said, they are also pulled in many different directions, or they just choose to go in different directions. I have watched for the 3 years U has been here and I like a lot of things he does. I really feel that change is needed, and maybe that does not mean a coaching change, but coach U will definitely have to change in some areas to succeed. He must build some of that excitement and JC4LIFE you are correct when you say he needs to have middle school teams view some practices, just so they can see for themselves that what they hear is not true. IMO, bottom line - he needs more quality and support around him, he and his staff need to make that effort to reach out to middle schools and the community, and he needs to evaluate his style (delgating and trusting his staff, becoming flexible with play calling, and have a strategy that goes with the strength of his team). In most games JC played a power game - but we did not have personnel to play a power game. We were small on defense yet on goal line we don't stack the line of scrimmage - looks like we play our regular defense. Little things like that is what I mean by adapting and changing.

I don't think anyone is trashing players that started the lawsuit. The lawsuit has been mentioned but no one is blaming the players. I would blame the parents that started the lawsuit - not the players. Yes, I would believe people have talked to the AD and principal, and yes I would believe that it did no good. Do you think the players who started the lawsuit really wanted to? Yes I think they wanted to or they wouldn't have done it. That is unless a parent suggested it?? So what if some of the players playing now signed the petition. This sounds like one of the players that started the petition. From what I heard, if you would have talked to the coach one on one, no one would have been kicked off the team - is that true?

I agree with: 1. He is a nice guy and hates to lose 2. He MUST change his coaching style (to remain a head coach) 3. Freshman program needs to be overhauled. Need coaches that teach them the game and make them excited to be playing football. I disagree with: 1. His hand are not tied due to the lawsuit regarding play calling, talking to middle school coaches and players, or utilizing his coaching staff. 2. Freshmen don't need to dress out on Friday nights. We need 60-70 soph/jr/sr players dressed out. 3. Parents need to quit babying their little boy. Kids are lazy, and I guess it is a reflection of their parents. Most kids will not commit to anything - and parents let them get away with it.

I think you are wrong about having 1500 students 3 years ago. I think JCHS had 1500 students in the late 70's and have been over 2000 students for a long time. This years enrollment is very close to 2300. But back to the football program - Is Coach U the man for the job and do we think he can turn the program around? If not then a lot of people in the community had better start expressing their opinion to Kisbeth and Schneitman, because I think he will be back. I don't think this thread will be closed because if coach T hasn't closed the DB threads for coach bashing then we should be able to discuss our situation. Opinions?

I did not see any freshman games but I did see a couple of JV games, and the Johnson kid is not the freshman that they pulled up to QB the JV team. They brought up a kid with last name Denton, so they must think he is a little farther developed than Jessee Johnson.

Unfortunately I don't see much change until a few things happen. Either Coach U has to become socially involved, generate interest in these middle schools, delegate some coaching responsibility to his staff, and have some creativity in his offensive play calling, OR Jefferson County needs to make a change. Play calling is very predictable, we have no depth, and I feel like he has no faith in his assistant coaches (they seem to have minimal involvement on game night). It seems like he wants to have hands on control of everything on game night (offense, defense, special teams). He needs to develop some communication skills and get involved in the community if he plans to succeed. We have said that the level of participation is a concern and it is. 40 players is hard to comprehend from a school that size and the reputation that Jeff County has had for 30 years in the state of Tennessee. We have 1 quarterback for next year and if he gets hurt in game 1 then we are in big trouble. For the last two years we had to pull a freshman up to quarterback the JV team so they could play, because we did not have a quarterback in the sophomore or junior class on the team. Going both ways is tough, but it is extra tough when you play positions like running back/cornerback, fullback/linebacker, Tight-end/defensive end, etc. etc.. It makes me mad to think about it - it is not fair to the kids that love the game and are out there every day participating and doing what they can do, but always fighting an uphill battle. We need excitement back in our program and we need participation (students, parents, community, etc) but unless something changes I'm afraid our football program will stay just like it has been for the last 2 years. Will he change or will JC make a change?? Opinions?