2009 Franklin Rebels

[Otter]

Let me tell you what I saw at the scrimmage against Hunters Lane on Friday. I saw a depleted Franklin Football team who may very well be on the verge of the typical "post-state-slump". And this frustrated me, because I do not understand why they should be facing this uphill struggle. Obviously I understand that the season is a few weeks away, and many teams are still stumbling around to establish an identity, I also understand that many teams are trying to answer some tough questions right now as well. But most of all I completely understand that Franklin was "hit-hard-by-graduation" but all of these so-called explanations sound like "excuses", and excuses are tools of incompetance which build monuments of nothingness those that practice in their uses are seldom capable of anything more. But here I what I do see...

I see a team who returns arguably the best 3-back combo in the entire state of Tennessee, I see a team who also returns one of the best Left Tackles in the State as well in Isiah A. With all that said, I am having a hard time understanding why we are searching for an indentity, instead of simply picking up where Franklin left off last year, as one of the most controlling rush offenses combined with a death-grip defense. I know that Graham N. is no longer in the backfield, and now the role of QB falls to a new un-experienced group. But once again I must ask "why", why is this young kid being asked to replicate Nichols' success as a sophmore. Why is the coaching staff at Franklin not using the weapons they have to surround the new QB in order for him to slowly grow in his position over the next few years. Why is he being asked to read defenses and throw the difficult routes (as if he was a senior) when he has Ford, Lee, & Dye behind him. All I am saying is that the new QB does not need to win games, he only needs not to screw them up. and Friday he did just that, he threw the ball up for grabs, he took costly sacks, he fumbled hand-offs, he was generally asked too much of. He doesn't need to be a game winner he just needs to be a game-manager.

I also saw a team in Franklin that had trouble handling aggressive, smash-mouth, hard-hitting teams such as Brentwood & Oakland just last year. I expected Franklin to show that they were ready to play up close and personal with tough teams (unlike last year) instead of repeatedly getting run over. I expected a certain blood-thirsty demeanor for the first full contact scrimmage of the year. I must say that Franklin appeared soft in every aspect of the game. The defense missed numerous tackles, the O-line seemed un-wittingly slow... The entire team seemed "soft". I can not think of a better word to describe the Rebel team I saw Friday.

While other teams are trying to find what works and patch up short-comings from lessons learned in the past, Franklin seems to be happy and content from last year's second place.

 

 

 

There was some "ugly" but remember scrimmages are to work on your weaknesses, and we have several. Last year the Hunters Lane scrimmage was a disaster but seemed to be a wake up call, hopefully it will be again.

 

Here is a possible consideration..............maybe; just maybe....... HL might be a good ball club. Maybe it is NOT what Franklin did not do; maybe HL had something to do with what they were able to do. Reckon that could be a possibilty??

[mackbrown]

Here is a possible consideration..............maybe; just maybe....... HL might be a good ball club. Maybe it is NOT what Franklin did not do; maybe HL had something to do with what they were able to do. Reckon that could be a possibilty??

 

Good point, many fans do that with their team. Also the other way as well, when your team scrimmages a less than stellar young team, they think they are going to have a great year. But i agree with the Rebels fans, they do have a problem with their 'young' qb. Other teams in district have some big players and great defenses like HL. So if he seems scared at this point wait till district play or when they go to Kentucky (them 'corn-fed' boys), then he'll do more than panic.

 

If i was the Franklin's head coach do the opposite of what Indy did last year, run the ball 90% with those vertern rb's.

[PRIMETIME OWL]

Hunters Lane showed us at least one thing, we have QB issues my friend. This new kid may be young but he seems scared and lost (what is his name?)

Hey! New kid, meet Mr. Jacquez Smith!

[sportshooter]

All young QB's are going to make mistakes. Be glad it is in a meaningless scrimmage. I doubt Graham Nichols was perfect in his sophomore year. No reason for the poster to call this 15 year old kid out by name. Give him time.

[eraegbleel]

Exactly, no 15-year-old sophmore is going to be "Graham Nichols" (his Senior year). especially in his first year as a starter. And if anything, he should not be compared to the previous #9. Because there is no telling where he may be in three years. But he does have an amazing back-field to fall back on. Franklin will win games, but they will win games with the ball in the hands of #4, #5, and, #2.

 

 

Oh, and I have heard about this legendary J Smith from Ootlewah, and I am personally very interested to see him line up against Isaish A.

[Hoganknows]

Goodpasture @ Franklin..Thursday Afternoon

[fbforme]

All young QB's are going to make mistakes. Be glad it is in a meaningless scrimmage. I doubt Graham Nichols was perfect in his sophomore year. No reason for the poster to call this 15 year old kid out by name. Give him time.

I agree give Coach Clayton time to get the whole offense in. I doubt that he is even running half of the offense that Graham ran last year. I have not seen any of the long passes that we saw last year. Time will show and we will get it rolling.

 

I do agree with popcorneater though. We did seem like we still get run over up the middle of the defense. Hopefully the coaches will make the moves that have to be made and get the right people on the field.

 

BGA is right around the corner. I hope all the Rebel Fans have bought up the season tickets and are ready to tailgate come next Friday.

[longhornshookem]

Let me tell you what I saw at the scrimmage against Hunters Lane on Friday. I saw a depleted Franklin Football team who may very well be on the verge of the typical "post-state-slump". And this frustrated me, because I do not understand why they should be facing this uphill struggle. Obviously I understand that the season is a few weeks away, and many teams are still stumbling around to establish an identity, I also understand that many teams are trying to answer some tough questions right now as well. But most of all I completely understand that Franklin was "hit-hard-by-graduation" but all of these so-called explanations sound like "excuses". I see a team who returns arguably the best 3-back combo in the entire state of Tennessee, I see a team who also returns one of the best Left Tackles in the State as well in Isiah A. With all that said, I am having a hard time understanding why we are searching for an indentity, instead of simply picking up where Franklin left off last year, as one of the most controlling rush offenses combined with a death-grip defense.

I also saw a team in Franklin that had trouble handling aggressive, smash-mouth, hard-hitting teams such as Brentwood & Oakland just last year. I expected Franklin to show that they were ready to play up close and personal with tough teams (unlike last year) instead of repeatedly getting run over. I expected a certain blood-thirsty demeanor for the first full contact scrimmage of the year. I must say that Franklin appeared soft in every aspect of the game. The defense missed numerous tackles, the O-line seemed un-wittingly slow... The entire team seemed "soft". I can not think of a better word to describe the Rebel team I saw Friday.

While other teams are trying to find what works and patch up short-comings from lessons learned in the past, Franklin seems to be happy and content from last year's second place.

 

Ahhhhh... what do you expect if a team loses 5 of its 6 starting lineman (Combos, Tex, Mark Jackson, Conner Walkup, and Steven Maurer). I am no football analyst or coach for that matter, but that sounds like a rebuilding year to me. You are correct about the 3 great running backs and they have shown it so far with the mediocre blocking in the scrimmage. AND FOR EAGREBEL or whatever that name is... in defense of the QB situation did you see protection breakdowns? I would think with a brand new line and a brand new QB there are going to be some issues there. Remember Grahm was not good his sophmore year either and if I remember correctly Clayton had a three QB rotation that year. Graham wasnt as good as his Junior year either. After his Junior year did anyone honestly think he would wind up being a Mr. 5A football finalist... I know I didnt. One more thing, I dont know of any deep threats like last year in Jerial Eaton and Jamal Starnes that can really stretch defenses and keep them honest in the secondary. This is going to be a year that the Rebels get better as the year goes on.

[longhornshookem]

All young QB's are going to make mistakes. Be glad it is in a meaningless scrimmage. I doubt Graham Nichols was perfect in his sophomore year. No reason for the poster to call this 15 year old kid out by name. Give him time.

I agree give Coach Clayton time to get the whole offense in. I doubt that he is even running half of the offense that Graham ran last year. I have not seen any of the long passes that we saw last year. Time will show and we will get it rolling.

 

I do agree with popcorneater though. We did seem like we still get run over up the middle of the defense. Hopefully the coaches will make the moves that have to be made and get the right people on the field.

 

BGA is right around the corner. I hope all the Rebel Fans have bought up the season tickets and are ready to tailgate come next Friday.

 

COULDNT AGREE MORE FBFORME... Peace breadrin!!! Now its about supporting our team and talking reason to some of these people who think these coaches can turn water into wine in ONE YEAR!!! I still have faith!!!!!!!! GO REBELS!!!!!!

[mackbrown]

Ahhhhh... what do you expect if a team loses 5 of its 6 starting lineman (Combos, Tex, Mark Jackson, Conner Walkup, and Steven Maurer). I am no football analyst or coach for that matter, but that sounds like a rebuilding year to me. You are correct about the 3 great running backs and they have shown it so far with the mediocre blocking in the scrimmage. AND FOR EAGREBEL or whatever that name is... in defense of the QB situation did you see protection breakdowns? I would think with a brand new line and a brand new QB there are going to be some issues there. Remember Grahm was not good his sophmore year either and if I remember correctly Clayton had a three QB rotation that year. Graham wasnt as good as his Junior year either. After his Junior year did anyone honestly think he would wind up being a Mr. 5A football finalist... I know I didnt. One more thing, I dont know of any deep threats like last year in Jerial Eaton and Jamal Starnes that can really stretch defenses and keep them honest in the secondary. This is going to be a year that the Rebels get better as the year goes on.

 

Well Franklin is the kind of school who can immediatly rebuild talent during an offseason at least on the offensive and deffensive lines. Clayton is one heck of a coach. Plus about BGA, Blackman and Indy handled them in scrimmages so dont choke!

[sportshooter]

Don't know where you received info on BGA scrimmage but BGA and INDY tied 14-14 with first teams after 3 quarters. Second teams played the fourth quarter and that was a 7-7 tie. Indy scored a long TD on the last play of scrimmage when BGA had freshmen on defense.

 

BGA has problems on defense. Secondary is very small and young. Once backs break into the secondary they don't seem to have any problem going all the way. That does not bode well for BGA vs. Ford and Lee.

[mackbrown]

Don't know where you received info on BGA scrimmage but BGA and INDY tied 14-14 with first teams after 3 quarters. Second teams played the fourth quarter and that was a 7-7 tie. Indy scored a long TD on the last play of scrimmage when BGA had freshmen on defense.

 

BGA has problems on defense. Secondary is very small and young. Once backs break into the secondary they don't seem to have any problem going all the way. That does not bode well for BGA vs. Ford and Lee.

 

I said handled not blew out