Memphis Melrose @ Hardin County...2nd round

[ftbllfn]

kwc or traderB,

 

I know you guys going be on here today. Hope your day goes well. In regards to your request kwc, can you give me some numbers on the young QB at Melrose? Basic stuff, yards passing, tds, attempts vs completions, yards rushing. Would be nice to have this knowledge for my assessment of "the product on the field."

 

Another request. What type of year has Mr. Eric Watson had after all the controversy last year?

 

Safe travels to all the teams on the road today and tonight. Good luck to all and prayers for injury free games.

[kwc]

kwc or traderB,

 

I know you guys going be on here today. Hope your day goes well. In regards to your request kwc, can you give me some numbers on the young QB at Melrose? Basic stuff, yards passing, tds, attempts vs completions, yards rushing. Would be nice to have this knowledge for my assessment of "the product on the field."

 

Another request. What type of year has Mr. Eric Watson had after all the controversy last year?

 

Safe travels to all the teams on the road today and tonight. Good luck to all and prayers for injury free games.

 

 

ftbllfn:

 

I'm sorry to say that I don't have any official stats to give you. What I use to do in the past was to keep the Saturday's sports section from the Commercial Appeal and add them up each week, but I haven't done that in a while. The CA's website had a link to a nationwide website that someone from the CA use to upload statistical data ... but the CA doesn't do that anymore. The one resource that I have informed me that the QB @ Melrose was averaging about 175 ypg passing, but those stats were incomplete and only covered the first 2 games of the season, at best. If I had to guess I'd say his average may be somewhere near that number ... but that's all I have to give you on stats. I know he has two WR's that he depends upon and those guys would be #19 Darius Poole and #8 Justin Calhoun. Thier main RB is #7 Eric Watson and they also use #4 Tino Thomas ... who will also catch passes from WR positions and out of the backfield. They have another WR as well, #14 Torianno Herod who catches a lot as well.

 

My "product on the field" statement was more towards the intangibles that makes a QB dangerous like ... 'Pocket Presence'. Mr. Will Gross, the Melrose QB, has this in mass abundance. He has all of the tools necessary to be a QB such as arm strength, and the abilty to scramble and make a play. But what I am more impressed with in this young man are the 'other traits' that he possesses. I mean ... you can tell when you watch him play that he is very savvy as a QB. He knows when to throw a strike and when to put some air under it. He has the arm strength to throw the deep out and the uncanny ability to make the deep throw where only his man can make a play on the ball. He can make all of the throws ... even the timing routes. But to me ... his biggest asset is his ability to stay in the pocket when turmoil is all around him ... yet have enough of a sense of what's going on to leave the pocket before it collapses on him. When my team, which is Whitehaven, played them ... Mr. Gross had pressure coming right at him and he didn't flinch. We even sacked him a few times and he still remained poised and calm in the pocket. When we blitzed him ... he usually found the hot receiver and made us pay. He has a lot of weapons at his disposal and he uses all of them ... not just one or two. Don't get me wrong ... he has a lot to learn and to continue to work upon ... but what I saw the night Whitehaven played against them ... I was impressed, especially knowing that he is just a sophomore. I'd like to get someone else's POV on Will Gross @ Melrose besides mine. TraderB and Spartansfan ... what do you guys think of Mr. Gross over at Melrose?

[FootballIsMyLife]

Melrose's QB is completeing 55% of his passes for an average of 194 ypg with 20 TDs and 7 INTs.

[ftbllfn]

I understand just was a little curious about the numbers and knew you had a lot of insight. I look forward to watching this young man tonight. I hope we can put some pressure on this young man enough to let me judge his intangibles. Will get back with you later. Thanks.

[TraderB]

The one resource that I have informed me that the QB @ Melrose was averaging about 175 ypg passing, but those stats were incomplete and only covered the first 2 games of the season, at best. If I had to guess I'd say his average may be somewhere near that number ... but that's all I have to give you on stats. I know he has two WR's that he depends upon and those guys would be #19 Darius Poole and #8 Justin Calhoun. Thier main RB is #7 Eric Watson and they also use #4 Tino Thomas ... who will also catch passes from WR positions and out of the backfield. They have another WR as well, #14 Torianno Herod who catches a lot as well.

 

My "product on the field" statement was more towards the intangibles that makes a QB dangerous like ... 'Pocket Presence'. Mr. Will Gross, the Melrose QB, has this in mass abundance. He has all of the tools necessary to be a QB such as arm strength, and the abilty to scramble and make a play. But what I am more impressed with in this young man are the 'other traits' that he possesses. I mean ... you can tell when you watch him play that he is very savvy as a QB. He knows when to throw a strike and when to put some air under it. He has the arm strength to throw the deep out and the uncanny ability to make the deep throw where only his man can make a play on the ball. He can make all of the throws ... even the timing routes. But to me ... his biggest asset is his ability to stay in the pocket when turmoil is all around him ... yet have enough of a sense of what's going on to leave the pocket before it collapses on him. When my team, which is Whitehaven, played them ... Mr. Gross had pressure coming right at him and he didn't flinch. We even sacked him a few times and he still remained poised and calm in the pocket. When we blitzed him ... he usually found the hot receiver and made us pay. He has a lot of weapons at his disposal and he uses all of them ... not just one or two. Don't get me wrong ... he has a lot to learn and to continue to work upon ... but what I saw the night Whitehaven played against them ... I was impressed, especially knowing that he is just a sophomore. I'd like to get someone else's POV on Will Gross @ Melrose besides mine. TraderB and Spartansfan ... what do you guys think of Mr. Gross over at Melrose?

 

Kwc,

 

You summed up Will Gross' abilities very accurately and completely. I absolutely agree 100%!

 

About the only other thing that I'd like to add about Gross is this: he seems to posess that "4th-quarter-game-winning-drive" type ability and savvy, where he just seems to find a way to get the job done in the clutch! His 2nd-half performace--way back during the CBHS game, was a perfect illustration of those traits. He produced a similar, more impressive effort vs White Station....At this rapid rate of development, Gross seems destined for great things on the football field.

 

As for Eric Watson......He has settled in nicely @ Melrose and is playing excellent football, despite all his off-field distractions from last season. His production is a huge and critical part of Melrose's offensive success, as his tough running ability keeps defenses honest. Additionally, he's has some very good hands and is a clutch receiver --out of the backfield..... I don't know Eric's offensive "numbers" but, undoubtedly, he is having a very solid year.

[BigSneaky]

Per TSSAA.org

 

Melrose 26 Hardin County 0

FINAL

[TraderB]

HC with the upset. The Tigers stun Melrose 15-12 in OT.

 

Can someone give a game recap, anyone?

 

Thanks.

[ftbllfn]

You guys summed it up early last week. Melrose just to powerful for Hardin County. First play was a zero route that broke for around 65 yards. HC did fairly well slowing the run game early forcing Merose to several 4th down conversion attempts which I believe the made all but 1 maybe 2 on the night. HC defense did well to hold Melrose to 26.

 

kwc, my words on Will Gross, NO DOUBT! Whoever is working with this young man is doing an excellent job. The one play I remember most was in 2nd quarter. One of the few times Gross was forced from the pocket and the only time he did not have a receiver to go to he calmly sent the ball over the HC sideline. It is a long trip from Friday to Sunday but if he wants to and continues to work and make the grades, we could get the chance to watch him on Sunday.

[kwc]

You guys summed it up early last week. Melrose just to powerful for Hardin County. First play was a zero route that broke for around 65 yards. HC did fairly well slowing the run game early forcing Merose to several 4th down conversion attempts which I believe the made all but 1 maybe 2 on the night. HC defense did well to hold Melrose to 26.

 

kwc, my words on Will Gross, NO DOUBT! Whoever is working with this young man is doing an excellent job. The one play I remember most was in 2nd quarter. One of the few times Gross was forced from the pocket and the only time he did not have a receiver to go to he calmly sent the ball over the HC sideline. It is a long trip from Friday to Sunday but if he wants to and continues to work and make the grades, we could get the chance to watch him on Sunday.

 

 

ftbllfn:

 

First, let me thank you for comming on here after you loss to communicate with us about the game. I know how I am personally after a dissappointing loss. I may not come back immediately. Thank you sir for giving me the feedback ... I really appreciate it.

 

As for the game:

 

Honestly ... I wasn't expecting Melrose to shut you guys out ... but I did expect them to hold you guys to a low score because I've seen their defense up close and personal an they are playing fantastic on 'D'. The account that I read in the Memphis paper made it seem as though the Melrose running game got on track which makes them even more dangerous.

 

Concerning Will Gross the Melrose QB:

 

The comment you made that I highlighted speaks volumes. I am convinced that whoever is coaching QB's over there is doing a tremendous job because the current coaching staff took a very young Tramarcus Toney, when he was a sophomore and developed him into an exceptional QB as well. I don't think this is just a coincidence that Melrose has yet ANOTHER young man who stands poised in the pocket like Mr. Gross does. That is TAUGHT. Somebody over there recognizes talent and they know how to develop these young men into fine playcallers.

 

Again ... thank you sir for your participation in this topic and your POV of the Melrose QB.

[ftbllfn]

kwc,

 

I'm not one to run and hide and I try not to speak with my feelings on here much. I didnt expect a shutout either but we lost our first string qb to a high ankle sprain and possible ligament damage early in the game. Once Melrose started putting 9 in the box our offense was, shall we say, limited. I did not read the CA. Melrose run game was pretty dominate, however, was held fairly impressively at times. Gross over threw Poole a couple of times deep. Watson is a great back that seemed to be a little surprised early by our defense.

 

Good luck to all the Memphis teams. District 16 is unarguably the toughest in the state. I read last year were one of the goals of the z plan was to increase the opportunities for rural schools to compete for a state championship. I dont see that applying to 5a and 6a schools. I am certain that arguments can and will be made in regards to that statement but looking at the West TN that statement is difficult to argue against.

 

Thanks for the interaction and I look forward to discussing football with you in the future.