Oak Ridge 2014

[catswild]

Wow, I just was kinda bored and clicked on your thread. SS, I've watched a lot of fball the last five or so years, and took more of an interest three years ago when the Prices went to CC. So, I think I can kinda give an unbiased opinion on team speed.

 

In my humble opinion, OR has the most team speed in the district, followed by CC, and Clinton.

 

OR's problem has not been speed. It's that they aren't controlling both lines of scrimmage the way they used to. Believe me a 4.7 running back is all u need when your line is driving people 5-6 yards off the ball. Also, OR is now facing 3-4 hurry up offenses in the district now, and conditioning will be paramount in their success. I think u guys threw the ball too much last season too. Get back to smash mouth fball and pushing people around and the aura of tradition will return. Impose your will on the opponent, and they will fold.

 

Again, these are my opinions.

SS gets very angry when I address the speed issue but I'll respond to your post. I felt like Central, Powell, Farragut, McMinn County, and East Hamilton all had more speed than we did last year. We aren't as fast as we used to be. We used to be more smash mouthed and faster. That combination is deadly.

[catswild]

So, what is everyone's predictions for the upcoming year record wise?

I'll say 8-2 right now but will know more after spring practice. The scrimmage with South Doyle will tell a lot because they return a lot from a very good team.

[catswild]

Ok, again I'm more basketball than football, but, if you have receivers making circus style catches, that tells me he's running poor routes or the QB is not accurate. Think back to how many circus catches jerry rice made in his career. Not many, because he was running great routes and had a QB that put the ball on the money. As for that great receiver? There are many ways to get him the ball in space and not put him in position to get killed trying to make a "circus" catch.

In some games we just couldn't run the ball very well and we threw it more than normal. We did have a couple of receivers who made very good catches.

[bladerunner]

Ok, again I'm more basketball than football, but, if you have receivers making circus style catches, that tells me he's running poor routes or the QB is not accurate. Think back to how many circus catches jerry rice made in his career. Not many, because he was running great routes and had a QB that put the ball on the money. As for that great receiver? There are many ways to get him the ball in space and not put him in position to get killed trying to make a "circus" catch.

I hear you. We had a receiver who could get it done- and he did a great job despite the QB. As a matter of fact, we did not throw enough to  our receivers last year in my opinion..

[CarolinaCrazy]

So, what is everyone's predictions for the upcoming year record wise?

I'd say OR will go anywhere from 7-3 to 9-1. Just a lot of parity this year in the district.

 

Teams that should be better:

OR

Clinton

Central

Gibbs

 

Teams that should be about the same as last season:

CC

Halls

Powell

 

Teams down just a notch:

AC

Karns

[catswild]

Spring practice is almost here. Finally.

I agree with you (I know that's strange). What's your biggest question going into spring practice?

[CarolinaCrazy]

I hear you. We had a receiver who could get it done- and he did a great job despite the QB. As a matter of fact, we did not throw enough to  our receivers last year in my opinion..

Well we will just have to agree to disagree then. OR is not an Ariel style team.

CC runs a system that really hides a lot of deficiencies in there team. They have too, OR doesn't.

[ORidgeKat]

Crazy, we are getting back to more smashmouth this year.  The oline has been returned to Coach Younger and they will get more of a push because of it.  Last year, we had zero push and were forced to throw it more than we wanted which was very erratic at times.  The oline will be better and the run game will improve, which in turn should improve the passing game. 

[NuWildcat]

I have said it time and again...This years team will surprise a lot of people. The offense will be nothing like last year at all. We'll be wide open and moving down the field FAST !!!!

[WildcatDad62]

So, what is everyone's predictions for the upcoming year record wise?

9-1 season 3rd playoffs

[SweetScience]

SS gets very angry when I address the speed issue but I'll respond to your post. I felt like Central, Powell, Farragut, McMinn County, and East Hamilton all had more speed than we did last year. We aren't as fast as we used to be. We used to be more smash mouthed and faster. That combination is deadly.

LOL I don't get angry man. I just see it as being redundant and not needed. I mean in reality we have what we have and I don't see any great speed transferring in here from somewhere else (At least not yet, but would be nice) Understanding that I just don't understand why you keep bringing it up? We all know how much you want it, so why keep mentioning it? I mean wouldn't we all like to be loaded with 4.4 40 athletes? Of course, but until a few of those guys we have in Middle School get up here we just aren't going to have that home run threat. Just the reality of it all. Hopefully our guys have improved their speed during the offseason, and I'm sure they have. That in itself is very possible.

[SweetScience]

I'll say 8-2 right now but will know more after spring practice. The scrimmage with South Doyle will tell a lot because they return a lot from a very good team.

I kinda agree, but also disagree. Imagine that!!! lol A spring practice scrimmage isn't going to tell a lot i don't think or any scrimmage for that matter. I have seen us "beat" Maryville in scrimmages and we have ended up with a mediocre record while they have gone on to win state titles in that given year we scrimmaged them. Same thing with Alcoa OR scrimmages. Mainly coaches go into scrimmages just looking to get a feel for things and to see what lower classmen step up and or depth. No smart coach really goes into a scrimmage trying to win it. Quarles is a perfect example of that. I have known of Maryville getting beat in scrimmages then turning around and running the table for a perfect season. Just like last years scrimmage against HVA. We smoked them in the scrimmage, but if we had of played them in the regular season i think that it would've been a real close affair. Just me, but you can take scrimmages with a grain of salt. With that said, it will be interesting to see what we look like against SD.

Edited April 16, 2014 by SweetScience