Week 9 - Oak Ridge at Karns

[STILLNUM1]

4 hours ago, MidTennFootball said:

The times Ive seen OR play, they lack an identity on offense. Honestly feels like they are trying to put a square peg in a round hole instead of adapting to the personnel they have

Besides off season maybe Gaddis biggest downfall 2nd time around.

[LarryGee77]

Talked to a player from last season (said he graduated 2020).  Asked him from a players pov about all the speculation I’m reading on this thread about Gaddis and weightlifting etc.  He said YES it IS mandatory and the DC Minor (spelling?) is in charge of the weight program.  However, he said there are exceptions to the rule.  For example Kendall Jackson doesn’t necessarily have to be there since he works out separately with trainers and his Dad apparently.  Also he stated others as  well that have a pass.  He also said that Gaddis doesn’t really coach and that he leaves everything up to his staff.  Having said that he clarified that Gaddis doesn’t just do nothing…he said he’s a great leader and he “knows players like the back of his hand” and “remembers every player in detail he has ever coached”.  He said players love him.  Just my 2 cents.  Thought I’d share what this young man said.

[Cactus Jack]

No doubt this has been a hard season for OR. Losing two close games at home to start the season was a downer for this team which is very young, both the South-Doyle and Bearden games were winnable. A win at Clinton was good, but they really struggled to get that. Then they went to Farragut and as in past few years over there, a slow start doomed them, getting behind early, only two recovered onside kicks gave them the points to make it look closer than it was. They beat an outmanned Lenoir City team fairly easily, and got a bye week after that. Powell definately had more talent on the field than OR, but the big killer in that game was the interception before half that gave Powell a short field and a score for a 21-7 lead instead of 14-7 at half. Not that they would have beaten Powell, but it might have been closer in the second half, The defense played pretty good until they just got worn out the second half. Take a trip up to Greeneville to play the best team on the schedule and maybe the best team in East Tennessee with the exception of Maryville (and that game would be a dandy). OR got down early, just not having the athletes to deal with the speed of Greeneville on both sides of the ball, yet they showed a ray of hope in the second half, moving the ball and getting a TD. Then Karns, they appeared to be on the way to having that game well in hand at 21-7, when a turnover gave the Beavers a spark and instead of being 28-7 at half, it was 21-14, and the Beavers came out fast the second half, Bishop was a big factor, but they had some other guys that made big plays as well, they converted some 3rd and 4th downs for big plays and scores and it went to 35-21 before the WIldcat offense answered, but came up short. Now they have DB, which won 5 games early against some average teams before getting dumped by Greeneville 35-7, then a disappointing loss to Jefferson County cost them a shot at the Region Championship. The last game will be a good Campbell County team, that narrowly lost to Karns and always is well coached and play hard. That game will decide the 3-4 slots in the playoffs. The 4 team would go to the winner of the Region south of us, the 3 team would go to the 2 team. 

The point of all of this is that this team could have easily been 5-3 right now, its one of those years that the schedule is very tough, even teams like Karns and Campbell County are better than normal, and OR is young and green in spots, The lines are a big reason as while they have size, they do not appear to be able to block for runs inside the tackles and get much pressure on defense on passers. Games are won and lost up front, that is where it starts. So, youth, schedule, lines and there you are. I mention the secondary as well, very few interceptions and seem to let a lot of balls get caught over them, a big one at Karns in the 3rd quarter on 3rd and 19 was a killer. Certainly coaching plays a part and I am sure that they know all this I have stated, what happens there remains to be seen and beyond my crystal balls ability to tell. One thing I have noticed over the years since about 2005, is that OR always seems it lacksa piece that it needs to be a complete football team, whether it be a quarterback, O or D Line, or secondary.  They certainly need to increase the numbers of players to try to find guys to fill in the missing piece each season. 

Well, Kingsport DB will be here Friday night, they have won the last two meetings and have narrowed the Oak Ridge lead in the series dating back to 1961 at one game. I hope the guys sell out and play hard, nothing to lose football, and I hope people will come out and support them despite their record, because they will remember that next season.