Report Card Day

September 29, 2006

Here we are at the halfway point of the regular season. Time to grade us for how we’re doing overall. WARNING to parents (or players)….I give here an honest assessment of where we are…..I may give something that could be construed as criticism, so be warned.

For a reference point, let me give what grades I would have given us going into the season, before practice started….

Backs – A- – we have 2 kids returning who have run for over 4000 yards in their career, and who have improved greatly each season. I wouldn’t have said that we had as much depth as last year though, as the Wake’s were a huge asset. Card and Weale looked like good development projects, but weren’t ready to be leaned on yet. O’Connell looked improved through last season.

Receivers – B+ – We lost our leading receiver from a year ago. Chad Rockefeller did provide us with some great catches though, and Davionne Price looked like a high potential player.

O-line – B – We returned 3 of 5 inside guys plus a TE with some starting experience. We did however graduate perhaps the 2 best linemen in Warren and Sullivan.

Defensive middle – B – we lost T Rossley and ILB Warren, who made up ½ of a terrific middle last year. We kept all-state Daye and of course ILB Nate Rockefeller.

Outside running game defense – B+ – we lost OLB Geoff Rosa, and Card was going to make a move to ILB from DE. We returned our other end (Fletcher) and OLB (Chad Rockefeller). Our corners were all new as well.

Pass defense – C – totally green kids. All 3 DB’s that ended up starting were either on JV or not playing football a year before.

OK, so let’s see now how they look at this point in time.

Backs – B – We’ve done a great job at FB. Rocky has gotten some great moves. Card is showing he is fully ready to be leaned on in pressure situations, as demonstrated by his tremendous running against Sidney at a key time. Hood hasn’t yet shown a great deal of yards. I was disappointed that he came out against BG, because he looked on the verge of a pretty good game. I think one good 150 yard game and he’ll be off and running. Weale has performed better in some games than others. I felt one dimensional on Friday after Hood left the game, so we need Weale to be more of a threat. The good news is that he’s getting lots of carries. O’Connell has had lots of ups and downs at QB, throwing some great passes, holding it sometimes when it shouldn’t be thrown, and putting the ball in the air when it definitely shouldn’t have been at other times.

Receivers – B+ – The receivers are performing about at expectations, but I hope to see that improve as we go along. We need to find ways to get Davionne open better. His speed is key to getting everyone worried and then opening up the running game more.

O-line – B- – We have performed very very well on some plays and have really whiffed on a lot. Friday against BG we had 9 plays of a yard or less, which is a definite improvement over the previous 3 weeks, especially since one of the plays was a 1 yard TD and many of the others were right near the end of the game.

Defensive middle – A – This has been a hugely pleasant surprise. The middle looks even more solid than last year. Plance and Card are great additions to that middle. Card is just a brutal player…..I so wish we had had him as a sophomore. The middle is SO important, as Fletcher at FB is so much a part of what Walton does.

Outside running game defense – A- – we’ve been pretty consistent against the run at all levels.

Pass defense – B – These boys get the most improved award. They aren’t exactly ready to take on Syracuse CBA and D1 QB recruit Mike Paulus yet, but they have really come along considering how inexperienced they are. They should be where we need them to be by season’s end.

Team – B+ – The potential is there to be incredible, but it hasn’t yet come to fruition. Like I said all the time last year, the key is getting better every week. Specifically, we need the passing game to improve, even if it is just a little bit every week. We need more production from the tailback position. And we need the passing defense to come to further maturity. I hated the feeling I had Friday night of being one-dimensional, so we really need to work that offensive balance.

OK, I’ll be taking parent/armchair coach conferences now……just email me.

On to picks. Last week I went a poor 14-9 (0.609). Tough week….I knew it would be. For the season I’m 69-30 (0.697). This week I’m going with Vestal, Corning East, Maine Endwell, Whitney Point, Waverly, END, Sidney (watch, now that I pick Sidney, Greene will win and I’ll be 2 for 2), Tioga, T-burg, Walton (oh boy, this should be nasty), BG, Candor, Corning West, Johnson City, Windsor, Unatego, Forks, Owego, Seton (actually a good game I think), Lansing, Oxford, Moravia, and UE.