Crabbin’ Again

September 22, 2006

 

 

It was a year ago this week that I put up an article entitled “Rantin’ and Ravin’”. I was disturbed that we weren’t getting better as a team. I’m hoping that this is the low point this year as well, and that it’s an upward go from here. I think these are thoughts I’d have even had the pass bounced from Rocky’s pads to the ground.

 

It’s not that we didn’t do anything right. I was actually pleased with how some things came along. Our secondary got ripped in the first half, but did 200% better in the second half, holding Sidney to 5 of 17 effectiveness (and had it only been 4 of 17, so many of us would be in such better spirits). We certainly didn’t do a perfect job, and we still gave up a few very key completions, but we didn’t let it destroy us like it did in the first half. It was nice seeing such a positive response back there. It was nice seeing that positive response on the whole team. After going down by 2 TD’s and looking helpless on offense and defense, the ‘Dogs did a nice job in settling down and getting back into the game. The rush on Umbra was very good, especially against a QB who had some mobility. And the run defense was outstanding…..better than I expected even.

 

So there are definitely some things to be happy about and very encouraged about. I can’t help but to look at the other side of it however. So many people are high on us, and I want to be as well, but we’ve got some stuff to fix. As I look over the stat sheets for the 3 games this year, I count a whopping THIRTY FIVE rushes of one yard or less. 35. That is huge in my book. Every team sputters on some plays, but 35 is such a large number. It’s hard to say it was the competition. I counted 11 against Sully West, and 12 each against TriValley and Sidney. And it’s not like it’s just the second team either, as the vast majority have been with the starters. Note also that this doesn’t even count the large number of 2 and 3 yard gains either.

 

Perhaps related to this issue are our passing woes. We did do something against TriValley, but I wouldn’t say that was in the heat of pressure. I’m still trying to believe we can be legit at throwing. We did it during the scrimmage. We got quite good at it late last year I thought. I still think we CAN be good, but right now if I’m an opposing coach watching game film, I’m not all that worried about our passing game.

 

These things MUST change if we want to call ourselves a top team in the state. If we think we can win our division and win our section and make a run at states, we cannot average 12 rushing sputters and 2 pass completions a game. 5 or 6 sputters, we’ll be ok. But more than that is just too many wasted downs to get it done.

 

Like last year, I offer little explanation. We have great kids on the line. 3 of them started last year, and Daye should be such a strong addition. Incidently, we do have only 1 kid playing where he did last year. Rama is still playing right guard. Plance was a starter last year at left tackle, but now he’s playing left guard. Aikens was right tackle, and he’s now at center. And of course Daye didn’t start on offense last year. So maybe all the shifting has something to do with it. Passing wise, I think for one thing we need to run some different patterns to get Davionne open better. With his smaller size he needs a bit more space. He has the speed to do it, as I would think he’d be the fastest on the field in most occasions. We also need Pat to settle down a bit more, something he did very well last year as the season progressed. I think I’m done with the idea of having an airshow in the first half of games. These games now are too important, and there’s no guarantee our running game will win it for us in the second half. So I say we do what we need to do to win, and try to work the passing game whenever we can, and hopefully it gets better.

 

Lastly, I think I feel a bit better than last year. Last year I felt like we went downhill over the first 3 weeks. This year if we did, it was a much gentler slope. I think this year we just exposed more things that were always there. I just hope we can fix them. Our postseason hopes depend on it.

 

OK, on to picks. Last week I went a very good 19-4 (0.826), missing Oneonta (biggest shocker of the year in my book), Vestal, Seton (another shocker), and Groton. For the season I’m 55-21 (0.724). This week I’m going with Ithaca, Vestal, Corning East, Unatego (game of the week), Lansing (can you believe Watkins Glen is state ranked! Sorry, but that’s a joke that Kerr ranks them but not Greene), Trumansburg, Candor, Seton, UE, Maine Endwell, Oneonta, Windsor, Forks, Owego, Dryden, END, Harpursville, Walton (which means Sidney will win, because I can’t seem to pick Sidney right this year), Moravia, Edison, Newark Valley, Oxford, and Corning West. Lots of close ones this week, so I’m not sure how well I’ll do…..