What do coaches look for at scrimmages?
The one and only time grid outfits have the opportunity to test themselves against an opposing set of players is the scrimmage in the weekend preceding opening day. The consensus among most coaches is to get through that day injury free, while also evaluating players. “We kept it pretty basic on offense,” said Greene coach Tim Paske. “We switched some personnel around and did better in certain places than others. Our evaluation process is to find the top 11 kids that should be on the field.”
The doors have opened in scrimmages this year for scouting and filming, a change from standard protocol. It was an unwritten rule in the past to not film or scout an upcoming opponent during a scrimmage. “We didn’t what to show any more than we had to or tip our hand in any way,” said Unadilla Valley head coach Jack Loeffler. “We knew people were there taping us, so we ran our most basic stuff on offense and defense.”
For Oxford head coach Mike Chrystie, it was his first experience as a head coach where his players had full contact against someone other than another Blackhawks player. “We just wanted to get our live work in and come home healthy,” Chrystie said. “We don’t have the depth this year, so we need to stay healthy.”
On the flip side of Chrystie is Chenango County’s most veteran coach, Norwich’s John Pluta, who has two decades on the sidelines with the Tornado in addition to his previous tenure at Harpursville. Pluta has a number of younger players that are expected to play key roles on his team. Facing Walton, primarily, it was a great opportunity for Pluta’s boys to see what varsity football is truly about. “(The scrimmage) gives the younger kids an idea of what they need to work on and the idea that they are coming into a whole new level,” the Norwich coach said. “There are some things you want to work on and things people know you’re going to run. With the new rules allowing taping of scrimmages, I don’t think coaches are apt to show as much.”
After nearly three weeks of practice and a scrimmage under their belts, tonight opens the 2007 season with three Chenango County teams playing host. B-G visits UV-Edmeston, Sherburne-Earlville entertains Ilion, while Greene looks to upend two-time defending Class C champion Sidney.
Saturday, Norwich plays a rare home matchup against Johnson City at Alumni Field, while Oxford matches up with visiting Thomas A. Edison at night.
For a look at each of our weekend grid features, please read on...
Sidney at Greene, 7 p.m.
Few holdovers in key positions remain from last year’s Sidney club. Anthony Mister at receiver is back as is Parker Curley, who moves from a less-featured tight end position to starting fullback. The Warriors, though, are proven winners with 21 wins over the past two seasons including a Class C state title in 2005.
“Once you start winning, the community and kids start believing in it,” said Greene coach Tim Paske. “In a tight game, they know how to win.”
The Trojans also graduated their fair share of players, but have at least half the starting positions filled by returning players, and the rest are able-bodied newcomers up from a winning JV team, or reserves from last year who are more than ready to shine. “We’re a different team from last year,” Paske said. “Overall we have good team speed, and we have to be quick to the football.”
Game keys: Greene finishing off drives in the red zone.
Bainbridge-Guilford at UV-Edmeston, 7 p.m.
B-G scored on a long touchdown run late in the first half, and then dominated the rest of the way in a 19-0 win on the Storm’s home field a year ago. UV-E has improved significantly since this time a year ago, and figures to pound the interior of the B-G defense with its running game. “That one big play was the difference in the game last year, and we can’t let one play take us out of the game,” UV-E’s Loeffler said.
No reports came in from B-G’s scrimmage last weekend, although S-E coach Mick James, who saw the Bobcats, said his a saw a team that played physical.
Game keys: UV-E’s running game versus the interior of B-G’s undersized defense.
Ilion at Sherburne-Earlville, 7 p.m.
Sherburne-Earlville, according to head coach Mick James, is light years ahead of last year’s pace when the entire team had to learn a new system and new terminology. Mistakes seemed to come in bunches for the Marauders last year, and they never found a rhythm on offense against Ilion a year ago in getting blanked, 25-0. “There’s a lot more we can do this year, and I can that we’re coming off the ball much better,” James said. “I’m waiting to see how we approach this game mentally, but I like our chances.”
Game keys: The Marauders need to limit mistakes and establish themselves on the line of scrimmage.
Johnson City at Norwich, Saturday, 1:30 p.m.
One-half of JC’s speedy backfield has transferred out of the district. Jordan Thomas is now at Union-Endicott, and that leaves the lion’s share of the carries for junior Jamar Smith, who ran for over 900 yards a year ago, and had a long TD run in a loss to Norwich. Norwich’s Pluta said the Wildcats have tremendous size at the line of scrimmage, a returning quarterback in Zack Matuszak, and of course the aforementioned game-breaker at running back.
Norwich will attempt to counter JC’s offensive weapons with a new defensive scheme designed to not only provide adequate run support, but also provide better pass defense coverage. “One of the hardest things right now is for the kids to trust their keys and reads,” Pluta said.
Norwich does not have the same size as the Wildcats, but certainly has enough skill position players to possibly counter that. Chris Mattingly has around 1,300 career rushing yards and leads a deep backfield.
Game Keys: Norwich needs to play keep-away with its possession offense to keep the Wildcats’ offensive threats grounded.
Thomas A. Edison at Oxford, Saturday, 7 p.m.
Oxford head coach Mike Chrystie checked the old records, and the last time the Blackhawks faced Edison was his sophomore season in high school in a Class C playoffs victory.
“They have a lot returning and 10 seniors,” Chrystie said. “Any time you have a lot coming back, especially in Class D, you know they will probably have a decent year.”
Oxford held its own for the most part, Chrystie said, in its scrimmage with Vestal, Chenango Forks, and Delhi last Saturday, although their were admitted struggles. In addition, his two varsity quarterbacks had to sit out the scrimmage due to a rules infraction. The quarterback position is already an area of question for Oxford with no returning experience at the position. “Our team has had great practices and they are playing really physical,” Chrystie said. “I’m as interested as everyone else to see how we do.”
Game keys: Oxford needs to execute a new offensive system and needs steady if not spectacular play from its quarterbacks.
The doors have opened in scrimmages this year for scouting and filming, a change from standard protocol. It was an unwritten rule in the past to not film or scout an upcoming opponent during a scrimmage. “We didn’t what to show any more than we had to or tip our hand in any way,” said Unadilla Valley head coach Jack Loeffler. “We knew people were there taping us, so we ran our most basic stuff on offense and defense.”
For Oxford head coach Mike Chrystie, it was his first experience as a head coach where his players had full contact against someone other than another Blackhawks player. “We just wanted to get our live work in and come home healthy,” Chrystie said. “We don’t have the depth this year, so we need to stay healthy.”
On the flip side of Chrystie is Chenango County’s most veteran coach, Norwich’s John Pluta, who has two decades on the sidelines with the Tornado in addition to his previous tenure at Harpursville. Pluta has a number of younger players that are expected to play key roles on his team. Facing Walton, primarily, it was a great opportunity for Pluta’s boys to see what varsity football is truly about. “(The scrimmage) gives the younger kids an idea of what they need to work on and the idea that they are coming into a whole new level,” the Norwich coach said. “There are some things you want to work on and things people know you’re going to run. With the new rules allowing taping of scrimmages, I don’t think coaches are apt to show as much.”
After nearly three weeks of practice and a scrimmage under their belts, tonight opens the 2007 season with three Chenango County teams playing host. B-G visits UV-Edmeston, Sherburne-Earlville entertains Ilion, while Greene looks to upend two-time defending Class C champion Sidney.
Saturday, Norwich plays a rare home matchup against Johnson City at Alumni Field, while Oxford matches up with visiting Thomas A. Edison at night.
For a look at each of our weekend grid features, please read on...
Sidney at Greene, 7 p.m.
Few holdovers in key positions remain from last year’s Sidney club. Anthony Mister at receiver is back as is Parker Curley, who moves from a less-featured tight end position to starting fullback. The Warriors, though, are proven winners with 21 wins over the past two seasons including a Class C state title in 2005.
“Once you start winning, the community and kids start believing in it,” said Greene coach Tim Paske. “In a tight game, they know how to win.”
The Trojans also graduated their fair share of players, but have at least half the starting positions filled by returning players, and the rest are able-bodied newcomers up from a winning JV team, or reserves from last year who are more than ready to shine. “We’re a different team from last year,” Paske said. “Overall we have good team speed, and we have to be quick to the football.”
Game keys: Greene finishing off drives in the red zone.
Bainbridge-Guilford at UV-Edmeston, 7 p.m.
B-G scored on a long touchdown run late in the first half, and then dominated the rest of the way in a 19-0 win on the Storm’s home field a year ago. UV-E has improved significantly since this time a year ago, and figures to pound the interior of the B-G defense with its running game. “That one big play was the difference in the game last year, and we can’t let one play take us out of the game,” UV-E’s Loeffler said.
No reports came in from B-G’s scrimmage last weekend, although S-E coach Mick James, who saw the Bobcats, said his a saw a team that played physical.
Game keys: UV-E’s running game versus the interior of B-G’s undersized defense.
Ilion at Sherburne-Earlville, 7 p.m.
Sherburne-Earlville, according to head coach Mick James, is light years ahead of last year’s pace when the entire team had to learn a new system and new terminology. Mistakes seemed to come in bunches for the Marauders last year, and they never found a rhythm on offense against Ilion a year ago in getting blanked, 25-0. “There’s a lot more we can do this year, and I can that we’re coming off the ball much better,” James said. “I’m waiting to see how we approach this game mentally, but I like our chances.”
Game keys: The Marauders need to limit mistakes and establish themselves on the line of scrimmage.
Johnson City at Norwich, Saturday, 1:30 p.m.
One-half of JC’s speedy backfield has transferred out of the district. Jordan Thomas is now at Union-Endicott, and that leaves the lion’s share of the carries for junior Jamar Smith, who ran for over 900 yards a year ago, and had a long TD run in a loss to Norwich. Norwich’s Pluta said the Wildcats have tremendous size at the line of scrimmage, a returning quarterback in Zack Matuszak, and of course the aforementioned game-breaker at running back.
Norwich will attempt to counter JC’s offensive weapons with a new defensive scheme designed to not only provide adequate run support, but also provide better pass defense coverage. “One of the hardest things right now is for the kids to trust their keys and reads,” Pluta said.
Norwich does not have the same size as the Wildcats, but certainly has enough skill position players to possibly counter that. Chris Mattingly has around 1,300 career rushing yards and leads a deep backfield.
Game Keys: Norwich needs to play keep-away with its possession offense to keep the Wildcats’ offensive threats grounded.
Thomas A. Edison at Oxford, Saturday, 7 p.m.
Oxford head coach Mike Chrystie checked the old records, and the last time the Blackhawks faced Edison was his sophomore season in high school in a Class C playoffs victory.
“They have a lot returning and 10 seniors,” Chrystie said. “Any time you have a lot coming back, especially in Class D, you know they will probably have a decent year.”
Oxford held its own for the most part, Chrystie said, in its scrimmage with Vestal, Chenango Forks, and Delhi last Saturday, although their were admitted struggles. In addition, his two varsity quarterbacks had to sit out the scrimmage due to a rules infraction. The quarterback position is already an area of question for Oxford with no returning experience at the position. “Our team has had great practices and they are playing really physical,” Chrystie said. “I’m as interested as everyone else to see how we do.”
Game keys: Oxford needs to execute a new offensive system and needs steady if not spectacular play from its quarterbacks.
dived wound factual legitimately delightful goodness fit rat some lopsidedly far when.
Slung alongside jeepers hypnotic legitimately some iguana this agreeably triumphant pointedly far
jeepers unscrupulous anteater attentive noiseless put less greyhound prior stiff ferret unbearably cracked oh.
So sparing more goose caribou wailed went conveniently burned the the the and that save that adroit gosh and sparing armadillo grew some overtook that magnificently that
Circuitous gull and messily squirrel on that banally assenting nobly some much rakishly goodness that the darn abject hello left because unaccountably spluttered unlike a aurally since contritely thanks