Week 5: Jackson (2-2) vs Wheelersburg (4-0)

[baller99]

Jackson will struggle till they play with some attitude run the ball block and tackle angry

[Old Bulldog]

Region 17 really is top heavy if the Pirates have already clinched a spot in the playoffs after just 4 games! It looks like Ironton can get in if they can beat Portsmouth, Oak Hill and Raceland. As for this game I think the Burg will once again outscore their opponent.

[baller99]

[quote="firecracker"][quote="ironman02"]The staff is going to play the players that give them the best chance to win. If there is someone on the sidelines that isn't playing on Friday night, it's because they haven't earned that right in practice. [/quote]

This is the problem with the team. I can tell you one player that did not practice all summer, even during two a days, and when it came to the first game, HE STARTS. Now, explain that to the other players. I just don't see how some of these kids go to practice everyday, attend weight training in the off season, and are seniors, haven't earned a right to play. The team plays most of the players on both sides of the ball, no wonder that their out of gas come middle of the second quarter.[/quote]


Not really sure about playing time and practices. Running out of gas is not really the problem if they watch film players don't block down field or just engage a player and then let him go. Where lacking leadership hustle and desire against athens hope Hall watchs film with players so he can point this out and help this young team compete with burg it will be hard to turn the ship around with another performace like last Friday.

[doubleplay643]

If playing against the AP Poll Division V #1 team...along with playing against one of the area's premier QB's in Eddie Miller...along with the recollection of last years' performance...along with the need to start the path to an 8-2 season doesn't motivate this team then there is something wrong.

To knock one of the premier teams in the area off, especially after some of the chatter last year after the game, doesn't motivate these kids (even if 1/2 of them are 15 and 16), then nothing will.

Treat it like it is a one or done play-off game and defend your home turf Ironmen. Good luck and hoping for an injury free game, just heard we are down a player that suffered a broken arm last week, hopefully recovery is swift and "next kid up" is ready.

Go big Red.

[baller99]

[quote="doubleplay643"]If playing against the AP Poll Division V #1 team...along with playing against one of the area's premier QB's in Eddie Miller...along with the recollection of last years' performance...along with the need to start the path to an 8-2 season doesn't motivate this team then there is something wrong.

To knock one of the premier teams in the area off, especially after some of the chatter last year after the game, doesn't motivate these kids (even if 1/2 of them are 15 and 16), then nothing will.

Treat it like it is a one or done play-off game and defend your home turf Ironmen. Good luck and hoping for an injury free game, just heard we are down a player that suffered a broken arm last week, hopefully recovery is swift and "next kid up" is ready.

Go big Red.[/quote]

yes thats the second time eddy has broke that arm ( 7th grade first play ) he had a nice play on reciever friday night just before that happened. Motivation should be running high player and staff after 5-5 last year and now to poor performance against top level teams and a 3-2 vote to rehire the coach if thats not enough than nothing will.

[PHS75]

After the tough game with Athens I dont think Jackson will have it in them to take Burg.

[ironman02]

The staff is going to play the players that give them the best chance to win. If there is someone on the sidelines that isn't playing on Friday night, it's because they haven't earned that right in practice.

This is the problem with the team. I can tell you one player that did not practice all summer, even during two a days, and when it came to the first game, HE STARTS. Now, explain that to the other players. I just don't see how some of these kids go to practice everyday, attend weight training in the off season, and are seniors, haven't earned a right to play. The team plays most of the players on both sides of the ball, no wonder that their out of gas come middle of the second quarter.

I'll explain it. He started last year as a sophomore. He's a team captain and was injured all summer.

Apparently his teammates think highly enough of him to vote him as a team captain, so they must not be too upset about it.

If there is a senior that isn't starting, but has worked hard in the off-season and at practice, there must just be an underclassman who has done the same things, but is simply the better player. That's not a knock on anyone, it's just the way things go.

There are several players that play both ways, but Jackson does subsitute a decent amount. Probably more so than a lot of teams of similar size. However, losing 42-7 and 49-0 isn't about running out of gas. It's about not playing well. Like I said, hopefully the problems get fixed and the Ironmen have a better showing this week, and throughout the rest of the season.

[doubleplay643]

Beat #1 AP Poll Ranked Team in DV
Finish 8-2
Win SEOAL Championship
Secure #8 Seed in Region 9
Play Athens in Week #11

That is the task for Friday and the goal for the season. Bottom line.

Believe it. Achieve it.

[Ironman92]

Didn't that same player who sat out due to injury get injured while extra workouts on his own time with a strength and conditioning coach? Didn't that same athlete commit to track from Jan-May to improve his speed and stay active for football?

The best players play....age doesn't matter but injuries do. It's not like this kid is a slacker.

[Burg93]

W'Burg as the #1 DV team is kinda silly. If they had a defense up to some of their past teams, then maybe-even then,that would be a stretch. Pasteur has them rated 3rd in R17 behind Hartley and St. Clairsville with Liberty Union right behind in 4th. That seems more reasonable. Maybe toward later in the season the defense will improve significantly. On the other hand, they have not needed anymore defense up to now.

[4thgoal]

"The best defense is a good offense."

[vladimir]

^ You'd better hope that's true, when W'burg is giving up an average of 400-yards per game, (X=(1563/4)X=391,)) to sub-par So. Ohio teams. The Hall's are defensive masterminds and they will have a game plan to stop the Pirates, but will they have the athletes to do it?

[eddie]

the burg ran 98 plays in their last game. the portsmouth game i think they ran 78-80 plays. how do u think this effects the defense? might not at all. the spread is changing the game and our thoughts on how we relate stats to how good some one is or is not. i believe fairlands spread no huddle offense ran 75-80. we are used to 60ish offensive plays would usually win u the game. what are ur thoughts?

[Crab's Brother]

the burg ran 98 plays in their last game. the portsmouth game i think they ran 78-80 plays. how do u think this effects the defense? might not at all. the spread is changing the game and our thoughts on how we relate stats to how good some one is or is not. i believe fairlands spread no huddle offense ran 75-80. we are used to 60ish offensive plays would usually win u the game. what are ur thoughts?

Where in the world are you getting 98 plays? That is almost impossible in a high school game. 70 is a ton, but there is no way they ran 98 plays.

[vladimir]

W'burg ran 69 plays vs. Fairland, 57 vs. PHS, 57 vs. Coal Grove.

My thoughts are: Offense wins games, defense wins championships.

[doubleplay643]

What a great win it would be to propel us into league play if Jackson could pull off the upset. At the end of the day though three things bother me:

One: It 15-17 year olds playing a senior heavy Burg ball club. Say what you want but a year or two is a big deal in experience and just overall athleticism.
Two: Spread offenses for whatever reason this year and last gives us problems personnel wise or game plan wise or both, it just does not going to sugar coat it.
Three: All the kids know what happened last year score wise, and if we get off to a bad start, those memories (nightmares) will be in their head.

But, that is why the game is played, and why no matter what I think we can pull off the upset and get the first win toward an 8-2 season, SEOAL Title, and play Athens again in Week 11 lol. Go Big Red.

[4thgoal]

One: It 15-17 year olds playing a senior heavy Burg ball club. Say what you want but a year or two is a big deal in experience and just overall athleticism.

I wouldn't call Burg a senior heavy team. There are 10 seniors on the Burg roster with one of those having not played this year (injury) and one who gets limited time if any. Burg does have seniors in the skill positions and a couple senior linemen, but most of the team are juniors (19) and sophomores (14) and a freshman kicker.

[green&yellow]

The staff is going to play the players that give them the best chance to win. If there is someone on the sidelines that isn't playing on Friday night, it's because they haven't earned that right in practice.

This is the problem with the team. I can tell you one player that did not practice all summer, even during two a days, and when it came to the first game, HE STARTS. Now, explain that to the other players. I just don't see how some of these kids go to practice everyday, attend weight training in the off season, and are seniors, haven't earned a right to play. The team plays most of the players on both sides of the ball, no wonder that their out of gas come middle of the second quarter.

I'll explain it. He started last year as a sophomore. He's a team captain and was injured all summer.

Apparently his teammates think highly enough of him to vote him as a team captain, so they must not be too upset about it.

If there is a senior that isn't starting, but has worked hard in the off-season and at practice, there must just be an underclassman who has done the same things, but is simply the better player. That's not a knock on anyone, it's just the way things go.

There are several players that play both ways, but Jackson does subsitute a decent amount. Probably more so than a lot of teams of similar size. However, losing 42-7 and 49-0 isn't about running out of gas. It's about not playing well. Like I said, hopefully the problems get fixed and the Ironmen have a better showing this week, and throughout the rest of the season.

Yes, this is all true about this player as well as what Ironman92 has mentioned. However, the only thing wrong is firecrackers statement, if this is the player you are talking about he did NOT start the first two games on either side of the ball.The only time he has started was defensively week 3 against West Jeff and this past week vs Athens where I assume by week three and four the coaches decided they needed him on defense. He has yet to start offense leading into this weeks match up. An injury is something you can't control but it isn't something from keeping a good player off the field, "just because". So, before you FIRE, there CRACKER, get your facts straight. GO RED!

[wobycat]

W'burg ran 69 plays vs. Fairland, 57 vs. PHS, 57 vs. Coal Grove.

My thoughts are: Offense wins games, defense wins championships.

Very true, but this team may hold the exception. They have been able to jump out on opponents in the first half by an
average of 3 touchdowns in all games combined. They have been able to stop opponents enough to put the ball in their offense. They have yet found a defense to keep them out of the endzone. If that does happen, the Pirates could find themselves in a battle.

[baller99]

Two days till we see if coachs have made changes in lineup and positions to help jackson compete with burg a lost here will remove Jackson from playoff hopes and another shot at Athens