2012 VALLEY INDIANS

[lineman7]

I take a bit of a different view for Valley next year. The biggest losses in my opinion are 1. the offense/defense lines (4/5 and 3/4), 2a. Luke Keller (he is a dynamic runner with vision that you don't see much in high school), 2b. Blake Yates (dynamic runner who proved his value in the last game). Valley won games this year by absolute dominating people up front. Every game they played they controlled the line of scrimmage on both sides and it showed. It is much tougher to replace an offensive line that consistently opens up huge holes to run through than to replace good RB's (there is no replacing Keller and Yates btw) but if the whole o-line came back I would pick Valley to win the SOC and go back to the playoffs and compete.

I am sure most people don't agree, but that is just my opinion from watching and coaching a lot of football.

[blue53]

I take a bit of a different view for Valley next year. The biggest losses in my opinion are 1. the offense/defense lines (4/5 and 3/4), 2a. Luke Keller (he is a dynamic runner with vision that you don't see much in high school), 2b. Blake Yates (dynamic runner who proved his value in the last game). Valley won games this year by absolute dominating people up front. Every game they played they controlled the line of scrimmage on both sides and it showed. It is much tougher to replace an offensive line that consistently opens up huge holes to run through than to replace good RB's (there is no replacing Keller and Yates btw) but if the whole o-line came back I would pick Valley to win the SOC and go back to the playoffs and compete.

I am sure most people don't agree, but that is just my opinion from watching and coaching a lot of football.

I have to agree with you 100%. The line play this year was far and beyond better than just about any team they played this year.

[Bo_Diaz]

I take a bit of a different view for Valley next year. The biggest losses in my opinion are 1. the offense/defense lines (4/5 and 3/4), 2a. Luke Keller (he is a dynamic runner with vision that you don't see much in high school), 2b. Blake Yates (dynamic runner who proved his value in the last game). Valley won games this year by absolute dominating people up front. Every game they played they controlled the line of scrimmage on both sides and it showed. It is much tougher to replace an offensive line that consistently opens up huge holes to run through than to replace good RB's (there is no replacing Keller and Yates btw) but if the whole o-line came back I would pick Valley to win the SOC and go back to the playoffs and compete.

I am sure most people don't agree, but that is just my opinion from watching and coaching a lot of football.

I don't know... The line and the backs will be as hard to replace as anyone ever has been. This class set records and had a season for the ages. And it's the old chicken (backs) or egg (line) arguement on this one but let me play devil's advocate and throw out a few different things. As amazing as what Keller was this season, by far the best individual season in Valley history, I think Yates will be the hardest thing/person to replace next season. Valley has been lucky enough to have a few dual threat QBs (Bear, Lundy, Bukiwicks sp?) since Coach took over but Yates may have been the best due to his throwing ability. There are younger guys that are athletic and have some potential to be very good high school QBs, but Yates was so dangerous in so many ways. As for Keller, good athlete's can make good high school running backs. If you have decent size and speed and have a decent line you can be successful as a back in southern Ohio. Valley has those kind of athletes but I don't know if they have a guy that brings the size, speed, vision, toughness, hands and overall athletic ability that Keller brought to the table. His play in big games and in crunch time blew me away this season. The catch and run at Burg, the 3rd and long run against Ridgwood and the numerous catches and runs against Wynford. That knack for making the big play is something that can't be coached.

Now, I didn't forget about the line... Crabtree, High, Reihl, Kearney, Hartley will all be greatly missed. These guys were big and nasty up front and looked like totally different players from a year ago. I think that's a credit to their work to get better and the offseason work the team puts in in the weight room. In no way am I saying they won't be missed, I just believe linemen can be made while playmakers have more god given ability. I believe that with a big year in the weight room that there is some big able bodied boys that can become very nice linemen. Finding a QB, RB, and WR with the size, speed, hands, and athletic combination of those guys is something that can't be replaced through hard work. Don't get me wrong, there are some very athletically gifted kids that are chomping at the bit for their opportunity to fill those shoes... That's just a ton of TDs to replace. I hope that the next wave of Indians replace these boys and then some! I'll be there every chance I get wearing my purple and gold!

[blue53]

I'm sure we can agree that this was a great team, of 2012 seniors.

But there there is some good players that will play their hearts out next year

[N4da'score]

Don't underestimate the 2012 Indians, With Crabtree and Rolfe at the helm, The power of the Jedi will return! Luke has left the power to the warriors to fight the evil empires. :122246 :122246

[Izladoom]

. im most excited about seeing what the miller twins will do i think they will be great on that line.

[Bo_Diaz]

. im most excited about seeing what the miller twins will do i think they will be great on that line.

They are big boys with the potential to be good linemen, that's for sure... But I think I'm more excited or intrigued to see how the rest of the sophomore class steps up. There are a number of skill position players that are going to be filling big holes. A good year in the weight room and another year of growing could really make a difference in next years team. They are going to lack experience but I have faith that the pieces are place to be very competitive next season. A few breaks here and there and you could see Valley back in the playoff in 2012.

[FarAwayFalcon]

Optimism is a great thing, but some realism will help out in the long run. Coming from a Minford fan who had high expectations for this past year and was dissapointed, be honest about next year.

Anything can happen, but when you have to replace something like 19 of 22 starters, it's a tough road to go down. I don't think the Indians will be bad next year, but to think they'll be anything close to as good as this year is just setting yourself up for a let down.

[lineman7]

I don't think anyone here believes Valley will be nearly good as they were last year, and I dont think any team in the county will be as good as this valley team for quite some time. I think it may be realistic to see that all the teams in the SOC are losing some great players and that Valley should be competitive with these other teams.

[coop]

I'd say 6-4, 7-3...upset the right team maybe an away playoff game

[Izladoom]

yeah i think 7-3 is the safe bet. with losses against portsmouth in week 1 and against burg and west. minford and coal grove will not be easy either. i think it might be time to ditch the spread for a year or so. i think are strength is going to be are line and are backs. all of are qbs seem to have good speed but there arm is suspect so i would like to see us go to more of a option attack. i think we have the perfect kids for the triple option.

[blue53]

I wouldn't be so quick to think week 1 would be a loss.

OHSAA has the game at Valley.

[Bo_Diaz]

The spread isn't going anywhere and honestly it shouldn't... The spread is not a "throwing offense" as you seen with the Indians this season. It is used to "spead" out the defense and use speed and quickness of the backs as well as not requiring lineman to blow people off the ball. With the QBs Valley has returning the spread is exactly the offense you want to run. With the zone read it allows the QBs the option of reading the defensive end on the back side and using the speed to get around the corner. Valley's line will be solid next season but they are not near as big or strong as the line that is graduating, and the triple option requires a little more up front. Not to mention, the system needs to stay in place for the group of current sophomores and the talented 8th grade class. Valley has the pieces with the current offensive system to be successful again next season. How successful? I'm not sure... We don't know what kind of work will be put in during the offseason and what players (like Keller) will take big step forward and become big time players. There are more questions than answers with next years team but that doesn't mean there isn't talented athletic kids ready to step in and fill some shoes. I could see next year's squad finishing anywhere from 5-5 to 8-2 or 9-1. Lot's of time for things to shake out and tons of work to be done in the weight room. Hopefully those who remain will pass the winning attitude, competitiveness, and work ethic to guys that are still wet behind the ears.

[Hitops2.0]

I like you Bo Diaz ...always have good positive things to say about Valley football and the players from this Jr High season and High School season ..... the cupboard is not bare in the Valley ......a big thing for the next couple of yrs will be having the confidence in each other that this seasons team has had over the last 4 yrs ....the sophomore /Junior class has confidence in each other but they will have to have patience with upcoming soph and freshmen .....and next years seniors will have several solid lineman back to anchor and teach the young guys .....and big game experience to help out in tight games ....it'll be fine .....they will play hard we know that much ....everything else is why they play the games .....its high school have fun... play hard ... hit harder

[Izladoom]

i agree that you can run out of the spread but you have to have the treat of being able to pass to make it work. unless one of the qbs step up i dont see that threat. teams will just load the box on us. will howard will be are best returning wr and he may end up at qb. we have been a nightmare for teams to try and stop these last 4 years. we have been spoiled for awhile now. i just hope we dont look like we did against minford when we didnt have yates.

[starbase_318]

I would say it is totally impossible to GUESS how the TEAM will mature over the coming months. I do know the team fielded next year will have faced this year's Indians #1s in practice for 4 months. There's nothing to be gained by comparing this year's team to what may be fielded next year. As was the case last year, next year's team and their competitive level begins now, in the weight room. The success of next year's team will be proportional to the effort given in the off season and it still may not be realized in the won/loss column. Failing to prepare is preparing to fail!!

[crab_apple4]

The spread isn't going anywhere and honestly it shouldn't... The spread is not a "throwing offense" as you seen with the Indians this season. It is used to "spead" out the defense and use speed and quickness of the backs as well as not requiring lineman to blow people off the ball. With the QBs Valley has returning the spread is exactly the offense you want to run. With the zone read it allows the QBs the option of reading the defensive end on the back side and using the speed to get around the corner. Valley's line will be solid next season but they are not near as big or strong as the line that is graduating, and the triple option requires a little more up front. Not to mention, the system needs to stay in place for the group of current sophomores and the talented 8th grade class. Valley has the pieces with the current offensive system to be successful again next season. How successful? I'm not sure... We don't know what kind of work will be put in during the offseason and what players (like Keller) will take big step forward and become big time players. There are more questions than answers with next years team but that doesn't mean there isn't talented athletic kids ready to step in and fill some shoes. I could see next year's squad finishing anywhere from 5-5 to 8-2 or 9-1. Lot's of time for things to shake out and tons of work to be done in the weight room. Hopefully those who remain will pass the winning attitude, competitiveness, and work ethic to guys that are still wet behind the ears.

I agree with much of what is said here... As for the QB situation, all of the kids returning the are fighting for the position are more than capable athletes and runners. Watching Howard play basketball you can tell the kid isn't short on quickness, speed and athletic ability. Throwing will be tougher if for no other reason than losing Dwyer and Keller... but Yates is a record setting QB, and he could really spin that sucker.

I'll thow a real quick "for instance" out there... My junior year Valley went 10-0. We went into my Sr year having to replace 10 of 11 starters on offense (record setting QB) and 9 of 11 on defense. We went 10-0 that next season. Not to mention the class above me replaced nearly as many starters the year before... Getting the right footing as a program can push those under classmen to be the next man up. Good programs have this mentality. Replacing talent is tough, replacing SPECIAL talent is even tougher! The returning players have a tall order in front of them, and I'm hoping they're all up to the challenge!

[RollTribe09]

Will is definitely the front runner; he will be a senior and also has the most snaps under center in a varsity game, he is also the most physical option we have. Granted he hasn’t thrown a ball in a varsity game since his sophomore year, when he was thrown into the Minford game. But it is Will’s job to lose.
Zach Shope has a nice arm and can run but he was J.V. quarterback, and almost all of his varsity snaps came in special teams as a returner, but towards the end of the season he was removed and replaced by Dwyer.
And you can’t forget about Brian Rolfe. Yes he will be a freshman, but he reminds me a lot of Blake. Tall and quick nice arm for a young kid and can run.

[SOCMAN05]

Scheduling next year does favor Valley as far as conference play. Now with that being said Valley returns some hard nosed runners and a lot of options at QB and a very big line . I feel they will compete very well with some of the underclassmen contributing as well. If the West boy would decide to play that would give them a tall athletic receiver that was also lost to graduation . The players are there it will be up to them to step up and I think they will .

[N4da'score]

I have not seen the schd. for next year, but if it goes the way I think it should, 7 of 10 games on turf......advantage Valley! But off season workouts with the seed of this past seasons tradition planted....think'n Valley will have a shot at take'n it's second SOC II crown!