WK1 Ironton @ Wheelersburg AUG 29

[YOU'RE TIGER BAIT]

it was in serious doubt the first half. and was anybodies game to win. I don't know what game you watched.
buurgs conditioning and line play and will to win, ran us over the second half.
ironton looked very, very gassed the second half. I thought I told the truth and gave wheelersburg props on the win. burg was definitely the better team.

[YOU'RE TIGER BAIT]

From an outsider's point of view (not that anyone gives a crap), but I went to watch the game because it was clearly the feature local game this past Friday night. I have no horse in the race whatsoever and know no one in either program.

Watching both teams warm-up Burg was clearly the more athletic team and Ironton was clearly the team with more size, so question was how was that going to translate on the field of play. There a lot of athletic teams that don't play football well and a lot of team's with size that are more athletic than they look. So I was looking forward to watching the first quarter.

First of all let me say the atmosphere was awesome, the Burg community know how to make it electric, the fans, the music, the darn cannon lol, everything about the venue is what High School football should be about. Just a great experience overall.

First half was a ball game obviously, to me Ironton was clearly the more physical dominant team but Burg never seemed to be out of the game. Even when Ironton was up they still seemed in control as odd as that seems. Kudos for Ironton taking the first possession and scoring in that atmosphere. Burg tried an on-side kick three times total, two in the first half and once in the second half. To me that says we don't care to give you field position at mid-field because first we think we can stop you and second even if you score we know we can score right back. Don't think I ever seen 3 on-side kicks in one game in the first 3 quarters of play by one team.

Ironton's "muscle" started wearing off late in the 2 quarter, Cox was clearly gassed and so were the big guys up front on the line. Not sure why Palladino didn't return kicks or punts or play some defense but maybe he was banged up I don't know. There were a couple option plays, particularly one in the second half on the Burg sideline that if Cox would have pitched it he would have went to the house. When Burg scored in the 3rd quarter and Ironton didn't answer the wind was taken out of the Tigers and that along with the conditioning just took its toll.

Burg just plays with a lot of swagger and with a lot of athletic kids and are going to just get better...Ironton is clearly on the right track and just ran out of gas and faced a group that put on the field 11 athletes both offensively and defensively.

I think that assessment is spot on.


Unfortunately lol Jackson has to play both squads this year...so we have our hands full. By the time Ironton gets here in Week 8 I think they are going to be a very, very good team with a ton of physicality and will be better conditioned and it won't be 90 degrees lol either. Traveling to Burg in Week 5 is going to be a tough match-up we haven't even been close the last two years, hoping for a better performance this year.

Summary: Ironton clearly better, physical team, need some conditioning and playing time to evolve a bit, thought coaching was good, need to design some plays in space for their playmakers (screens, options, etc.), but can win with pounding it in the T as well, maybe mix it up. Ironton I think can make play-offs, be nice if they had a 10-game season but can do it with 9.

Summary: Wheelersburg, exactly what you have read about it in pre-season. Re-loaded and gonna make your 11 beat their 11 for 4-quarters. Play-offs clearly within their grasp.

[YOU'RE TIGER BAIT]

I think that assessment from a Jackson fan is spot on.

[ohbuckeye2]

Since they got a transfer from South Point who used to pay soccer! lol

Funny how you and osumufan post this stuff on the Ironton threads. I just looked at the South Point vs Minford thread and there's not a post from either of you, I thought you two were South Point "fans". :122246

[Trojan_Pride]

TIGERS need to hire someone at next level (college/pro) and have them sit in stands and critique the game and report back!!!!

[ohbuckeye2]

Congratulations to the Pirates on the win, another solid Team again this year.

[wobycat]

This game was never in doubt. Ironton played well on there first drive but even on that cox had to improvise on a 3rd and long. Irontons second scoring drive, again found cox improvising to keep that drive going. Ironton couldn't stop burg maybe twice and one was with help of penalty. Ironton d was non exsistant and the offense is too predictable.

[local superstar]

JMO: Ironton easily had the players to win this game. Play calling is bad. Alot of coaches would love to have this group of players. In this day and age with down census in all area schools, this is a "dream" team. But so was the first year Vass coached with all those experienced seniors. Not sure why this has been acceptable in Ironton for this many years already. JMO.

Ironton did not have the players yo win this game. Burg beat Ironton in every position last night.... I'm not saying that Ironton doesn't have a talented team they just are not up to par with burg THIS YEAR! The game was never in doubt for burg. Ironton needs to do more conditioning in the off season, this hurts them every year.

Ironton has everything it needs to be successful and to have beaten the Burg. Yet they did not. That is my point. Kind of the same as you are saying.

[Trojan_Pride]

My opinion: We need to try and give the big guys a break from playing both ways, I think a smaller and quicker Defensive Line may work better for us. I'm sure we have a couple smaller and quiker Linemen setting on the bench that are more than capable of doing this. Cox doesn't need to be playing both ways, Isaac is more than capable of playing Safety. These guys are just getting wore out playing both ways, especially when it's as hot as it is. It can't hurt to try that's for sure!!

I agree. This game reminded me of the OSU vs LSU big strong buckeyes vs the "speed" of the SEC Not sure if small is better and committ to that. But I would agree that some adjustments each game could help. At half time we could've made that call n went small quicker line 2nd half.
1. We seen they were quicker than us on line
2. We new the heat was a big factor
3. We should know if the keep pounding it inside and not getting a bunch the sweep, pass etc is coming . We can say what we want but Burgs gameplan and play calling set up every big play they
got. We passed 3rd and 8 or went spread and passed. 90% from the spread. No offense here to ladies but my daughter and wife knew we were passing the ball. That shouldn't be. Play calling is an art IMO Example. 2 nd and inches at mid field. Burg calls pass play and scores. Goal line in side the 15. 3rd and 8. Pass right ?? If not kick fg. Nope they plan on NO fg and we are running 2 plays and will surprise them on this run and if we don't get Td or 1st down we have them pinned in deep for our Def. It's easy for me to think this way now and everyone else that's on here , that's normal easy to 2 nd guess the nxt day. Good coaching and play calling gets these thoughts during the game.

That being said. Coaches are not perfect and can have bad games too. Good coaches admit that to themselves n staff and go bk to the drawing board and I guarantee you 1 thing . Our Head coach is up right now doing just that. I think we will be just fine this year. IMO if #8 can do all he does maybe our head coach does the same. Head coach and play call both. I think outside of our plays we were right there. Congrats Burg on nice game and congrats to our Tigers that fought hard and didn't give up. Stay focused and we still go 8-1

YSF you are 100 % right about the playcalling it is ART

undisputed FACTS = its like flying a airplane on takeoff if problem ABORT (the plan), on landing if problem ABORT (the plan) FOOTBALL the plan not working ABORT IMMEDIATELY

the flow of a game should be changed continously during the game its called ADJUSTMENTS