Jackson Ironmen Football 2014

[doubleplay643]

Well the good news is there is a lot of names to choose from, line them up see who is the best, and go play football. Hate to bring a bunch of names up you always leave someone out so we will see hopefully all the time spent will make everyone stronger, faster, better. I do favor Williams at guard though (and I mentioned this several times last year during the season I thought we should try it), if you isolated him or was able to get a hold of some film his blocking at TE resulted 7 times out of 10 in the opposing player getting pancaked, and with his athletic ability and the amount of traps and guard pulls we run, I would hate to be the one lined up in his sights. Most defensive players he is going to destroy.

So suffice to say we all can agree we need to redeem or avenge the West Jefferson and Burg losses, take one game at a time, be perfect in the SEOAL and get a crack at the play-offs.

Good luck to all the kids working hard every morning at 6:30 AM and after school as well including those doing things on their own...keep working, keep grinding.

[sixrings]

Iman24 size wouldn't be much of a gain, I'd say Staten is probably around 210 now. He's sure to bulk up more. He gained 25 lbs from sophomore to junior year. (185-210) I think experience would play a large factor in that as well. Some of the kids you named have limited to no varsity experience compared to staten, a 3 year starter.

Viking96 I agree. His size and speed would make a good combination for a rover, olb, or ilb. Versatility makes it almost impossible not to play him. Was disappointed that we didn't see more of him last year. Also, I would love to see Potter get more carries. It'll be interesting to see what Coach Andy Hall does with all these weapons and athletes.

[Buckeye-4-Life]

Was told Coach Hall got voted in 5-0 tonight at the board meeting.

[doubleplay643]

Was told Coach Hall got voted in 5-0 tonight at the board meeting.

Good start, good news, everyone on board this year 5-0 instead of the 3-2 vote from last year.

Lot of interest in the program based on numbers in the before school and after school lifting and speed/agility workouts. Enormous amount of talent and drive with some of these kids.

A lot of energy and positive vibe from the kids, staff and the people in general.

Seems like all things are set up to make a run here for next several years. I like the upside here.

[sixrings]

Was informed today on how the weight training is going for the IRONMEN, seems to be that these "young athletes" are becoming men this offseason. Working hard in the weight room ever morning before school at 6:45. This may be the year we see a deep playoff push from the IRONMEN.

[baller99]

We should be bigger and stronger with a lot of experience and should be able to spread teams out or line up go right at them also. Defense same way faster,bigger,stronger should be really tough against run and d backs have experice and if we can get pressure on spread teams we could make a good run.

[baller99]

Anybody khow anything about Ironton and bishop ready?

[doubleplay643]

Anybody khow anything about Ironton and bishop ready?

iman, when you say "know anything' do you mean if the games have been confirmed for certain by each school, or do you mean anything about their teams for 2014?

[baller99]

teams. I know Ironton had rough year and ready had good. Whats this year look like.

[Ironman92]

As an outsider to the stuff going on in the program and just watching games....over the past few years I have not seen the strength and speed on the field nearly as much as you hear they were going to be. I'm not speaking anything of the kids going to be playing on the field this year....but just the past several years. Two seasons ago I was told by one of the lineman that no one benched over 285...if that is true then that's a significant problem IMO.

Sounds like the weight room is being utilized plenty now and hopefully those kids competing for spots can get significantly stronger but also faster. I simply have failed to see the speed that seems to get mentioned each year. I saw on FB someone talking about his kid running a 4.4 lol.

This team definitely has depth and unlike several years back...SIZE. I think to myself my god could you stop us with our backs and Williams/Crabtree both at TE? Matchup difficulty much?

It will be fun to watch....those kids beat everyone they should've but got drilled by the gauntlet of West Jeff, Athens and Burg. The next step is to get into the playoffs and compete in that first game IMO.

Best of luck and keep working on the strength/speed

[doubleplay643]

iman, the only thing I know about Bishop Ready is what I gather on the JJHuddle Forum. They are currently in search of a coach for next year, as the HC that they had last year when they made their play-off run has left. They graduated a running back that was signed by the Air Force Academy and a tackle that was signed by OSU and several other kids that are playing at some D2 or other schools. The thread there projects them to be a little off last year's pace but Hartley, Ready, DeSales, etc. typically have great "feeder" programs and there always seems to be some good players come into their programs. So even though they are a couple divisions below Jackson my expectation is they will be a tough program and a "W" for us would be pretty significant. Also, the timing of this game is as you know tough. We will have West Jeffererson-Bishop Ready-Wheelersburg, so there will be another gauntlet to get through. Last year they were primarily a running team from the stats I saw, and given the fact they had a D1 running back in their backfield. Sounds like they will be sophomore and junior heavy given what I read, so a lot like us. As far as Ironton I only saw them play once last year but I think they are re-building, sounds a little like us the last couple years. Looked at one of their threads here and couldn't really tell what to expect. Maybe someone in the know will comment here on what they have coming back.

I92, there is probably several sub 5.0's and a few 4.6ish's but a 4.4 sounds pretty quick to me...my guess is (based on track results and just observations over the years is) that Farley, Cantor, Griffiths, Byrd (spelling?) if he plays, Conley and Rafferty are some of the kids getting close to the 4.6"ish" mark, but I don't think we are going to have that 6' kid at receiver that can run by someone on a vertical route and get behind everyone...but what do I know I am a slow old guy. But the quickness/speed of a Farley/Rafferty will be difficult for any team to defend if we line up with our strength and run at you. Which leads to your 285# comment, and my guess (I don't pretend to know this just an educated guess) is that the strongest kid on the team is probably Williams who I understand can put up 225 about a dozen times (equates to 315+ max probably), but after that not sure. Which is why I believe it might be interesting to bring him down the line on occasion to a guard spot. But the focus weight training now for a lot of these kids (no matter what the sport) is more "athletic strength" than what I would call "static strength"...and you can make the argument all day long which is better for which position, but the weight training today is not your father's (or even yours) weight training from years ago. Different philosophy entirely.

With all that said I believe athletically from spots 1-22 offensively/defensively we should be pretty respectable. We may never have the fastest or strongest kid on the field in any game we play but I think we are solid 1-22 across the board and that along with some good game preparation should put us in most contests in 2014.

And you are right, lets get to one of the top 8 seeds (6-7-8 most likely) and then go win that first one. But lets beat Logan et al and get the SEOAL Championship back here first.

[Ironman92]

I agree with your kids at 4.6. Completely agree weightroom philosophies are greatly different and across the board we do have good athletes who are pretty strong and pretty quick.

Beating the best typically involves those "special" skill athletes. They don't float thru Jackson real often. We rarely have that kid who can run down the breakaway player on the other team or like you mentioned the big fast receiver.

Anyways.....the offensive line should be very good, QB is tough and can run and throw, numerous capable backs but I'd love to see Williams and Crabtree at TE a lot more and actually thrown to.

On defense.....I'd like to see everyone have the knowledge Potter does as to where the ball is going. He was so impressive to watch last year. He stood out IMO. Gotta keep improving against the spread offenses.

[Ironmen44]

Each team is a different animal each year. Let the coaching staff decide who plays where and just enjoy the year. Let the players play and the coaches coach. Everyone remember these are kids playing high school football. Please leave their names out of it. Good or bad. Go Ironmen !!

[Ironman92]

Each team is a different animal each year. Let the coaching staff decide who plays where and just enjoy the year. Let the players play and the coaches coach. Everyone remember these are kids playing high school football. Please leave their names out of it. Good or bad. Go Ironmen !!

Of course....this is just a discussion board. I see no problems with names as long as it's positive.

Coach Hall and his staff will have a lot of options on offense and defense to play with...the opportunity for him should be exciting. The tough part of the job will be deciding how much to play the better players on each side of the football and determining if a somewhat winded two-way player is better than the fresher player who is not quite as skilled.....and convincing those on the edge of contributing playing time how important they are and to be ready when called upon. The young kids last year did an exceptional job of being ready when coach gave them the call.

[baller99]

After analyzing the scouting data on 2,560 high school football players, the researchers found that, on average, the top-ranked players -- those earning a four- to five-star ranking -- were about one inch taller and five pounds heavier than those with two- and three-star rankings. In addition, their average 40-yard sprint time was 4.76 seconds, which was 0.08 seconds faster than recruits of lower rankings.

Found this on web most high school athletes are 4.8 or slower. 4.6 or faster guys are on different level on the field.

[Ironman92]

After analyzing the scouting data on 2,560 high school football players, the researchers found that, on average, the top-ranked players -- those earning a four- to five-star ranking -- were about one inch taller and five pounds heavier than those with two- and three-star rankings. In addition, their average 40-yard sprint time was 4.76 seconds, which was 0.08 seconds faster than recruits of lower rankings.

Found this on web most high school athletes are 4.8 or slower. 4.6 or faster guys are on different level on the field.

The hand held stopwatch can really be inaccurate.

As for the 40 yard dash.....if one team has a bunch of 4.5-4.6 kids on defense but they don't have very good instincts or a good feel as to where the ball is going....they will get destroyed by the 4.7-4.8 kids that have the good instincts and feel on the football field. Players in the past like Seth Jenkins, Geoff Matthews, Clint Houser, Mike Sites....Matthews had good speed but the rest weren't known at all for their speed but they flew about the field seemingly in every tackle. Potter definitely displayed those characteristics last year. Williams had those games as well.

The 4.5 kid can run down the break loose TD though.

I'd bet Erron Brennan was the fastest 40 yard dash time Jackson has ever had....but most on here probably don't remember much of him on the football field.

[baller99]

Raymond has a good sense for finding the ball also helps when teams have to concentrate on Williams beside you. Should force teams to run the edge against us next year. The rawlins boy real contributed at end of year on d-line.

[Poo Bear]

There's not 5 kids in southern ohio that runs a true 4.6 40 time and bench press is most overrated exercise ever

[baller99]

Jackson should be able to put 11 solid athletes on the field at all times and we should be as strong as anybody we play. Defensively I think we should give teams fits.

[Ironman92]

Jackson should be able to put 11 solid athletes on the field at all times and we should be as strong as anybody we play. Defensively I think we should give teams fits.

How do we improve against the spread offenses? Every kid a little better than last year.

What needs to be done to hold those teams to reasonable point totals? (Other than having a good time of possession for the game and scoring with them)

I was not at 2 of those games....I'm not trying to be facetious. How do we control those teams better?