Pre-Season
I was reminded by a player recently that I had already previewed this upcoming season with my closing comments from 2009. I had forgotten, but as I went back and re-read that entry, I realized that the tone it set for the 2010 seniors still rings true. So to begin my preview of the 2010 season, here are those comments as they appeared last fall after our difficult and unexpected loss to Oswego in the first round of the 2009 playoffs.
So with four of the six offensive skill players returning, we just cross our fingers and hope that mother nature is more kind next season. Yes, I plan on doing that, but there is also a more basic, psychological hurdle that must be overcome. The lack of swagger in the sloppy games was symbolic of a bigger tentativeness that this team exhibited early on in the big games. I apologize if up to this point, it seems I have been singling out the running backs, quarterback and receivers on offense. It's just that their mistakes are more visibly and statistically provable. This general tentativeness is more subtle and affected everyone. For statistical proof of this, I turn to my defense. In the first halves of the big four games of the season (Danville, Community, MacArthur and Oswego) we surrendered 75 of the 157 points that we gave up the ENTIRE season. That's 48% of the points in 20% of the quarters. In the 3rd quarters of those games, we surrendered 0 points. Bleacher wisdom will suggest that the coaches must have done a good job at half time firing the players up for the second half. I would love to claim credit for that, but if it were that simple, why didn't I just do it before the game? Aside from talking through a few things, what really happened at half time was that these kids realized that they could play with, and beat anyone. In the second halves of those four games, we outscored the opponent 68-10. Give this team credit, once they believed they could do it, they did so, and very impressively. Confidence that you will come back, when you are down at halftime is a great thing. Unfortunately, a little of that confidence in the first half of the two losses that bookended our season, could have done wonders. We lost two games by a total of four points. A simple way of looking at it reduces that down to making one play (and there are several examples) in the first half of each of those games, to keep the opponent from one score. We do that, and we are currently 10-0, conference champs, and the top seed in the upper bracket of 6A. It was extremely painful to just write that. In the sixteen years that I have been at Bloomington, I've never seen the difference between success and failure so razor thin, and I only bring it up to demonstrate the quality of this team, that unfortunately will go overlooked when comparisons are made with the successes of previous teams.
It would be great if we could bottle the never say die, fight to the very end attitude of this team and their work ethic. Combine it with some of the favorable playoff draws we have gotten in the past, and you'd have a couple of state champions. These attributes can be credited to a wonderful senior class, that took their lumps as freshmen and sophomores, but persevered and in the end went down fighting. I thank each of you for your efforts and for restoring my faith in character of Purple Raider players. What they leave behind is a junior class with a lot of talent, that played major roles this season. In 2010, we will be returning seven starters on offense including a quarterback that averaged nearly 150 yards passing a game, the leading rusher, the second and third leading receivers and one of our top scorers from 2009. Defensively, we will return four starters including a defensive tackle and three quarters of the secondary, and two defensive ends that saw considerable time in our nickel set. Factor in that as sophomores, this class went undefeated through the conference, and we should have team that will once again contend for a conference title, and all the playoff advantages that go with it. But there are two lessons that they need to take from this season; one, that every play and every game counts, and two that confidence in your abilities is a potent asset.
Potential v. Reality
Based on the comments above, its obvious I felt our 2009 team fell far short of it's potential. This was due mainly to self doubt that would creep in during big games and big situations. The 2010 team must avoid this psychological hurdle, believe in itself and play with confidence, and quickly. A poll of Big 12 coaches ranks the Purple Raiders the conference favorite entering the season, but in the first three weeks, we play the teams ranked #2, 3 and 5 in Danville, Normal Community and Decatur MacArthur, oh and all three games are on the road. Hang our heads in the first halves of those games, like we did in '09, and we could find ourselves 0-3 heading into the home opener.
The potential of the 2010 Purple Raider football team is limitless. This team has a successful history. The current senior class went undefeated in the Big 12 as sophomores, and in a senior-laden Big 12 last fall, went 8-1, losing only on a last second field goal to Danville in their varsity open. This team has experience. Two players are returning for their third seasons as varsity starters, and overall, 10 of the 22 starters from last season's finale return. This team has size. The offensive line will average 6'2" 275 pounds when we line up against Decatur MacArthur next Friday, and that is with a 202 pound center. The starting receivers (TE, SE and flanker) will average 6'2. This team has strength and speed. 30 players are in the 750 Club, nine are in the 1000 Club, and several of those have made that club at least twice during strength tests over the past two years. 11 players ran 4.9 or better in the 40, and five skill players had vertical jumps of 28 inches or higher. This team has statistics. The leading rusher and leading passer return from last year. The second and third leading receivers also return. Defensively, four of the top ten tacklers from a year ago return. Two of them earned that distinction in back up roles. And, this team has a new stadium. Of course, that alone won't lead to a single victory... but its REALLY NICE and will amp up the environment of the home games, and hopefully, several playoff games. Unfortunately, potential is not reality until you have lived up to it. All these statistics are nice, but they don't mean a thing after the opening kickoff next Friday night. This team has a lot of work to do to actually reach its potential. But Raider fans, if this potential becomes reality... this could be a special year.
Game #1 - Decatur MacArtur
In some ways, the game one preview is the easiest one to write. I don't know much about what the opponent will look like this year, so I don't have to write much. In other ways, it is the most difficult, because what little I do write could be completely WRONG. So bare with me.
Every two years, the Purple Raiders and the Generals find themselves playing one another in the regular season finale one season, only to turn around and meet each other in the season opener the next season. The two teams last met on a wet, sloppy Fred Carlton Field last October. The Raiders won 28-13. On the third play of that game, the General's quarterback, Robert Smith (the 2008 Big 12 offensive player of the year), injured his knee and was out for the remainder of the game and season. Though not hoping for an injury to Smith, there was a big sigh of relief on the Purple Raider sideline. That relief was short lived as junior back-up quarterback, Quinton Simmons, came into the game and proceeded to throw for 184 yards and led the Generals to over 300 yards of total offense against the Raiders. This season, Simmons returns as THE starter at quarterback, eager to prove that last season's game was not a fluke, and hoping to lead his Generals to their first win over the Purple Raiders since 1994.
From here on out this is all speculation on my part.
Offensively, the Generals have been lining up in the spread for several seasons now. The quarterback will be in the shotgun, with one or two running back to his side(s). Absent a tight end, the rest of the formation will consist of either trips/split, twins/split or double twins, depending on the number of running backs in the backfield. While a two back formation generally means run, the one back could be run, with the quarterback doubling as a running back, or pass. Run plays include a dive, double option, iso (and QB iso), zone and QB counter. What makes it difficult to stop is the fact that the spread formation forces the defense to spread out. This isolates the linebackers, defensive tackles and ends in stopping the run game with very little secondary support. Last year, the dive alone resulted in 126 yards rushing against us. Focus on stopping the run, and the Generals will simply toss it out to one of the multiple receivers in the formation and beat you one on one in the secondary. Pass plays consist of playaction crossing routes and vertical routes off of the dive play, swing passes and quick screens to the slot receivers, an isolation to the SE opposite a trips formation, and a variety of flood routes to the trips. Throw in a reverse and a shuffle pass to slot receiver underneath, and the Generals take full advantage of all the one on one match-ups that the spread offense creates.
Defensively, expect to see the Generals in a 4-4 base, with several blitz combinations thrown in. The secondary will show a cover 3 alignment, but may be in a man coverage just as often. Up front, in recent years, the Generals have been big, quick and extremely agile. This has actually cut down on some of the blitzing as the front four can take care of business without the added help. The front will shade the tight end side of the formation and walk up the weak side ILB. The outside linebackers may play off, leading to difficult blocking assignments for fullbacks and pulling linemen, or they may walk up and blitz, giving tackles and the quarterback nightmares. Over the past two years, this defense has been very effective against the Raider offense. Although we have scored 51 points against MacArthrur, 14 came off a blocked punts, 3 off a fieldgoal, and 7 off a mis-played, backward lateral last season.
Game #2 Normal Community
Well, for the first time since the 2007 season, the Purple Raiders enter week two undefeated. As do the Ironmen of Normal Community. So the question must be asked, which victory was more impressive, the Raider's 32-7 win over MacArthur, or Normal's 35-22 win over Champaign Central? You'd be hard pressed to decide. Aside from the obvious color differences in uniforms, both games looked an awful lot alike. Both of us were playing teams ranked in the middle of the pre-season Big 12 standings. Both teams sprinted out to sizable first quarter leads. Both teams focused on a ball control ground game, but had the passing game factor heavily into the scoring. Both teams displayed limited but efficient passing attacks. We were 6-9 with three touchdowns, they were 7-7 with two touchdowns. Both teams had back-ups in by the third quarter and saw several players get significant playing time (always a plus at the beginning of the season). And both teams gave up meaningless, but frustrating touchdowns (especially to the defensive coordinators) in the closing moments of the game. In summary, an over analysis of week one games would conclude that the Raiders and Ironmen are dead even going into the 2010 intercity contest. Surprise, surprise.
Offensively, the 2010 Ironmen look exactly like the 2009 Ironmen. I strongly considered a cut and paste from my preview of last year, but decided against boring you again with the detailed description of the difference between the outside veer and the speed option. This year, however, there are two distinct differences/improvements in the Ironmen personnel. For the first time in many years, they lack an experienced, "headliner" returning at tailback. Last season, they had two in Travis Mullen and Marcus Harris. They tried fitting both into the backfield at the same time with Harris playing fullback, but in the option system they run, it never seemed to gel. This year they have a dedicated fullback, Keegan McIntosh, who will gladly take his carries off the dive and go home happy, and tailback Jared Cross (Larry Billups is filling in while Cross recovers from off-season knee surgery). All have good speed, balance, and seem to run the mid-line, outside veer and speed option system, along with quarterback Brent Turner, a lot smoother. Proof can be found in the box score from last week's game. Off the mid-line and outside veer, McIntosh racked up 108 yards on only 9 carries and scored three times. Several tailbacks (filling in for Cross) added an additional 58 yards, and two quarterbacks tacked on 20 more. With the reads Central was giving them, it was a fullback kind of night. The second difference is that Turner can throw the ball. In week one, the pass plays were basically the same as last year, but it was far more effective because Turner got the ball to the receivers. In last year's intercity contest, quarterback Tre Jones over or under threw his receivers in a couple of big situations.
Describing the offense, like I said earlier, it is very similar to last year. Sets still include pro, twins, double tight, twins/split, trips and and unbalanced trips. Option is still the priority and will include outside veer, midline and speed option. This did result in three fumbles last week, but with game experience and repetition, that problem will disappear. The power running game includes a power lead play (which they have a few different blocking schemes for) and counter. Passes consist of playaction off the counter, a three step read route, and a swing route to the tailback. Expect a variety of screens as well. They just didn't have to use them in week one. Central did not really challenge the Ironmen, so I assume the playbook was somewhat limited.
Defensively, there have been some definite changes. They have dropped the 5-2 in favor of the 3-5. The 3-5 is designed to easily adjust to multiple offensive formations, and to take advantage of fast flowing defensive players. Three down linemen will cover the center and tackles. A linebacker will stack over each down lineman. The lineman will slant to one gap, assigning the linebacker the other. The outside linebackers (ends) will line up in a traditional end alignment, but can also flex out to cover twins or a slot receiver out of the backfield. Secondary coverage is usually three deep, but they can easily man up as well. As many as 8 defenders can drop back into coverage or rush on any given play. They could also go with any possible combination of rushers and coverage guys on any given play. The possible combinations are endless. The 3-5 base alignment doesn't allow for two deep coverage. So, in addition, the Ironmen still showed a 5-2 two deep alignment, at times, in week one. They also demonstrated the ability to shift back and forth between the two alignments in the same series.
Game #3 Danville
Its an old clichés that football is a game of inches, but every once in a while a game comes along that proves it. Last Friday's intercity game was decided by one point and several one inch moments. In the third quarter, Jonathon Wimp is one inch from a potential "pick six," yet the Normal receiver makes the catch for a touchdown. In the fourth, Normal's quarter back dives in by inches over the goal line. Later, Wimp's punt lands on the one inch line before hitting the front pylon in the end zone. On the first play of the ensuing series, Normal's fullback is only inches over the goal line before being tackled, avoiding a potential safety. On the next play, apparently one inch of Dean Jordan's right index finger touches the Normal ball carrier's facemask (touches, mind you, not grabs, and while I'm on the subject, by that definition, anyone in a pile that touches the ball carriers facemask should be flagged) resulting in a five yard penalty, moving them out of their own end zone. And then the biggest inch of the evening, the one inch or less past center, up the crossbar that Spencer Smith's kick hit, causing it to bounce up and over instead of down and under. With that said, however, give Smith all the credit in the world. In all my years of coaching football, I've never seen a more pressured situation for a high school kicker. 44 yards away with a sizeable wind in his face and the rush on (another inch by the way was the distance Cody Hubbs came from blocking the kick), and he hits it. Congratulations Spencer, enjoy your moment.
As most fans concluded, it was a great game, but from the point of view of the Purple Raiders, a costly one. Costly in the conference standings. With one loss, you can remain in the hunt for conference title, but it is beyond your control. Costly down the road in the playoffs (at least based on the past several years). One loss usually prevents you from being the top seed in your quadrant or half of the bracket, and puts you on a path to meet the top seeds in the second or third round. But most of all, costly in terms of the psychological hurdle that it puts in your way. One of our coaches recently labeled the intercity game, the "all too important bowl." Its one that you love to win and dread losing. With the quadrant system the way it is, if you lose it, you spend the rest of the season making those intangible comparisons with the other team as they move through the same schedule you play. Trying to convince yourself that you have improved more than they have heading into a potential playoff rematch in November. Well, fortunately or unfortunately, we don't have time for all that garbage this season. We must accept the loss and move on. Another old clichés is that there is a value in losing, if you learn from the experience (especially the experience of losing close games. Our last three losses dating back to last season, have all been by 2 points or less. Two of the three by last second field goals aided by our penalties). Let's hope that one rings true, and quickly, for this week the Purple Raiders travel to the home of the #1 team in 6A, the Danville Vikings.
I can preview the Vikings in one sentence. They don't do very much, but what they do, they do very well. Offensively, they keep it very simple. They put the ball in the hands of their best athletes and dare you to catch them The base set for the Vikings is a trips split with the quarterback in the shotgun and a running back to his side. This is the same set the Vikings have used for several seasons. The only difference is that they have replaced the tight end in the trips with an H back who lines up a yard off the line of scrimmage. The only other set the Vikings have run this season puts the H back on the other side with the split end, and leaves twins outside to the other side. This gives them more balanced look. But 90% of the time or more, it has been the trips set. Out of the set they run outside zone to the trips, a dive up the middle and quarterback counter to the weak side. Other plays include a reverse with the split end and a shuffle pass to the H back. The offensive line is smaller than a year ago, but faster and block the point of attack very well. Passing consists of a quick read series that will allow the outside receivers to run hitches, slants or fade based on the secondary coverage, play action routes off the dive and zone that consist of all four receivers running verticals, and a series of roll out and drop back two receivers routes with the H back staying in for pass protection and the split end running a backside post. That is it. It is simply, but tremendously effective. The Vikings have average 53.5 points a game over the first two weeks.
Defensively, like Decatur MacArthur, the Vikings run a 4-4 cover 3/man scheme. They'll line up defensive ends to the inside gap on a tight end and rely on the outside linebacker to keep contain. The middle backers rarely blitz, relying on the four man front to reek havoc on the line and let them flow quickly to the tackle. The secondary will man up when needed, but spends most the game in zone coverage. Like their offense, it is simple but effective. Like the Raiders, the Vikings do play a good number of their skill players two ways.
Game #4 Urbana
From one month ago...
Based on the comments above, its obvious I felt our 2009 team fell far short of it's potential. This was due mainly to self doubt that would creep in during big games and big situations. The 2010 team must avoid this psychological hurdle, believe in itself and play with confidence, and quickly. Unfortunately, potential is not reality until you have lived up to it. All these statistics are nice, but they don't mean a thing after the opening kickoff next Friday night. This team has a lot of work to do to actually reach its potential.
I still believe this is a very good team, but they have to believe it as well, and unfortunately, that is where the problem currently lies.
It's hard to say what offense the Urbana Tigers will run on Friday night. In week one, against Danville, the Tigers lined up in a twins set and ran power, a little option, and a bunch of bootleg passing. One week later, against Central, they lined up in a four receiver shotgun set with the tailback in a pistol alignment behind the quarterback and ran the zone read. Last week against Normal, I've heard, the ran a combination of weeks one and two with a few other wrinkles thrown in. So what will they run Friday night? Who knows. It doesn't really matter. We've just got to get better defensively no matter what we face. Tackling, pass coverage, pursuit angles, shedding blocks and aggressiveness are a must against any offense. Run plays out of the twins set consists of power and zone to the tight end side, a fullback dive up the middle, and pitch and speed option to the twins side. Their biggest threat is a fleet footed quarterback with a strong arm and the ability to throw on the run. His favorite play seems to be a bootleg off the zone play. It is a run/pass option and against Danville he turned it up field and OUTRAN the linebacker and secondary for a 50 yard touchdown. This kid has wheels. The play is run to the twins side and the pass option has the split end running a waggle route to the corner, the slot spilling out to the flat and the tight end running a drag from the backside. Out of the shotgun, they still run the dive and power to the middle, but shelve the speed option in exchange for the zone read. The end is still left unblocked, but instead of pitching off of him to the tailback, the quarterback will ride the handoff to the back. If the end crashes down, the quarterback will pull the handoff and run around him. Passing out of the shotgun puts four receivers into the route. The zone boot is still in play, but more often play action will come off the zone read with the inside receivers crossing over the middle and the outside receivers running posts. Passing also involves a slot screen to the twins, a tight end middle screen and a tailback pass off the pitch. Defensively, the key is to contain the quarterback and cover the receivers. Simple concepts, but ones that we struggled with last week.
Defensively, the Tigers are the latest Big 12 team to switch to the 3-5. Technically, it looks like a 5-3 since the outside backers are walked up like ends. Coverage has to be a cover three or man with only three defensive backs over the top. This is the same defense Normal ran in week two. One difference though is that the Tigers blitz the three middle linebackers far more. The 3-5 is designed to be a blitz first scheme and the Tigers seem to have bought into it hook, line and sinker. With as many as eight men in the box, the offense has to be prepared to get to the outside, hit hot routes in the passing game, and spread out formations to pull linebackers out.
Game #5 Champaign Central
The following is a DESCRIPTION of the Champaign Central offense. You'll notice an absence of the basic terminology that I generally put into these previews, because, quite honestly, I can't think of what to call it. If you know, please email me.
To the right of the center there is a guard, tackle and tight end. Only the tight end is not a tight end, it is another offensive lineman posing as a tight end. To the left of the center is a guard and a tackle, only it is not a tackle, it is a tight end posing as a tackle. A pair of receivers will line up on the right side of the line just outside of the "tight end/tackle," covering up the tight end/tackle, making him an ineligible receiver. So that make it a fairly typical unbalanced set, similar to the one used by Normal Community. I agree, till you look in the backfield. Just behind the right guard is a 6'1" 215 pound running back. His face is literally in the guard's backside. Three yards, not the traditional five, behind the center is the quarterback in a shotgun alignment. Immediately to his right is the tailback also at three yards. The snap from center can go to the quarterback, tailback or the back that is in the guard's backside on any given play, depending on what they are running. So there you have it, think of a name for it yet? Out of this set they will run a dive by snapping directly to the back behind the guard, and they will run zone, iso or power by snapping directly to the tailback. The power play is especially fun to watch because the tailback has to do a pirouette to allow a pulling guard to clear before he attacks the hole the play is designed to go through. They can also snap directly to the quarterback and run power with him or a counter with the tailback. On the iso and power play, the slot receiver on the right will motion back to the quarterback prior to the snap, creating the illusion that he and the quarterback have the ball while the tailback is ripping you right through the middle. A variation on the set puts the tailback wide to the left but then motions him back to the backfield for a jet sweep to the strong side. For good measure, they will also motion the slot receiver in and run the jet sweep weak as well. Obviously the intent is deception, if linebackers and safeties get caught up watching the backfield they will inevitably guess wrong. The offense forces every defender to play his responsibility and tackle any ball carrier that comes his way. And of course, they also have playaction passing off the base plays. The favorite seems to be off the jet sweep action with a seam route by the eligible tackle/tight end to the weak side. Linebackers that guess usually step forward, allowing the tight end to streak right by. In addition, the Maroons will widen to a trips split set and run zone and dive with the tailback, a full compliment of screen passes, rollout three receiver routes to the trips and fades and slants to the backside split end. In terms of formations and schemes, this is the most difficult offense we have faced this season.
On defense, it doesn't get much easier to understand. What I can tell you is that on every play there will be a least four down linemen, usually in an even front (center uncovered). A fifth defender will probably be walked up to the strong side, outside the tight end if there is one in the formation. As many as two other linebackers may be walked up anywhere between the down lineman and blitzing. Do the math, that's seven defenders attacking the line of scrimmage on the snap. Secondary coverage will usually look like a cover two, but could be a man coverage disguised. Overall the attacking nature of the defense is very similar to that of Urbana last week. And, they are fast. Week one against Community, on at least four occasions, the full back broke through the first wave of the defense, for what seemed to be a certain touchdown, only to hawked down from behind by a linebacker or end. They gamble, but the appear to be fast enough to make up for it when they get beat.
Game #6 Mattoon
Friday night's homecoming game brings the Green Wave of Mattoon to town for their final visit to Fred Carlton field. In two years, Mattoon will be leaving the Big 12 Conference for the Apollo conference, we play at their place next season, and as a 5A team, they will never again face us in the playoffs. At 1-4, the Green Wave enter Friday's game on the brink of elimination from the playoffs this season, and it has been a strange ride. Two weeks ago, Normal Community escaped Mattoon with a narrow 13-3 victory in the closest game between both teams in a generation. Yet last week, heavily favored against Urbana, they lose 38-24, ending a two season, 14 game losing streak of the Tigers. Which Mattoon team will show up Friday night? Hard to say, but expect them to be fighting for their playoff lives.
Over the past three weeks, we have seen it all in terms of our opponent's offenses. We were ripped apart by the simple, yet extremely effective spread scheme of Danville. After featuring three different base sets in the first three weeks of the season, Urbana came in week four and ran yet another base set trying to outflank us in a bunch trips alignment. Then last week, we faced an odd looking, unbalanced power formation against Central. After all that, Mattoon doesn't bring anything new to the table, but they do combine elements of all three. If you chart it out, the Green Wave will run upwards of a dozen different offensive formations. Everything from a no back five receiver set, to a series of one back trips sets, to a traditional pro and twins set with I backs. The quarterback is the best athlete and biggest threat to the defense. As a passer, he can throw the deep ball and will throw on the run. But he is also the fastest back in the backfield and will serve as the second running back in any sets where he lines up in the shotgun with a tailback to his right or left. In some ways, they will tip off their play by the set they are in, but prove to be the most flexible out of the one back trips set and out of the twins set with I backs. Base run plays include iso, power and counter out of the two back set, and trap, inside zone, and outside zone out of the one back set. The quarterback will carry the ball in zone, iso and power out of the shotgun set with the tailback serving as his lead blocker. Passing will depend on the formation. Out of twins and trips, they will roll the quarterback to the strong side and work different two and three receiver route combinations. Out of double twins and double tight, they will drop him straight back and run mirror route combinations allowing the quarterback to pick his side. Throw in a swing pass to the tailback, playaction off the power play and iso, and some slip screens to outside receivers, and the Green Wave have a total offense package. The key will be stopping the power plays out of the two back sets to force them to throw, and then to get pressure on the quarterback.
Defensively, the Green Wave run a 4-4 cover 3 scheme just like Danville. They are rather conservative in terms of blitzes and alignment changes preferring instead to line up, play base technique and make plays. The end to the tight end side will line up in an inside shade on the tight end, leaving the outside backer to keep contain. The two middle backers will blitz some and occasionally widen to take away angles from the offensive tackles on a down block. Coverage is usually cover three, but they will run some cover two to balanced sets. They held Normal Community in check surrender just under 300 yards of total offense, and forcing three fumbles.
Game #7 Champaign Centennial
Some things just never change. As I thought about the preview this week, several themes came to mind. Friday's game between the Purple Raiders and Chargers of Champaign Centennial pits the longest tenured coaches in the Big 12 against each other for the 16th time. In a time of shotgun, pistol, spread offenses and 3-5 or 5-3, blitz the house defenses, Friday's game is also match-up between two teams that been running a pro style offense and 5-2 defense for at least the last decade and a half. Call it a match up of the golden oldies if you will, but both head coaches may take offense to the term. Friday's game brings two teams together that have been doing what they do for long time. This year they both bring 4-2 records into the game and are looking to improve heading into the playoffs. Speaking of the playoffs, the winner Friday night will automatically qualify with their fifth win. The loser will need to win at least one of the last two regular season games to do so.
Offensively with the Chargers, as always, its all about power, power and more POWER. The Chargers base set is pro. To the strong side, they will run power, toss (or pitch) and counter. To the weak side they run iso. With two running backs in the 6' 200 pound range, its a pretty simple concept. Block down or reach with the linemen and lead with the fullback. Play action off the power play and counter will keep the defense from loading up too much to stop the run. If they do, the fullback, who rarely carries the ball, will slip out to the flat and be wide open with lots of open field in front him. A variation off the base set is to put the quarterback in the shotgun with the two running backs to his right and left sides. Out of this they will run the iso play both strong and weak, but more likely will throw out it using the backs as blockers. Routes consist of two receiver (TE and flanker) combinations of a route to the flat and one to the deep third with the split end coming across the middle on a post. The fullback will slip out to the flat if there is no one to block, giving the quarterback a safety valve. They will also occasionally run a one back four receiver set with the quarterback in the shotgun. Out of this they will run a jet sweep to the tight end side and a playaction pass off of it. In addition, the Chargers will spread out and chuck it in trips/split and double twins sets. Out of the trips, they will run three receiver combinations, but also isolate the split end in single coverage back side on a seam, fade or comeback. Out of the double twins, they usually run two receiver mirror routes to each side. For example, the outside receiver may run a seam while the inside receiver runs a post. They will do this with both sets of twins, so the quarterback will predetermine his side prior to the snap and work those two receivers instead of trying to read all four. Out of the spread sets, they will also run a series of screens with the running back. Once the defense send a rush of four to five defenders and drops everyone else back in coverage, there is a soft zone at the line of scrimmage that the quarterback can just loft the ball in to.
Defensively, the Chargers still run a version of the 5-2. But unlike the Raiders, it is usually with man coverage in the secondary. All eleven defenders are generally within 8 yards of the line of scrimmage. Most blocking schemes leave the free safety unaccounted for, assuming he is far enough off the ball that by the time he gets to the ball carrier, he has already gained significant yardage, and at full speed, might be able to make him miss the tackle. You have to account for the safety against the Chargers. Fail to do so, and he will meet you at the line of scrimmage. The slant by the defensive tackles usually is to the strong side of the offense, and the linebackers and ends fill quickly. This is a very aggressive defense.
Game #8 Normal West
Look, I'll get straight to it. Normal West is good, very good. We, on the other hand, have been struggling for weeks to overcome injuries and players suspensions and play up to our POTENTIAL. Expect from West the same consistent effort and stingy defense that has led them to four shutouts in seven games, including a 17-0 victory over Normal Community two weeks ago, and a 28-20 loss to Danville, marking the closest that anyone in the conference has come to the Vikings. Hope for something better from the us than the baffling comedy of errors over two and a half quarters that found us down 21-0 to Centennial last week. Friday's game will mark the first time since week three that our entire line up will be healthy enough to play, and (cross your fingers and kiss your rabbit's foot) eligible to play (How many times do you have to be late to a class, sent to detention and suspended from football games before you learn to be on time? You'd be surprised at the answer). I've been using the P word (potential) all season. It MUST materialize on Friday. If not, it will be a long night in Raiderville. Potential is nothing more than a pipe dream if you never come close to reaching it.
On offense, there is one name you need to know when it comes to the Normal West Wildcats, and that is Tyler Marcordes. He factors in on every single play. I remember playing alongside his father, Billy, against Augustana in a game back in 1989. He had 27 tackles in the game. 27! Augustana only ran 75 plays that day. Billy was everywhere. His son is the same way. The Wildcats will line up in a variety of spread sets including no back, trips/split, double twins and twins split. In each of them, Marcordes will be in the shotgun. At first look, you'd swear they must chuck the ball around to several receivers and pass over 50 times a game. In reality, the spread sets are used to spread the defense out and give Marcordes more running lanes. Out of the no back set, he will run a dive, draw and quarterback counter. They will run a jet sweep by motioning a receiver into the backfield and hand off to him at full speed, but once the linebackers start to cheat on the motion, they will counter it by having Marcordes pull the handoff back and run a dive. Out of the one back sets, they will run a speed option, quarterback counter, quarterback iso and quarterback zone. Out of the two back set, they run an iso and counter with the running backs, and an inside veer and a quarterback counter. Passing can come out of any of the sets. It consists of slants, hitches and seams in the no back set, two receiver combination routes out of the double twins, a flood to the trips and playaction off the jet sweep and counter plays. It is somewhat simple, but extremely effective when your safeties and linebackers are flying up to stop the 6'3" 230 quarterback that runs out of the backfield three quarters of the time. One final threat by Marcordes comes on fourth down. He doubles as the team's punter. But rather than just punt the ball, he forces you to play defense till he is ready to punt, and then scramble to get some sort of return put together. The Wildcats punt out of whatever offensive set they happen to be in at the time. Marcordes simply drops back from five yards, in shotgun, to eight yards deep. Forget to defend the formation, however, and he will run a play no matter what the distance needed for a first down. When he does take the snap to punt, he will roll to his right as if running a fake, then punt once his coverage has gotten downfield to surround the return man. The result is typically a fair catch, or the return man simply runs out of the way and lets the ball hit the ground. Rarely is there a return.
Defensively, the Wildcats will be the first team to run the 4-3 against us all season. They also possess the most aggressive defense we have seen since Danville. They average 260 at the two down tackle positions in the middle, and at that size, both tackles explode out of their stance. At the end positions, they are smaller at 215 and 220, but longer and even faster. The Wildcats rarely blitz because they don't have to. The front four do a good job of occupying all five offensive linemen by themselves. To a tight end, the SAM backer will walk up and blitz, giving them a five man rush when they need it. The secondary will line up in cover 2 and 3 alignments and occasionally blitz to stop option. The scheme was extremely effective against Community, shutting them out and allowing less than 100 yards rushing overall. They can also handle spread sets. They see it every day in practice.
Game #9 Decatur Eisenhower
Let me apologize in advance to any of you regular readers out there (if there are any left), but I'd like to, once again, quote from my 2009 end of the year statement about this season's team.
But there are two lessons that they (the 2010 team) need to take from this season (2009); one, that every play and every game counts, and two that confidence in your abilities is a potent asset.
Five times over the past two seasons (Danville, Normal West and Oswego in 2009, and Centennial and Normal West this year) we have spotted teams 14+ point leads in the first half only to come roaring back in the second half. We have lost three of those games by a combined total of seven points. Make one play that prevents a score or leads to a field goal instead of a touchdown, and we win all three. Last Friday's game against Normal West was yet another classic example of this. West had four touchdowns in the first half. On two of them, we had blown man coverage on the fullback out of the backfield that resulted in the score. The one just before halftime was extremely costly. There were only 30 seconds left in the second quarter, West had no timeouts and the ball on the five yard line (after another blown coverage). Leading 21-6 and with a very good kicker on their sideline, they probably take a couple cracks at the endzone, then settle for the field goal. If they do that, we win the game by one point in the end. Instead, we leave a receiver wide open for an easy score. Why? The frustrating thing about it is, it was a mental mistake. Mental mistakes can and should be correctable, leaving a glimmer of hope for the future. Yet we keep making them. In a way, it would have been easier to accept if Marcordes had run everybody over. Getting beat physically has some finality to it. Mental mistakes just leave you frustrated and wondering, "what if?"
Yet Raider fans, there is still hope for the future. Unofficially, we have already qualified for the playoffs. Even if we were to finish 5-4, the playoff points you finish with playing in a 10 team conference have always been enough to get you in. A win against Eisenhower guarantees it, and should allow us to avoid playing the top seed in the bracket in the first round. If we are in 6A, the quadrant bracket will consist of all five playoff teams from the Big 12. With confidence being the biggest determinant between success and failure with this team, an interesting question will emerge. Will the one half of good play against Community, West, Danville and Centennial lead to a confident start against them in a playoff game? If so, good things will happen. If we go 5A, the bracket will probably consist of 16 teams and range from the south suburbs to southern Illinois. In that case, we'll play someone new. What will that do to the confidence level? Look this team has taken me on a ride that in seventeen years of coaching at BHS, I've never been on before. At this point I(we) have no choice but to sit back and enjoy it. I will stick to this statement, however, this team has a lot of talent and if they ever put it all together, will be something special to watch. We've seen glimpses of it, but time is running very, very short.
As far as the Panthers of Decatur Eisenhower, they enter the season finale with a record of 0-8, losing last weekend to Urbana. Offensively, in throwback style, they run the wishbone. Out of it they run inside veer, counter, power, iso and pitch. Then, like a Transformer, the set takes on many different looks. By splitting the tight ends out, and widening the halfbacks to wings, the set will take on another throwback, run and shoot look. They'll also go a step further and widen the half backs to slot receivers and run a double twins with quarterback in the shot gun and the running back at his side. One final adjustment sends the running back wide and leaves the quarterback by himself in a no back, five receiver set. So the Panthers can run the most conservative and liberal offense in football in back to back plays. Out of the adjusted sets, they will run most of the basic run plays, but will add a jet sweep with slot motion into the backfield. The further they spread out, the more likely they are to pass, but a quarterback draw keeps the defense honest in their coverage.
Defensively, the Panthers run the 4-4 similar to MacArthur and Danville, but they tend to be more aggressive out of it sending at least two linebackers on every play. This usually results in man coverage on the receivers, but prevents deep passing because of the pressure on the quarterback. In the end it forces the offenses to pare down the playbook. Fast hitters and quick passing are preferred over misdirection and seven step drops.
5A Playoffs Round 1 - Chatham Glenwood
Since this has been the year of the quotation when it comes to these previews, I thought I'd begin with yet another one, but from a very different perspective.
From a recent Purple Raider football alum:
The Friday night lights, there's no better feeling, the tradition brought forth by everyone who's played before building the program that is Bloomington football. We talk about the glory stories, the ups and downs, but mostly what we would give to do it all again. The two-a-days, the gassers, all of it, to get under the lights for one more game. What we held back when we could've put more into it. It's really true, that high school memories will stick with you no matter what.
Every coach hopes that his players come to this realization BEFORE their high school career is over. Yet most players (speaking as a former player) look back knowing that they could have "put more into it." So what holds them back? A lack of confidence? A lack of desire/work ethic? A fear of finding out where they are really at if they lay it all on the line? Who knows, they are just a bunch of 16-18 year old kids playing a game. But in the end, coaches and players can take great satisfaction when they play the game to the best of their abilities. Winning and losing isn't as important if you can eliminates all the "what ifs." I still believe we have yet to play that type of game this season.
For the first time since 1994, we dropped down a class in the IHSA playoffs. Its not that we are getting smaller. Everyone else is just getting larger. Now mind you, dropping down does not mean that it gets any easier. Quite honestly, 5A is probably tougher than 6A this year. But it is something new, and with a team that seems to ride on emotion, something new could be something great. Let's take a step back though, and point out that Chatham isn't exactly new. The Purple Raiders and the Titans have met twice in the playoffs over the past six years, in 2004 and 2007. Both, close games, both Raider victories and both down at Chatham, but that's alright, they have a great field and stadium. So great, that they became the model/inspiration for our new stadium as the architect drew up plans a couple years ago. And to continue the "both" statements, its fair to say that both teams have been somewhat disappointed in their 2010 season. Like us, Chatham lost a couple of early games to top conference teams, rebounded to string several victories together in the middle of the season, but then lost to a conference up and comer in week 8. In the end it was only two playoff points that separated the two of us, sending the game to Chatham instead of Bloomington.
Offensively, the Titans look very similar to the way they did in 2007. Its still all about power, deception and formations. They will line up in as many as 10 different formations and can shift from one to the other just prior to the snap. Sets include double tight with split backs, a double tight with double slot receiver, pro, twins, double twins, trips/split, a bunch trips, quads, unbalanced and no back/five wide. The shifting will keep the defense rather generic due to the adjustments and realignments needed. With that said, however, base sets seem to include, pro, double tight with a single back and double twins. Run plays consist of dive, trap, counter, pitch and jet sweep, yet by running them out of multiple formations, you'd swear they ran from the deepest playbook around. The lineman are athletic and can run. They don't really blow people off the ball, but they are quick enough to totally zone block the pitch. On the play, all five will turn to the call side and run around end. If a down tackle gets in their way, they pick him up, if not they keep going till the get around end to the linebackers. Passing consists of a three step read series to their split end, who seems to prefer the slant, fade and hitch and go. Passing will also come off the counter play. They seem to have five or six route combinations off the same backfield action, but most result in a running back in the flat, a tight end dragging through the middle and a wide out on a waggle route. They will also spread out in the double twins and run two receiver route combinations and run play action off the jet sweep motion. The Titans also have a full compliment of gimmicks like middle screens, swing passes and a draw. In the end, they force the defense to stay basic in their alignments and scheme and run what the defense gives them.
Defensively, the alignment looks like a 5-2 cover 2, but plays more like a 3-5. By that I mean that they blitz, alot. They also have several combinations of line stunts and loops. On any given play, two of the three down linemen could end up on a contain rush while the linebackers blitz the middle taking their spot. The ends are the most flexible in the scheme. They can widen out to cover a zone, man up on a receiver, or they can rush. With the amount of passing that goes on in the Central State 8, the secondary is battle tested and has seen every possible formation known to man. In scheme and personnel, this defense is very similar to that of Normal Community.
Post-Season
Its been two weeks since we ended the season, 16 days to be exact. I had not written anything to this point, because quite honestly, I had nothing new to say, and the Chatham loss was very similar to others during the season. We played well at times, we outgained the opponent offensively (for the third time in our four losses), we had opportunities to take control of the game, but then made mistakes, hesitated, and came up short. I also had not written anything because I didn't want any over analysis on my part to take away from or tarnish the efforts of a hard working senior class. And MOST of them did work hard, in the off-season and in practice. They didn't plan for the season to turn out this way. But in times of failure or disappointment, it's nice to walk away having at least learned some sort of lesson, so you have something to build on. So I thought I'd end the Outlook page this season by focusing on that lesson. It comes by way of the Chatham Glenwood Titans. Like us, the Titans got off to a very slow start, losing games to bitter conference rivals. After an extremely frustrating 40-7 loss to Springfield High School, Titan coach Dan Rourke (and I'm paraphrasing here) said that his team was searching for an identity, that there were good football players on the team, but that they weren't playing good football. The season went on, and they won the games they were supposed to, but then suffered another troubling loss, 49-21 against Rochester in week 8. They make the playoffs with a 6-3 record, but can't feel very good about their chances in a quadrant bracket with a team they have never beaten (Bloomington), and rematches looming against the two conference teams that dismantled them the first two weeks of the season (SHG and Springfield). Then for good measure, they would potentially face perennial power Joliet Catholic in the semifinals. The Titans playoff road would be daunting to say the least, and cause for many teams to give it a good effort, but pack it in mentally. Well, apparently the Titans aren't made that way. Somewhere along the line they started believing in themselves and discovered the "never say die" heart of the underdog. Now they have had some help along the way, but this past Saturday, the Titans avenged their loss to Springfield beating the Senators 36-26 and will now face Peoria Richwoods in a 5A semifinal. In a season that could have been chalked up as mundane and hopeless, they have come to within one game of a state championship appearance for the first time since 1998.
Three paragraphs above, and three weeks ago, I favorably compared the Titans with us heading into our round one match-up. We both seemed to reach the same spot in the season by taking the same road. At that point, however, we broke down while they grew stronger. Rather than tell you what we did wrong, I'd rather focus on what they did right. Believing in yourself and your teammates is an absolute must in high school football. All the talent in the world means nothing if you don't trust it. The Titans have not become world beaters, but they have learned how to compete, and in the process, win football games. Confidence is a wonderful thing.
See you next season.