Carefully re-read how I phrased it. I said

"They have a very disjointed offense and their defense isn't what you expect from a Coach Smith defense right now"

 

1) You already critiqued the offense yourself

 

2) This defense isn't in the same hemisphere as the Boyle defenses during Smith's previous tenure. It's not a bad defense, but those were defenses that utterly dominated games to the point you were surprised even if a good team could string together a drive. Those were defenses stock full of speed and heavy hitters.

 

This Boyle defense simply does not meet that criteria. It's good. It's good enough to win their Region for sure. It's not good enough to feel confident that if Highlands or CovCath rolled into town that you could score 2 TD's and win the game.

 

This isn't even one of the best Anderson County offenses of the past 5 years but they sustained success against Boyle. No doubt Smith will improve this team.. but let's call it what it is there are no Quinn, Leffew, Overstreet, Dawson, etc on this team on defense... there also clearly aren't the playmakers from year's past on Offense.

 

 

Okay.

Anyone knows that the level of Smith's defenses when he left were a combo of scheme and once in a lifetime defenders.

 

Bobby Leffew - 4 year starter in UL defensive front

Travis Leffew - 4 year starter in UL offensive wall

Justin Nichols

Michael Paul Webb

Matt Quinn

Jeff Duggins

Brodie Overstreet - Starting OG for Wake Forest as a Red-shirt Frosh before an injury ended his career

 

Those kind of kids are rare for any level program. But I think given time, the defense will develop even stronger this year and in years to come. The one thing that Smith's teams always seemed to do was improve greatly from the start of the season to the end.

 

... and that was my entire point. Right now this defense simply isn't at the level of Smith's typical defenses during his run. In addition, it doesn't take Kirk Herbstreit to know that Boyle's offense isn't Championship Caliber as well.

 

Hence why I insist they are a deserving #3 in this class...but not nearly what I would expect from a #3 Boyle County like year's past.

 

If I told the Boyle County fans... You play Highlands or CovCath and you will only score 14 points.

My question would be "Do you feel confident you will win?"

 

Right now I don't think any Boyle fan would feel confident taking that.

 

Say the same thing with most of those Championship Boyle teams and you probably get a different response.

 

Trust me..you won't find someone who respects Boyle's program, and Coach Smith, as much as myself. Outside of Belfry and Pikeville, Boyle is probably the team I follow the most closely. I have no doubt Boyle is going to become a monster again under Smith. With that said, this is the first year back and Boyle simply isn't there yet and still have a good ways to go to get there.

... and that was my entire point. Right now this defense simply isn't at the level of Smith's typical defenses during his run. In addition, it doesn't take Kirk Herbstreit to know that Boyle's offense isn't Championship Caliber as well.

 

Hence why I insist they are a deserving #3 in this class...but not nearly what I would expect from a #3 Boyle County like year's past.

 

If I told the Boyle County fans... You play Highlands or CovCath and you will only score 14 points.

My question would be "Do you feel confident you will win?"

 

Right now I don't think any Boyle fan would feel confident taking that.

 

Say the same thing with most of those Championship Boyle teams and you probably get a different response.

 

Trust me..you won't find someone who respects Boyle's program, and Coach Smith, as much as myself. Outside of Belfry and Pikeville, Boyle is probably the team I follow the most closely. I have no doubt Boyle is going to become a monster again under Smith. With that said, this is the first year back and Boyle simply isn't there yet and still have a good ways to go to get there.

 

 

I'll be shocked if we ever see teams as good as they were when Chuck Smith was at Boyle County. Even the Larry French teams that won state twice proably weren't as good as Chuck's teams. Those teams were awesome and had talent all over the place. 98% of all Boyle County teams will appear "down" compared to those.

 

What fans of any school would feel confident winning when only scoring 14 points? I'd imagine Highlands and CovCath fans wouldn't feel confident against anyone either if told they were only going to score 14 points. I wouldn't feel confident against any team on Boyle's schedule if told they were only going to score 14 points let alone Highlands and CovCath.

 

For me, comparing Boyle in 2014 against Boyle in 2004 and using that as a gauge to say 4A is down this year doesn't work for me but we can agree to disagree. I feel like 4A is wide open this year.

I'll be shocked if we ever see teams as good as they were when Chuck Smith was at Boyle County. Even the Larry French teams that won state twice proably weren't as good as Chuck's teams. Those teams were awesome and had talent all over the place. 98% of all Boyle County teams will appear "down" compared to those.

 

What fans of any school would feel confident winning when only scoring 14 points? I'd imagine Highlands and CovCath fans wouldn't feel confident against anyone either if told they were only going to score 14 points. I wouldn't feel confident against any team on Boyle's schedule if told they were only going to score 14 points let alone Highlands and CovCath.

 

For me, comparing Boyle in 2014 against Boyle in 2004 and using that as a gauge to say 4A is down this year doesn't work for me but we can agree to disagree. I feel like 4A is wide open this year.

 

I think 4A is wide open as well... just because I view it as being down doesn't mean it isn't going to be entertaining. It's just the baseline of quality teams in my estimation simply isn't there like in year's past. Same for 3A and 5A.

 

I know it seems counter intuitive because we all know that once the Finals wrap up the topic everyone wants to join in is "Rank the Finals Teams" or "Rank the Classes" and then it is an outpouring of hypothetical bragging rights. It would be wise for me to defend 3A in case Belfry wins, to defend Johnson Central in 4A since they play them, defend Southwestern in 5A since they beta them...but it simply is the way I view it.

 

From my viewpoint this is the weakest I have seen 3A, 4A, and 5A in a single year...

 

Now with that said... I have a feeling 2015 is going to be a completely different story.

I do not understand why you guys keep thinking Highlands is #1. I would put 5-0 Boyle Co. at #1. Then you have a group of Highlands, Cov. Cath, and Owensboro grouped how you want them. I guess winner of HH and CC will get 2 spot after this week and O will grab the 3. I think from 5 to 12 are all thrown in a bucket. N. Oldham really impressed me with win Over S. Old and only loss to a pretty decent CAL team. If you are going to keep throwing Lex. Cath in the mix, Don't count Collins out just yet. Yes 1-3 but loses are to a combined record of 13-3. Will know more in the next 3 weeks about Collins with them moving the schedule down to 4A football except for huge game with Central Hardin.

4A football is not down IMO but I think everyone is just about equal. Home field in the playoffs will be huge this year.

I do not understand why you guys keep thinking Highlands is #1. I would put 5-0 Boyle Co. at #1. Then you have a group of Highlands, Cov. Cath, and Owensboro grouped how you want them. I guess winner of HH and CC will get 2 spot after this week and O will grab the 3. I think from 5 to 12 are all thrown in a bucket. N. Oldham really impressed me with win Over S. Old and only loss to a pretty decent CAL team. If you are going to keep throwing Lex. Cath in the mix, Don't count Collins out just yet. Yes 1-3 but loses are to a combined record of 13-3. Will know more in the next 3 weeks about Collins with them moving the schedule down to 4A football except for huge game with Central Hardin.

4A football is not down IMO but I think everyone is just about equal. Home field in the playoffs will be huge this year.

 

Well then tell us why you would put Boyle at number 1. You said you don't know why others put HHS there and then tell us to put Boyle there without a reason. Because they are 5-0?

Boyle shouldn't be number 1 in 4A right now and maybe not by the end of the year. I do know they can be much better on both sides of the ball than they have shown so far. Remember we are only 5 games into the season and we can see many things change from here on out with many teams in the state. Like Lex Cath. starting out 1-3 with the killer schedule they had to begin with. Most people don't realize how good Lafayette and Bryan Station are this year. You can also believe that Chuck Smith will find ways to improve Boyle and soon. I would never look forward to playing one of his teams come playoff time if I was an a opposing coach. Don't feel sorry for Boyle for the future because they have a ton of young talent coming on.

Boyle shouldn't be number 1 in 4A right now and maybe not by the end of the year. I do know they can be much better on both sides of the ball than they have shown so far. Remember we are only 5 games into the season and we can see many things change from here on out with many teams in the state. Like Lex Cath. starting out 1-3 with the killer schedule they had to begin with. Most people don't realize how good Lafayette and Bryan Station are this year. You can also believe that Chuck Smith will find ways to improve Boyle and soon. I would never look forward to playing one of his teams come playoff time if I was an a opposing coach. Don't feel sorry for Boyle for the future because they have a ton of young talent coming on.

 

My bigger issue with LexCath is their 46-41 win over a bad Madison Central team.

Well then tell us why you would put Boyle at number 1. You said you don't know why others put HHS there and then tell us to put Boyle there without a reason. Because they are 5-0?

 

I feel Boyle has better wins then Highlands. Highlands best win is against Campbell Co. who is 4-1 and against 2-2 Bryan Station. Everyone is beating John Hardin and Paducah Tilghman.

Boyle I feel has beaten two quality opponents in Bullitt East and Anderson Co.

Actually, your State Championship preview will be this Friday in Ft Thomas round 1. Round 2 is the one that only matters and whoever wins that game will be 4A State Champ...jmo

 

Really only a two horse race in the dog and pony show this yr...Nobody in 4A plays the schedule that Highlands and CovCath play this yr and it will show more than in yrs past and will prove itself:thumb:

 

Besides, Highlands earns it free pass with its schedule...Just sayin

 

How can you say that? That has only been the case 51% of the time (28 of 55) since 1959.

My bigger issue with LexCath is their 46-41 win over a bad Madison Central team.

 

That score was a product of injuries on the defensive side of the ball. The offense has done well against everyone that they have faced, but when you lose 2 senior captains at LB and 2 other starting LB in a defensive scheme that runs a 3-4 you're going to get feel it. We are getting those guys back this season, so expect enough improvement to help us make noise this postseason.

I feel Boyle has better wins then Highlands. Highlands best win is against Campbell Co. who is 4-1 and against 2-2 Bryan Station. Everyone is beating John Hardin and Paducah Tilghman.

Boyle I feel has beaten two quality opponents in Bullitt East and Anderson Co.

 

I disagree that wins over 5a schools that are 2-2 and 3-2 are better than 6A teams, One Which is 4-1 and one that has only lost to St X and HHS in good games.