I think the Tomcats might want to look at Drew O'Bryan or Josh Bradley at QB. Drew took snaps at QB as a freshman I believe, and Bradley was QB in middle school. Both might offer a player who is more physically able/ready to be the starting QB.

 

Do you take them off the defensive side of the ball if they play QB?

What year were Ashland's number 56 and 32? Very nice players.

Do you take them off the defensive side of the ball if they play QB?

 

Heck no. When did coaches start playing some of their best athletes one way? I hate that philosophy, and it's stupid unless you have enough talented players to platoon.

Heck no. When did coaches start playing some of their best athletes one way? I hate that philosophy, and it's stupid unless you have enough talented players to platoon.

Wrong. If Ashland ever wants to compete in the playoffs they will have to fully platoon. And, yes, they do have the players to do it. No excuses. If they want to compete, they have to platoon.

Wrong. If Ashland ever wants to compete in the playoffs they will have to fully platoon. And, yes, they do have the players to do it. No excuses. If they want to compete, they have to platoon.

No, you're wrong. If there is not a drop a big drop in talent then I would agree with you, but when you're not playing studs like Baker, O'Bryan and so on two ways then it's dumb. And Ashland doesn't have enough talented kids to sit those kids on offense or defense. Ashland would have never won the state championship in 1990 playing Thomas, Johnson, Brown and Hutt one way.

No, you're wrong. If there is not a drop a big drop in talent then I would agree with you, but when you're not playing studs like Baker, O'Bryan and so on two ways then it's dumb. And Ashland doesn't have enough talented kids to sit those kids on offense or defense. Ashland would have never won the state championship in 1990 playing Thomas, Johnson, Brown and Hutt one way.

Hey, Ashland can do what they want, but how do you think Highlands beats teams? Do you think they have 40 Bakers and O'Bryans? Your thinking is 10 years behind, and Ashland will suffer as long as they stick to that line of thinking. Ashland will not win in the playoffs now without platooning. Fact.

I dont think a full platoon is the best idea necessarily, but I do think you have to pick your spots to give those going both ways a breather. I dont think the Collins team that beat Highlands last year employed a full platoon system. I could be wrong.

I dont think a full platoon is the best idea necessarily, but I do think you have to pick your spots to give those going both ways a breather. I dont think the Collins team that beat Highlands last year employed a full platoon system. I could be wrong.

 

I believe you are correct. I remember Collins' top studs playing on both sides of the ball but I don't remember how much.

From another thread.

 

Highlands does play 18 or so on each side of the ball. I'm sure the Highlands fans will attest to the fact that all of those players are not overly gifted, but they do play and do what is asked of them. For teams to match up with Highlands, they have to fully platoon and play 18-20 players on each side of the ball. Don't have 40 players? You need to develop 40 players that can do their assignment.

 

I know many of the Highlands fans have agreed with me in the past. Highlands does not have that many "More" talented players. Everyone has the special athletes, what Highlands does better is they develop the not-so-special athletes.

 

More schools have to take the plunge and platoon. The argument is always the same, "we don't have enough athletes to platoon". No one has 22 great players, you have to develop players to be able to do one job, and let the true athletes do their thing. It has to be a commitment, not an experiment.

 

How good can an average athlete be if they practice every day at ONE position? And, how good can an average athlete be if they practice their position every day against the starters on the other side of the ball?

 

If you think about it, it is counterproductive to take your "average" athletes and make them learn TWO positions, because they only get to practice each of their TWO positions two days a week and practice them against your back up players. Wouldn't they get better if they only had to practice ONE position, and practiced that ONE position every single day, and practiced that ONE position against the best you have on the other side of the ball?

 

Coaches are scared to try it. It's easier to say, "we don't have the talent to do that", then it is to develop a bench player to be a starter at DE.

 

I have told some friends at your school of choice that for them to succeed in the playoffs they have to platoon. They give the safe answer that they can't, but I guarantee they can. They have the players to do it. They just have to commit to doing it.

 

Platooning at schools like Highlands is the reason for my argument that High School enrollment numbers do not make a difference in the level of competition, weather a team platoons or does not platoon is the difference maker. That is why you see 1A and 2A teams beating 4A and 5A teams, neither team is platooning and the playing field is pretty level. But, if you take a non-platooning 2A team and have them play a full-platooning 4A team you will see the 4A team winning.

 

Ever wonder how Raceland and Russell compete and sometimes beat Ashland? Neither team in the game is platooning. If Ashland ever goes to a full-platoon system you will not see Raceland and Russell completing with them.

 

The same is true for teams playing Highlands. If Highlands is platooning and the other team is not, Highlands wins. To have a chance, opposing teams have to platoon.

 

I don't think you have to have 100 players to platoon. You have to have commitment.

 

I have said it before, think about it, is it better to take your average athletes and try to teach them to play two positions and expect them to play 48 minutes without a mistake on both sides of the ball after only practicing one day per week on each position, or is it better to take your average athletes and teach them one position and expect them to play half the snaps without mistake after practicing every day at their one position?

Hey, Ashland can do what they want, but how do you think Highlands beats teams? Do you think they have 40 Bakers and O'Bryans? Your thinking is 10 years behind, and Ashland will suffer as long as they stick to that line of thinking. Ashland will not win in the playoffs now without platooning. Fact.

 

 

Highlands has a much better program from top to bottom. They are better coached, and have more kids to chose from. Let me know when Raceland wins something.

Highlands has a much better program from top to bottom. They are better coached, and have more kids to chose from. Let me know when Raceland wins something.

You are missing, or not understanding the point. Read my muli-quote post above and put some thought into it.

How did Collins win? Why does Cov Cath not win a state title?

I do think Ashland has some kids that dont see the field very much that are capable of contributing.

You are missing, or not understanding the point. Read my muli-quote post above and put some thought into it.

 

I don't need to. Most of your high school athletes have the same average talent, and I agree on platooning such kids if you have enough, but you do have your exceptions where you have two or three stud athletes on your team. Those kids need to play both ways.

How did Collins win? Why does Cov Cath not win a state title?

CovCath has platooned longer the Highlands. Collins just had a phenomenal class of athletes, how'd they do this year?