Guru:

Your early prediction certainly has some value to it but I'd love to hear some of the reasons that convinced you those 2 will meet.

 

I'm a Tomcat fan but I would think Rockcastle should be a big preseason heavyweight pick. They ought to have an incredible line down there and have been making progressive steps in the playoffs each year. Not that I don't think my Cats will be a pushover, it just seems Rock has earned the preseason hype.

 

Also, does Lex Cath not have as much talent back or do you feel they have too much adjusting to do this year?

 

You get around a lot and I enjoy your observations [though I think many of us out in the state don't quite get your northerners banter with each other sometimes;)] so how do you compare the East vs. the West in AAA (primarily). It seems like the teams over here, and the mountains too, are more & more competitive as a whole. Rather than just a few exceptional teams, more of our teams appear capable of winning than ever before (example: #1 Rockcastle barely surviving against #4 Mason Co in the 1st round). How does the west compare in your opinion?

 

Thanx for your hard work.:ylsuper: Cheers, Woody Jr

 

I don't want to answer for the Ru (he'd correct me anyway), and I did not get to see the Rock play last year, but Highlands returns 4 of its starting offensive linemen, one of its starting tight ends (he started when Guidugli was moved to the slot), the other returning tight end has been moved to center and will start there, and we have one of our starting wide receivers and our starting tailback returning. On defense, we graduated our two defensive ends (but they will be capably replaced-one replacement probably played almost as much as the starters last year), but we have our two year starting noseman returning, 4 of our 5 starting linebackers,and two of our starting defensive backs. Our only question mark (and if I knew how to put "question mark" in smaller font I would) is at qb. One of the two main competitors for the spot looked pretty dang good in spring ball and the other was unable to scrimmage due to an injury. Whichever of the two wins the spot,we'll be in great shape.

 

Should the Birds and the Rock meet it should be a very, very good game. Playing them down there will be a challenge no doubt. And as I stated in a prior post, we realize there are a lot of very good teams in AAA this year. It may be one of the strongest group of AAA teams in quite some time it sounds like.

 

Take care and best wishes.

the season is still 100 days away and I can not wait to hear that cannon go off!

Some teams from the east(Rockcastle, Bell, and Ashland noticeably) are all strong next year. Highlands will be good but they'll have trouble with some of these teams.

What's Bowling Green going to do at QB this year. I think this position is a concern for them. They never seem to develope as strongly on the offensive side of the ball as they do defensively. Hoptown has a lot of talent returning as well, and will be strong contenders in the West.

Woody,

 

I called it an early early prediction for good reason. Lneck nailed the HHS part and Ox got the Purple part as far as I am concerned.

 

Rockcastle is a team I am very interested in and they appear to be a top five preseason team.

 

Give me a few more months before you try to nail me down.

Woody,

 

I called it an early early prediction for good reason. Lneck nailed the HHS part and Ox got the Purple part as far as I am concerned.

 

Rockcastle is a team I am very interested in and they appear to be a top five preseason team.

 

Give me a few more months before you try to nail me down.

 

Sure thing, I don't have any nails anyway:D

Just curious about teams on that end that we just don't see or hear much about; Hoptown, Bullitt, etc.

Woody

I don't want to answer for the Ru (he'd correct me anyway), and I did not get to see the Rock play last year, but Highlands returns 4 of its starting offensive linemen, one of its starting tight ends (he started when Guidugli was moved to the slot), the other returning tight end has been moved to center and will start there, and we have one of our starting wide receivers and our starting tailback returning. On defense, we graduated our two defensive ends (but they will be capably replaced-one replacement probably played almost as much as the starters last year), but we have our two year starting noseman returning, 4 of our 5 starting linebackers,and two of our starting defensive backs. Our only question mark (and if I knew how to put "question mark" in smaller font I would) is at qb. One of the two main competitors for the spot looked pretty dang good in spring ball and the other was unable to scrimmage due to an injury. Whichever of the two wins the spot,we'll be in great shape.

 

Should the Birds and the Rock meet it should be a very, very good game. Playing them down there will be a challenge no doubt. And as I stated in a prior post, we realize there are a lot of very good teams in AAA this year. It may be one of the strongest group of AAA teams in quite some time it sounds like.

 

Take care and best wishes.

I would add the place kicker to the list of returning starters for HHS. He consistently put kickoffs in the end zone last year, as a soph. Has a chance to be one of the best kickers HHS has produced. On the flip side of that though, I am wondering who will take on the punting duties? Maybe coach Mueller is not planning on punting:D

Well this is an interesting thread. :eek:

With a new QB and relying on a single back set with a RB that only started at tailback half the season and the lack of a true power running attack(think LexCath game), the Birds may not get near as far they'd like to. Especially having to play at either Bell Co. or Rockcastle, not to mention CovCath and or LexCath.

With a new QB and relying on a single back set with a RB that only started at tailback half the season and the lack of a true power running attack(think LexCath game), the Birds may not get near as far they'd like to. Especially having to play at either Bell Co. or Rockcastle, not to mention CovCath and or LexCath.

Is Kramer back? He is explosive!

Is Kramer back? He is explosive!

He's the TB that started half the season, yes he is but again as I stated above, think LexCath game.

With a new QB and relying on a single back set with a RB that only started at tailback half the season and the lack of a true power running attack(think LexCath game), the Birds may not get near as far they'd like to. Especially having to play at either Bell Co. or Rockcastle, not to mention CovCath and or LexCath.

Add Hurtt, Ball, Koester, Marchetti ,and rising star Josh Conner, and the Birds are loaded at RB. All of these guys are fast powerful backs. Throw in a big veteran O line and ther you have it , a " true power game". If coach Mueller elected to go primarily run, HHS would be in the states elite when considering running stats. I think that may be a little boring for coach Mueller though. Away playoff games are always a challenge. However HHSs schedule will have them ready for the challenge. :banana:

RTS, there were many reasons why we lost the LexCath game, but in my opinion, the lack of a power game was not one of them. We actually ran the ball pretty well against LexCath. Our biggest problem was picking up their blitzing safety/third linebacker on pass plays and losing considerable yards in sacks. Its tough to make up 8-10 additional yards in two attempts at running the ball.

 

As MC pointed out, not only is Kramer back, but so are most of the other running backs. We'll miss Schrode who was lightning quick. I wish we'd have done more two back sets last year with Kramer and Schrode both in there. But the addition of Conner makes up somewhat for Schrode's departure.

RTS, there were many reasons why we lost the LexCath game, but in my opinion, the lack of a power game was not one of them. We actually ran the ball pretty well against LexCath. Our biggest problem was picking up their blitzing safety/third linebacker on pass plays and losing considerable yards in sacks. Its tough to make up 8-10 additional yards in two attempts at running the ball.

 

As MC pointed out, not only is Kramer back, but so are most of the other running backs. We'll miss Schrode who was lightning quick. I wish we'd have done more two back sets last year with Kramer and Schrode both in there. But the addition of Conner makes up somewhat for Schrode's departure.

I think Josh Conner will be the best running back the birds have had since Justin Frisk. If not this coming year than the year after. :thumb:

I think Josh Conner will be the best running back the birds have had since Justin Frisk. If not this coming year than the year after. :thumb:

 

 

Let's hope you are right, because we've had some good running backs since Justin and if Josh is better than all of them, he'll be extremely good.