Update on R2D4

[TigerDude13]

Well after a few weeks of talking with coaches, checking out some schools and spring practice and other "inside" information gathering I have to alter my previous predictions for this district...

 

St. X now looks to be the team to beat in this district...nothing changes with X just try and stop them. THey appear to be heading more towards running the ball a lot more this year as they should Anderson in the backfield... PRP is looking really good. QB looks solid and this team is loaded with speed on both sides of the ball. Wint-T offense just allows so many talented athletes to showcase their skills and talents. Male doesnt appear to be as dominant as I expected they would be but I am sure as the fall season approaches things will change. THey are not throwing the ball as much except for their usual screens and quick routes. They are running a lot of option and QB roll outs....Iroquois is loaded with a lot of speed and seniors this year and looks to be a legitimate threat for this district though they are still short of competing with the above 3. I believe they will compete with Butler and Manual but numbers may be an overriding factor. So many players will have to go both ways and that will probably wear them down. Manual still looks good but the overall talent level isnt what Crimson fans will be used to. I look for them to be really good in 2007. Butler is adjusting to a new coach and new system. I havent had a chance to look at them yet but sources tell me they are learning the system fairly quickly but it will be hard to tell until they play some competition. I know its going to seem like a bold call...but if the season were to start this Friday, here is my new prediction for Order of Finish as of today:

1. St. X

2. PRP

3. Male

4. Iroquois

5. Manual

6. Butler

[GR8BigBull]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!! & HAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!:argue:

[SLINK]

PRP has some skill players returning. They should be very good this year.

[GR8BigBull]

He has 4-5 guys that did not play last season coming out this season. Some pretty big names that WILL make PRP a force in the district race this season.

I hear that Ardis and Vincent both are back.

[CharlieWeis]

The big thing in this district is to avoid the 4th seed. That seed will play the #1 seed from the opposite district, which will end up being John Hardin. If a team can avoid them, they have a good shot and making a run into the 2nd and 3rd round. And as PRP, Male, and St. X found out last year, those guys can flat play.

 

I would say.

 

1 - X

2 - Manual

3 - PRP

4 - H

5 - Butler

 

**I don't envy any of those teams. Man that is one TOUGH district!!

[Oxnard]

He has 4-5 guys that did not play last season coming out this season. Some pretty big names that WILL make PRP a force in the district race this season.

I hear that Ardis and Vincent both are back.

 

Isn't Ardis the BIG back who had such a great freshman year in 2004 for PRP, but was academically inelgible in 2005?

[Xgrad-JAGdad]

What does Manual have coming back? I was thinking they were pretty senior heavy, losing their QB and talented RB bunch.

[Watusi]

I thought this was a Star Wars thread. ?????

[ram2003]

Hahaha... this thread has given me lots of laughs. First was seeing Manual listed below Iriquois. Second was seeing Manual listed as a #2. Third laugh was from Watusi, for obvious reasons. But anyway, while I was laughing at the first two, I wasn't laughing in a mocking manner. By all accounts, I still have no clue what to expect of Manual this year. I've heard good things, and I'm aware of the bad (they'll be replacing a PLETHORA of starting seniors). So this brings me to a point of interest that I wish I had paid attention to last year- what was the JV record for Manual last year? How well did they fare, and who were some of the big playmakers? I remember That Manual got the X transfer, Raven the runningback, plus I want to say that there were a few other good ones. The lines had been pretty small from what I observed, but they could have gotten bigger.

[GR8BigBull]

Isn't Ardis the BIG back who had such a great freshman year in 2004 for PRP, but was academically inelgible in 2005?

That is the guy, I heard he is very big now. Kind of got the impression that he was not going to be running the ball too much, maybe chasing it.:laugh:

I also heard that the Vincent kid, also played RB and LB two years ago, is very strong and going to be a huge addition possibly on both sides of the ball.

Of course all this is early speculation and we all know that a lot of things can and can not happen before the season starts.

[GR8BigBull]

What does Manual have coming back? I was thinking they were pretty senior heavy, losing their QB and talented RB bunch.

A lot of underclassmen got good experience last season. This is a good bunch of kids coming back, a lot of hard workers that seem to listen and get along with each other. Should be an interesting season after a pretty good winter and spring.

[Oxnard]

TigerDude (I acknowledge from a previous post that you do not have an X connection), I beg to differ with you greatly on your forcasted finish. Male is loaded with experience and has a fantastic senior class (Beaumont, Webb, and on-and on). They may prove to be even tougher with a MUCH bigger line and running emphasis than they were with Anderson slinging the ball last year. St. X. has only 3 or 4 starters returning out of 22 (although one of the 3 or 4 is Vic Anderson :thumb: ). The Tigers will be young but very good. PRP has, to your point, seemed to have stepped it up a notch with Wolfe as coach, and with the talent available should contend if they have learned how to focus week-in and week-out. Manual and Butler wiil fight it out for the #4 slot. Manual lost a lot of talent from last year, but the Rams have re-established a winning attitude which will go a long way. The Bears will counter a superb influx from a great freshman team. In regards to Iroquois, I feel like a Missourian, and they will need to show me something. Great offensive skill talent alone will not get the job done when the OL play is discombobulated. The defensive play has been non-existent. How is all of this going to change this year given the tradition of Xcellence displayed by their district rivals?

 

The realistic, contrarian viewpoint of the district says:

 

1. Male and/or St. Xavier

3. Pleasure Ridge Park

4. Manual (tradition wins out over Butler's talented youth)

5. Butler (close, but no cigar)

6. Iroquois (improved, but still last)

 

Open for counter....

[Old Corps]

In my opinion, Male is the biggest question mark in the district. Oxnard is correct in that the upcoming senior class has some good talent and experience, but QB still remains a big question mark. The upcoming junior and sophomore classes haven't been as talented up to this point, but they do have a few individuals who have a chance to make a name for themselves this year. Watch out for Dexter Heyman and Coach Green's son if he is healthy. It will be interesting to see how Male fairs during the 7 on 7 games this summer and if a true QB emerges.

 

That being said, I would rate St. X slightly ahead of Male at this time, but I reserve the right to change my ranking after 7 on 7. PRP will be a close third in the district and could win it all if Male and St. X stumble in the least bit and they keep their players on the field. Manual will be down after loosing one of their best senior classes in years, and Butler should be on the rise and just a few years away from being a contender. Butler should finish fourth while Manual regroups. Iroquois will be improved but not enough.

[02Ram54]

1) Male

2) X

3) Manual

4) Butler

5) PRP

6) Iroquois

 

Just feeling a backslide for PRP, and a little fall of '01 styled team play for Manual (history doesn't repeat itself, but it often comes darn close, and last year's team CERTAINLY went the way of the fall of 2000... Manual people I'm sure know what I mean.)

 

I think X has the best team and Male has the best talent, so it's a coin toss. I think Male will end up wanting it more.

 

Butler is sort of treading water, and Iroquois has a long time to wait on their current local youth league teams to make an impact.

[ram2003]

Just feeling a backslide for PRP, and a little fall of '01 styled team play for Manual (history doesn't repeat itself, but it often comes darn close, and last year's team CERTAINLY went the way of the fall of 2000... Manual people I'm sure know what I mean.)

 

 

I do know exactly what you mean, but my feelings are that PRP will make as big a splash as expected. I HOPE not, but hope has only gotten me so far in the past.