^^^

 

Agreed Tusi.. if nothing else it built some quality depth, particularly in the secondary and HB.

 

I was also thinking and a guy we haven't mentioned who may help is Chase Dove. He is that undersized, quick DT Haywood loves. He really played big at times down the stretch.

 

What are your guys thoughts on Special Teams this year?

 

If there is one thing Belfry really needs to bust their butt to improve it is Special Teams. In my mind, outside of injuries, it was the single most annoying thing about 2014.

 

I am not sure Belfry has ever had a Punter and a Kicker at the same time as good as what they have. Kick coverage teams were pretty sound. With that said, the return game and the long snapping was ATROCIOUS.

 

The inability to field a punt in my opinion cost them a win against Pikeville, and basically was the main reason Central stayed in the game in the Finals. I hate to even imagine how many yards Belfry lost in Field Position due to letting punts roll an extra 15-20+ yards.

 

Belfry has some nice pieces who would seemingly thrive in this role. Hunter is a Touchdown waiting to happen if he can learn to catch the ball and read blocks on kickoffs. On punts just give me someone who can fair catch everything.

So as Belfry starts to move towards putting pads on a couple names are starting to emerge already.

 

Keilan Carr will definitely help Belfry on both sides of the ball. Carr (brother to Trenity Carr) parted ways with the team in 2014 very early on and was not granted a request to return later in the Season. He was seeing significant minutes as the "Quick" Defensive Tackle. From what I hear the 2014 ordeal has helped him a lot...and if he stays focused he immediately becomes one of the best pure athletes on the team and a guy that will help both at DT and TE/SE.

 

The buzz I am hearing is Nate Sanger is ticketed to move back to LB... where he started the year at until Carr's departure and injuries necessitated a move to NG. Sanger was solid at LB and fills one of the holes left by Stanley and Hatfield seamlessly.

 

Chase Dove is also a name I had missed who played in every game on the DL last season when Belfry wanted to "go small". I haven't confirmed it but the talk is Bentley may move to NG and Dove will start at DT along with Horton, and Carr will spell them as needed.

 

Speaking of Bentley... expect Brayden Preece to start at Center as expected... but I am hearing the Guard spot may be filled by Bentley moving down the line. Belfry is very deep at TE and Bentley projects as an interior lineman in college so this would make sense. Horton will continue to see snaps as the 2nd TE and a blocking specialist, but Belfry is really high on Sophomore Braxton Miller and Freshman Justin Barker.

I try to avoid hyperbole as much as possible..but this 2015 Belfry Defense has a chance to be really, really special.

 

Think about it like this:

The 2014 Pirates played some very strong offenses.

 

Henry Clay- Averaged nearly 40 points a game and one of the state's most proficient RB's.... did not score an offensive TD.

 

Southwestestern- Was essentially an equal to 5A State Champ Pulaski County. Scored one long offensive TD on a busted assignment.

 

Christian Acad. of Knoxville- Had a future D-1 Quarterback and a TE/WR who just signed with Tennessee and had over 15 major D-1 offers... scored one offensive TD. The only other team to hold them to that was Tennessee superpower Alcoa.

 

In their 5 playoff games Belfry allowed only one TD against the Varsity defense (a reason why Dalton from Lawrence County is so good IMHO). I won't say there was a dominant offense, but Central, Russell, Lawrence County, and Pike Central were all pretty stout offensive teams.

 

Also consider that 5 or 6 of these returning starters were vital cogs in the Defense who made a similar impressive November stand in 2013 when they shut down the Offenses of Bourbon County, Pike Central, and Wayne County... probably 3 of the top 6 or 7 offensive teams in 3A.

 

I honestly do not think there is a better D-Line in Kentucky returning than Horton, Bentley, Dotson, Hall, and Sanger. You are talking about 4 guys who will be starting for the third consecutive year and Sanger is a tackling machine.

 

With all that said, Belfry has to rebound from losing both of their LB's and both guys were awesome in 2014. We all know what kind of force Hatfield was, but Dakota Stanley was one of the State's top tacklers. I am not as worried about the Secondary because Belfry was forced to be so deep due to injuries, but Edwards proved a solid Safety and Taylor was Belfry's best coverage corner.

 

All things considered though... I would have called Belfry probably a Top 10-15 Defense in all of Kentucky in 2014 and they return the brunt of that unit.

 

I don't disagree with your assessment but, they also gave up a bunch to JC an 29 to Pikeville. I know a lot were out, but you never know. Good luck to the Pirates this year.

Kudos to Ray Justice for this awesome banner...

 

Been hearing very good things so far.

 

Wellman and Sanger are locked in at LB.

 

Noseguard is the only position battle truly up for grabs at this point.

 

Should get a nice gauge this Friday at Richlands. Richlands is expected to compete for a 2A State Title this year in Virginia after returning a great deal from a Semi-Finals team in 2014.

Kudos to Ray Justice for this awesome banner...

That is nice. I like it.

Kudos to Ray Justice for this awesome banner...

 

 

Justice does a great job.

 

Wes Wilson also is a very, very talented when he covers Belfry.

@Watusi

 

Did you see the WYMT preview tonight?

 

Never have I seen Coach Haywood have a worse poker face as he tried to sandbag about his team.

 

 

http://www.wkyt.com/wymt/sports/sportsovertime/headlines/Pigskin-Preview-No-3-Belfry-Pirates-322451692.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Come on ATL. We are a work in progress. Just trying to get a little better each day. Maybe somewhere down the road we will be alright.