Very true, the more kids you get out, the more chances you have of finding a surprise in the bunch or a key replacement due to injury in say week 5 or 6 of the season. I think numbers at a small school do the best job of creating a better practice environment for the kids. The #2's at a small school may not be as good as the #2's at a large school, but the more kids you get out the greater the chance that those #2's might be a little better on a squad of 60 players as compared to a squad of 40 players. There are always exceptions to this and people will differ on opinions, but I think the Raceland fans should applause the job the coaching staff, kids, and administration is doing with the football program. Interest and excitement is the first step in earning many W's in the upcoming season.

:thumb: :thumb:

Where did this info on the # of players come from???

This info came from someone who is very familiar with and close to the program. These #'s are verbal commitments from kids who said that they would be at the first workouts. Do I look for all of them to stay, no. That almost never happens no matter what school it is. What I was reporting that it is a significant number of kids in a class A program. Confidence at Raceland right now is quite possibly at an all time high. The Rams lost a lot of talent at key positions but they do however have some nice replacements that are capable of doing what needs to be done. Maybe with some new new kids coming out that haven't played before they could possibly find "unexpected" help. Only time will tell.

Numbers are great but still only play 11 at a time.

The coaching staff at Raceland is as quality as any in the area.

I never understood why football people get so fired up over numbers. Still have to have players. Morgan has been good the last few years with less than 30 players.

 

1. Ability to keep some (if not ALL) players exclusively on OFFENSE or DEFENSE.

You have YOUR kids expend 1/2 the effort over a 3-hour period than the guy he's up against...it DOES make a BIG difference!

 

2. Starters improve as year goes on due to increased chance of inter-team competition at each position.

To me, this is THE KEY as to why X and T dominate. The 2nd stringer at Left Corner for X and T is REALLY good (could probably START for most other teams in the state). The 1st stringer at X has PRESSURE to perform GREAT in the games (and, to me even more important to PRACTICE his best) to keep his spot. There are MANY good athletes that "win the job" at their school at a position, then COAST the rest of the season...and he CAN, because he knows if his coach replaces him, his backup will get them KILLED in a game!

 

3. Better substitutes in case of injury.

Injuries are a part of football. Having only 30 on the varsity may mean you've got a position or two that if that starter goes out for the season (or even just for that "one big game") his backup is SO WEAK that it affects your entire game-plan OR allows the opposing coach to exploit that weakness in a way you can't cover up.

 

4. Possibility for "fresh special teams."

Bigger numbers mean more GOOD kids to potentially fill out those positions on special teams. Sprinting downfield to cover on a Kickoff involves a 40+ yard full-sprint. Even your most dedicated kids are going to "dog it" a little if they've just been involved in the offensive unit that just drove the ball down the field to score.

 

5. Better chance to have a high quality SCOUT TEAM to play against in practice.

If you prepare "live" against much weaker competition on Tuesday and Wednesday in practice than you're playing on Friday and your kids will be shell-shocked early in the game.

One key to good GAME play is to make practice simulate GAMES as much as is possible. If you only have 30 kids total, that means maybe only 20 of them are truly "varsity level" competitors. That means you either try to go 11-on-11 (putting them in an actual "game-simuation") with several WEAK-SPOTS on the Scout Team...OR, like many small programs have to do, you just go "HALF-LINE" and work 6 on 6 or 7 on 7 (better than nothing, but not "game-simulation").

 

6. Better JV experience.

If numbers are extremely low, you may be forced to play kids out of their normal position in JV games just to be able to fill out an 11 on offense and an 11 on defense. The more a kid gets to play the position he's GOING to eventually play as a varsity player in a GAME situation like a JV game, the better he's going to be eventually. Playing something OTHER than what he'll be playing may help him become a more "well-rounded" player, but he won't become his best at what he WILL eventually be doing.

Plus, if you're doing this a lot, your JV teams won't be as successful; meaning you could lose some valuable athletes that hate losing for varsity play later.

I've even heard of some 4A football teams in the state that had NO JV team due to lack of numbers. That means some Sophomores and Juniors there ONLY got to play in practice or in "mop-up duty" in varsity blow-outs.

 

...as to the point that some HAVE done well in the past with smaller numbers, the fact that SOME have been able to do something isn't proof that it's OVERALL the best method. Just because small numbers have worked in SOME isolated situations doesn't mean it would work in ALL situations (might've gotten fortunate and had few injuries that year...might have had a "good" year, but would've been "GREAT" had they had more numbers, etc.).

Careful CoachJ, your posts are starting to be as long as mine. Must be the college education.

That is great to hear. Good luck this year - except in your season opener.

:laugh: I can understand your wishes graybeard and I hope that the Tomcats go 14 and 1, win the state 3A championship losing only their season opener :thumb:

Coach J, ... another quality post!!! :thumb:

I agree on your post #18 also coach J. Well said :ylsuper:

Numbers are very important. Now I do agree that there must be quality in the numbers. Coach J's point are all correct. Two years ago South Oldham had 55 players (9-12) and trailed Highlands by 7 at halftime only to lose by more than I care to say. One of the main reasons for the big margin in the second half was fresh legs (South had 9 kids who HAD to go both ways and play most special teams). But last year South Oldham had 73 players (9-12) and 2 platooned (even when Lincoln Carr South's fastest player was in a sling on the sideline). Highlands still won but only by 1 point with a blocked PAT at the end of the game. Numbers do help (in this case it helped close the gap). With that said Highlands was well coached, played hard & deserved the victory.

i do agree that numbers are a huge help if they are quality numbers not just warm bodies standing on the sideline or making for a big team picture.

Numbers are very important. Now I do agree that there must be quality in the numbers. Coach J's point are all correct. Two years ago South Oldham had 55 players (9-12) and trailed Highlands by 7 at halftime only to lose by more than I care to say. One of the main reasons for the big margin in the second half was fresh legs (South had 9 kids who HAD to go both ways and play most special teams). But last year South Oldham had 73 players (9-12) and 2 platooned (even when Lincoln Carr South's fastest player was in a sling on the sideline). Highlands still won but only by 1 point with a blocked PAT at the end of the game. Numbers do help (in this case it helped close the gap). With that said Highlands was well coached, played hard & deserved the victory.

 

 

Totally agree with your thoughts concerning depth South.

 

South Oldham had a very, very good football team last year and Highlands was fortunate to beat them. The South Oldham players also played hard and were very well coached. Was a tough one to lose no doubt. I was very impressed with them last year. Number 72 (don't remember his name) was an absolute stud. Glad he's graduating. Do you all have many returning starters?

Totally agree with your thoughts concerning depth South.

 

South Oldham had a very, very good football team last year and Highlands was fortunate to beat them. The South Oldham players also played hard and were very well coached. Was a tough one to lose no doubt. I was very impressed with them last year. Number 72 (don't remember his name) was an absolute stud. Glad he's graduating. Do you all have many returning starters?

Thanks, #72 was Taylor Scherer. He is going to Wittenberg in Ohio to play football. He had many offers to wrestle as well (he is a great athlete) He was a great academic kid and a very hard worker. I predict he will be successful at the D3 level and enjoy playing football while getting an GOOD education.

 

Although we did lose many great players we have 5 starters returning(full time or guys who shared a starting spot last year) on both sides of the ball. This is 5 guys who only play one way. We should have 80 or more kids on the team this year. We will be much faster and just as strong (but smaller in physical size). LB 6'2 215 Joe Gamsky (our Def. MVP), RB Seth Gordon (had over 1800 yards of total offense and 10 TD's last year), Lincoln Carr (had 6 td's in 5 games last year before being hurt) OL Cody Lasseigne and DL Jacob Kern all had great seasons last year. We are working very hard in the weight room and excited about this upcoming season.

Thanks, #72 was Taylor Scherer. He is going to Wittenberg in Ohio to play football. He had many offers to wrestle as well (he is a great athlete) He was a great academic kid and a very hard worker. I predict he will be successful at the D3 level and enjoy playing football while getting an GOOD education.

 

Although we did lose many great players we have 5 starters returning(full time or guys who shared a starting spot last year) on both sides of the ball. This is 5 guys who only play one way. We should have 80 or more kids on the team this year. We will be much faster and just as strong (but smaller in physical size). LB 6'2 215 Joe Gamsky (our Def. MVP), RB Seth Gordon (had over 1800 yards of total offense and 10 TD's last year), Lincoln Carr (had 6 td's in 5 games last year before being hurt) OL Cody Lasseigne and DL Jacob Kern all had great seasons last year. We are working very hard in the weight room and excited about this upcoming season.

 

 

 

Congratulations! He will get an excellent education at Wittenberg – And they rule their football conference too.

Thanks, #72 was Taylor Scherer. He is going to Wittenberg in Ohio to play football. He had many offers to wrestle as well (he is a great athlete) He was a great academic kid and a very hard worker. I predict he will be successful at the D3 level and enjoy playing football while getting an GOOD education.

 

Although we did lose many great players we have 5 starters returning(full time or guys who shared a starting spot last year) on both sides of the ball. This is 5 guys who only play one way. We should have 80 or more kids on the team this year. We will be much faster and just as strong (but smaller in physical size). LB 6'2 215 Joe Gamsky (our Def. MVP), RB Seth Gordon (had over 1800 yards of total offense and 10 TD's last year), Lincoln Carr (had 6 td's in 5 games last year before being hurt) OL Cody Lasseigne and DL Jacob Kern all had great seasons last year. We are working very hard in the weight room and excited about this upcoming season.

 

Last time I saw Lincoln Carr playing football I couldn't tell who it was, all I saw was a BLUR. Did he go to the Combine?

i do agree that numbers are a huge help if they are quality numbers not just warm bodies standing on the sideline or making for a big team picture.

JB here in "Ram Country" football is all about PRIDE:ylsuper: . From the community to the faculty, administration and players not only on the varsity level but all the way down to little league (jfl). The coaches and players dedicate themselves to a winning season each year and possibly a state championship. Though we have been as a former coach used to say "Beechwood aged" with Beechwood knocking us out of the playoffs so many times. The Raceland footbal program is not all about the numbers and as you say "a great team picture". I think that the numbers show the amount of continuing pride in the Ram program. Key word again is PRIDE. Raceland has lost most years in the 1st or 2nd round of the playoffs but that has not taken away from the players work ethic. I believe that we have 17 district championships and been in appoxamately 4 or 5 region finals (before the playoffs were expanded). I can't guarantee how many wins each year but I can guarantee that the Raceland football players and coaches will not be outworked. A lot of people don't know or realize what kind of dedication that it takes to have a program with a winning tradition, not only at Raceland but Ashland and Russell in our area immediately come to mind and places like Beechwood and Newport Catholic know what it takes. I don't know what h.s. team that you support if any but it just really:irked: me when someone (not just you) post something that seems to try and find fault or something wrong with these kind of programs.

Speaks a lot for coach Randy Vanderhoof to have that much interest in such a small school. Coach Vanderhoof is an excellent football coach and person.