From the Northern-Kentucky Power Rankings

6) Covington Catholic (5A) – New head Coach Eddie Eviston and his new coaching staff are up against what may be the most difficult schedule in NKY. The Colonel linebacking core will be returning this year, along with a solid offensive line anchored by senior Chris Reisiger. With an opening at the QB position & an entirely new offensive scheme, offensive performance will be a big question for the Colonels. Their 2015 schedule includes Ryle, perennial Ohio power Cincinnati St. Xavier, Sycamore (OH), Lex Cath, Beechwood, perennial Ohio power Columbus DeSales, Dixie Heights (defending 6A runners-up), and Scott County. The biggest question will be whether Cov Cath can overtake rival Ft. Thomas Highlands; fellow 5A newcomers, and defending 4A champs.

 

First, is it true that Covington Catholic has the toughest schedule in NKY?

 

Second, how will Cov Cath fare against this schedule?

 

Third, is this the schedule Cov Cath needs to prepare for Highlands? Will this type of scheduling be the catalyst to propelling Cov Cath over Highland?

1. Yes.

2. Fair as in .500ish

3. No - not necessary.

1. Yes.

2. Fair as in .500ish

3. No - not necessary.

Not necessarily, but is a tough schedule needed to prepare for Highlands? We all know the gap between CovCath and Highlands has widened, is this schedule an attempt to narrow the gap?

I think Cov Cath's schedule this year is overkill, and is flirts too much with getting players injured. Step up and be tough, sure, but don't bite off more than you can chew.

Not necessarily, but is a tough schedule needed to prepare for Highlands? We all know the gap between CovCath and Highlands has widened, is this schedule an attempt to narrow the gap?

 

You need to get better and playing some challenging teams helps get better prepared for a team like Highlands.

 

You do not have to play THIS schedule though to get better prepared. "Overkill" is a good word.

I think Cov Cath's schedule this year is overkill, and is flirts too much with getting players injured. Step up and be tough, sure, but don't bite off more than you can chew.

I assume this schedule was not made by Eviston, correct? Does anyone have some insight to the thoughts of the person who make this schedule?

I assume this schedule was not made by Eviston, correct? Does anyone have some insight to the thoughts of the person who make this schedule?

 

It was made before a coaching change was made.

 

Not sure how many people influenced this schedule.

 

It's good for CCH fans as you rarely will see a "dog" game like some/many schools have to put up with. It won't be good for CCH fans who judge success off of Ws and Ls.

 

It will not be good for those who do rankings and can't get past Ws and Ls to judge how a team compares to another.

I think Cov Cath's schedule this year is overkill, and is flirts too much with getting players injured. Step up and be tough, sure, but don't bite off more than you can chew.

 

I posted this in another thread a few weeks back:

 

2014= 3 non-district losses

2013= 1 non-district loss

2012= 2 non-district losses

2011= 1 non-district loss

2010= 4 non-district losses

2009= 4 non-district losses

2008= 5 non-district losses

2007= 5 non-district losses

2006= 3 non-district losses

2005= 3 non-district losses

 

31 non-district losses in 10 years (not including playoffs).. I stand firmly by my statement

 

I am of the belief that CovCath's scheduling has been overkill for essentially an entire decade. It always seems to be the same story as well....

 

Story of CovCath

- Pre-Season #2 or #3 "This is the year we beat Highlands"

- Lose a bunch of games in Non-District, get banged up

- People debate their ranking

- Beat some small school power in NKY

- People wonder if they can beat Highlands

- Play close for a Half then get romped by Highlands

- Beat the other district teams and blame loss to Highlands on an injury

- Beat Ashland or Johnson Central at full strength

- Anticipated rematch with Highlands

- Lose to Highlands in a game that gives just enough false hope to repeat the cycle the next season

 

I would be curious to see what would happen if CovCath instead kept their confidence high and kept their team injury free for the majority of the regular season.

It was made before a coaching change was made.

 

Not sure how many people influenced this schedule.

 

It's good for CCH fans as you rarely will see a "dog" game like some/many schools have to put up with. It won't be good for CCH fans who judge success off of Ws and Ls.

 

It will not be good for those who do rankings and can't get past Ws and Ls to judge how a team compares to another.

My initial thought was of NCC several years back, they were 5-5 going into the playoffs. They won the State Championship. Touch schedule, but it paid dividends.

My initial thought was of NCC several years back, they were 5-5 going into the playoffs. They won the State Championship. Touch schedule, but it paid dividends.

 

Tough until district play and tournament time. Yes, playing some of those early games helped but it may not have been necessary.

 

Again, it's not a debate about playing tough teams. You need to do that. It's HOW MANY and HOW TOUGH.

As for the "its needed to beat Highlands" debate

 

The teams who have beaten Highlands in the playoffs, or pushed them to the max, for the most part were not murdering themselves in the regular season.

 

Collins, Boyle County, Bell County, Owensboro... all played solid schedules..but none played teams who simply smashed them into oblivion

My initial thought was of NCC several years back, they were 5-5 going into the playoffs. They won the State Championship. Touch schedule, but it paid dividends.

 

That's a good point. However, the risk for injuries is the biggest thing I concern myself with when I look at the Cov Cath schedule. Let's face it, there just isn't going to be any beating Highlands if the Colonels (or any other team, for that matter) comes at the Bluebirds with absolutely everything they've got.

That's a good point. However, the risk for injuries is the biggest thing I concern myself with when I look at the Cov Cath schedule. Let's face it, there just isn't going to be any beating Highlands if the Colonels (or any other team, for that matter) comes at the Bluebirds with absolutely everything they've got.

With the respect to the comparison to NCC, it is worth saying, NCC's district schedule was not as strong as the district schedule that CovCath is playing this year.

Looking at weighted strength of schedule (weighted strength uses a formula to give consideration to teams who schedule more better teams, while not penalizing teams who schedule weaker teams), I would put the top 10 schedules in NKY at:

 

1) Covington Catholic

2) Boone County

3) Cooper

4) Highlands

5) Ryle

6) Simon Kenton

7) Dixie Heights

8) Campbell County

9) Newport Catholic

10) Grant County

 

That's just purely based on the schedule itself. Nothing about the team playing it.

From the Northern-Kentucky Power Rankings

 

 

First, is it true that Covington Catholic has the toughest schedule in NKY?

 

Second, how will Cov Cath fare against this schedule?

 

Third, is this the schedule Cov Cath needs to prepare for Highlands? Will this type of scheduling be the catalyst to propelling Cov Cath over Highland?

 

To provide some reference of how good the Ohio schools are, here are the CalPreps final 2014 rating and a Kentucky school that finished close to that rating:

 

Cincy X finished 2014 with a 64.9 rating, which was higher than Trinity's final rating of 62.5.

 

Sycamore's final rating was 37.3, the closest Kentucky comparison would be Scott County at 37.4.

 

Columbus DeSales 2014 final rating was 41.3 which was very close to Mayfield's final rating of 40.9.

 

Throw in Ryle, Beechwood, Highlands, Scott County, Dixie, and Lexington Catholic and you get a schedule that could overwhelm a team.