I am puzzled by Ryle fans. They seem to have a highly inflated view of their running game.

 

Let's look at team rushing totals for Ryle in their games:

 

Cov Cath 134 yards

Lex Cath 246 yards

Boone Co. 192 yards

Highlands 297 yards

Campbell Co. 166 yards

Geo. Rogers Clark 435 yards

Cooper 48 yards

Conner .... ??

 

As I look at those stats, it looks to me like the better the defense, the more Ryle struggles running the ball. That may seem a little obvious but my point is when they face better defenses they have trouble running. Their offensive line is not strong enough to over power the better defenses. Even against some average teams their running stats are not all that great.

 

So why should Ryle focus their game plan on running the ball? I would certainly try to run it to keep the SK offense on the sideline. But I would be ready to go to the passing game early and often because I would not expect the running game to have much success, if any, against SK.

SK has two running backs averaging over 7 yards a carry and one has 11 tds and the other one has 17! Plus the qb can run the ball also!

I see a long line of BMW's leaving early similar to the Cooper game. Another long weekend at the country club for the Ryle faithful.

I see a long line of BMW's leaving early similar to the Cooper game. Another long weekend at the country club for the Ryle faithful.

 

90% are 3 series.

I am puzzled by Ryle fans. They seem to have a highly inflated view of their running game.

 

Let's look at team rushing totals for Ryle in their games:

 

Cov Cath 134 yards

Lex Cath 246 yards

Boone Co. 192 yards

Highlands 297 yards

Campbell Co. 166 yards

Geo. Rogers Clark 435 yards

Cooper 48 yards

Conner .... ??

 

As I look at those stats, it looks to me like the better the defense, the more Ryle struggles running the ball. That may seem a little obvious but my point is when they face better defenses they have trouble running. Their offensive line is not strong enough to over power the better defenses. Even against some average teams their running stats are not all that great.

 

So why should Ryle focus their game plan on running the ball? I would certainly try to run it to keep the SK offense on the sideline. But I would be ready to go to the passing game early and often because I would not expect the running game to have much success, if any, against SK.

Great post. That's what I wondered too when some Ryle fans were blaming the play calling when Ryle would go to the air. Ryle only moved the ball when they started throwing the ball against Cooper in the 2nd half. Yes it wasn't all that successful but a lot more than their running game. It's happened in several games.

 

They have a good running game, but their 3 or 4 headed monster isn't better than other teams running games they are playing against all the time.

 

The better the defense the more they struggle in the ground like you said.

 

Ryle can't make a deep playoff run if they don't pass the ball.

Will be a good game. Engler went 5-7 in his first year last year. Better than the previous 2-3 seasons. They are already 6-1 this season. They continue to improve. I think they are building a much more solid team for the future. You got to consider prior to last year Ryle had only been about a 50% winning team since the school opened.

90% are 3 series.

 

Now that is hilarious!

 

I will say as a 14 year resident/member of the Crown, I love the Milfs in the 3 series.

Will be a good game. Engler went 5-7 in his first year last year. Better than the previous 2-3 seasons. They are already 6-1 this season. They continue to improve. I think they are building a much more solid team for the future. You got to consider prior to last year Ryle had only been about a 50% winning team since the school opened.

 

I think Engler is just what the Dr ordered.

 

He is making great strides.

SK will dominate this game upfront on both sides of the ball. Last years Ryle OL/DL was better and matched up better vs SK lines but this year is a lot different. Ryle will not be able to run the ball against SK's base defense but the problem is that their DC will go blitz a rama at times and will get burnt a couple of times.

 

SK will have to grind it out and get the occasional home run from Powell. Ryle defensively tends to be where they should be and when they should be there, not many mental breakdowns, which limits big plays. What SK really lacks is a dynamic player on offense that can make people miss. No, I do not think Powell is a make you miss type athlete, he is fast and is good about getting North and South and turning it on, but he is not going to juke anyone(once in awhile, maybe). Because of this SK needs to execute properly across the board to get the big play. Some teams have a player or two that can make a couple of people miss in the open field and take it to the house. I don't think SK has that type of a player and at the same time I do not think Ryle does either.

 

Because of the advantage upfront that I think SK has, I will say SK 31-13.

SK will dominate this game upfront on both sides of the ball. Last years Ryle OL/DL was better and matched up better vs SK lines but this year is a lot different. Ryle will not be able to run the ball against SK's base defense but the problem is that their DC will go blitz a rama at times and will get burnt a couple of times.

 

SK will have to grind it out and get the occasional home run from Powell. Ryle defensively tends to be where they should be and when they should be there, not many mental breakdowns, which limits big plays. What SK really lacks is a dynamic player on offense that can make people miss. No, I do not think Powell is a make you miss type athlete, he is fast and is good about getting North and South and turning it on, but he is not going to juke anyone(once in awhile, maybe). Because of this SK needs to execute properly across the board to get the big play. Some teams have a player or two that can make a couple of people miss in the open field and take it to the house. I don't think SK has that type of a player and at the same time I do not think Ryle does either.

 

Because of the advantage upfront that I think SK has, I will say SK 31-13.

 

Amazing how we can watch the same team and come away with very different perceptions. I see vulnerability in the run game in SK's front 7. I saw it with CAL, Bryan Station and even Campbell in their first two drives. Marksberry was so unhappy with his run defense in one of CC's early drives, he called time out to scold his defence.

 

SK front 7 is a lot lighter than in years past. It hurts them against the run, but their passing D is quite good.

 

Ryle's key to winning is to keep the score close enough to keep the run game relevant.

Amazing how we can watch the same team and come away with very different perceptions. I see vulnerability in the run game in SK's front 7. I saw it with CAL, Bryan Station and even Campbell in their first two drives. Marksberry was so unhappy with his run defense in one of CC's early drives, he called time out to scold his defence.

 

SK front 7 is a lot lighter than in years past. It hurts them against the run, but their passing D is quite good.

 

Ryle's key to winning is to keep the score close enough to keep the run game relevant.

But Ryle is not better upfront than SK.

 

CC runs the ball in a totally different style than Ryle. CC is QB power, with TE, and a FB lead blocking, this puts a lot of pressure on the defensive front because using the QB as the main runner puts the numbers game in their favor. Ryle is just straight zone blocking only using the 5 OL to block and occasional TE. When the QB does run it is usually on scrambles or very short yardage. If Ryle depends on their QB running the ball....blow out!

Wow! where is everyone?? I thought this was going to be a great thread. Is there a lil doubt now in Union? That's not being mean...just saying that's all we heard about for the first half of the season and they seem to be a little more reserved now.

 

As for the prediction...I think SK wins this game, but I feel it will be close. I also agree with what someone said about the play calling at Ryle. I know Morgan is a talent, but it really seems like they force him into the offense at times. They may or may not be able to run the ball against SK...I don't know. But it sure seems like they force a "balance" at times when it doesn't need to be. I would pound those backs they have all day and throw to keep everyone honest...just enough to not let you stack the box. But it seems like they have it pre-determined how many times they want to run VS. throw.

All I care about is do they still have the caramel corn group on the visitor side? I'm comin, and I will have the big bag please!!!!

I understand what you are saying but it was just the opposite in their first loss of the year. I think they stayed with the run against a great run defense much too long and that may have cost them any chance of winning that game. They didn't start scoring until they put the ball in Morgan's hands and arm.

 

I disagree with part of your statement. Ryle needs to work on their power running game in order to be successful. When they played Cooper all they tried to do was run to the edges and there is not much success doing that against Cooper's Defense. If they can develop a running game in between the tackles it would benefit Morgan a ton. I also think Ryle goes away from the running game to quickly but I also think they need to diversify their running game.

 

Morgan is a special talent at QB. He can sling the ball all around the field with pretty good accuracy. The problem is they need to be able to run the ball better or else teams will drop 8 into coverage and take away a lot of Ryle's passing game. They have a powerful, in between the tackles runner in England they need to utilize that aspect to open up their O

SK has two running backs averaging over 7 yards a carry and one has 11 tds and the other one has 17! Plus the qb can run the ball also!

 

Ryle has a back averaging almost 8 per carry, but still insist on using other ones. Through last weeks stats England had 56 carries. That's about 1/3 of what Powell has, and there is simply no excuse for that. SKs weakness in in the run D, there's no Hicks/Marksberry/Deaton on the front 7. I would give it to #7 30 times. If they lose they lose, but that's their shot. SK is the better team, think this one lands around 27-14.