B+

 

The Golden Eagles had nice wins over LexCath, Ashland, Scott, and Wayne County. They also made it to the 4A State Championship game. 2015 is certainly a season that will be remembered for decades at Johnson Central.

 

To the negative, the two best teams JC played (Belfry and South Warren) beat them by a combined score of 77 to 6. While it was a great year for JC the Golden Eagles are going to have to be a solid 3 touchdowns better as a team to be considered a favorite to win a 4A State Championship. Although 3 TDs sounds like a lot, I think most of that ground can be gained balancing the offense.

 

Do you agree with a B+ for Johnson Central? What grade would you give the Golden Eagles?

I agree with that assessment. They only beat Ashland by 1 and then were blown out in the championship game. I don't really count the Belfry game. Losing some key players. Hopefully some players can step up and fill in some holes... except for one, maybe two games this coming season.

They lost to 2 teams and both won state championships.

They lost to 2 teams and both won state championships.

 

Valid...except they were absolutely routed by both of those teams as well.

They lost to 2 teams and both won state championships.

 

So you would give JC what grade?

Valid...except they were absolutely routed by both of those teams as well.

 

What grade CWB?

What grade CWB?

 

I think I'd have to go with a B. Solid season, and an appearance in the state finals, but when they were actually challenged Johnson Central failed to impress.

 

I'll give Coach Matney some definite credit, he does well with his scheduling, and the schedules he has established have been to the definite benefit of the Johnson Central program, but they just haven't been able to manage getting past their big opponents yet...or at least managed to do so with any consistency.

Valid...except they were absolutely routed by both of those teams as well.

 

You would be too playing at 9pm on a Sunday night after a 6 plus hour bus ride.....when your opponent travel 15 minutes.

You would be too playing at 9pm on a Sunday night after a 6 plus hour bus ride.....when your opponent travel 15 minutes.

 

That is for another thread.

 

What is your Grade?

That is for another thread.

 

What is your Grade?

 

You dont want me to make that thread, but based on what I said, Solid A.

So you would give JC what grade?

At least an A-

I would give them an A. The two losses came after Bryce Workman injured his knee late in the Ashland game. This injury made JC very predictable and one dimensional down the stretch. It also hurt the defensive big time as lots of players had to rotate position to fill his spot. He was the one kid JC could not afford to lose and for all practical purposes they did. Dont read too much into the Belfry game either as JC sat players just as Belfry did in the game the year before (which JC won 36-0 I believe).

A-

 

JC's issue last year was a lack of fast twitch fibers. With the exception of Blanton and Workman they simply did not have enough guys who could turn the edge, and one of those guys missed half the year with an injury.

 

JC beat who they were supposed to and lost to two teams who were both probably in the Top 10 (maybe even Top 5) in the Entire State regardless of class.

 

I would give them a solid A, but the narrow wins over teams like Wayne County, Scott, and Ashland holds them back a hair. Those were all very solid teams mind you..but none would be considered Top 25 overall in the State IMHO. Beating them gets them out of the B Range..but only beating them by a combined 9 points keeps them out of the realm of the State's Elite last year.

I would give them a solid A, but the narrow wins over teams like Wayne County, Scott, and Ashland holds them back a hair. Those were all very solid teams mind you..but none would be considered Top 25 overall in the State IMHO. Beating them gets them out of the B Range..but only beating them by a combined 9 points keeps them out of the realm of the State's Elite last year.

 

Not disagreeing with your ranking but those three wins were all on the road. The Ashland game at the time was a #2 vs #3, both undefeated, district championship on the line and senior night in a hostile, packed out Putnam Stadium. Scott was a 3.5 hr bus ride for the regional title that required a major comeback after digging themselves in an early hole. Wayne Co. was a 4 hour trip the following week for the State Semis that was a little closer than what I would've liked, 21-7 until a late score was added in the 4th. Then we all know what happened the following week. Accumulating over 1,200 miles in the yellow limo for three games in as many weeks has to be tiring but the end result would not have been any different regardless of where the game was played with the same personnel circumstances.

 

I think we lost to who we should've lost to and won some tossups we had going into the year. I think it is probably safe to say that South Warren and Belfry were Top 5 regardless of class. The loss of Workman really put a damper on the season by limiting the playbook and making the Pass D more susceptible because he could cover a lot of blemishes with his closing speed. When the offense is limited to either A or B gap because he could not get to the edge it took away some of the basic complexities that you hope the other team endures who doesn't typically see that type of offense. Our passing game was also hurt due to the injury being on his plant leg. Belfry hit the homerun ball several times in what would've been Workman's territory in that game and South Warren put the clamps on our rushing game, even ringing up two scoop and score TDs with their outstanding defense.

 

Some people back home would rate the season as an A+ due to the JC program providing a major part of putting two teams in the state semi's, haha, but that is neither here nor there. I think it was a solid year and the only bad thing I will look back on is not losing in the finals to a great South Warren team but wishing Workman would've been able to finish the season 100%.

Not disagreeing with your ranking but those three wins were all on the road. The Ashland game at the time was a #2 vs #3, both undefeated, district championship on the line and senior night in a hostile, packed out Putnam Stadium. Scott was a 3.5 hr bus ride for the regional title that required a major comeback after digging themselves in an early hole. Wayne Co. was a 4 hour trip the following week for the State Semis that was a little closer than what I would've liked, 21-7 until a late score was added in the 4th. Then we all know what happened the following week. Accumulating over 1,200 miles in the yellow limo for three games in as many weeks has to be tiring but the end result would not have been any different regardless of where the game was played with the same personnel circumstances.

 

I think we lost to who we should've lost to and won some tossups we had going into the year. I think it is probably safe to say that South Warren and Belfry were Top 5 regardless of class. The loss of Workman really put a damper on the season by limiting the playbook and making the Pass D more susceptible because he could cover a lot of blemishes with his closing speed. When the offense is limited to either A or B gap because he could not get to the edge it took away some of the basic complexities that you hope the other team endures who doesn't typically see that type of offense. Our passing game was also hurt due to the injury being on his plant leg. Belfry hit the homerun ball several times in what would've been Workman's territory in that game and South Warren put the clamps on our rushing game, even ringing up two scoop and score TDs with their outstanding defense.

 

Some people back home would rate the season as an A+ due to the JC program providing a major part of putting two teams in the state semi's, haha, but that is neither here nor there. I think it was a solid year and the only bad thing I will look back on is not losing in the finals to a great South Warren team but wishing Workman would've been able to finish the season 100%.

 

Good stuff TC, now what is your grade?