What does Johnson Central need to do to improve in 2007? What do they need to keep doing to be successful? Remember, please be constructive.

What does Johnson Central need to do to improve in 2007? What do they need to keep doing to be successful? Remember, please be constructive.

 

The Golden Eagles had their most successful season in schools history with a 13-1 record with its semi finals loss coming to eventual state champ Covington Catholic. In order to maintain its continued rise under the Matney era, the Golden Eagles will have to compete in arguable the toughest region in Class 5A Region 3.

 

The Eagles will look to improve on their passing game. Last year its one dimensional offense, although successful, was in my opinion the reason the Eagles struggled far in the playoffs. Senior QB JK Ratliff has one year of experience under his belt and demonstrated at times he could be a very accurate and proficent passer when given the chance. He has his biggest game of the year in the second round of the playoffs against Ashland when he threw for 3 TD's due to Ashlands success of run defense. Ratliff loses his two biggest pass threats to graduation in Tommy Taylor and Chris Meeks but returns a talented TE in Nathanial Dials and Ian Welch who could see alot of time at WR this year. The Eagles will also need to maintain their defensive identity this year after the loss of agruable the best Linebacking tandem in the State of Micheal Tackett and Blake Johnson. These two were the backbone of a very solid defensive unit that allowed less than a touchdown per game last season. The defense also loses two in the secondary to graduation in Taylor and Craig Hampton. Possibly one of the toughest tasks the Eagles will have is replacing Kicker James Barrett. Barrett was possibly JC best kicker in school history so it will be hard to the Eagles to replace his strong leg which pinned offenses back deep in the own territory.

 

In order for the Johnson Central to continue to progress they need to maintain their rushing attack which was one of the state best lead by Senior RB Shawn Grim. Grim had a great season as a junior and the Golden Eagles will need that same effort his senior campaign. He loses one of his primary blocking backs in Blake Johnson but returns Chase Richardson who sprung many of his long runs with his downfield blocks. The O-line will have to replace 2 seniors in Ryan Baldwin and Cody Conley but returns Center Wes Preston who filled in for the injured Shawn Ousley and never reliquinished that position.

 

Overall the Golden Eagles have to be considered one of the top teams in Class 5A and should have a chance at making a run at the schools first ever State Title. The Eagles have progressed every year under Head Coach Jim Matney and I look for that to continue this year. It will be a very entertaining and exciting season for the Golden Eagles and their fans.

Do they have that full back coming back. He was a beast.

Do they have that full back coming back. He was a beast.

 

 

No. Johnson was a senior this year. With Grim and Ratliff back the Golden Eagles should be very good on offense again with some decent line play. JC should be on everybody's radar next season.

What does Johnson Central's non-district schedule look like?

I've heard Conner, Belfry and of course Paintsville are pretty much for sure and a match-up with Wheelersburg, OH is looking like it may happen.

Johnson Central is going to have some very big shoes to fill. Blake Johnson, Micheal Tackett, Tommy Taylor, James Barrett and the majority of their offensive and defensive line.

 

JC returns alot more than they loose. And the underclass men got alot of playing time in almost every game this season.

The first step in a successful program is having someone to 'adequately fill those big shoes left over from the previous year.'

JC will be as good as Matney allows them to be. That means getting away from his philosophy of " run it, run it, run it and when they stop it, run some more." IF they will open it up, they should be fine.

What is the word on Ian Welch? The big time hard hitting saftey has supposedly left the basketball team, and is not happy all around. Any truth?

^

This hasnt been the best year for Johnson Central basketball.

Matney will make sure that the eagles are flying high again in 07. When you talk about coaches in the mountains, Matney towers over his peers. The eagles will be in the state finals this year, you can mark that down. With a back like they have and a coach like they have, how can they be denied ?

 

Eagles will be 15 - 0 or 14 - 1 , just depend on how many breaks they can get in the finals.

Matney will make sure that the eagles are flying high again in 07. When you talk about coaches in the mountains, Matney towers over his peers. The eagles will be in the state finals this year, you can mark that down. With a back like they have and a coach like they have, how can they be denied ?

 

Eagles will be 15 - 0 or 14 - 1 , just depend on how many breaks they can get in the finals.

 

Personally I dont see JC getting out of the region.

Personally I dont see JC getting out of the region.

 

JC, Class 5A District 6, is in possibly the toughest Region in Class 5A being lumped together with Highlands and Cov. Cath who are in Class 5A District 5. But with the way the playoff pairings are set up JC, considering it was to win it first 2 playoff games against its own district, would play District 7 for the Region 4 Title while District 5 would play District 8 for the Region 3 Title which means JC, considering it could win its first 3 playoff games would not face Highlands or Cov. Cath until the semi's just as this past year.

 

Maybe this will explain it better.

http://www.khsaa.org/football/playoffpairings.pdf

Matney will make sure that the eagles are flying high again in 07. When you talk about coaches in the mountains, Matney towers over his peers. The eagles will be in the state finals this year, you can mark that down. With a back like they have and a coach like they have, how can they be denied ?

 

Eagles will be 15 - 0 or 14 - 1 , just depend on how many breaks they can get in the finals.

 

 

WOW !! :scared: That's awfully bold. But consider it marked down.