What does Middlesboro need to do to improve in 2008? What do they need to keep doing to be successful? Remember, please be constructive.

ttt

First thing to improve: Stop playing your CB's with their backs to the football with tight press coverage against predominant run teams. I cannot for the life of me figure out why Middlesboro continues to do this every year.

First thing to improve: Stop playing your CB's with their backs to the football with tight press coverage against predominant run teams. I cannot for the life of me figure out why Middlesboro continues to do this every year.

 

Nobody seemed to mind when they won the state doing this? I don't like it myself but it does create problems. The junk defense or press, whatever you want to call it can work as they proved it in years past. I would like it a lot better if they played more zone but Roark IMO knows what he is doing. Look at his overall record and then question him.

Nobody seemed to mind when they won the state doing this? I don't like it myself but it does create problems. The junk defense or press, whatever you want to call it can work as they proved it in years past. I would like it a lot better if they played more zone but Roark IMO knows what he is doing. Look at his overall record and then question him.

 

Possibly practice some defense? I have talked with several current and former asstiants at M'boro and they all say after the first few weeks of pads they never practice defense.

Nobody seemed to mind when they won the state doing this? I don't like it myself but it does create problems. The junk defense or press, whatever you want to call it can work as they proved it in years past. I would like it a lot better if they played more zone but Roark IMO knows what he is doing. Look at his overall record and then question him.

 

It works well against inferior competition, and/or when you have the athletes to use it (see the championship team you mentioned). But, when you are giving up over 40 points a game in the playoffs to the teams who knock you out the past few years, maybe it's time to make an adjustment or two?

It works well against inferior competition, and/or when you have the athletes to use it (see the championship team you mentioned). But, when you are giving up over 40 points a game in the playoffs to the teams who knock you out the past few years, maybe it's time to make an adjustment or two?

 

I don't like the defense myself, but when you have athletes or are playing inferior competition it really doesn't matter one way or the other. He could of run a basketball defense and won. Also, the year Belfry beat them I really don't think the kind of defense they ran had much to do with it. However, if you are knocking his defense because he runs it against run teams, well that is the point. The logic behind the scheme is to outnumber the offense. So what if a wideout runs off a DB. They still have you outnumbered anyway you add it up. If you can't stop them with 10 what makes you think you can stop them with 11. The defense is awkward I agree but it has a lot more to it than the average fan understands. As long as they have kids to run with the opponent on the outside they will always have you at a disadvantage. Only until teams started using the QB did the yellowjackets begin to have problems. Teams would spread them out and that put the MIKE locked on the QB one on one. Granted, if you could line up and just run between the tackles because you were better ( BELL ) then you would do that. But again against teams like that do you really think a different Defense would of changed the outcome? Maybe maybe not.

When Harlan has played them in the previous years, the only thing that has really worked against it is lining up and just trying to run over them. (As shown in 2005 when harlan lost 26-20). However, Bell County in the past has just lined up in the wishbone and run over them as well. As for improving, their offense seems to thrive off a very athletic quarterback such as Hoskins and Adams. So, the challenge will be to find someone to replace Adams as I'm assuming he's graduating.

I don't like the defense myself, but when you have athletes or are playing inferior competition it really doesn't matter one way or the other. He could of run a basketball defense and won. Also, the year Belfry beat them I really don't think the kind of defense they ran had much to do with it. However, if you are knocking his defense because he runs it against run teams, well that is the point. The logic behind the scheme is to outnumber the offense. So what if a wideout runs off a DB. They still have you outnumbered anyway you add it up. If you can't stop them with 10 what makes you think you can stop them with 11. The defense is awkward I agree but it has a lot more to it than the average fan understands. As long as they have kids to run with the opponent on the outside they will always have you at a disadvantage. Only until teams started using the QB did the yellowjackets begin to have problems. Teams would spread them out and that put the MIKE locked on the QB one on one. Granted, if you could line up and just run between the tackles because you were better ( BELL ) then you would do that. But again against teams like that do you really think a different Defense would of changed the outcome? Maybe maybe not.

 

They just give up too many points.

 

In 07, they gave up 32 to Clay Co, 48 to So Laurel, 48 to Corbin and 28 to Corbin.

 

In 06, 42 each to Corbin, Breathitt and Knoxville Central and 49 to Belfry in the playoffs.

 

In 05, 34 to Corbin, 36 to Breathitt, 37 to Leslie, 40 to Lynn Camp and 42 to Belfry in the playoffs.

 

In 04, 36 to Campbellsville, 56 to Bell, 63 to Corbin, 48 to Breathitt and 49 to Belfry in the playoffs.

 

In 03, one of their best teams, they still gave up 21 to Belfry in the playoffs and couldn't overcome it.

 

 

Granted, the offense sometimes scores in droves and they actually won some of the above games. But if you consistently give up 4 or 5 touchdowns to good teams, you are going to lose many more games than you win, no matter how good your offense is.

They just give up too many points.

 

In 07, they gave up 32 to Clay Co, 48 to So Laurel, 48 to Corbin and 28 to Corbin.

 

In 06, 42 each to Corbin, Breathitt and Knoxville Central and 49 to Belfry in the playoffs.

 

In 05, 34 to Corbin, 36 to Breathitt, 37 to Leslie, 40 to Lynn Camp and 42 to Belfry in the playoffs.

 

In 04, 36 to Campbellsville, 56 to Bell, 63 to Corbin, 48 to Breathitt and 49 to Belfry in the playoffs.

 

In 03, one of their best teams, they still gave up 21 to Belfry in the playoffs and couldn't overcome it.

 

 

Granted, the offense sometimes scores in droves and they actually won some of the above games. But if you consistently give up 4 or 5 touchdowns to good teams, you are going to lose many more games than you win, no matter how good your offense is.

 

I agree with this. Another thing to mention I think as more important than the style of defense is their turnover ratio. Running the veer can be brutal both ways. I would guess that many of those loses listed above had a lot to do with the offense turning the ball over. When Middlesboro doesn't turn it over they are pretty good regardless of the defense they play.:flame:

Adams will be a Senior.

The year they won the state, they could have ran any "D" and won the state.

The year they won the state, they could have ran any "D" and won the state.

 

That was an exceptional team, especially defensively. :thumb:

They may have had an excellent defensive team when they won the state, but that's not the same for this past year's team. M-boro must improve their DEFENSE....DEFENSE......DEFENSE!!!

Talked to a friend of mine sorta on the Inside of the program this week and he told me that Da'Lin Farr was back this season also they are thinking about moving Hunter Adams back to WR and open the offense up with Kenny's son a FR playing QB , Can anyone confirm or deny??