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

The last three years Manual has ended there playoff run against St X. The last time Manual beat St X was in 1993 (I think).

 

St X is Manual's big hurdle. Defensively Manual has performed decently. Holding St X to scores of 21, 27, 20, 17, 21, and 10 (all in losing causes) within the last 10 years shows that there was potential to win. However the flip side is that in that same 10 year period St X has shut down Manual (who normally has a very efficient offense) to only one game over 20, seven games under 10, and two of those being shut outs. If Manual wants to improve they need to figure out how to score against St X.

The last three years Manual has ended there playoff run against St X. The last time Manual beat St X was in 1993 (I think).

 

St X is Manual's big hurdle. Defensively Manual has performed decently. Holding St X to scores of 21, 27, 20, 17, 21, and 10 (all in losing causes) within the last 10 years shows that there was potential to win. However the flip side is that in that same 10 year period St X has shut down Manual (who normally has a very efficient offense) to only one game over 20, seven games under 10, and two of those being shut outs. If Manual wants to improve they need to figure out how to score against St X.

 

Wing T is easy to stop if you play disciplined under control say at home defense.

Manual lost a very good senior class and will need young players to step up.

The offensive and defensive lines both return about half the starters but lost a lot of beef and exp.

QB Joey Harness will be a senior after throwing for 2143 yards and 28 td's with just 2 INT's. However Harness will have to find new targets in 2008. Of the 11 players with a catch last year only 2 return; TE Cole Mosser 1 catch 3 yards 1 TD, and FB DJ Hawk 4 catches 49 yards. In the backfield FB DJ Hawk is back after 101 carries for 753 yards and 5 TD's, but the Crimsons have to replace Rhayven Smith's 142 carries for 821 yards and 13 td's as well as Chantex Bates and Alvin Miller.

Wing T is easy to stop if you play disciplined under control say at home defense.

 

A lot of coaches would disagree with you out in Calf., Penn. and down south.

IMO Manual (and a lot of other schools) could succeed by picking a few things and do them really well.

 

From what I hear Manual is retooling in the coaching ranks following the departure of the OC. They now have an opportunity to become less predictable and less dependant on the long ball. I expect to see them mix it up offesively and defensively in coming years.

I think Nichols knows this is probably his last shot at getting it done. Harness is a SR and the administration doesn't cut him any slack because of their obsession with CATS scores. I am suprised he isn't at PRP or Butler or even Ballard. I will admit that the offense has been an issue later in the season and that a change in philosophy may benefit this team. I do still think that they will run the wing t but with some different wrinkles. With their size up front and their skill positions I would love to see them in a 2 back I set more running the ball doen peoples throats. Their playaction game is under rated and something to continue to build on.

I think Nichols knows this is probably his last shot at getting it done. Harness is a SR and the administration doesn't cut him any slack because of their obsession with CATS scores. I am suprised he isn't at PRP or Butler or even Ballard.

I don't really agree with any of this. Manual has had other successful QB's and the high academic standards haven't stopped Manual from being a consistent top 10 team. The assumption that it is his "last shot" I find somewhat ridiculous.

I still get a kick that we're listed with the "D's" and Louisville Male isn't listed with the "L's". If anyone tried to talk to me about a school named "duPont" I would just have to make fun of them and their ignorance.

I think Nichols knows this is probably his last shot at getting it done. Harness is a SR and the administration doesn't cut him any slack because of their obsession with CATS scores. I am suprised he isn't at PRP or Butler or even Ballard. I will admit that the offense has been an issue later in the season and that a change in philosophy may benefit this team. I do still think that they will run the wing t but with some different wrinkles. With their size up front and their skill positions I would love to see them in a 2 back I set more running the ball doen peoples throats. Their playaction game is under rated and something to continue to build on.

 

I don't really agree with any of this. Manual has had other successful QB's and the high academic standards haven't stopped Manual from being a consistent top 10 team. The assumption that it is his "last shot" I find somewhat ridiculous.

 

Maybe last shot was a bad use of words but let me say this I have seen Nichols at nearly every little league in the county and with the fact that there are 4.0 students getting denied at Manual you can not tell me that he is able to get alot of the kids that he wants into Manual. He may get 4 or 5 that would normally be rejected. Would he have that problem at a Ballard or a PRP the answer is No. Being top 10 is only good for so long. There comes a time when you have to beat the big boys. I think Coach realizes this and thus the staff shake up. Which again might pay off for him but I call on the phylosophy of if it ain't broke don't fix it. The OC didn't leave for J-town he was let go by Nichols. If someone has some insight as to why other than the fact that he thought that him calling the plays was going to be the difference in competing and winning then feel free to shed some light.

A lot of coaches would disagree with you out in Calf., Penn. and down south.

 

Maybe it is just Manual's then but Fern Creek's wing T was better back in the mid 90's however it got stopped in playoffs usually.

Maybe last shot was a bad use of words but let me say this I have seen Nichols at nearly every little league in the county and with the fact that there are 4.0 students getting denied at Manual you can not tell me that he is able to get alot of the kids that he wants into Manual. He may get 4 or 5 that would normally be rejected. Would he have that problem at a Ballard or a PRP the answer is No. Being top 10 is only good for so long. There comes a time when you have to beat the big boys. I think Coach realizes this and thus the staff shake up. Which again might pay off for him but I call on the phylosophy of if it ain't broke don't fix it. The OC didn't leave for J-town he was let go by Nichols. If someone has some insight as to why other than the fact that he thought that him calling the plays was going to be the difference in competing and winning then feel free to shed some light.

 

I've talked to a few coaches and not one of them said Nichols let Weiter go. Going from OC to Head Coach is an understandable move.

 

I'm not even sure where to start with the other things.

Maybe it is just Manual's then but Fern Creek's wing T was better back in the mid 90's however it got stopped in playoffs usually.

 

Fern Creek had some SICK players in the mid 90's. I got to play with a few with the Louisville Bulls a few years ago, and even though they were likely past their "prime", they were still pretty dang good.

Fern Creek had some SICK players in the mid 90's. I got to play with a few with the Louisville Bulls a few years ago, and even though they were likely past their "prime", they were still pretty dang good.

plus, you are talking about 2 different types of Wing-T football. Fern Creek ran the "Delaware" version, and why not, with Jackson, Brooks and Co. They threw the ball as an afterthought, but did it well enough for opponents to respect it. Pimpleton was a true runner at QB - Harness is not. FC ran some "midline option" as well to add to their Wing-T attack.

 

FC got in trouble deep in the playoffs when Coach Gibson inexplicably went away from what worked to get them to that point- on more than one occasion.

 

Manual ran more of the “New Jack” Wing-T attack, featuring more passing and play-action than FC’s version, because of receivers like Gerry Cooper and Harness' ability to throw.

 

Coach Weiter will do a very good job at J-Town if he’s given the time.

Maybe it is just Manual's then but Fern Creek's wing T was better back in the mid 90's however it got stopped in playoffs usually.

 

Its not what you do, its how well you do it. I am not a big fan of the wing-t but they are a lot of very good teams who run it and win state titles on the high-school level. Out west and down south there has been numerous titles won in high school football running this offense. Coaches take the wing-t and have changed it adding and subtracting here and there. Now days you have base wing-t ( Delaware) mostly option wing-t, spread and throw it wing-t, power wing-t and on and on. Nothing is new in football just borrowed and added to. Wishbone, spread, option, wing-t, Pro I all have won many titles, so again it isn't what you do it is how well you do what you do! I remember watching Fern Creek's wing-t teams back in the 90's and I must say I enjoyed seeing them play. JMHO