2009 Dixie Heights

[Ram]

What does Dixie Heights need to do to improve in 2009? What do they need to keep doing to be successful? Remember, please be constructive.

[Fast Hands]

Who will be there Main offensive players and threats?

 

QB?

RB?

WR's?

[mexitucky]

Actually get better through the month of August and not be a month behind every team that they play.

[ladycolonelfan]

Ryan Wilson will be the returning quarterback. They lose very few seniors to graduation in '09 so the incoming seniors & juniors will be players everyone is used to hearing about & seeing.

[katbird]

If I was Tom I would put Zeke Pike at QB next year and move the Wilson kid to a wideout..JMO..

[tdyballgame]

If I was Tom I would put Zeke Pike at QB next year and move the Wilson kid to a wideout..JMO..

 

Whose side you on?

[Voice of Reason]

If I was Tom I would put Zeke Pike at QB next year and move the Wilson kid to a wideout..JMO..

 

Pike moves from 3rd on depth chart straight to starting as a sophomore with one season of experience as a QB?

[nees1212]

If I was Tom I would put Zeke Pike at QB next year and move the Wilson kid to a wideout..JMO..

 

I'd have to disagree. Ryan Wilson improved greatly as the year went on. If I'm not mistaken, the kid sat out most his sophomore season because of injury. I will admit that I was one of the first that thought it might be best to move DeMatteo to starter and Wilson to receiver early last year. However, Wilson's progress, and the coaching staff's willingness to tweak the offense a little to incorporate Wilson's athletism paid off towards the end of the season. Next year, they need to open up the offense more. They're still way too predictable, and they have to trust Wilson to allow him to audible at the line.

 

Offensively, you'll see the same line back, the main running back (Klei), and most of the receivers (minus Brock and Godsey). I think it'd be best to put Pike in at a receiver spot as they need someone who can get open and catch the ball. No-one really filled the shoes (or even a shoe) of Detmer last year. The receivers ran sloppy routes and could not get any separation, even with most of the attention on Brock. I think Pike can help in this area. However, if Spritzky remains predictable in his play calling, it'll be the same old high expectations with low results.

 

Defensively, they have to get stronger and faster. The line and linebackers got pushed around way too easily. However, there were a lot of sophomores and juniors out there, so there's plenty of opportunity to grow. They only lose 2 defensive starters in Godsey (DE) and Vreeland (DB).

 

Overall, they have to get out of the gate faster. Yes, they played 3 state finalists in their first 3 or 4 games last year (4 if you count a scrimmage), but that's still not an excuse for their play. For some reason, it takes the coaches a good 4 games before they can get set on personnel. I really don't know what goes on during the offseason and scrimmages that this cannot be figured out (for the most part) by the first game. I thought they were much more conditioned this past year compared to prior years, but they just didn't look prepared. I really don't know what to expect next year, but they have boat-loads of talent in their sophomore to senior classes. It's possibly the most talent in the 3 classes combined ever at Dixie.

[katbird]

Pike moves from 3rd on depth chart straight to starting as a sophomore with one season of experience as a QB?

 

Yep....:thumb:

[Voice of Reason]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Voice of Reason View Post

Pike moves from 3rd on depth chart straight to starting as a sophomore with one season of experience as a QB?

 

Yep....:thumb:

 

I think Spritzky wants to win this year, not go through more growing pains with a new QB. Pike will get his turn his junior year after another year of seasoning playing JV QB. If you have to get him on the field with varsity, make him your tight end or even DE / linebacker.

[lloydjuggernauts23]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Voice of Reason View Post

Pike moves from 3rd on depth chart straight to starting as a sophomore with one season of experience as a QB?

 

 

 

I think Spritzky wants to win this year, not go through more growing pains with a new QB. Pike will get his turn his junior year after another year of seasoning playing JV QB. If you have to get him on the field with varsity, make him your tight end or even DE / linebacker.

 

How big is this Pike kid?

[Voice of Reason]

How big is this Pike kid?

 

Probably 6' 4" or 6' 5".

[RedRaider]

Nees I agree with some of your points. However, mentioning that none of the wide recievers filled even one shoe of Detmer is flat out crazy. Connor Brock had almost 2,000 all purpose yards. Even though he didn't put up particularly good recieving numbers as compared to Detmer, he still had a very sound year (rushing, recieving, punt/kick returns) for a rebuilding Colonel football team. By the end of the year, teams weren't kicking the ball to him on punts. Brock will def. be missed in the kick/punt return game for the Colonels next year. Also, of course this years WR's didn't have great numbers...maybe becuase they had a brand-new OL and switched in two QB's for the first four games. As for next year, it will be interesting to see who will play QB for the Colonels. I feel that Pike will be a starter at LB, so I don't know if Spritzky will rush him in at QB...especially with Wilson having a year of varsity experience. This team should contend for the 5A District against Highlands. They certainly have the talent to play with Highlands this year, depending on their offseason work ethic.

[nees1212]

Nees I agree with some of your points. However, mentioning that none of the wide recievers filled even one shoe of Detmer is flat out crazy. Connor Brock had almost 2,000 all purpose yards. Even though he didn't put up particularly good recieving numbers as compared to Detmer, he still had a very sound year (rushing, recieving, punt/kick returns) for a rebuilding Colonel football team. By the end of the year, teams weren't kicking the ball to him on punts. Brock will def. be missed in the kick/punt return game for the Colonels next year. Also, of course this years WR's didn't have great numbers...maybe becuase they had a brand-new OL and switched in two QB's for the first four games. As for next year, it will be interesting to see who will play QB for the Colonels. I feel that Pike will be a starter at LB, so I don't know if Spritzky will rush him in at QB...especially with Wilson having a year of varsity experience. This team should contend for the 5A District against Highlands. They certainly have the talent to play with Highlands this year, depending on their offseason work ethic.

 

 

Brock excelled in the return game, there is no question about that. He also did well on the bubble screens. However, he didn't have the hands that Detmer had. Detmer could go get the ball, he ran good routes, and he could create separation. No-one on the team last year could do any of those consistently. No-one stepped up to be Wilson's go-to guy. Out of the group returning next year, I think #84 has a shot to become that guy, but he has to want it.

 

As for the qb situation, I think they'd be horribly wrong to go with anyone but Wilson. He has a year under his belt, and he drastically improved from game 1 until to the end. The coaches just need to mold the offense more around his athleticism. Next year cannot be another rebuilding year for Dixie. There are too many seniors and juniors on next year's squad that received valuable playing experience from this past season. Unless they have a 5star stud sitting around, Wilson has to be the guy next year.

[RoundBaller]

... I think #84 has a shot to become that guy...

 

I think #84 is Junior Brett Stansberry. He is tall (6'4 or more), strong, athletic. Playing basketball now, will pitch in the spring, and likely to play baseball in the summer.

 

If he was focused only on football, I'm sure he'd work on his speed and hands. Not sure he'll get that focus working on pitching baseballs. But, baseball is probably his most likely "future" ticket.