For Ryle, this is going to be a tough year for a young defense, when you look at all the talent the district teams have coming back on offense. But, they have a bright and dedicated coaching staff that will get them to play to the best of their ability. They will also have them get better every week and towards the middle of the season they should be very strong like the Ryle defenses of the past.

Does Ryle play kids both ways at all?

 

I'd find a way to get some of the athletes such as Lonkard or Carney on the field as much as possible.

Does Ryle play kids both ways at all?

 

I'd find a way to get some of the athletes such as Lonkard or Carney on the field as much as possible.

 

I think it's very possible that Lonkard could split time at slot WR and DB. Carney will continue to play special teams and returns punts in addition to his DB role, but doubtful he'd see any offense time. I really don't see anyone going both ways regularly next year. There was some talk at the banquet that Elliott may split time at RB and LB, but it wouldn't be full-time at either spot. It's probably a fair statement to say that while Ryle isn't blessed with many (any) superior athletes on this team, they do have quite a few very good athletes and this depth allows them not to have to use anyone both ways fulltime.

 

I will say that at the banquet I was pleasantly surprised at the size of some of the players who will be vying for spots on OL next year.

You are really just playing semantics with that statement. His base is a 5-2, now if you put twins(2 receivers) to one side, or both, he then walks an E(now lb) out to the flats. This gives you the 3-4 look.

 

Now if you give him trips to one side, sometimes he will walk-out E and roll down safety, giving a cover 3 look. This leaves the backside E in place or a step off the line, so you could call this a 4-4.

 

The point is, that all good defenses are fluid and can give multiple fronts that is one key to their success.

 

The 5-2 he runs, he learned at CC from the d-coordinator who spents years running it at Princeton with Mancuso.

 

Doubleduece is spot on ....

And there are a bunch of area teams that do similar things.

In the end ... you have to stop the run first ... and that is why this is a base 52. The ability to adapt to different offensive packages from the 50 front (meaning--moving to a 40 or a 30 front) is why it is so attractive.

 

Also .. there is probably one team in NKY that has the actual talent to run a 30 front defense all of the time (Highlands). Cov Cath was good out of it a few years ago as well. But .. you have to have 3 great upfront guys to run the 30 front more than just on passing downs ... or against a passing team (which is why the base is a 52).

 

The point is, that all good defenses are fluid and can give multiple fronts, that is one key to their success.

QUOTE]

 

Absolutely, and as everyone knows, Defense wins Championships! :ylsuper:

Ryle has several underclassmen who will be able to step up and fill the open spots in 2009. Ryle's defense became very junior over the course of 2008 due to injuries to guys like the Murray bros. Although this probably cost Ryle a playoff run, it also provided some young men the opportunity to learn and develop that wouldn't have had that opportunity otherwise.

 

Offensively it is always about developing the O line, which will be the primary focus. They have a large pool of potential candidates and some very impressive returners, like Tate Nichols. At skills, they probably have the best all-around returning talent in NKY.

 

What do they need to get better in 2009? Consistency in scoring. Maturity and size/strength improvement will naturally occur because of the teams youth and should allow their offense to carry the team in 2009. I would expect a lot of exciting high scoring games from them.

 

As for comments on Conner Hemple and Caleb Lonkard at QB, both are capable athletes. If Caleb were Conner's size or had 4.7 speed, then there might be something to talk about. If Conner can develop more speed and agility, he could become the Miles Simpson of QBs. Dedicated off-season speed training or a Springtime of chasing teammates Kiefer Eubanks and Luke Boggs around the track will get him there. Ryle staff will find a position for the durable, but smallish Lonkard so he will not be wasted. Even though he is small, Lonkard is clearly a tough guy based upon his recent 130 lb wrestling success.

 

The real question is freshman Travis Elliot. Is this kid for real? Is he a freak of nature or what? Will he continue to grow? He's listed at 5' 11" 190. Could he carry Ryle over the next year or three as Simpson has SK this year?

 

A 15-year-old bench pressing 400+ pounds? That's ridiculous (but true.) He has a great football IQ, has good speed, a great work ethic and a thick, durable body that loves to hit and punish. He looks like a natural Oklahoma Wishbone/Option QB candidate from the 80s, and perhaps is Ryle QB material if groomed in that direction.

 

If Elliot can run a legit 4.7 at 205 lbs within 2-years he can play fullback at D1 level. 4.6 would put him in tailback country. 4.5 with moves puts him on TV Saturday afternoons, even if he doesn't gain a pound.

 

I think Travis Elliot is the one to watch.

If Conner can develop more speed and agility, he could become the Miles Simpson of QBs. Dedicated off-season speed training or a Springtime of chasing teammates Kiefer Eubanks and Luke Boggs around the track will get him there. .

 

Conner still plays baseball, correct?

Conner still plays baseball, correct?

 

Yep.

 

There's only a small handful of football players that also play baseball though, so it should allow for the majority of them to work hard in the weight room and/or on the track.

BTW, congrats to Gus Murray, who was awarded the Raiders 2008 MVP at the team banquet this past weekend. Ryle also had a number of other players selected to the Kentucky Enquirer team, all-district team, and a NKFCA All-Star.

Ryle has several underclassmen who will be able to step up and fill the open spots in 2009. Ryle's defense became very junior over the course of 2008 due to injuries to guys like the Murray bros. Although this probably cost Ryle a playoff run, it also provided some young men the opportunity to learn and develop that wouldn't have had that opportunity otherwise.

 

Offensively it is always about developing the O line, which will be the primary focus. They have a large pool of potential candidates and some very impressive returners, like Tate Nichols. At skills, they probably have the best all-around returning talent in NKY.

 

What do they need to get better in 2009? Consistency in scoring. Maturity and size/strength improvement will naturally occur because of the teams youth and should allow their offense to carry the team in 2009. I would expect a lot of exciting high scoring games from them.

 

As for comments on Conner Hemple and Caleb Lonkard at QB, both are capable athletes. If Caleb were Conner's size or had 4.7 speed, then there might be something to talk about. If Conner can develop more speed and agility, he could become the Miles Simpson of QBs. Dedicated off-season speed training or a Springtime of chasing teammates Kiefer Eubanks and Luke Boggs around the track will get him there. Ryle staff will find a position for the durable, but smallish Lonkard so he will not be wasted. Even though he is small, Lonkard is clearly a tough guy based upon his recent 130 lb wrestling success.

 

The real question is freshman Travis Elliot. Is this kid for real? Is he a freak of nature or what? Will he continue to grow? He's listed at 5' 11" 190. Could he carry Ryle over the next year or three as Simpson has SK this year?

 

A 15-year-old bench pressing 400+ pounds? That's ridiculous (but true.) He has a great football IQ, has good speed, a great work ethic and a thick, durable body that loves to hit and punish. He looks like a natural Oklahoma Wishbone/Option QB candidate from the 80s, and perhaps is Ryle QB material if groomed in that direction.

 

If Elliot can run a legit 4.7 at 205 lbs within 2-years he can play fullback at D1 level. 4.6 would put him in tailback country. 4.5 with moves puts him on TV Saturday afternoons, even if he doesn't gain a pound.

 

I think Travis Elliot is the one to watch.

 

Wow. So he can bench press more than all but one of the top college RB's drafted in 2008? :lol: Sorry, but not even remotely believeable.

Edited February 15, 200917 yr by cooperstown

Wow. So he can bench press more than all but one of the top college RB's drafted in 2008? :lol: Sorry, but not even remotely believeable.

 

Maybe he meant squatting. No way that he would bench press 400+. Coop is right. I do like the way that the Elliott young man plays the game and his future is bright, no doubt.

Maybe he meant squatting. No way that he would bench press 400+. Coop is right. I do like the way that the Elliott young man plays the game and his future is bright, no doubt.

 

He's very good, especially when you consider he was just a freshman. He and Eubanks made a great combination this past year and will do the same again next year. But he's not benching as much as the top RB's in the NFL. :lol:

Yes, 400 is hard to imagine. A guy I work with just recently won a competition where he benched over 600 and he weighs about 215, now.

Yes, 400 is hard to imagine. A guy I work with just recently won a competition where he benched over 600 and he weighs about 215, now.

 

That is freakin crazy. 600 lbs? :scared: I weigh 215 and I cant even imagine trying to get 400lbs off the rack let alone 600lbs.

 

On Ryle, they will be a much improved team and I believe the keys to their season will lie in Hempel and Elliot's hands. If they can provide explosive offense it will keep them in games and provide them with plenty of wins.

That is freakin crazy. 600 lbs? :scared: I weigh 215 and I cant even imagine trying to get 400lbs off the rack let alone 600lbs.

 

On Ryle, they will be a much improved team and I believe the keys to their season will lie in Hempel and Elliot's hands. If they can provide explosive offense it will keep them in games and provide them with plenty of wins.

 

It would be a mistake to discount the value of Eubanks at RB next year. This year he was the team's leading rusher with 764 yds, caught an additional 196 yds., and scored 8 TD's. He's exceptionally fast and a great receiver out of the backfield. He'll have a huge role in the Ryle offense next year.

Edited February 15, 200917 yr by cooperstown