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

Leslie Co. must develope a QB. I think they have some good skilled people, just a year away. Koogler will have them playing better and with a workable schedule they should show some improvement.

Leslie Co. will be alot better football team in 2009. Gone are just 3 Seniors from last years team. One of which put a gap between himself and the team, which caused chaos in most games.

 

Back are 10 starters on defense, including Randen Collett (WYMT-TV 1st Team ALL Muntain Defense/ Courier Journal Honorable Mention DT and Cody Hensley (WYMT-TV/Courier Journal Honorable Mention) This defense took its lumps playing the best this part of the state had to offer. But those 6 freshmen are sophomores now, and everyone that is back has hit the weightroom HARD.

 

Returning on Offense are 9 starters. The Jimmy Joe Morgan era has ended in Leslie Co.(Shew!!) And Leslie will go to the field with Soph. Troy Napier. Napier doesn't have the arm of Morgan, but his footwork and Leadership Skills are light years ahead. Something Leslie was missing last year. Leslie also returns Cody Hensley and Dustin Ballard in the receiving core. Leslie will have 3 Sr. Running Backs, and 1 Sophomore to pack the load. I expect Sr. Lance Coots and Sr. Blake Brown to see most of the carries, but So. Chris Maggard will get his touches too, depending on his work ethic.

One of the weeker points of this team will be the offensive line. They just don't seem to grow them like they used to in Leslie Co. The anchors will be Sr. Randen Collett and So. John Brewer. After this, Leslie will look to put a line together from players who are there, some new players coming out, and maybe a freshman.

Leslie's biggest hurdle last year was numbers. Dressing in the low 20's kept Leslie from hitting and tackleing alot in practice, which led to Leslie not being the typical hard hitting team they are known for. Leslie has 26 in spring practice, 8 playing baseball, and should get between 15-20 freshmen, so the numbers will be back up.

Leslie's schedule was one of the toughest around last season, but this years schedule is a bit lighter. Theres alot of travelling to be done this year, though, as Leslie will have to travel to Clinton Co. (WK 2) McCreary Central (Wk 4) Morgan Co. (Wk. 5) Shelby Valley(Wk 6) Corbin (Wk 9) and Perry Central (Wk 10)

Leslie's Home games include: Hazard (Wk 1) Harlan Co. (Wk. 3) Middlesboro (Wk 7) and Knott Co. (Wk. 8)

I also believe Leslie Co to be a much better team and they should win several game this year. I had a lot of respect for this team because they played a very tough schedule last year. They were much better than their record. I think the development of their QB will be crucial as well as developing their O-line. They need to remeber size doesn't = good. There are a lot of great teams that have O-lines that average around 180lbs. Good luck to LC.