[Hoot Gibson]

That is not saying the are not as good from one year to the next because of their schedule. What you are talking about relates more to the ability to tell how good a team is because of a weak schedule. A few years ago, NOBODY expected Rockcastle to clean Highlands clock. It is really hard to tell how good a team is that is not really tested.

What I was talking about was a teams inability to be as good as a prior year simply due to a weaker schedule. You make great points taking about more snaps and having to work harder against better competition. Having watched the Birds both years, I would say the teams a generally the same with two exceptions. 1) I believe the receiving corp is deeper and more talented 2} The QB play has improved more than I could have imagined.

My point is that this year's team has not been tested by the competition as much as last year's team because the teams on its schedule have not been as good as they typically are. Even if this team is more talented than last year's team, it is difficult to compare the two teams overall for the same reason that it is difficult to compare two teams with no common opponents. Would this team handle the pressure of a tight playoff game as well as last year's team did? I hope that we will find out, but Highlands may go untested in the playoffs this season.