[2dog]

Definitely agree with you on speed being the name of the game. Wouldn't know if the problem in eastern Ky is due to the coaches not knowing how to develop speed and quickness or a result of a conscious decision to play the style of ball that they do (which calls for big, bulky and slow O linemen spending a whole lot of time on bench and squat lifts).

If you watch Highlands D carefully, it's very rare that one defender is on the tackle. It's usually several. Part of that is attitude and coaching. Part of it is that the opponent's O linemen have not developed the foot speed, quickness and technique needed to be able to maintain blocks, thus allowing Highlands defenders to get off the blocks and be able to fly to the ball.

To be fair to the eastern Ky coaches, it's not easy to just switch mentalities and off season workout philosophies. An assistant coach at another northern Kentucky school told me that after years of lobbying his head coach, he was finally able to convince the head coach to switch their off season program to something similar to what Highlands does. Rather than spending most of the time lifting, they started running their kids a lot and doing a lot of bag work and other quickness and speed drills. As is the case at Highlands, lots of garbage cans became vomit recepticles. :biggrin: It was tough; real tough. Kids started quitting. Parents started complaining. Administrators started questioning. Head coach said the heck with it and went back to the old system emphasizing lifting over conditioning and footwork.

Because of the other variables and priorities you and others mentioned, the crueling conditioning sessions are "accepted" by the Highlands players. At schools that don't possess those other variables and priorities, it's much tougher to do what Highlands does. The other northern Kentucky school I mentioned tried to make the switch too fast and the players were not ready for it. Should have been a more gradual conversion.

Charlie, you and I will never forget how tough a Highlands practice was! Death Valley and the Sled! No water ever! Bur haircuts during the longhaired hippy days! Run, run, run! When I was in Army basic training others asked me how a short fat boy could be so fast and tough. I just said, If you've been through a program like Highlands, this isn't so bad.:Thumbs: