[Mr. Sandwich]

No doubt this is a bad loss for the Blackcats... But taken in perspective, it shouldn't be such a shocker. Though it's a very entertaining brand of football to watch, it is HIGH risk/reward. When the Blackcats have years without good talent at QB and receiver, the teams struggle. There is no ground and pound game to fall back on simply because the offense isn't geared to work that way. This means O-line techniques emphasized are trapping, pulling outside, and pass blocking with power techniques being used only in short yardage situations.

Otoh, Coach Burchett has always been a coach whose emphasis is -fundamentals-. Wherever he's been, his lines have always showed solid technique. That's never changed. What HAS changed, though, with his maturity in coaching is learning how to motivate players. He's learned different players respond to different methods of handling. Some give their all with a screaming pushy coach, others respond better to quiet words and pats on the back. He's great at treating his players as individuals. Really, Tony was ready to be a head coach long before he took the job at Powell Co..


My point is... Prestonsburg's style of football can result in losses to teams who may have lesser personnel, but play a fundamentally solid game (due to turnovers, having little offensive patience to move chains). The converse is just as true - the Blackcats will occasionally beat teams who have better talent (usually by hitting enough big plays). Of course, whether P-burg is scoring or not, it happens quickly. This causes the defense to be on the field a lot and when not, too many times in poor field position.

No I don't think this loss puts Coach D. on the "hotseat". He IS Prestonsburg football as we currently know it. You simply have to take the bad with the good. Nothing about that is unusual. Even Coach Haywood at Belfry was seen (outside the program, mostly) as being on a "hotseat" - before Belfry broke through with their first Finals appearance, they were 0-9 in Regionals.



Just a few thoughts from an old Blackcat fan... :popcorn:

Great post! And P-Burg will absolutely bounce back from this loss.