[Orange Blaze]

Kids just working hard. That’s all I know. Right now it seems like skill positions are all faster and more explosive than last year. But that’s not in pads yet. Hughes, Newman, and Lykins are big wholes to fill at WR as well as at DB as well. Fannin will be a big piece returning at WR and I expect Webb to have a bigger presence offensively as well. He has really changed his physique from the end of last season. Isaac Browning and leading rusher Noah Wallace return along with Jaxon Heighton in the backfield. The last of those 3 I expect to see some more touches this year. Lundy under center again, big potential for a career season from him. Big losses upfront through with Winters, Burke, Cotten, Coldiron, Woods, and Taylor all gone. We had just about the same line for almost 3 full seasons. Big holes to fill there. Waugh is a big loss on the DL. Line will be young offensively, but I think there are some good things happening there this off-season in the weight room. There’s more question marks than what many will admit with the Rams. But the skill positions and LBs shouldn’t have any fall off and could potentially be better this year. The questions are upfront.

I hope to see us run and gun a little more this year. At least on paper, we look like a more dynamic team offensively this year.

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Staying healthy will be a big factor this year as well. We won’t have the depth we have had the last two seasons and the schedule this year is tougher than we have ever had.

My main concern with this years Rams team will be how they respond to the possibility of losing several games in the regular season.  In the past our schedule has been relatively soft without many tests throughout the season.  This year will be the opposite and the only “easy” games will be in the district.

This season is going to really test our mental toughness.  Realistically I can see us finishing 6-4 or even with a losing season with possible losses to Ashland, Highlands, Pikeville, Letcher, LCA, and possibly Hazard or NCC. 

We are going to have to learn how to win games when things aren’t going our way because that will happen a lot with the schedule we have.

That being said, I think we will take lumps early on and grow throughout the season. By the time the playoffs roll around we should be a tough out.