[Do-double-gg]

After watching and listening to some games this week I have come to this conclusion. If eastern Kentucky teams don't get out of this 3 yards and a cloud of dust theory we are never going to compete with teams up north and out west on a regular basis. It is ok to have a good run game but we live and die by it in this area and it is ok in the mountains but when we get against a team that can run and throw good we have no answer.IMO we need to learn #1 how to play solid pass defense and #2 how to pass and have more balanced teams. We have teams that can shut down the run against anyone but let that same team try to stop a team that is good at the pass and see what happens. This is just my opinion so what do you think?

[School Admin.]

I think you have to run what your team is able to run. EKY teams have thrown the ball in the past, i.e. Breathitt Co., Pike Central, and other teams on occasion when talent allows it. In order to have an effective passing game, you have to have a QB that can not only throw, but be able to read coverages and you must have at least 2 receivers who can consistently catch the ball. This is not an easy combination to put together. I think everyone would throw the ball if they could, but talent doesn't always allow you to do that.

[Do-double-gg]

I think you have to run what your team is able to run. EKY teams have thrown the ball in the past, i.e. Breathitt Co., Pike Central, and other teams on occasion when talent allows it. In order to have an effective passing game, you have to have a QB that can not only throw, but be able to read coverages and you must have at least 2 receivers who can consistently catch the ball. This is not an easy combination to put together. I think everyone would throw the ball if they could, but talent doesn't always allow you to do that.

I disagree. I think we have kids from this area who would be great Qbs and Receivers. I think the problem is we are always busy looking for the next great rushing attack. In this area from youth leaugue on up all we think about is run,run,run. Do you think those teams up north and out west have something in the water that makes kids good at throwing or catching. Those teams take the pass game serious from a very young age and they find the kids who have the ability.

[RunItUpTheGut]

NKY plays football?

[MSU Eagle]

I kind of already knew this, but this week proved it in my opinion: the competition in eastern Kentucky (at least in 4A and 5A) is still a big step down from central and northern Kentucky. A 11-0 Russell Co lost to a 7-4 Boyle. 9-1 Knox Central got blown out by LexCath. 9-2 Johnson Central got blown out by CovCath. 9-2 Ashland got blown out by Highlands. This is just my opinion/observation, but the competition in eastern Kentucky does not prepare a team to win a region or state title.

[T-CATS]

I think the game plan Ashland had was a pretty good one, but playing most of your kids both ways is a HUGE disadvantage. After your best player or players is out of gas, a decent or even average player is going to beat them. You have to play 40 to 50 players against the NKY schools. Highlands doesnt blow you away with a ton of talent, good coaching, hurry up no huddle offense, execution and DEPTH killed us. If our coaching staff doesnt start platooning next season he should be replaced by someone who will!!!

[LeeCoUKFan]

When I think of NKY football vs EKY football especially when it comes to the bigger schools(4A and 5A), it reminds me of FBS schools playing FCS schools because the really good EKY teams get blown out by mediocre NKY teams.

[Wideleft01]

I think the game plan Ashland had was a pretty good one, but playing most of your kids both ways is a HUGE disadvantage. After your best player or players is out of gas, a decent or even average player is going to beat them. You have to play 40 to 50 players against the NKY schools. Highlands doesnt blow you away with a ton of talent, good coaching, hurry up no huddle offense, execution and DEPTH killed us. If our coaching staff doesnt start platooning next season he should be replaced by someone who will!!!

Depth is huge and Ashland needs to play kids 1 way only. All Highlands did was run receivers 40 yards down the field every play. Ashland dbs were running 40 yard sprints and highlands runs in 3 more receivers to do the same thing. Ashland thought they were in the game. They were being run down. After running them down, highlands then went to their basic offense and blew them out. Outside of their first series and the 1 long run, Ashland couldn't do anything. If highlands doesn't turn the ball over in the first half this game ends up 74-13. Highlands changed their defensive ends and it was goodnight Ashland run game.

[Do-double-gg]

I think the game plan Ashland had was a pretty good one, but playing most of your kids both ways is a HUGE disadvantage. After your best player or players is out of gas, a decent or even average player is going to beat them. You have to play 40 to 50 players against the NKY schools. Highlands doesnt blow you away with a ton of talent, good coaching, hurry up no huddle offense, execution and DEPTH killed us. If our coaching staff doesnt start platooning next season he should be replaced by someone who will!!!

I don't know but you got to have a lot more players IMO then Ashland or any other team in the east that I know of to Platoon. With the size of most teams in this area if you platooned you would have kids who have no business on a varsity field. Also if you google it, platooning has worked for some people but it was a team dividing nightmare for some.

[hop24]

NKY plays football?

:thatsfunn Yes we do and win championships EVERY YEAR. It starts in the youth leagues. Coaches teach at a young age passig skills and how it opens up the running game. By the time these kids get to high school with there football IQ when they play one dimenional teams it's nothing but fun and games and a matter of time before everybody plays. Gut you make many posts that are a "little off" but this one takes the cake come down off the mountain and take a look at the real world or just be happy being a door mat.

[knighted]

:thatsfunn Yes we do and win championships EVERY YEAR. It starts in the youth leagues. Coaches teach at a young age passig skills and how it opens up the running game. By the time these kids get to high school with there football IQ when they play one dimenional teams it's nothing but fun and games and a matter of time before everybody plays. Gut you make many posts that are a "little off" but this one takes the cake come down off the mountain and take a look at the real world or just be happy being a door mat.

I think Gut has become a bit of a satirist since Whitley Co. lost. Come'on Gut.....you still have some "fire" left in your opinions.

[Mastadon89]

i disagree on alot of this. one thing i can immediatly point out is Belfry (still playing, rush oriented) two Pikeville (still playing, spred system but rush oriented) Johnson Central ( not playing, rush oriented but had a competitive game vs a really good cov cath team which JC is a young team and it showed)
you say passing is key but all stats say other wise. Look at PC theyre spread but a passing spread with hardly no run game and very pass heavy theyre not playin any more. i do believe u hav to pass out of any offense but the manner of this game we call football to b successful YOU HAVE TO RUN THE BALL

[Harry Rex Vonner]

I think the game plan Ashland had was a pretty good one, but playing most of your kids both ways is a HUGE disadvantage. After your best player or players is out of gas, a decent or even average player is going to beat them. You have to play 40 to 50 players against the NKY schools. Highlands doesnt blow you away with a ton of talent, good coaching, hurry up no huddle offense, execution and DEPTH killed us. If our coaching staff doesnt start platooning next season he should be replaced by someone who will!!!

How many of your boys consistently played both ways? Ashland is not a small school. It should be able to attract more numbers.

Northern Kentucky schools can play 40 or 50 since half or more of them only play when the game is one-sided. With FTH, CovCath, NCC, Beechwood, and maybe a couple more, that is most of the time.

[T-CATS]

How many of your boys consistently played both ways? Ashland is not a small school. It should be able to attract more numbers.

Northern Kentucky schools can play 40 or 50 since half or more of them only play when the game is one-sided. With FTH, CovCath, NCC, Beechwood, and maybe a couple more, that is most of the time.

9 of 11 starters played both ways.. QB, TB did not. Way to many. You can not have that many kids playing both ways and expect to compete with FTH or Cov-Cath!!!!

[Pirates2012]

Ever heard of Tim Couch? Teams with a good QB will throw the ball, but with that said. You still have to have at least 25 good ball players with plenty of competition on the debt chart to have a state championship type of team.

[T-CATS]

I had not seen FTH play before so going into the game I thought we were running into a small college team with big physical line, college type backs and receivers but FTH is nothing like that. Their kids are small and quick not a lot of size and just keep bringing in fresh bodies to wear you down. I looked at the program during the game and was checking to see how big their starterson D and all those subs were. Besides the short yardage plays and goal-line plays, FTH biggest defensive starter or sub was 6,1 216. Ashlands lines dwarfed them.

[T-CATS]

We have that many and let me tell you, they looked at halftime like they had just played a 4 overtime game. Their legs were rubber and I knew we were in BIG trouble. Against FTH you had better have a lot more then 25!!!!!!

[Pirates2012]

That would be say eleven on offense, and say eleven different players starting on defense. That would leave you with at least two subs each on both sides, just saying. And like i said you need plenty of competition on the debt chart. Thats were your young players get worked into the rotation at. Thats about the numbers you will find on alot of teams. You got to have at least this many kids that can start, without missing a beat.

[YNWA]

I kind of already knew this, but this week proved it in my opinion: the competition in eastern Kentucky (at least in 4A and 5A) is still a big step down from central and northern Kentucky. A 11-0 Russell Co lost to a 7-4 Boyle. 9-1 Knox Central got blown out by LexCath. 9-2 Johnson Central got blown out by CovCath. 9-2 Ashland got blown out by Highlands. This is just my opinion/observation, but the competition in eastern Kentucky does not prepare a team to win a region or state title.

I don't think Harlan County is a big step down from anybody in the north in 5A. Overall, there aren't as many good teams though. I agree with that.

[RunItUpTheGut]

:thatsfunn Yes we do and win championships EVERY YEAR. It starts in the youth leagues. Coaches teach at a young age passig skills and how it opens up the running game. By the time these kids get to high school with there football IQ when they play one dimenional teams it's nothing but fun and games and a matter of time before everybody plays. Gut you make many posts that are a "little off" but this one takes the cake come down off the mountain and take a look at the real world or just be happy being a door mat.

My apologies good man.
Someone explained to me of some Fort Thomas Highlands team up there that seemed to be pretty good and have won a state title or two.
I am not familiar with those parts and have become interested in the short history of football in that part of the state.
Do they play the tackle kind, or just flag?








nicker:

[RunItUpTheGut]

I think Gut has become a bit of a satirist since Whitley Co. lost. Come'on Gut.....you still have some "fire" left in your opinions.

nicker:
I give up.
I havent had anything to cheer about in a long time....

I cant even effectively troll when were losing to Pulaski county schools in the playoffs every freaking year.
:igiveup:

[64SUR]

:howdy:RUNITUPTHEGUT you still have a team with williamsburg even tho you want pick us over hazard.I myself was for whitley co in every game they play this year.its about county support with these kids.don't give up:graduate:

[Harry Rex Vonner]

We have that many and let me tell you, they looked at halftime like they had just played a 4 overtime game. Their legs were rubber and I knew we were in BIG trouble. Against FTH you had better have a lot more then 25!!!!!!

Ashland is a reasonably large school. If you want to compete at the highest level, you will need to expand your talent pool.

I got to know Jake Hallum after he coached at Ashland. He said that he often searched the halls of the school looking for boys that he thought could help his team. He was very successful.

[Cellking]

Ever heard of Tim Couch? Teams with a good QB will throw the ball, but with that said. You still have to have at least 25 good ball players with plenty of competition on the debt chart to have a state championship type of team.

Tim Couch didn't just happen. Leslie County has thrown the Football for a Long, Long Time. They work on throwing the ball from pee wee on up. That is why you have QB's like Onzie Sizemore (broke state passing record) Mike Whitaker ( broke State Passing Record) Greg Couch, Tim Couch ( broke the National Passing Record) the Morgan Kid who played there and many others. Floyd Hine who was at Leslie Co. for many years, was far ahead of his time throwing the ball. I've heard him say many times if a Mtn. School threw the Football it gave them a much better chance to Compete with those Schools from up North. :ChairHit:

[Avery Bullock]

I think you have to run what your team is able to run. EKY teams have thrown the ball in the past, i.e. Breathitt Co., Pike Central, and other teams on occasion when talent allows it. In order to have an effective passing game, you have to have a QB that can not only throw, but be able to read coverages and you must have at least 2 receivers who can consistently catch the ball. This is not an easy combination to put together. I think everyone would throw the ball if they could, but talent doesn't always allow you to do that.

I agree! A good coach has to play the cards he is dealt.

Would a team fit the bill if their QB had thrown for 3,000 yards and had a 3:1 TD to INT ratio along with TWO receivers with 1,000+ yards?

[nky]

NKY plays football?

nicker:not for a long time