Coaches' Conundrum

If you’re a regular at football games here locally you have no doubt been subject to a hefty share of final scores that sent you home with more questions than answers. Even on nights where dominance is the only word you can use to describe what happened, vagueness is what you’re left with.

And your final score from tonight’s ball game:

Burke County 84 Cross Creek 7

Thomson 63 Harlem 0

 Strom Thurmond 77 Gilbert 6

Blowouts seem obvious in their outcomes. One team looks out of this world while the other just looks outclassed, outmatched and endlessly flawed. Kudos are in order for the victor. Post-game, the coaches are anxious to heap praise and sound off in pre-recorded clichés congratulating the team on “perfectly executing the game plan” and “taking care of business.” After doing this though, many times while walking back to the locker room, those coaches begin the anxiety-filled cycle that coaches are ingrained to go through. But sometimes, the result just mixes into a compound angst that only worries the coaches  that much more.

“It’s frustrating.” says Thomson Offensive Coordinator Tucker Pruitt, as the Bulldogs have won their last five games by a margin of 291-26. “Now don’t get me wrong, I’m always thankful for a win, but it does make other parts of the job a little more difficult…Sometimes it’s just your night and your opponent could look as bad as they have all year. It’s just hard to rate your teams progress after games like that.”

Part of the reason for the disparity in scoring margin has to do with Region 3-AAA not being as competitive as in years past with competitive teams in the middle. The top has some of the best teams in the state, but there is a severe drop-off after that. For Thomson, it’s been worrisome for their new coaching staff as they are still getting familiar with the tendencies of the kids on the team.

“Many times this year we have finished around the mid-twenties in our total snap count for our first team offense. Teams we’ll likely play in the playoffs are getting 50+ snaps each game, so we have to adjust our practices a little to make sure we get our work in.”

Coaches are paid to find insufficiencies in their team, shore up their weaknesses, and also forecast potential bumps in the road as the season progresses. It’s in the details. They sweat the small stuff. Which is why for several teams in our local area that’ll have a chance to be contenders come playoff time, these wide margins of victory can be burdensome at times.

“We usually do what we can for a half, and sometimes in the first couple of series of the third quarter,” says Strom Thurmond Head Coach Lee Sawyer, who’s defense has only given up double digit points three times this year. “Once they go to a running clock, we step off the gas. Most coaches understand.”

The conundrum for coaches is that while they don’t want to rub it in the face of any opponent, they have to work on their game plan and get as much “game action” for their players as they can. And too many games in a season like the ones referenced earlier hurt more than they help. For a few reasons:

1. Coaches, Players don’t “participate” in a full game.

This is all-encompassing:  offense, defense and special teams. It is impossible to replicate what happens under the lights against an opposing team. Coaches and players aren’t put between a rock and a hard place in big game moments, and players don’t learn how to finish an entire game.

2. False sense of self.

Getting too strung out on complements and overdosing on confidence can gear your team to float in and out of consciousness. Entering “win or go home” games with a big head or distorted self image will quickly punch your ticket back to the house. While the game must be physically played to win or lose, it can be lost mentally weeks in advance.

This certainly gives us something to think about next time we see a game that gets out of hand. The winning coach might have more on his mind that we once thought.

Metro Spirit 10-6

Last Thursday’s matchup between ARC and Thomson pitted two programs that are in completely different galaxies against each other. But I guess you could have read the box score and drawn that conclusion yourself. 61-7 was the final score from the legendary Brickyard in Thomson with the hometown Bulldogs overwhelming the Musketeers in a lopsided game that could have been much worse. I don’t say that to beat up on ARC, they finally reached a year where they are in a complete overhaul of their program. They’ve had a nice run the past few years with stellar play coming from each year’s upperclassmen. But In returning only seven total players with varsity experience, ARC Coach Chris Hughes knew it would be a constant uphill climb all year.

The question was just how steep.

It was weird to watch as ARC dominated the time of possession for the game—usually a decent indicator of the winning team—and the game could have not been more out of reach. Special teams miscues ran amok the entire evening and contributed heavily to the cause while Thomson’s intensity and effort never weaned. The defense also looked confused more often than not—which is what happens when only two of those returning players with varsity experience are on the defense, and your playing the Georgia’s #1 ranked scoring team at 53 pts/game-- and fell victim to Thomson’s expansive network of running backs. Head Coach Milan Turner scheduled a pregame ceremony to honor former head coach, the late Luther Welsh, so the Bulldogs had no shortage of inspiration performing in tribute to their fallen former leader.

Lakeside traveled over to Greenbrier in search of a win to snap the 4-game losing streak they brought into the game, and also to extend their winning streak over one of their fiercest rivals to four in a row. Lakeside completed both tasks as they beat the Wolfpack 34-17 to put them at 2-4 on the season, and 1-1 in region play. Remember that score, we’ll address some concerns to it in a bit.

Greenbrier did a good job of staying in the game before halftime, with Jahvon Hardrick logging an impressive 65-yard touchdown run that closed out the scoring for the first half and left the fans with an exciting 20-17 halftime score. The Wolfpack should have glanced outside the locker room during halftime for a preview of what was to come for them in the second half.

The lights went out.

No, like they literally went out during the halftime performance of Greenbrier’s band.

And as funny as it would have been if some ninth grader acting on the dare of a senior had cut the power, sadly, a transformer just blew. Nothing to see here. Literally.

Lakeside’s defense continued the lights out trend in the second half only relinquishing 18 yards of total offense and one first down to Greenbrier. The Wolfpack struggled to get the ball into their other playmaker’s hands. With Hardrick being the main target, Lakeside Coach Jarrett Troxler sought to shut the talented running back down.

Outside of this looking like just another Lakeside win over Greenbrier in a string of them, something bizarre occurred. Down 17 points with a little under seven minutes to go, ball on Lakeside’s side of the field, and all of their timeouts still in hand, Greenbrier punted it to the Panthers, who had been running the ball well on them all night long. It already raised concerns when they ran the ball on 3rd down and didn’t hustle back to the line to get the next play off, but punt it? I’m not the only one asking what happened that night—I was stopped by numerous “casual” fans who also noted the blunder. Lakeside ran the ball with ease, marched down the field and ran the clock out. I’m no game management expert, but isn’t the point to try and win? With the boys playing their hearts out against their rivals—Thomas Brown looked so gassed he could hardly muster the strength to get off the line of scrimmage near the end while handling wide receiver and safety duties all night. I know the kids left it all out on the field, living and dying with each play. They looked desperate for this win. Too bad we can’t say the same for the folks in the collared shirts.


Games to Watch

Lexington @ North Augusta-Friday- 7:30pm

Last weeks win over Northwestern was crucial for the Jackets. Can they have a repeat performance?


Greenbrier @ Evans-Thursday- 7pm-TV: Digital- 6.2, Comcast- 380, Atlantic Broadband/Knology 246

Both teams need this game to stay competitive in the Region 2B-AAAA race.


Butler @ Washington County- Friday- 7:30pm

Winner of this one sets up big matchup against Burke County in a few weeks.


College/NFL Games to Watch

No.3 Oklahoma vs No. 11 Texas-Saturday-12pm-ABC

Texas has been surging since replacing struggling QB Gilbert and going with the Case McCoy and David Ash rotation.

No. 17 Florida @ No. 1 LSU- Saturday- 3:30-CBS
Even if Florida had QB John Brantley, do you really give them a chance anyways?

Georgia @ Tennessee-Saturday-7pm-ESPN2

Last four years the home team has handled business in this series.

Metro Spirit 9-22

I’ve always been a fan of big games early in the season. Not only are they fascinating to watch, but, win or lose, you walk off the field knowing you raised the bar and tested yourself against elite competition. Nothing is better than going toe-to-toe with the best the state has to offer and gleaning the irreplaceable experience that comes through playing in a marquee game. And for Burke County’s Eric Parker, it provides quality game film displaying endless teaching points on what to improve on for the remainder of the season. Sometimes, it also acts as a springboard.

Look at last year, when Burke won 10 consecutive games after the loss to Lowndes (AAAAA) and reached the AAA semifinals. The Bears once again head to Valdosta to take on Lowndes looking for a better showing than they had last year when they were blanked 36-0. Led by quarterback Corey Mayton, Burke County did the CSRA proud by battling the perennial powerhouse till the final horn sounded in a 21-31 defeat to the Vikings. It reminds me of what Roger Sterling said to his sales team after a failed presentation to the American Airlines executives in Mad Men, “no regrets fellas. We were in it, that’s the important thing.” Indeed.

Another area shootout—not that kind, thankfully the Harrisburg Bullets had a bye week—in Sandersville between Thomson and Washington County. Coming into the game, the Bulldogs were losers of three straight to WACO and had not won in the House of Pain since 1988. Quarterback Josh Jones once again led the high scoring Thomson offense with four touchdowns (3 passing, 1 rushing) and found his favorite target Torrie Battle (4 rec 116 yards TD) whenever they needed a big play. It took two overtimes to get a decision between these two AAA playoff contenders, and, in fitting fashion, was won with a goal-line stand by the Thomson defense. This is the second consecutive loss for Washington County at home when they had a chance to win the game in the final minutes. One of those teams, Statesboro, is a AAAA team, but they are one of the more suspect in the Top-5. Great win for first-year Thomson coach Milan Turner.

Some nicknames are easier to come up with than others. They just pop in your head as you watch an athlete do his—Title IX: or her!—thing. Take Vince Carter’s for example, Half Man Half Amazing. Watch his numerous Youtube highlights and tell me it doesn’t fit perfectly with what’s happening on your screen. The same feeling is had watching Aquinas’ Brendan Douglas, except there is no half about it, this kid is All Man. No more evident than in his 359 yard rushing on 38 carries masterpiece he displayed last Friday against Hancock Central. He also had all five of the team’s touchdowns in a 35-20 win over the Bulldogs. What’s most impressive is that Douglas performs at this incredible clip while usually racking up 10+ tackles/game as well. What a beast.

Games to watch

Lakeside at Statesboro-Friday 7:30

Panthers really need a win here to get off this three game skid as they start region play.


Butler at Grovetown- Friday 7:30

Battle of the unbeatens. Lots of good running backs in this one.


Wilkinson County at Aquinas- Friday 7:30

Great matchup with the Warriors coming into town. Irish looking for revenge after a six point loss last year.


College/NFL Games to Watch

North Carolina at Georgia Tech-Noon-ESPN

Tech’s first true test. If you can really call it that.


Florida State at Clemson-Saturday-3:30-ESPN

The Seminoles have not won in Clemson since 2001. Should be an absolute barn burner.


Vanderbilt at South Carolina-Saturday-7pm-ESPN

Been very impressed with Coach James Franklin of the Commodores. Vandy is undefeated at 3-0 coming into this game. Never thought I’d say that. Wow.

Local Football Team Capsules

North Augusta

The Yellow Jackets were one of the more exciting teams in the CSRA last year. Their hurry-up, 11 seconds or less offense devastated the competition in averaging 33/pts per game. They finished up 11-2 on the year, losing in the State Semi’s to Greenwood. Star quarterback Loranzo Hammonds graduated, but while filling in last year for an injured Hammonds, Tyrell Hillary showed that he is more than capable of handling the job this year. Hillary also has some experience at the receiver position in returning seniors Montez McGuire, who had over 1,000 yards last year, and DeVontez Rouse. Defensively, the Jackets are led by senior linebacker Compton Daugherty, senior defensive lineman Tony Merriweather and junior defensive back Trey Morgan.

Westminster

In serving as both Athletic Director and Head Coach Andrew Bryan knows his plate is full. Although, many coaches around the area juggle both duties, what makes Coach Bryan’s case any different? Only in their second year of organized football, Westminster is still in the foundation stages of their football program. They return one of their main offensive threats, wide receiver Patrick Moseley, who had 1,000+ yards last year as a junior, but they lost talented quarterback Thomas Mehrhof due to graduation. The Wildcats have a strong schedule that will test them each and every week, but the experience they will garner in the process will serve as building blocks for this blossoming program.

Thomson

Usually when new coaches-- like Thomson’s Milan Turner—come into town, they look to make their mark and detach their new team from the previous coach’s ideologies to employ a fresh start. So when asked how he planned to replace the 4th winningest high school coach in Georgia history, the answer to him was simple. “You don’t”. Helping Coach Turner keep the tradition rich and the Brickyard full on Friday nights are some familiar faces and a fresh one. All-Region Tight End John Atkins returns as well as offensive lineman Sebastian Hargrove for the offense. Also joining the offense is new coordinator Tucker Pruitt, who prior to arriving at Thomson served on staffs at Georgia Southern and Valdosta State, where he played quarterback. Tucker is also the son of Robbie Pruitt, currently the 6th active winningest coach in Georgia history.

Augusta Christian

Head Coach Keith Walton has been doing a lot of teaching the past few seasons. When your team is loaded with underclassmen, you become the main source of instruction, not the senior starter who’s been in the program for a few years. In this, the master motivator has been able to cultivate players at key positions by starting some even as freshman. That strong familiarity with each other, like with juniors quarterback Tyler Roberson and center Matt Herzwurm, will be what carries this team through the season. Also, having a Division 1 prospect in Michael Clifton, who can play TE/OL/DE, and a solid senior starter in Eric Fogle at wide receiver and punter doesn’t hurt either.

Built To Last

As he sits there spilling over his chair in a way expected of a linebacker in the NFL, those at the National Signing Day party sat dumbfounded when they were given a tip from a reliable source.

Jasper Brinkley has not always been this big.

“One of the biggest misconceptions about Jasper is that he’s always been this NFL linebacker prototype. Actually, he was rather skinny as he was coming up through our program,” says John Barnett, Defensive Coordinator at Thomson High School during Brinkley’s tenure there.

Gasp. It’s even surprising to hear it myself, as Jasper and I were teammates at Georgia Military College (GMC), and I just assumed he was always the alpha male he was at that time, especially during the Oklahoma drill. But regardless of his size before then, and now, he actually got there by practicing two words many of us preach to ourselves all too often and never completely sellout to. Hard work. “It’s more of a zone that you go into than anything else,” notes Brinkley. That’s right, no over-the-top nutrition plan or wacky fitness gimmick. Just plain ole hard work. And it was on the practice field with Coach Barnett, and fiery Georgia High School Coaching legend Luther Welch where his drive and attention to detail were instilled.

It would be too easy to just chalk up Jasper’s competitiveness to having an identical twin brother who also played in the NFL (Casper, who is a former member of the Carolina Panthers). Yes, because when he wasn’t too busy taking on someone his own size, he was being pushed by the eventual ’02 AAA State Football Champs on a daily basis. Oh, and then there’s the matter of having a head coach who never missed a practice in 56 consecutive seasons. “The discipline that Coach Welsh had is kind of the same as being in a military school,” says Brinkley. Kind of you say?

Upon finishing their championship reign at Thomson, Jasper and his brother, due to academic issues enrolled at GMC. They found the underlined mission statement at GMC to be reminiscent of Coach Welsh’s: Separate men from boys. Soon Jasper added cadet duties to his daily routine, which amounted to pretty much everything seen in the movies: scrubbing bathrooms with toothbrushes, shining floors until YOU might eat off them, standing at attention for hours on end. Basically anything but getting a good night’s rest. All this to play at one of the premier JUCO’s and compete with better, faster competition.

After a stellar two-year stint at GMC, Jasper headed to play at South Carolina, in the Southeastern Conference (SEC). Jasper starred in a conference that has taken the last five National Championship trophies with players whose freakish athleticism alone bring you to call your cable provider to-- budgeted or not-- upgrade to HD. After making the All-SEC team as a senior, Jasper knew he was one step away from making his boyhood dream a reality.

Every time he moved up a level, Jasper had to build his body to take the increased punishment each one doled out. This is seen even in his preparation for the NFL combine. A round-the-clock schedule of speed conditioning, weights and flexibility training that has nothing to do with football, but is monumental in the draft process. And his hard work paid off for him as he was drafted in the 5th round of the 2009 NFL Draft to the Minnesota Vikings as a run-stopping linebacker who could soon replace an aging E.J. Henderson, the starting middle linebacker.

And as high as he’s pushed the bar in just this short amount of time, he expects to keep up with his progress and always stay hungry for more. Even talking with him makes you wanna go out and, I don’t know, do something! “Just compete when you’re out there, no matter what it is you are doing. Compete,”