LPD football 2007

LPD Football will be very exciting in 2007. Burton, Clintwood, Powell Valley, and Appalachia fans can fairly expect their teams to be involved in the district title race. (Pound & Kelly fans may have to wait another season or two to contend.)

The two defending regional champions - JIB & PV - can anticipate a return trip to the regional finals.

The new CMD will add much to the football landscape. Although Gate City will hope to rebound from last year, I look for a dark horse champion from the new district & because the Division 1 and 2 teams may be divided a little differently then we are use to, I will predict that JIBs and PVs opponents in the regional finals will make for some fresh matchups.

What are everyone's general thoughts?

definitely going to be a very interesting year in football. I'm guessing a lot of arguing is getting ready to start up on here.

JIB, although there are some questions on the line, with the talent and speed is the team to beat in the LPD. PV has the tools to contend for the top spot. Clintwood is going to be tough with the ballcarriers that they have. Appy should be decent with that big hoss in the backfield. Kelly is going to be the darkhorse IMO. The Tribe will burst your bubble if you look past them this year. Pound has a long road ahead of them, but Chris Crabtree is used to big challenges, and will get the most out of his kids. The Cats may not win many games this year, but they will play hard and not quit with Chris at the helm. For the first time since B.I. came back, I am excited to see football season roll around on the Reservation. Good luck to all our teams (as well as to GC and Coeburn).

I love the versility we have with our running backs,i would go out on a limb here and say that we have the fastest backs Coleman,M.Miles,and Sensabaugh,and also the biggest J.Miles (220),and Peters(210),when our line developes,and they will our backs will hitting paydirt.I think our line will hold there own the first 3 games and get us through to the big showdown with P.V,and then we will see if there for real,our line will determine how well these backs do,give them a little crease past the line of scrimmage and they will out run or run over the secondary.Just a little preseason hype guys,brag on your team,lets get it started.

Well i think P.V. and JIB will be the teams to beat. P.V. will know what they have in the 3rd game of the season at Bullit Park. I'm not going to predict who's going to win it cuz i think there evenly matched and should make up for one of the better games of the season.

This game will be packed

Burton has Cove, Appy, Kelly, and an open date before they play PV. On the other hand, PV has Lee, Lebanon, Richlands, and an open date before they play Burton. PV will face some stiffer competition in their first 3 games, and both will have an open week to get rested and healed before the big LPD showdown. Should be a dandy.

On a serious note, Kelly a darkhorse, lol, will fight it out with Pound for last place in the LPD.

I guess that's why they play the game(s) [img]/LDPforum/ubbthreads/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif[/img]

Lord knows had the season shaped up last year the way these "forum experts" had predicted, the Raiders of Norton would have laid down and gave the LPD title to PV.

lol nail on the HEAD

I think PV has a lot of questions to be answered before too much should be expected of them.

And please scrap that stupid spread......

I think PV will be fine.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: trumpet1988</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I think PV will be fine. </div></div>

Well, I think they will be "fine" too. But will they be 5/5 - 6/4 fine, or will they be state contender fine, or somewhere in between fine?

Any of the above are possible depending upon a number of factors.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: sup-rbeast</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Burton has Cove, Appy, Kelly, and an open date before they play PV. On the other hand, PV has Lee, Lebanon, Richlands, and an open date before they play Burton. PV will face some stiffer competition in their first 3 games, and both will have an open week to get rested and healed before the big LPD showdown. Should be a dandy. </div></div>


Assuming that everyone on both teams stays healthy I think The Richlands game will prepare PV for Nortons speed quite well. the open week for both team should lead this into being a well planed game for both sides

PV - JIB will definitely be the game of the season.

As far as how well PV will do, I would be really surprised if they are not playing again in the Region D Div II championship game again this year. They are absolutely loaded with talent.


<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Gotch</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> Well, I think they will be "fine" too. But will they be 5/5 - 6/4 fine, or will they be state contender fine, or somewhere in between fine?

Any of the above are possible depending upon a number of factors. </div></div>

If PV scraps the spread what do they run? Granted, I'm not a fan of the spread but with the line PV has if you dont run the spread your going 6-4, with the spread they have a chance to go 8-2/9-1. PV cant run the ball out of a nomal under center set and haven't been able to since 03. That is the main reason they've not beaten Norton or won state, you cant run at the goal line and you lose. Take PV out of the spread and there not running the ball, period.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: PVFAN</div><div class="ubbcode-body">If PV scraps the spread what do they run? Granted, I'm not a fan of the spread but with the line PV has if you dont run the spread your going 6-4, with the spread they have a chance to go 8-2/9-1. PV cant run the ball out of a nomal under center set and haven't been able to since 03. That is the main reason they've not beaten Norton or won state, you cant run at the goal line and you lose. Take PV out of the spread and there not running the ball, period. </div></div>

The spread is easily defended by a team with mobile defenders (ie Norton) and nearly anyone they would face in the playoffs.

The spread also works better with larger offensive linemen which PV will not have this year.

So what do they have?

Smaller, quicker linemen than usual, a good power back with speed and about four very athletic kids who can catch the ball or run with it. Sounds something like the last couple of Burton teams.

If your primary offense in practice is the spread your linemen aren't going to learn to run block and you aren't going to win championships without being able to run block (ie run the ball when necessary).

PV needs to use misdirection to run the ball if they scrap the spread. Counters, traps, even some option would work well enough to get the job done. If you have smaller/quicker linemen, teach them technique and how to beat the other guy to the point of attack. Screen passes can be as good as runs too (see Willis McGahee's screen pass play against FSU in 2002). No seriously, see it.

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PV may not be going back to "line up in the I and run iso's, dive's, and off-tackle's", but they could still use their speed effectively in an I formation, or even single-back from under center.

When you are undersized and have the best skill players in the Region why would you run out of I or any other under center formation primarily? I wish they had enough linemen to run the ball but they dont, go look at the 04 state game. Better line, better back, and they still couldn't run the ball.

Comparing the 04 team to today, which couldn't run the ball down peoples throats out of the I (good teams, I'm not talking about bottom feeders) they had a better TB in Patrick, and the line was far superior. The recievers were a young Lawson, Juhan (extremly hard work ethic), Andy White, and Keegan (who if he caught it he was gone). PV runs spread because they are forced to run it, go back and look at the 05 Norton game to those who are all about run it down their throats, or even the 05 Haysi game. The line from the 05 team will be very similar ot the 07 team. PV went to the spread out of smaller lineman and to beat GC, well they have accomplished the GC feet, right now Norton has had better athletes. More times than not the horses win, it doesn't matter what you run. Norton has been a bad matchup for PV last couple years, they are stronger and as fast, hard to do much in that situation.

PV needs to get back in the I and learn to run block again. They can run some spread, but they haven't done anything since they changed into running it. With PV's talent, the I would give them a MUCH better shot of winning the big one than the spread would. And, don't even say the line is to small to run the I, cuz until the mid 90's PV always had a fairly small, but quick and hardnosed line...and ran all over people with it...so PV isn't forced to run anything. If anything the spread has made them passive and less physical, and it itself has contributed to PV's ground game woes. In order to run the I the linemen have to be taught to be aggressive, and get down into a stance and fire off (insted of standing there waitin for a defender). This difference in itself also makes the D tougher and more physical cuz in practice they get hammered daily by the o-line. They could put their FB traps, HB counter traps, options, and play action....anything they wanted to do from the I. At one time the PV offense wasn't limited to 4 run plays and throwing. PV used to primarily run the I but incorporate split backs, single backs, fullhouse, empty sets, twins or trips out of running formations..etc. They were nowhere near as predictable as they are now. Lawson has the skills and should be the feature back instead of a receiver. Malcolm will make a good FB, and his bro could play as a receiver..with mitchell as QB. And I know PV has more skill than that so maybe they could incorporate more of it into their lineup to keep the players fresh. And, from that roster, if they can't find 5 players who want to and are able to block, they don't need to win any more than 6 games. It's been done in the past with less talent (but more heart and determination) against teams every bit as good and many times tons better than the opponents they face nowdays. It comes down to a question of heart and willingness to throw down the gauntlet and challenge the opponents toughness...somethin PV hasn't done in a long while (since Barry Jones left). BTW as far as PV's successes with offenses..I formation 8-0...spread 0-1...nuff said.

In the mid 90's they had Thomas and Julius Jones. I would also argue that Bishop was a better runner that what they have now. The game is different now, well not the game the state. If PV goes to the I like so many PV fans wish to do, and they get the hell beat out of them (like they did against Norton in 05) and are only able to beat the bottom feeders everyone will scream for Phils head. I agree a lot comes down to how much your putting forth (in terms of players) but in the end there doing the best with what they have. The drills are still the same, the coaching is still the same, theres only so much a coach can do.

I've been to state games in the past few years, and I've not seen a team yet that could have beaten Central Lunenburg from the mid to late 80's. You don't go to the I for one game...you go to it and stay in it. Other sets can be run but the I should be the primary formation. I come from that tradition and I've seen bits and pieces of PV's practices in the past few years, and they are nowhere near as physical as they need to be. In addition, the techniques they teach their o-line is not what they need if they play on having a running game. You can't teach a lineman to stand up and be passive and then expect him to drive a defensive lineman 3 yards off the ball in a fourth quarter situation from the 1. And, even though Bishop was a couple years after my time, I would argue that he is among the 5 best RBs PV has had EVER. You have to remember though PV had as many state championships before the joneses as they had after they arrived. That was accomplished against Teams that would win the Division 2 Championship against today's teams hands down. It comes down to techniques taught, and the attitude, toughness, and heart of the players. Cuz if PV can only beat the bottom feeders out of the I, those qualities are what need to be questioned. A state championship while playing for PV isn't a birthright...and it didn't just fall into any of the past teams laps...it was earned through hard work and dedication...something the past few years worth of players don't seem to grasp.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: wyattyap</div><div class="ubbcode-body">lol nail on the HEAD </div></div>
Being a Dawg this will sound a little strange. Till somebody beats them, and with the number of backs JIB returns, I'd wait till after my team played them before I counted them out," You got to beat the man to be the man."

I agree with BOTH sides LOL

I think that IF PV is going to the "I" it needs to be for more than 1 game here and there and I personaly like the "I" better than the spred

I also think that PV should probably stay in the spread this year given that it is what this team has grew up with and it is usaly not good to switch hourses mid stream (and they were region D champs last season and should be the early favs going into the season


On a side note I heard yesterday that Cedric would be lineing up at recever and Lawson at QB this season any truth to that and if so how will it change PV?

No truth to it, Cedric is QB.

Thanks I was trying to put the reasons for such a move in my head and I was not sure it would help them more than it hurt them

The spread offense has propelled Powell Valley to the last three state regional finals and one state championship game. In head-to-head match ups with JIB, the PV spread is 3 wins 2 losses.

IMO, the reason PV has not advanced farther or had even more success is not the offense, it is defense. The truth is that ever since Barry Jones left the coaching staff, the Viking D has not been the same. You win championships with defense & the PV teams of the 80's and 90's had great defensive units.

If the defense improves, PV can win the state title with the spread. If the defense does not play better this year than last, the spread, wishbone, I, or single wing will not be enough to get them to the next level.

I just dont give the problem to the defense. The last 2 yrs the problem has been Giles. When you lose to State Champion and then last year the runner up thats not something to be ashamed of. This year i look for Powell Valley to compete for a shot to go to the State Championship. If they make it there going to most likely play Goochland who has about everybody back from last years State Championship team.

But is the spread O hurting the D?

I have memorys of Buddy Ryne claiming that exact point when he was the D cordanater on Houston.

Another poster mad the point that the D may suffer from the run becouse they are used to seeing a passing O in practice with Linemen more used to pass blocking than run blocking

Giles did have a very strong team last season.

But you can look at the other defeats suffered by the Vikings and see some high point totals. I think all four teams that beat PV last season scored over 30 points. Defense is a problem for the Vikes - I hope they can improve in that area this season.

When a team runs a fast paced offense like the spread, the D will suffer. First of all, most of the kids playing O will play D as well. Running a primarily passing offense with an inept running game wears your skill players out on O, and frequent clock stoppage (ie. incompletions) makes the game longer, therefore, the D has to be on the field longer. In addition, there are more bad things that can happen on a pass play than good for the offense. The only good thing is a completion, the bad things are: QB sacked, incompletion, or an interception. A strong running game eliminates that. Run the ball and hold onto it...and once in a while bust em with playaction or a regular pass play. HS football isn't rocket science. 9 times out of 10 the team that runs the ball best and stops the run best will win. So, if wins and losses predicate victories, that is what a team must learn how to do best. And, finally, the spread doesn't fit this mold.

What type of offense is Kelly going with this year?

Bud, we are going straight out shotgun, toss in some jet sweeps, the whole shabang lol. nah, seriously, B.I. is working on something.

Giles had one of the most intimidating teams I have seen in my tenure in the LPD. Goochland must have came prepared to play when they beat them.

Wing T with some shotgun also.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: yankeebaseball</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Giles had one of the most intimidating teams I have seen in my tenure in the LPD. Goochland must have came prepared to play when they beat them. </div></div>

I remember a member posted pictures of the team when they played PV last year and Giles almost looked nightmare-ish in terms of how big some of their guys were.

I caught the Giles-Goochland game. It wasn't so much Goochland beating Giles as it was Giles beating themselves. Giles had the lead at the end of 3 and found themselves in either a first or second and long. They tried to pass and shot themselves in the foot. Goochland scored and Giles found themselves in the same situation again. If I'm not mistaken Giles's center had 2 bad snaps in those possessions with one going over the back's head for about a 15-20 yard loss. So, really like I said...It wasn't so much Goochland's play as it was Giles's lack of execution.

I do agree that to run the spread offense like Powell Valley you must have depth.

I suspect the Vikings will suit up a large number of players again this season.