Secondary speed an issue for Mustang?
With so many new players in starting roles on both sides of the ball, it’s hard to truly identify weaknesses this early for the Mustang Broncos.
But it seems there might be potential for one in the secondary — not necessarily because of lack of talent, but in lack of speed. The Broncos lost a lot of fast guys to graduation from last year’s team, and filling that void could be a tough one for this squad.
Midwest City’s speed caused some problems for the Bronco defense in the opening scrimmage, but the Bombers will do that to a lot of people. Still, the speed concern could become a real issue against district teams like Norman North, Del City and Southmoore.
Braden Wiseley is one of the faster guys back there for Mustang, which is why he has moved from a linebacker/safety-type position to cornerback. Daniel Farrow, a move-in from Putnam City West, could help in the speed department when two things happen: 1, he gets that nagging hamstring healthy, and 2, he gets eligible. As of now, it looks like he won’t be able to play until the fourth game because of grade issues last spring at PC West.
But both Wiseley and Farrow will be asked to play a lot on offense as well.
Folks in Mustang seem to be fairly pleased with their all-new set of linebackers, led by senior Blake Moss, a 6-foot-2, 200-pounder who is really the only guy in the group with significant playing experience. If the front seven can keep opposing QBs running, it should diminish the impact of the speed issue.
The Broncos will find out what they’re made of Friday night when they host Canadian County rival Yukon.
– Scott Wright, swright@opubco.com
Millers strong in two key areas
There are two things that virtually every football coach wants his team to be able to do to guarantee the opportunity for success: play tough defense and run the ball.
This year’s Yukon Millers can do both, and that could be what gets them over the hump and into the playoffs for the first time since 1998.
Last Thursday, Yukon went up against a team with a lot of offensive weapons and more speed than the Millers ‘D’ and they held their own. Only a couple teams in District 6A-4 will have the combination of talent and quickness that Carl Albert showed the Millers in the scrimmage last week, so the 14 points allowed to the Titans bodes fairly well for Yukon.
“We feel like we’ve got a chance to have a strong unit,” Yukon defensive coordinator Steve Chard said. “Our kids are flying around and the great thing about Yukon is that these guys play as hard as they can all the time.
“Defensively, we’re gonna be better (than last year). We’ve got two new linebackers that are getting better, and they’ve progressed. We feel alright, and we have the big Mustang game, so we’re getting right to work.”
And the running back trio of Terry Jones, Brandon Banta and Hunter Bohannan has proven it can run behind a solid offensive line. Jones and Bohannan have the speed to find the creases and Banta is a bulldozer. The 5-foot-9, 240-pound senior will knock a few guys silly this year with his powerful running style.
Quarterback Corbin Jones will get a lot of on-the-job training as a sophomore starter, but he has a wealth of experienced and talented receivers to throw to, including speedster Kollin Retter, Dylan Walker and tight end Jake Doyle.
The Millers will get a good measuring stick to judge themselves by on Friday night with a trip to the south side of I-40 to face Mustang.
– Scott Wright, swright@opubco.com
Putnam City O-line play will be critical
As I detailed in my last post on the Putnam City Pirates, I think their offense has a lot of tools to work with. There is, however, one area I’m curious about, and that’s the offensive line.
Basically, only one starter returns in Da’Shon Lovelace, and they’re picking up a new, more complex scheme that involves far more pass blocking and understanding of assignments.
Lovelace sounded confident in the O-line’s capabilities when I spoke with him about 10 days ago, and the scrimmages only helped their development.
The Pirates’ talent fits the spread offense perfectly, but the best offenses would crumble behind poor offensive line play.
The running backs have it a little rougher, too, because in the spread, they no longer have a fullback to block for them, and they’re being asked to provide pass protection more often.
“We’re comning together,” said senior running back Michael Lawrence, who has missed time recently with a groin injury. “There’s still some busts here and there, but we’re getting better.”
I’ll get my first look at the PC offensive line Thursday, when they open against Choctaw at PC Stadium.
– Scott Wright, swright@opubco.com
PC West QB Ray Young showing improvement
Maybe one of the bigger developments to come out of last Thursday’s scrimmage for Putnam City West was the continued improvement of junior quarterback Ray Young.
Young has a lot of speed and talent around him at receiver and running back, so his development at the quarterback position will make a big difference in the PC West offense.
“He took a step forward as a quarterback,” coach John Jensen said. “This offense plays to his strengths, and he’s really getting the offense. He’s athletic, so we’ll be able to do some other stuff with him.”
Overall, Jensen said he thought the scrimmage against Lawton MacArthur was “pretty positive.”
“Same as everyone else is saying right now, we have a lot to fix,” Jensen said. “But we’re taking steps every week.”
Devonte Rogers played well at cornerback and receiver, and Jensen was excited by the performance of defensive lineman Grayson Buchanan.
“They ran a lot of screens and it was his responsibility to read them,” the coach said. “He made a lot of tackles. He was like a really big linebacker out there.”
The Pats open up Friday night as the home team against PC North at PC Stadium.
– Scott Wright, swright@opubco.com
Edmond: Mike Nunley video…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
Edmond athletic director Mike Nunley joined me this week for a video discussing, what else, Edmond sports.
It’s interesting to what he says has been the biggest difference as he enters his sixth year on the job as well as what the No. 1 challenge as the athletic director is right now.
And of course, couldn’t forget to ask about his neutrality during Edlam games. He stands directly behind the goalpost, so he doesn’t give the impression of swaying one way or the other.
He has his first test Friday with the Edlam battle between North and Santa Fe (I’ll be there).
Casady: Andrew O’Bannon and Cale Shivers video…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
We like to joke that the first week is about shaking all the rust off when it comes to writing stories.
I didn’t get that chance as I got to watch about as good a game as you can see at any point of the season with Casady’s 24-21 win on a 32-yard field goal by Andrew O’Bannon as time expired.
I attempted (keyword) to shoot video of the final kick. Two things. 1. I’m not very good at live action. 2. O’Bannon admitted it wasn’t his best kick, and it didn’t go where I thought it was going to.
Anyway, bad kick video aside, here is the usual video with O’Bannon and QB Cale Shivers.
Casady is at Heritage Hall on Thursday night.
An early look at Marlow vs. Tuttle
Tuttle’s season opener at home is a perfect first game for Tuttle’s new starters on both sides of the ball, especially on offense where Paco Moore and Sterling Koons are gone at running back and receiver.
Mawlow is coming off a 5-5 season and are a fringe top 15-20 team in Class 3A, but have loads of holes to fill on defense which should give new starting quarterback Tanner Koons a shot at a good first game. Ditto for the RBs who will shift some of the work from Ethan Biddy to others as Biddy takes a more prominent role at middle linebacker.
This is a game Tuttle should win easily despite the number of lost starters off last year’s 12-1 team. Tuttle simply reloads and enters the season as one of the favorites in Class 3A.
An early look at Guthrie vs. McGuinness
Guthrie coach Rafe Watkins had high praise for his defense, particulary the defensive line following their second and final scrimmage against Ada Friday night.
This week the games count, which is something fans, players, coaches and yeah, even the media can appreciate. Friday night’s season opener for both teams at the Irish’s house is a marquee cross class game. Guthrie would have to be the favorite, but the Blue Jays have quarterback questions of their own, and on offense in general.
Ditto for McGuinness who lost Ryan Randolph, and Gabe Ikard (among others) but still have LaRone Richardson at RB.
There’s next to no chance this game ends up in a shootout. Kenny Young hearts the run and Guthrie will be trying out new quarterback(s). Expect an old fashioned ground war that should be a lot of fun if you’re playing defense.
Irish: Unanswered questions entering season…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
It was a rough scrimmage for Bishop McGuinness vs. Lawton Eisenhower.
That just wasn’t the same Bishop McGuinness team that I saw Thursday night at the Pigskin Preview at Mustang.
The aura of confidence wasn’t there. The swagger wasn’t there. More importantly, the intensity and execution wasn’t there.
Part of the reason had to do with the quarterback situation. As I said, Camden Tharp was going to be the man that took all the snaps until an injury to Jameel Whitney changed all that. Whitney sat out for precautionary reasons after a blow to the head.
Tharp and Quinn Shanbour were both forced to play defense, which wasn’t the initial plan for coach Kenny Young.
Young was clearly frustrated after Thursday’s outing.
I just felt limited in what we could do. Right now, I don’t know what to do (about the quarterback situation).
The fault wasn’t just at QB as Young wasn’t happy with “how soft” the defense was. He has felt this would be the strength of the team, but so far, that hasn’t been the case.
It wasn’t all bad news. I’m impressed more and more with each time I see Sam Crabtree and LaRone Richardson.
Crabtree didn’t have much of a chance to showcase his WR skills, but he was involved in numerous tackles and wasn’t missing them.
Richardson, man, I tell you he is some kind of special. He’s not big, but he can put those juke moves and stop on a dime and do all those things the good ones know how to do.
I’m going to check in with Young early this week to see if he is singing a different tune after a couple days and a couple of practices.
One Southmoore player OK’d; others still waiting
After sitting out Southmoore’s first scrimmage while his eligibility as a move-in was being clarified by the Moore school district, receiver/defensive back Nyko Symonds was able to play Friday in a scrimmage at Tulsa Union.
Symonds, who previously played at Norman North, was cleared by the school district, and subsequently the Oklahoma Secondary Schools Activities Association, after a residency check.
In his first game-type outing he had a touchdown reception against Owasso that was negated by penalty.
Several other move-ins and/or transfers are still awaiting decisions on their eligibility status, including tight end/defensive end Austin Haywood (Anadarko), defensive lineman Ryland Widener (Centennial) and receiver/DB Jordan Newby (Edmond Santa Fe). Defensive back Troy Buffington (Norman North) is eligible only for non-varsity sports due to not meeting criteria for move-ins.
