reademandwheep

Gretna 35 Martinsville 18 Carroll County 24 Patrick County 7 Patrick Henry 7 Abingdon 41 Giles 21 Blacksburg 28 Honaker 13 Richlands 21 Gate City 24 Tazewell 7 Fort Chiswell 7 Chilhowie 35 Powell Valley 21 Lebanon 10 Game of the Week Bluefield 31 Graham 28

Richlands is talented, but it's raw talent. Simply put, they are young and they are one year away. They will be fine this year losing 2 more games at most and going 7-3, 8-2 and likely win a weak Region 4. Richlands will not make the state title game this year.

Certainly Graham has lots of heart and nobody said it's "over" for Graham. But...the times hve changed. High School Football Coaches have become alot smarter due to the ease with sharing information, learning, camps, etc. Years ago, most teams had no idea what to do with several blitzing backers and 8 in the box when Graham stacked up on defense. Those days are over. You send backers to the QB 3 out of 4 plays and you are going to pay for it. Also, teams will continue to spread Graham out with several splits and run out of this formation. Simply put.......Graham's defensive coaching better start learning what the opponents offensive coaches have learned and that is.....adjusting.

For years and year, Graham could get away with lots of blitzing on defense without having tremendous speed. Years ago, coaches on offense simply didn't know as much. No internet, not as many camps, etc. In today's football world, more than a few decent high school coaches know how to compensate for blitzing and agressive defenses and make them pay for it. That's what Graham has begun to face for 3-4 years now. The same thing happened even during the late 80's,90's, and 2000's against exceptionally well coached teams liked Salem, Harrisonburg, Forest, Gretna. These teams were far ahead not only in talent, but in the offensive coaching area compared to most other SWD schools Graham faced over the year. The schools above had coaches that new how to make you pay even back then. In Today's world, communication is so easy, learning opportunities for coaches is there and more and more, coaches simply know how to handle blitzing defenses that are trying to compensate with aggressiveness due to lack of speed. That's where Graham is at and it's bad news defensively. Also...Graham better get some defensive coaching knowledge that has the ability to adjust to....constantly adjusting offenses with different formations and different looks.

For some reason or another, nobody wants to talk about Carroll County. Carroll was a young football team last year and you mark this down, they will be in the thick of a district title. You know how Carroll has one of those 8-2, 9-1 football teams every 5 years? This is one of those years. Every time it happens, it's the same circumstances as this year....nobody is even considering them preseason until they bust out to a 5-0 or 6-1 record.

Beaverbaseball BigBlueAlum Narz_Wave Bogeavers Hokies4Ever EH31 dawgs86 dinkman Lance ghs84 TonyMontana bhs7695 GetMoney55 Ryan4VT roadwarrior rhsfan88 cityofRaven BEAVERTEETH Blueinbama Beamerball CoachP MV91 HurricaneWarning Bulldogs52 CPF Hokiebird7 MavsRock pauley10 swvasport_7 PioneerPA knightsfan3 Blues_56 Tigers_07 opey12 Corner thefactman Grundy10 Blufan04 bucfan64 junkyard shanefive bluefield pt VirginiaPreps GMan JJ Brickface GoldenTrojan LPDBSBL clodhopper GHSTOGA futbolking Fighton_3 POSKN8R BlueFalcons reademandwheep