Why is your team gonna go a lot deeper this year? Who are your studs who have stepped up? What is your teams biggest game?
Pre Season Hype
- Thread starter TimWakefield
- Start date
Not my team but......I think Appo advances much deeper than many will think. I know their fans stated on this board they would take a step back from where they were the last 3 years.
Well, 2 things. They were pretty far ahead of 99 percent of other 2A schools, so a step back isn't removing them from the mix. Lastly, a coach that is an absolute beast. Hes an absolute mismatch for 99 percent of other 2A coaches in Virginia. I know they lost 2 Div 1 guys, but many may count them out because they are not supposed to be as good. Them not being as good still doesn't mean much. Giles, Glenvar, Dan River, Gretna....all of them will have a heck of a time beating them in that Region in the playoffs, and don't be surprised if Appo wins the Region and if they do.....look out.
Well my team can't go any deeper than they have the past 3 years.
Appomattox is going fare well this year. They will no doubt be down from previous year but I think we will win our share of games. A lot will depend how a new quarterback does. We had some key injuries in the state game (EARLY) and young guys filled in and stepped up very well allowing us to come back against a very good RE LEE team.
Appomattox is going fare well this year. They will no doubt be down from previous year but I think we will win our share of games. A lot will depend how a new quarterback does. We had some key injuries in the state game (EARLY) and young guys filled in and stepped up very well allowing us to come back against a very good RE LEE team.
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I think my Knights will be a night a day team from the last 2 years. Starting with the QB Gerry Toney a pure stud with a speedy supporting cast around him. We are big up front and led by Coach Wilkerson returning the defense should be much improved. Very young team with not many seniors but those young players played alot last year. Should be a bounce back year. At least I hope so.
Graham will be a better overall team than last year's regional finalist. Look for a bigger stronger line and more offensive weapons for their athletic and talented QB. Very strong play at the linebacker and cornerback positions, Defense should be improved and overall they should be bigger and more physical.
This close to the beginning of the season and no talk of "transfers" coming to Richlands leads me to believe they will be good, but will not compete for a Region title or make a deep run in the playoffs. They had a tremendous defense and great lineplay last season, which kept them in a lot of games. They lost some key elements on the line and off of that defense. Moving Moir to qb is a good move. I just dont think they have the play makers to go very far. Unless some kids have made great strides in the offseason or some talent has moved to the bustling Richlands metropolis. What they do have returning is great coaching and a great system, but talent wise, Im not convinced. I guess we will see. They may go 10-0 and win it all, Im leaning towards 7-3 and an early playoff exit.
Not my team by a long shot but...if Central (Woodstock) doesn’t make a deep, deep run after returning everybody from last years talented team, the coach should be on the HOT seat!!
WOW? Didnt know Central was returning all that talent. They was my sleeper pick in the post season. I saw them on tape and amazed they took an early exit. It will be interesting if they returning all that talent.
True. They had an assload of talent last year but couldn't get over the hump. They should have been in Salem, IMVHO.
I saw them and Lee late in the season on back to back weekends against Riverheads, both playing on their own fields. Although Lee looked a "little" better, I did not expect that beatdown that occurred in the playoffs. Central fans must have really been shocked.
I just don't see it. Losing an All-State LB and an incredible athlete in Cooke, I seriously doubt Graham is better this season. Having Allen back does help a ton.
Union loses a ton. P5 recruit Mitchell as well as a couple all state LBs, another AS DB, as well as an All State DL. Rebuilding year in BSG, but talent cupboard is far from bare
Graham will have Jazaire Reed back from injury (that was a huge loss for Graham last year). He is a big physical running back, that runs low to the ground, an added dimension. They also have Chris Shinault returning, who is a very talented DB, WR with D - 1 schools showing interest. Tre Booker is returning to Graham from Richlands and the line will average about 30 lbs more than last season. Graham will be better than last season. They didn't have a running game to rely on against the better teams. The line didn't hold up and Lester is more of a WR than a rb, and a very good WR at that, he is also getting some D 1 looks, including Western Michigan, I believe (I may have him mixed up with Kastner a LB for Graham who has also sparked D -1 interest. This year, Graham will be 3 deep at RB with Reed, Booker and Chinault.. I think Lester won't even be in the mix for RB and will primarily line up at receiver and he has excellent hands. Isaiah Justice and Chinault are excellent receiving threats as well. Isaiah Dalton will be in the mix on offense somewhere, there will not be enough footballs to go around at Graham this season. But time will tell, I suppose. We all have our opinions, but I believe Graham will be more balanced and better overall. Also, a new D Coordinator that was much needed, if only they could get more help with lineplay, I think they will be very hard to beat. I wonder if Dixon will still be the OC, now that he has taken over as A.D. at the high school. I think they were a bit too predictable at the end of the season last year, but the injury to Reed sort of forced that situation. Some more depth in the playbook would be nice. Richlands beat Graham twice and nearly a 3rd time the past 2 seasons by out-coaching them, IMO.
Not disagreeing on you, but I have a different perspective on this years team. The Graham - Beaver game this season should be another classic. Both will have big lines and athletes all over the field.
It's just tough for a team that played for the region title to bounce back and be even better when they lost the amount of talent Graham lost. Same with Union. There's still very good players there, but losing athletes like Mitchell, Kennedy, Stidham, Vineyard and Cook always leaves holes to fill.
Union does get Turner back at QB so that should bring some stability and the running game should be downright filthy, returning basically the entire OL, but the defense will struggle some early.
If they can start the season 2-1, they'll be in great shape. Richlands, Morristown West, Ridgeview are really the only tough games, but Union won't be able to just physically dominate every team like they did last season. The annihilation of Graham was as good of a performance as I've seen in a while
Union does get Turner back at QB so that should bring some stability and the running game should be downright filthy, returning basically the entire OL, but the defense will struggle some early.
If they can start the season 2-1, they'll be in great shape. Richlands, Morristown West, Ridgeview are really the only tough games, but Union won't be able to just physically dominate every team like they did last season. The annihilation of Graham was as good of a performance as I've seen in a while
The title of this thread is Pre-Season "Hype".
I haven't heard much about Giles other than Kip Green. What do they have returning and are expectations high? I assume so, due to the comment above.
I know they will be good because they always have good coaching.
I haven't heard much about Giles other than Kip Green. What do they have returning and are expectations high? I assume so, due to the comment above.
I know they will be good because they always have good coaching.
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I know man. Its crazy that all these folks in this thread have already discounted Giles and have stated Graham will smash them. It's crazy how many posts in this thread dissing Giles. Actually, now that I think about it, not one post has.
Why not just give a preview of what Giles will have this year and the expectations of Giles like the original subject of the thread/initial post asked?
It was said in the post before that Graham would have 3 tough games and Giles was not included. I dont think Giles will be a cake walk for anyone this year other then maybe Blacksburg. I hear that the line is very big and strong.
No, that actually was not said or written. The poster was referring to Union and was referring to Union being in good shape if they could start the season 2-1 as he mentioned Morristown West of Tennessee or Kentucky (I have no clue which one) and Richlands and Ridgeview. 2 of those 3 are not on Grahams schedule which should have been a give away that he wasn't talking about Grahams schedule.
Agree with you, Giles is no pushover at any time and they likely never will be if going by history. Great program.
Morristown West, Tennessee is a 6A by Tennessee standards (4A by Virginia standards).
Union also plays Letcher County Central, Kentucky as well which is a 5A Kentucky program (3A by Virginia standards).
Neither of these schools are considered "upper echelon" programs though Morristown West may get the Bears this year since it's in Morristown.
Was fortunate enough to watch Graham in full contact drills today. Looks like Graham will have a very good running game, more size on the line and an improved defense. A couple of "bruising" running backs with Jazaire Reed and Tre Booker. A slasher with Devin Lester. If the injury bug hits at that position, there are a couple more quality backs in Juvante Reed, Isaac Dalton and Keith Carbaugh. Very strong at RB this season (something they missed last year). A couple of good looking freshmen out there that will be good for Graham's future also. The-Bradshaw kid is small, but has great cut-back ability, They are bigger and stronger on the line and the defense, overall looks more aggressive. Chinault is very athletic at receiver and in the defensive secondary. I only counted 40 on the field, so I suppose some of them didn't make it through 2 a days. Several others impressed, but I didn't know their names. Not a tremendous amount of depth on the team, but they have some versatile players that could probably be stuck into different positions if needed. A few were hurt, so I figure the roster will end up around 44 or 45. Can't wait to watch them, I love to see a physical style of running and Graham has 3 backs that remind me of Kimbo Spencer and Marcus Latimer, Graham fans will recognize those names from days of old. Going to be very interesting on August 24th when Graham plays Bluefield, both teams appear to be pretty decent, at least from the limited looks that I have seen. Graham hosts Glenvar at Mitchell this Thursday at 5:00. Will get a better look then. Going to try to see Tazewell or Richlands, the following day.
Hey 19GHS87, I glanced through your post and it sounds like Graham is going to have a solid team. I gathered from your post Graham is going to be good, but will admit what got my attention. The name or word, "Bradshaw." You mentioned freshmen right before that, and I assumed you were referring to "Bradshaw" being a freshmen? Is there any relation to the former Marshall University-New York Giant RB Ahmad Bradshaw which came out of Graham, and what grade-level is this kid?
I was told it was Ahmads son. He was wearing #44.(Ahmads number with the Giants.) He is small, he is a freshman and will probably see very little time this season. I was impressed with his lateral movement. His Dad started at Graham as a freshman back in the day, but this kid will need another year or 2 to build size and strength, but you can definitely see the potential there. He has one heck of a coach at home...
Graham had no depth at RB last season when Reed went down to injury. Definitely dont have that problem this year. Look for Graham to line it up tight and pound the rock a lot more this season.
That sounds like trouble for the rest of SWVA in a couple of years if this kid is remotely as close to as good as what his father was. Not saying Graham will not be very good this year, but that kids father was an absolute beast. As a matter of fact, the two best High School Football Players I ever watched, both sides of the ball (even better than Vick and Curry and Terry Kirby) were DeAngelo Hall at Deep Creek and Ahmad Bradshaw from Graham. Riddick Parker from Southampton would also be up there if talking about both sides of the football at the High School level. Absolutely dominating in all facets of the game.
He will have to get bigger and stronger, but the lateral movement and quickness is good. Graham has a couple of kids that will be able to get the short yardage when they need it this season, they are the type of rb's that can run through a tackle, very excited to see a good running game. Of course it all depends on blocking against the better teams, but there is plenty of size on the line.
