Franklin County and PH are good football teams, and the defense did well tonight and is improving for sure.
Let’s talk about the cool changes Salem has made! 21 no longer is at mike linebacker or on defense at all! Instead he is proving to be a beast of a fullback! 44 is no longer getting reps at full back but has proven himself to be a strong Mike backer. He was previously getting time on the defensive line but they have replace him with some weight in the interior. Defensive backfield is young and you can tell they are improving. Persinger is still an absolutely lock down corner
On offense, this is the first time of me watching them in 10 years that they played a game where they didn’t motion their Y receiver to be the kick out man at the point of attack. Instead the guard (67 or 62) and fullback (21) getting great movement at the point of attack. Without the full back leading through the whole the plays are happening a lot quicker. With about 10 years of using the I and letting the Y receiver kick out, I believe northside and ph had a hard time predicting whether the run would be strong or weak side and with the plays hitting so fast they both had a hard time defending salems run game.
30 and 22 are still huge threats to take it all the way and 24, 5 and 11 have all proven to be receivers you have to keep an eye on.
Number 8 is having a great time when they are running R and L (the names of their shotgun formations. And has been looking solid on play action past two weeks. His good running ability past three weeks made his design runs not hit as well because PH was having their “force” player (guy responsible for setting the edge) stay home. You could tell they watched film on this design run play. On the positiveside of that, the force guy couldn’t cheat in and jam up the standard block down and kick out run game which is what lead to huge runs for 22, 30 and 21.
10 is a doing a great job blocking from TE position and slipping out on play action. Would like to see this guy get in the slot on R and L formations and basically be a full back they can throw to!
All the mules are combo-ing and getting to the backers. Love watching 67 and 55 get after it, their experience shows. Plenty of pancakes and fullback dives that went for 5-10 yards because these guys were blowing the 3 tech into the backers.
With the changes and seeing the guys get more competent, there is plenty to be excited for under those Thursday night lights! Switching your Mike and fullback and going out of a whole new formation that Salem hasn’t ran (consistently) in 10+ years are huge and risky moves to make for these coaches (realize that the I form where the motion crosses and kicks out has won 4 state championships at this point and two runner ups). These coaches are doing a heck of a job.
Love it.