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Good post... you really hit on the key areas. If you don't mind I am going to elaborate on these points a little further.One of the good things in playing a team like Martinsburg is it shows you where you need to improve. Here are a few areas:
1. Salem needs to get healthy. 3 key players did not play (one player played first quarter only). Also looks like middle linebacker playing on one leg.
2. Secondary needs to get physically stronger. Not getting off blocks. Jet sweep killing us. Has not been stopped all year.
3. Secondary giving up too many big plays.
4. Passing game has to get more consistent. Has shown signs of improvement but way to inconsistent.
5. Offensive line has improved but it needs to get healthy and continue to improve. Long range they need to get stronger.
6. Receivers need to go get 50/50 balls. Again getting stronger will help with that.
7. Defensive line needs more penetration. Getting blown off by big offensive line from Martinsburg. Will see big lines in playoffs
Some of the problems can't be fixed until next year (get stronger)
I think that part of the problem is a fundamental lack of strength. Those four or five kids are pretty good athletes but they are not strong. They are getting beat on 50/50 balls and they are stuck on blocks in the run game.i can not think of a single jet sweep that hasn't gone for at least 8 yards. They've got to get off their blocks. Lack of strength is hindering their progress.It's bizarre to see a secondary of that size be so incredibly bad at high pointing the ball. I bet you can count on one hand the number of times this season they've correctly outjumped a virtually always smaller WR to defend the pass.
In my opinion this is one of the hardest things to learn for players that don't naturally do it well. Bucky Hodges was 6'6 with a 40 inch vert that was practically useless because he could not high point a football consistently. He also never improved on it any from his time in college. NFL scouts were very confused on how he could have numbers like that but not be a jump ball red zone threat like you would think.It's bizarre to see a secondary of that size be so incredibly bad at high pointing the ball. I bet you can count on one hand the number of times this season they've correctly outjumped a virtually always smaller WR to defend the pass.
Decent is all. Several good sophomores are starting on varsity.How good is Pulaski's JV?
Most Salem fans are quite realistic about their team. They've seen great Salem teams. They've seen great opponents. They know what it takes to be elite. I know sometimes I can sound quite critical but for better or worse Salem teams get compared to the best. It's a very tough grading scale and it can sound overly critical. However, we love our Spartans and we want them to be best they can be. Tough loveHats off to the Salem fans for taking the loss like men and having quality conversation about the game. Not many years where Salem needs to improve on some areas of the game for sure . To the Pulaski fan or fans , What?! Pulaski should learn from Salem not poke the sleeping monster. Really!? When was the last time Pulaski has been a relevant threat in 4A football ?
Well, by gosh, I guess we'll find out.Decent is all. Several good sophomores are starting on varsity.
No, I wasn’t there.Did you go to the Salem game on Friday? I'm am pretty positive that you were in that group.
I talked with #8, getting his hair cut. Last friday. Good kid. He is currently playing DT for WV. Very humble
Won't be so easy next year and had we had everyone healthy this year would've been different not saying they wouldn't have won but definitely would've had to work harder
@Salem wood agreed. I didn't realize Salem had those key injuries, or I would've picked Martinsburg. 2015-17 Salem wipes the floor with most Martinsburg teams.
@Salem wood agreed. I didn't realize Salem had those key injuries, or I would've picked Martinsburg. 2015-17 Salem wipes the floor with most Martinsburg teams.
@Salem wood agreed. I didn't realize Salem had those key injuries, or I would've picked Martinsburg. 2015-17 Salem wipes the floor with most Martinsburg teams.
That's an exaggeration, this sounds like Highland Springs fans.Martinsburg didn’t even flex their muscle in this game
My opinion was up until this year and the operative words in your post being "this season". This season is the closest, in my opinion, they have ever been to being at least a serious contender in Class 4. They could very well win in Class 4 this year were they in Virginia but, I will reserve final judgement until play is complete and that includes the statement that they would "manhandle" anyone Virginia threw at them this season. Just to clarify, you do mean class 4 or below, correct?Imho, Martinsburg would manhandle anyone Virginia threw at them this season.
People often say lots of things, however, the question is whether it has any basis in reality or fact. Today the compression among classifications is a lot more than it has historically been. In my opinion, that is attributable to two primary reasons. The first is that participation numbers are shrinking across the classifications. While enrollment numbers still vary the actual roster sizes are more comparable. The second reason is that with mixed districts you now have a lot more competition between classifications. Personally, I saw those Gretna teams play and Vic Hall would have been a star in any classification but, the Hawks neither had the quantity or quality of starting athletes and depth to be a serious competitor in Class 5 or 6 or their AAA predecessor.Just to clarify: I don’t know they would manhandle anyone. I haven’t seen everyone play. I remember Gretna in early 2000’s with Vic Hall: people said they could compete with 6a.
I respect Martinsburg after watching that video about what their football program means to the community. The place is a lot like Danville except their fans support them. However, to say that they’d beat a Manchester, Varina, Highland Springs, Oscar Smith and Louisa is asinine this year.
Louisa has the same caliber of athletes of those teams. Would they beat the other 3 teams I mentioned? Don’t know, don’t care to debate if they would. After watching the Salem/Martinsburg game live and seeing Louisa play twice this year, I don’t think it’s close who wins that. For people to make blanketed statements that Martinsburg will give any Virginia teams a run for their money is ridiculous. Highland Springs would dismantle Martinsburg!Why is Louisa in the same category as those other teams? I'd take Martinsburg by at least two touchdowns over them this year, and I think Louisa is one of the top three teams in Class 4.
Can't believe you guys are making me defend Martinsburg lol, but I swear if they beat Highland Springs some of y'all would still say they'd lose to the best Class 4 team by double digits. They would have won multiple Class 4 championships since their string started earlier in the decade.
Louisa has already beaten two teams that were similar to Martinsburg but better: Monacan and Dinwiddie in 2017. Better QBs, RBs, LBs, physicality.Why is Louisa in the same category as those other teams? I'd take Martinsburg by at least two touchdowns over them this year, and I think Louisa is one of the top three teams in Class 4.
Can't believe you guys are making me defend Martinsburg lol, but I swear if they beat Highland Springs some of y'all would still say they'd lose to the best Class 4 team by double digits. They would have won multiple Class 4 championships since their string started earlier in the decade.
Louisa is a better overall team than they were in 2017 this year IMO. Deeper at the skill positions, deeper on the lines. I think Noah Robinson and Alex Washington together compensates for the loss of Brandon Smith. Bell was a great QB but they have 4 RBs who can hurt you at any time. If the freshman QB can hold up, it’s theirs to lose this year.Louisa 2017. Martinsburg 2019. Good game but I would favor Martinsburg by 7. Martinsburg has more overall talent--- deeper. Also Martinsburg better throwing team. Martinsburg 2019 handles Monacan and Dinwiddie 2017.
You saw Monacan in 2017? They were better than Dinwiddie.Louisa 2017. Martinsburg 2019. Good game but I would favor Martinsburg by 7. Martinsburg has more overall talent--- deeper. Also Martinsburg better throwing team. Martinsburg 2019 handles Monacan and Dinwiddie 2017.