Salem young guns making a difference again

[mike salem]

Last year Salem had a terrific group of 7 Sophomores that helped Salem capture the title. #3 Joe Quinn, #4 Viante Tucker, #5 Nick Wade, #21 Luke Owen, #38 then #9 now DeAngelo Ramsey, #40 Nate Craft, and #73 Thomas Mundy.

This year has a promising group of Sophomores of its own. #17 Avery Close TE/DE, #22 Van Richardson OLB/RB, #25 Avante Robinson FB/CB, #42 Aiden Britton OLB/FB, #63 D Cardwell DT/T, and Freshman #55 Bobby Pinello G/MLB, all have or can/will make another push for the Spartans this year.

The coaching staff is hard at work to determine the best way to use all of these young guns, as they are with the rest of the Jr's and Sr's.

This past weeks games against Northside allowed more guys to hit the field and be evaluated. If more games of this nature happen, it will allow for further evaluation, and good preparation for putting the pieces of the puzzle together come playoff time.

These are just my observations. I know the coaching staff's plan and the player's execution last year won the title. Hopefully, from my standpoint anyway, I hope they can do it again.

 

[shauntclair]

Young pups are fine. Salem is good but it takes some time when this is what you're working with. Believe in Mag's and the program. The schedule helps but the SOS may be difficult to get a first round bye with.

It's always the program. Spartans will be fine but I wouldn't be putting money on a Title. Long shots pay off sometimes but pushing it is what Vegas lives off of.

Salem annihilated teams they should have beaten last year. They also surprised. That's what State Champs do. Is that what has happened with the Spartans this year? If not, is there another team that has?

 

[freeatlast2013]

The biggest difference I see is the schedule . It takes time to get better . Last year we played a loaded senior group during a benefit game in Jefferson Forest which was essentially a scrimmage but they did keep score and we lost by one point. This year we were challenged in the first game against Amherst with a senior dominated group and even with us searching for answers we lost a close game 42-40 and then played a solid Byrd team where there were improvements on defense but a couple of key players out , one of them the long snapper which created two turnovers deep in Salem territory. We were not sharp in those games and you can say that the other teams had something to do with that . But if you watched the games so many mental fixable errors that had nothing to do with the other team happened . there were dropped balls and totally blown coverages and turnovers .to name a few. We will see how it goes . The two biggest differences are the difficulty of early season schedule and the mental errors , some of them , in fact a lot of them by experienced players.

 

[shauntclair]

The schedule? is it not the same as last year? And you're talking about a scrimmage from last year against an outstanding team. How is that even part of this season's picture?

Salem will be fine. Trust the Coach and the Program.

 

[freeatlast2013]

I am trusting them to get better . That's my point. Fixable errors? Hello . Another point is just because we are playing the same teams does not mean the schedule is the same. Cmon man you know better than thought.

 

[shauntclair]

I am trusting them to get better . That's my point. Fixable errors? Hello . Another point is just because we are playing the same teams does not mean the schedule is the same. Cmon man you know better than thought.

"Just because we're playing the same teams does not mean the schedule is the same"? When I talk about schedule, it has EVERYTHING to do with the teams. Dates mean nothing. I have repeatedly said on here, it's WHO you play. Anybody would know that.

Happy to know I'm not just dealing with anybody. Of course the Spartans will be better. Other than Pulaski, there should be no challenges until the playoffs. Plenty of scrimmages to get better.