Salem's chances

[southbottomU]

This is actually an easy game to analyze. Salem wants to run between the tackles, they are good at it. Tusky is good at stopping that. Salem will have to make some big plays to their receivers. Salem has a lot of talent on the perimeter that has gone largely unused. To win this game they will have to be incorporated into the offense. Salem will also have to stop making unforced errors (penalties, fumbles, missed assignments). Last year Salems defense gave up big plays. That can't happen again this year if they expect to win. Salem probably not going to be able to line up in double tight and run straight ahead all game against Tuscarora.
Tuscarora will take try to take away the power running game and make Salem beat them with something else.

 

[MaroonDude]

SBU, How good have teams been able to throw on Tuscarora U?

 

[southbottomU]

SBU, How good have teams been able to throw on Tuscarora U?

Not very well, but if Salem gets some play action going they have the talent at receiver to cause serious problems. Also , when Tuscarora has won multiple State Championships then maybe you can put. "U" after their name.

 

[iDidntGetBanned]

I was shocked at how well GW was able to throw against Salem, although I thought they should’ve ran a lot more. Salem’s DL saved their DBs many times with a mixture of bad playcalling by GW. GW’s WR’s blocked exceptionally well on the ends and gave their RB a lane on the outside. Tusky has a really good back in Bryce Duke and if their WRs does the same on the outside, it could be a long day for the Salem defense. From the small bit of film I’ve watched, Tusky’s WRs’ blocking leaves a lot to be desired. Offensively, Salem should continue to give Wood the ball. Run him 30 times if they have to. Salem’s offense looked really good to not have their second best player even play.

 

[FoxesPride]

Not very well, but if Salem gets some play action going they have the talent at receiver to cause serious problems. Also , when Tuscarora has won multiple State Championships then maybe you can put. "U" after their name.

In defense of the respect shown to Tusky, they've only been around since 2010 and have been to 3 title games I believe, 2 in 5A and one in 4A. Even without a title yet, they deserve a ton of respect. Since 2014 they are the best program KG has seen.

 

[southbottomU]

In defense of the respect shown to Tusky, they've only been around since 2010 and have been to 3 title games I believe, 2 in 5A and one in 4A. Even without a title yet, they deserve a ton of respect. Since 2014 they are the best program KG has seen.

You are about to play Lake Taylor. They will be the best program KG has played.

Also since 2010, Salem has won 3 State Championships

 

[dblplaa]

This is actually an easy game to analyze. Salem wants to run between the tackles, they are good at it. Tusky is good at stopping that. Salem will have to make some big plays to their receivers. Salem has a lot of talent on the perimeter that has gone largely unused. To win this game they will have to be incorporated into the offense. Salem will also have to stop making unforced errors (penalties, fumbles, missed assignments). Last year Salems defense gave up big plays. That can't happen again this year if they expect to win. Salem probably not going to be able to line up in double tight and run straight ahead all game against Tuscarora.
Tuscarora will take try to take away the power running game and make Salem beat them with something else.

I think that something else has to be Logan Jr. at QB. Wilson has consistently missed too many open receivers and I don't see Wood running for 270+ like last week.

 

[SFUWO]

SBU, How good have teams been able to throw on Tuscarora U?

Tuscarora is a very good football team. Easily the best team Salem has faced all yr. Better come ready to play. Not sure if your being funny or just being a troll.

 

[FoxesPride]

You are about to play Lake Taylor. They will be the best program KG has played.

Also since 2010, Salem has won 3 State Championships

Totally respect your opinion. Tuscarora was 1-1 vs those two in 2019, lost the 5A state championship to LC Bird and Highland Springs. I think they are in LT and Salem's class, but they do have to back it up by bringing home the trophy!

 

[southbottomU]

Totally respect your opinion. Tuscarora was 1-1 vs those two in 2019, lost the 5A state championship to LC Bird and Highland Springs. I think they are in LT and Salem's class, but they do have to back it up by bringing home the trophy!

When they have multiple State Championships like Lake Taylor and Salem then they can be included in the conversation. They are off to a great start and have established a great foundation. Salem lost their first two State Championship games. But, when they finally knocked the door down Chaampionships came in waves. Maybe the same will happen to Tuscarora, but until it does, slow your roll.

 

[FoxesPride]

When they have multiple State Championships like Lake Taylor and Salem then they can be included in the conversation. They are off to a great start and have established a great foundation. Salem lost their first two State Championship games. But, when they finally knocked the door down Chaampionships came in waves. Maybe the same will happen to Tuscarora, but until it does, slow your roll.

No "roll", just another perspective from someone who has coached against them. I respect your opinion and said that they must win a championship to prove they are on their level. I'm done discussing Tusky.

 

[Gunz41]

When they have multiple State Championships like Lake Taylor and Salem then they can be included in the conversation. They are off to a great start and have established a great foundation. Salem lost their first two State Championship games. But, when they finally knocked the door down Chaampionships came in waves. Maybe the same will happen to Tuscarora, but until it does, slow your roll.

So if King George and Tuscarora win, do they get to be the "man" since they then beat the man?

KG sounds like it would be an accomplishment, but the way you seem to have talked about Salem recently, it's not some big deal if Tusky won

 

[bceagle47]

Lake Taylor and Salem are the standard of excellence all of the other teams in 4A aspire to be like. The football purist in me loves the way that LT and SHS play the game. Huge admirer of Coach White and Coach Mags. Coach Sawyer is a class act. Coach Lunsford and Coach Wheelbarger are doing fantastic jobs. Good luck to all the players, staffs, and communities and THANK GOD in a world of confusion and uncertainty we still have football.

 

[southbottomU]

So if King George and Tuscarora win, do they get to be the "man" since they then beat the man?

KG sounds like it would be an accomplishment, but the way you seem to have talked about Salem recently, it's not some big deal if Tusky won

Salem has been making a lot of mistakes and have been rather one dimensional. They are capable and they sure haven't peaked.

To be the man you got to beat the man and if Tusky does it two years in a row they would be well on their way , especially if they would win the State Championship.

 

[MaroonDude]

Tuscarora is a very good football team. Easily the best team Salem has faced all yr. Better come ready to play. Not sure if your being funny or just being a troll.

Nah, no trolling. Just wanted to know what folks were thinking.

 

[Shabutie]

This will be a very, very difficult matchup for the Spartans. Tuscarora is by far the best team up front that Salem has played this year on both sides of the ball and have a bunch of players returning this year dominated the last time these teams matched up.

The last time they played, Tuscarora was extremely well-prepared and really limited Salem's rushing attack and forced a lot of long-yardage situations where Salem was forced to pass and they were able to get a lot of pressure. Offensively, they were able to run with more success than any other team was against the Spartan defense.

The Salem receivers were able to get behind the Tuscarora defensive backs... Shawn Collins had a big game receiving and is Salem's main receiver again this year. The troubling thing is that they have had receivers behind DBs consistently the last three weeks and have completed very few of these passes. It even got to the point last week against GW Danville where Salem went double tight end and ran the ball every single play (against 10 defenders in the box) for the entire second half. This is simply not something that they will have the option to do this week... they have to have an effective passing attack to have a chance in this game.

The two players that did the most against the Salem return this year for the Huskies. JMU DL commit Matei Fitz had the single most dominant game I have ever seen by a DL against a Spartan OL and RB Bryce Duke who is a Junior with D-1 offers and had around 200 yards rushing in last year's game, including multiple long TD runs and he is A LOT better this year. They also have 3-4 quality WRs, including Ryan Upp who is a very good player. They are good defensively at every level and really fly to the football. DE Rainer Halveland gave the Salem offense all sorts of trouble last year and he returns this year and is really good at the things you have to be good at against this type of offense. In general, Tuscarora is just built very well as a team for this matchup and are EXTREMELY GOOD at the places you HAVE to be good to be successful. Another edge that they have is that they have practically no players that play on both sides of the ball while Salem has quite a few.

 

[southbottomU]

This will be a very, very difficult matchup for the Spartans. Tuscarora is by far the best team up front that Salem has played this year on both sides of the ball and have a bunch of players returning this year dominated the last time these teams matched up.

The last time they played, Tuscarora was extremely well-prepared and really limited Salem's rushing attack and forced a lot of long-yardage situations where Salem was forced to pass and they were able to get a lot of pressure. Offensively, they were able to run with more success than any other team was against the Spartan defense.

The Salem receivers were able to get behind the Tuscarora defensive backs... Shawn Collins had a big game receiving and is Salem's main receiver again this year. The troubling thing is that they have had receivers behind DBs consistently the last three weeks and have completed very few of these passes. It even got to the point last week against GW Danville where Salem went double tight end and ran the ball every single play (against 10 defenders in the box) for the entire second half. This is simply not something that they will have the option to do this week... they have to have an effective passing attack to have a chance in this game.

The two players that did the most against the Salem return this year for the Huskies. JMU DL commit Matei Fitz had the single most dominant game I have ever seen by a DL against a Spartan OL and RB Bryce Duke who is a Junior with D-1 offers and had around 200 yards rushing in last year's game, including multiple long TD runs and he is A LOT better this year. They also have 3-4 quality WRs, including Ryan Upp who is a very good player. They are good defensively at every level and really fly to the football. DE Rainer Halveland gave the Salem offense all sorts of trouble last year and he returns this year and is really good at the things you have to be good at against this type of offense. In general, Tuscarora is just built very well as a team for this matchup and are EXTREMELY GOOD at the places you HAVE to be good to be successful. Another edge that they have is that they have practically no players that play on both sides of the ball while Salem has quite a few.

Agree completely. However, on the positive sign I think Salems interior defense is better than last year, and the offensive line is improved over last year.

 

[Shabutie]

Agree completely. However, on the positive sign I think Salems interior defense is better than last year, and the offensive line is improved over last year.

For sure, Salem is better defensively at every level than they were last year... the improvement by Williams, Martindale and Waller on the DL has been huge and they are better at LB than they were last year. The McDonald twins moving to safety and their physical improvement has also made them much better. When this defense doesn't make mental mistakes and blow coverages they are very hard to beat but they will be challenged big-time this week on the ground and through the air.

I also think the OL has improved but this will be the ultimate test.