It’s been kind of interesting to watch two of the best quarterbacks in Ohio during the first two weeks, Fostoria High School’s Micah Hyde and Hopewell-Loudon’s Tyler Brown.
In wins this past weekend the pair were both super-efficient, as Hyde connected on 22-of-23 throws for 196 yards in the Redmen’s 24-21 win over Bowling Green, while Brown was 21-of-28 for 258 yards as the Chieftains dispatched Lakota (34-14).
Brown scorched the Raiders in the first half by going 15-for-16 for 144 yards. The Hopewell-Loudon defense was also impressive, as everywhere you looked was speed. Junior linebacker Matt Brickner, senior end Ian Clouse and junior backer Hudson Smith made life miserable for Lakota quarterback John Timmons by putting constant pressure on with hard rushes off both edges.
The 6-foot, 190-pound Smith has a knack for really “bringing the lumber,” as they say, when he gets the chance. Against the Raiders he came up with a big wipeout sack and another loud pancake tackle for loss. The sharp smack of shoulder pads can be an exciting sound that brings the crowd to life.
The Chieftains will take an inside backer like Brickner and rush him off the end and although this opens up the middle, the speed at both ends can still make plays by knifing in on running plays up the gut and catching the runner from behind. All those guys can do that and it is such a nice combination to have — people who can rush the passer and cause havoc in the running game. When a team has terrific athletes who can do that, the kids can be a little more free from “assignment football” and be more aggressive.
A sports editor who has seen a lot of football once told me, “Defense is just getting 11 guys out there who want to get after it.” I had a high school coach named Dangerous Dan McGrew (way back in the dark ages). This guy had played center for the Buffalo Bills, and he would say, “I want instigators on defense. I want guys out there who cause a riot.”
Bud Wilkinson, the old Oklahoma coach who took the Sooners to the record 47 straight wins back in the 1950s, always wanted simplicity for his linemen. His theory was that too much thinking hurt aggression. And on both sides of the ball that’s what he wanted.
With these clubs running the spread offense, the need for a consistent snap, to maintain correct timing of the plays, becomes more important. This low, high, all-over-the-place stuff really throws off the offense’s rhythym, as well as distracts the quarterback. And it just looks bad, too. Fostoria center Dominic Zelenak puts his snaps right where Hyde wants them. Hyde can then sprint right up the gut quickly if he spots a hole. Hyde’s ability to hit full speed from a standing start is amazing, but he needs that ball in the right spot every time.
I know, it’s not exciting, it’s fundamental. But machines run best on smooth bearings and a football team is a version of a human machine.
--Bill
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