Pre-season
"If you build it, they will come." Do you remember this quote from the from the 1988 Kevin Costner movie, Field of Dreams? The Purple Raider football team experienced it this past off season. A year ago, the Raiders were putting the finishing touches on their new weight room. The new facility gives the team nearly four times the space they had in the old two room configuration, allowing the entire team to lift together instead of having to divide up into upper and lower body groups. Couple that with some new and some additional rehabbed equipment, and the entire strength training process at Bloomington High School has become much more effective and efficient. The results speak for themselves. Daily attendance at lifting sessions doubled, averaging just over 50 during the winter and spring, and nearly 70 during the summer session. Strength testing was converted to a one day process, replace the old upper day lower day system used previously, and over 70 lifters participated in the tests in November, March and May. Strength gains were more than noticeable. Entering the 2007 season, the Purple Raiders have 43 players in the 750 Club, and 9 of those are also members of the 1000 Club. In terms of the lifting clubs, that makes this the strongest team since the clubs came into existence 11 years ago.
An additional benefit to the larger weight room was that it allowed nearly 30 eighth graders to begin lifting back in January. In previous years, due to space limitations, eight graders could not begin lifting till the summer before their freshman year. This not only stimulated an interest in lifting, but also the football program. Those 30 lifters increased to 38 freshman attending Raider football camp, leading to the largest camp attendance in recent history. 120 players were in attendance over the three week camp, with an average daily attendance near 100. That, in turn, led to larger teams once sign ups occurred on August 6th. The freshman team currently has 50 players, the sophomore team has 30, and the varsity rosters stands at 53. So with increased participation and stronger players, the Purple Raiders head into the 2007 season with high expectations. The key now will be to make it payoff on the field.
Big 12 Conference
Normal Community is hands down the conference favorite heading into the 2007 season. The Ironmen are coming off back to back conference championships (sharing it with the Raiders in '05), back to back appearances in state final games, and a 14-0 6A state championship season. They look to continue their recent success with as many a six starters returning on each side of the ball. The Purple Raiders, on the other hand, have won or shared the conference title 18 of the last 21 seasons, and have not lost two conference games in any one season since 1995. With that said, however, the 2007 conference race should be anything but a two horse race. Normal West has posted a victory over both the Raiders and the Ironmen during the past three seasons, and shared the conference title with the Raiders in 2004. Centennial has the best running back in the conference in Mikel Leshoure, who ran for 192 yards and 2 touchdowns against the Raiders last season. Danville and Central had outstanding freshman teams last season and should be on the rise with their experienced coaching staffs in place now for two seasons. Mattoon is always tough, especially at home where they host the Raiders in week six. Rounding out the ten team conference, are MacArthur, Eisenhower and Urbana, all of which have new head coaches, and therefore new systems for conference opponents to prepare for. Over the past five seasons, the conference champion has appeared in the 6A state championship game, culminating in Community's state championship last season. Where the Big 12 used to be seen, by our suburban counterparts, as a weak sister, it is now a force to reckon with. With every team facing a full slate of conference games, there is no room for error. The 2007 season should be no different than those of the recent past. The competitiveness of the conference makes everyone better and prepares them for a playoff run and hopefully, a state championship.
2007 Purple Raiders
If you base your preseason assessment of a team solely on the number of returning, every game starters, the Raiders could be in trouble. The only individuals that fit into that category on the 2007 team are Levi Johnson, Darrelynn Dunn, Chris Love, Marcus Trisler, Zach Collins, Adam Peden and Marcus Johnson. Peden and Marcus Johnson were kickers, and it should also be noted that Levi Johnson will not be returning to the position where he started last season, switching from free safety to quarterback. Take a closer look, however, and you will notice that the Raiders do return several experienced players, many of which started games, but for one reason or another were not starter the entire season. Jacob Lehr and Kyle Reilly return as linebackers after both starting and leading the team in tackles for several games last season. Eric Furler and Terry Davis return after starting several games at defensive end, but Furler will be moving to the defensive secondary. Deonte Person returns at center after replacing an injured Andy Malinowski the second half of last season. Will Bishop returns after seeing playing time at both receiver and in the defensive secondary, and Zach Taylor, Quay Hall and Dexter Brown return to the defensive line after having seen some playing time in the second half of last season. And if you like to factor in statistics, consider this, the Raiders return their leading rusher, tackler and scoring in Darrelynn Dunn, who accomplished this trifecta as a sophomore last season. The current 53 man roster make this the largest team the Raiders have fielded since 2002, but overall it lacks varsity experience. The key will be for the team to get into a groove early by riding those that do have experience. Once the newcomers gain confidence and the team gels together, it should be another lengthy season for Raider fans to enjoy.
Game #1 Decatur MacArthur
It is hard to believe that game one is already here. Its seems like practices just started, but two and half very, very hot weeks later, game one is upon us and Friday night the Purple Raiders will follow the drums out to Fred Carlton field to kickoff the 2007 season. A very good looking Fred Carlton field I should add. Thanks to our maintenance staff, specifically Tim Schenkel, the play surface is in great shape. The best it has been in years. Keep your fingers crossed for several dry weekends so that it will stay that way.
Friday brings the Generals of Decatur MacArthur to town. These two teams also faced each other in last season's opener, with the Raiders prevailing 42-0. But the 2007 Generals enter the season with renewed optimism. After a 2-7 campaign last season, head coach Jed Kennedy moved on to a high school in Wisconsin (his home state), and defensive coordinator Derek Spates took over. Though only being officially named head coach a week before practices began, Spates is far from a newcomer to the program. He played for the Generals back in the 1990s, and has been on the coaching staff for several years, including the previous two as defensive coordinator. As an opponent, its always difficult to prepare for a season opener against a team with a new coach. Since Coach Spates isn't technically "new" it should be a little easier, but the question is which version of the Generals will we see? The blitz happy pressure 4-4 defense and big play offense that Coach Spates played in, or 5-2/5-3 defense and methodical option offense that he has coached over the past couple seasons. Obviously, we have to prepare for either.
Technically, MacArthur has never strayed far from the option, or the wishbone back field. 15 years ago, MacArthur would line up in a double tight wishbone set and pound the ball down your throat with big linemen and a speedy backfield. Load up to stop it and they would throw over the top, run a screen, or come at you with a reverse that put the ball into the hands of their best athlete with open field in front of him. The offense over the past two season has moved the half backs to wing positions and widen one, or sometime both tight ends to wideout positions. While this took away some of their traditional power plays, it served the option well. By motion one of the wings into the backfield they still had the fullback, quarterback, pitch options that they had with the full bone. One advantage was that the lead blocker was coming from a wing position instead of out of the backfield, there by getting to the block much faster. This also opened the playbook up to a series of reverses, screens, backfield passes, and trick plays. Whereas before they would have to change formation, and therefore telegraph that something new was coming, this spread formation could allow it to happen on any play. When they needed a power play for a couple yards or needed to get the tailback to the corner, they would just simply move a split end back to tight end for the extra blocker. They also ran an unbalanced set by putting both ends on one side of the formation, one as a tight end the other as a wideout, outnumbering the defense and giving them the extra blocker. Regardless of what philosophy Coach Spates decides to go with, one thing will continue to be true about the Generals, they will have a couple of guys that on any given down, can turn the simplest play into a touchdown.
Defensively, we may not know what we are going to face till the first snap. Up to Kennedy's tenure as head coach, the Generals had always lined up in a base 4-4 cover 3 defense, but brought tons of pressure by manning up with the receivers and blitzing everyone else. At times the offense came up to the line and faced as many as eight defenders within two yards of the line of scrimmage. It forced offenses to keep it simple and make quick decisions. It was tough on the option run by the Raiders, because it's difficult to read an end and pitch defender when they were in a full sprint into the backfield. Though susceptible to giving up the big play, they could also make an offense look stupid at times. Over the past two seasons, with Coach Spates as defensive coordinator, they have gone with a more laid back 5-2/5-3 approach, sending the five man front, but leaving the linebackers to read and find the ball. They will still man up and send backers, especially to the strong side of the offensive formation, but its not the same as the jail break mentality of previous seasons, and not a susceptible to the big play.
Game #2 Normal Community
So how did the Raiders and the Ironmen fare in their week one tune ups? Let's ask the coaches. "Our offense is terrible because we're not that good to recover from those kinds of things (penalties). It's a situation where most of it is mental sharpness and we're not there mentally," said Raider coach Rigo Schmelzer. "It (offense) was just poor execution across the board. It was poor preparation by the coaching staff, poor coaching and poor execution by the players. That's what it comes down to when you're that spotty," said Ironmen coach Hud Venerable. Not exactly ringing endorsements for the #1 and #5 ranked teams in 6A. Things weren't really that bad. The "terrible" Raider offense managed to rack up 324 total yards and score four times in their 28-14 victory over MacArthur. And while the Ironmen offense did struggle, their defense caused Champaign Central to struggle even more, limiting the Maroons to 109 total yards of offense in their 26-10 victory. On the other sides of the ball, it wasn't nearly as pretty. The Raider defense gave up 210 yards passing and 271 yards total to the Generals. The Ironmen offense was limited to 44 yards rushing and 111 yards total by a stingy Maroon defense. So what does all of this tell you about these two teams heading into their intercity match-up? Not much really. As long as both teams win, week one games mean very little to the Raider/Ironmen rivalry. You may as well disregard them. The intercity contest has simply taken on a personality of its own. As well it should. The winner of this game has gone on to play in the 6A state championship game for the past five years, culminating in Community's championship last season. The winner of this game has gone on to win or share the Big 12 title every year since the mid 1980s. And in two of the past four seasons, the winner of this game has gone on to win a rematch in the playoffs. Another characteristic of this game, is that the outcome tends to be cyclical with one team winning several in a row, only to find things turn around completely for the next few years. Unfortunately for the Raiders, they are currently on the losing end of this cycle. The Ironmen have won the last three match-ups between the two teams, the latest being a 23-0 shutout of the Raiders last season. Consequently, this is the Ironmen's game to lose. The defending state champions enter the game with a 15 game winning streak, a number one AP ranking, and the confidence that comes with not having lost a conference game since 2005. For them, its just another game. Everyone expects the Ironmen to win. For the Raiders, its an opportunity for redemption and a chance to prove everyone wrong.
Offensively, things really haven't changed that much for the Ironmen. Sure Omar Clayton and Marcus King are gone, but Joey Anderson, Austin Davis, Dan Moore, Kennedy Freeman, Alex Buck, Andrew Hamer, Billy Dickson and Derek Logue return. While the passing game may not be as flashy, the ground game is finely tuned and the Ironmen seem to have returned to some traditional basics; power, option and playaction. As always, formations include double tight, twins and pro. All with an I backfield. To spread things they will send two slot receivers out with the tight ends or go to a double twins set, both with single backs. I back plays include trap, belly, iso, sprint option, counter and toss, while out of the one back they will still run belly and trap. Load up to stop the power and option, and they will find the tight ends on a seam off of playaction. The rest of the passing game consists of two receiver crossing routes and three step drop option routes. Just for fun this year, the Ironmen are also running a gimmick set. For lack of an official term, lets just call it double triangles. The tackles, ends and slot receivers widen to the numbers on each sideline leaving the center, guards, quarterback and running back in the center of the field. This allows for a wide variety of plays that can be run to take advantage of the huge gap between tackles and guards, or if they outnumber the defense in any of the three sections of the formation. Plays out of this set include a sprint option, screen pass to a slot, or any combination of crossing routes between the end and slot receivers. What it mainly does is eat up your opponents practice time preparing for it. With the skill the Ironmen return, it or a swinging gate formation create some definite possibilities. The offense may have struggled last week, but with their experience, these struggles should be temporary.
Defensively, there were no struggles last week. After dominating 6A a season ago, the Ironmen defense returns most of it nucleus, and seems to have picked up where it left off. Returning to the secondary are Anderson, Buck and Freeman. Davis returns as a starter, but has moved up to outside linebacker after playing safety last year. Austin Kull returns at linebacker and Jake Kretlow returns to the line. One of the few changes defensively, is that Wes Temples takes over the coordinator's position from a retired Terry McCombs. He's still running the same system, however. Who wouldn't? The Ironmen first started running it in 2003, when Coach McCombs joined their staff, and therefore is almost identical to that of the Raiders. Its a 5-2 cover 2/3 system built on speed and agility. They don't blitz much, they don't lock up in man coverage and run a series of stunts, they just simply line up and fly to the football. Their speed on the line prevents them from getting blown back, and smart reads from their linebackers and secondary keeps them from giving up the big play. Its a defense that, if needed, can carry the offense through the first half of the season, and after shutting the Raiders down last season, will prove to be a formidable challenge.
Game #3 Danville
So what can we learn from the intercity loss to Normal Community? Several things. First, we must limit our mistakes. A player leaving his lane on the kickoff, three players following each other down the field on a punt, a player blowing contain on a pass rush and two fumbles on pitches that hit the tailback in the hands are just a few examples. Second, we have to remain focused and play with confidence in "big game" situations. Communication breakdowns, adjustment mistake, and lining up late were visible examples of this. But most importantly, we have to tackle and play better defense. Using a simple, smash mouth style of football, the Ironmen rushed for over 300 yards. They lined up with six inch splits between their linemen, ran belly and iso, and simply drove us off the ball. Its the most basic form of football there is, but why get complicated when you don't have to? Sure the special teams miscues took away momentum, and the third quarter fumbles set the Ironmen up with great field position, but it was the two forth quarter scores that broke our back. Those, the Ironmen earned, and in doing so displayed their physical advantage up front. This becomes the single biggest area of improvement needed if we hope to be competitive against smash mouth teams for the remainder of the conference schedule (i.e. West, Centennial and Mattoon) and in the 6A playoffs against the likes of Joliet Catholic, Providence, and possibly a rematch against Community.
Unfortunately, we won't get the opportunity to work on this against the Danville Vikings. Offensively, they pose an entirely different threat. In their third year under veteran coach BJ Luke, the Vikings are running a combination an I backfield power game, and single back, shotgun, trips set. Out of the I, they will run iso, pitch and counter. Out of trips they run a trap with the running back, a counter with the quarterback, and a speed option attack at the defensive end. Passing consists of quick read routes to the wideouts in either set, a playaction off the iso play, a throwback to the running back, and shallow crossing routes to the flat and curl zones out of trips. The danger of this offense is that at five yards deep out of the shotgun, the defensive rush will never get to the quarterback before he releases the ball. You may be able to flush him out the pocket, but if he can throw on the run, he will get a pass off. In addition, like MacArthur did two weeks ago, the Vikings create spacing for their best athletes to get the ball in the open field and make plays. Its an offense that can score very quickly therefore always keeping the Vikings in the game, no matter what the score.
Defensively, Danville will also pose a threat in that they are the first even front the Raiders will face this season. The Vikings run a 4-4 cover 3/1 base alignment. It is probably the most efficient defense a team can run. With five defenders on the right, five on the left and a free safety in the middle, they can adjust to any offensive set without having to move any player very far. By walking the outside linebackers up to the line and manning up in the secondary, they can bring pressure. By leaving them off, they cover all zones to shut down a passing game and force an option team to make their reads. They key is the ability of the two defensive tackles to plug up the middle and the range of the outside linebackers to contain the outside run and defend the pass to the flats without getting confused by playaction.
Game #4 Urbana
Injuries and illness. Raider fans, its been a long, tough week. The team enters the week four match-up extremely short handed, yet still needing to improve as they come up to a four game stretch that will determine second place in the conference and playoff seedings. This week presents the Raiders with their first road trip against the 0-3 Tigers of Urbana High School. The Tigers have started the season extremely slow being outscored 106-6 in the first three games. Quite honestly, this is a game that the Raiders should win, but considering the number of ill and injured players, it will be a challenge. The positive is that several players, normally in reserve roles, will be forced into action, gaining playing experience that will prove valuable in terms of team depth as the starters return over the next couple weeks.
Though they haven't scored much, the Tigers will present a challenge in that they run a base offensive set that the Raiders have not faced yet this season. Its a double wing single back set with a tight end to one side and a split end to the other. Base plays out of this set include a jet sweep, fullback dive, outside zone, wing reverse, trap and potentially a double option. The jet sweep, in particular, can pose significant problems. One of the wings will go into a full sprint motion towards the other side of the formation. As he nears the quarterback, they will snap the ball and the quarterback will either give it to the wing who is already near full speed, or pull it back and give it to a diving fullback. It all really happens too fast for the defense to read. You stop it by sticking to the basics. The linebackers and tackles must stop the fullback, while ends and safeties deal with the wing. Stop it and the Tigers will then counter with a playaction off of it where the wing continues on to the flat while the tight end drags from the backside. Other pass plays include a fade to a tall split end, and several combination routes to either side of the four receiver set.
Defensively, they also present something new, a 4-3 cover 2 alignment. Traditionally a college and pro defense, it mainly designed to shut down a passing and playaction attack. It puts tremendous pressure on the linebackers to read quickly and make plays in the open field to stop the run. With the Tigers, its all about the big play. They either make a big stop in the backfield, or give up a big play because the linebackers have walked up and missed the tackle. The key for the Raiders will be offensive consistency and taking advantage of the opportunities the Tigers give us. At times this season, the offense has really clicked. Unfortunately, those good outings have been followed by ineffective three and out series. The Raiders need to play an error free, aggressive offensive game to gain confidence and erase question marks.
Game #5 Champaign Central
Now it starts to get interesting. The Raiders enter week five with a 3-1 record but facing four consecutive opponents that would like nothing more than to elevate themselves to the upper echelon of the conference by knocking off the Raiders. Up first, the Maroons of Champaign Central who enter the contest 2-2 having lost to Normal Community, and in overtime to Normal West, while routing the both Urbana and Eisenhower. Five wins should guarantee a playoff spot, and the Maroons realize that they will need to beat two of the following four teams to accomplish this, the Raiders, Centennial, Mattoon or Danville. All four teams beat the Maroons last season, but this team has reason to be confident. They held Normal Community to just over 100 yards of total offense (under 80 yards rushing) week one. By comparison, the Raiders gave up over 300 yards rushing to the Ironmen week two. The Maroons out gained Normal West by over 100 yards week three, but gave up an interception for an 80 yard touchdown, and threw another on the first play in overtime to drop a game that they really should have won. Coach Dave Jacobs has already labeled all of their remaining games as "winnable" and feels his team has yet to play their best. A homecoming crowd, a hungry opponent. What more could you ask for? See you at the game Friday night.
If you attended the game back in week three against Danville, you saw something very similar to what the Maroons will be running offensively. Like the Vikings, Champaign's base offensive set is trips/split with the quarterback and running back back five yards in a shotgun formation. Out of this the running game mainly consists of giving the ball to the running back and letting him pick his hole through the middle or run to the corner behind the trips receivers. For this to work, the running back needs good vision and the quickness to hit the hole before it closes. The Maroons have two running backs that both seem to possess these qualities. The difficult thing about stopping this rather simple running play is that it only takes a mistake by one defender to open a crease for the back to run through. One linebacker stepping the wrong way takes away his angle on the tackle. One defensive lineman not getting a push up field, or an end going to wide creates a seam between the two of them. The passing games has all the basics. They throw a variety of flood routes to the trips side of the formation forcing the defense to cover every zone. They throw a quick three step slant and out to the split end who is usually facing man coverage backside. They used a screen to the flanker in trips very effectively against West, even in a driving downpour. They have a slip screen that brings both the split end and the number one receiver in trips back to the middle of the field with linemen in front after they make the catch. They will also clear out to the trips side and then run the number three receiver out to the flat. And they can add playaction to any of these routes by simply dropping the ball for the running back, forcing the linebackers to honor the run and preventng them from getting too involved in pass coverage, or flowing to help out on the tackle. This offense has a variety of ways to create one on one situations in the open field. Missed tackles will kill a defense.
Defensively, its all about pressure. For you long time Big 12 Conference fans, the Maroon's defensive philosophy is a throwback to the Decatur defenses of a decade ago. The Maroons will line up in a base 5-2/5-3 front. But the linebackers are rarely further than 3-4 yards from the ball, and on most plays at least one is on a blitz. The secondary coverage is man to man, it has to be, there is no one left to play zone. Even in four receiver sets, they will man up and take their chances. As with any team that takes these risks, they are susceptible to the big play, but so far this season they have made far more big plays than they have given up. The loss to Normal Community was more the result of special teams break downs than it was Community's ability to score offensively. Not once was Normal able to drive the length of the field and score, not even close. The Maroon defense is full on hard nosed kids that find the football and tackle well. Offenses have to earn what ever they get against them.
Game #6 Mattoon
No more previews till we start playing better.
Game #8 Normal West
Before I get to this week's game, let me give you the Raider fan a brief explanation for my two week sabbatical. In doing this preview each week I try to maintain some credibility and speak from an inside point of view. I want to give you, the fan, a general description of the team the Raiders are about to face and touch on game strategy without giving away too much. My hope is to enlighten you so that you will better enjoy the game, and continue to cheer on the Purple Raiders. Well, the old adage is that if you can't say anything good, don't say anything at all. I found myself in that position two weeks ago. I need a certain level of confidence in how the game is going to turn out to be able to preview it. The inconsistency in our lineup (from a variety of different circumstances) over the last three weeks made this very difficult. I couldn't very well discuss our opponent when I wasn't even sure what we were going to look like. Strategy doesn't matter much when you are plugging several holes in a lineup. Rather than "fake" it, I chose to remain silent. Hopefully our struggles over the past month have made us a stronger team as we near the end of the season, and hopefully a playoff run.
Week eight takes the Purple Raiders northwest to visit intercity rival Normal West. The match-up brings two teams together that are desperately trying to build momentum heading into the playoffs. At 5-2, the Wildcats have two tough games remaining against the Raiders and state ranked (#4 in 5A) Mattoon. With five wins, the Wildcats should be assured of a playoff berth in the 6A bracket, but they want to get there on a high note, and at 7-2, could potentially host a first round game. The Raiders on the other hand, still need one more victory to be considered for a playoff berth and two more to guarantee it. But considering the events of the past month, we need to show improvement in the final two games more than anything else.
Offensively, the Wildcats have a new coordinator and new look, but with many of the same players from last years squad. In the past its been a heavy dose of option out of a double wing formation. Now its all about power from a variety of sets. Key returnees for the Wildcats include running backs Darius Bell and Ross Schmillen, quarterback Todd Albert and receivers Erich Bushong and Matt Paska. In last years match-up Bell was suspended for disciplinary reasons and Alberts was out with an injury. Schmillen stepped in at quarterback and proceded to run all over the Raiders in a very close 27-24. With the Wildcats at 100% this year, it should be interesting for the Raiders. The new look offense has multiple formations including pro, twins, trips, double twins, double tight and unbalanced. Base plays include lead, counter, pitch, cross buck (out of a deuce back backfield) and a fullback dive with a quarterback option of pulling the ball and going around end himself. The deception of the option is not there, but the Wildcats are guaranteed to get the ball in the hands of their biggest offensive threats, Bell and Schmillen. Of course last week, Alberts completes 14 of 18 pass attempts for over 200 yards, so the Wildcats also possess an effective passing game. The main focus is dump the ball out to Bushong on a swing pass to the twins formation, or on a quick slant and let his quickness gain the extra yards. But the Wildcats also run a bootleg pass off the counter that finds the tight end or Bushong dragging across the middle. With four receivers out, it forces the defense to cover every zone, and at the same time, contain the quarterback to keep him from turning it up himself. If neither of those options work, they just simple throw the fade to the 6'3" 205 pound Paska whose achievements include the touchdown that tied the game up with Champaign Central (which the Wildcats eventually win in overtime) and a four touchdown effort against Danville. So where the focus in terms of number of plays is on the running game, when it comes down needing to make a play, the Wildcats would be just as likely to look to Alberts and Paska to come up with it.
Defensively run the same 4-3 cover 2 look that the Raiders have faced two of the last three weeks, both loses mind you. They run it very similar to Champaign Central in terms of aggressiveness out of the linebackers and front four. Two weeks ago, against Community (another option team) the Wildcats made their intentions very clear. The down linemen and middle backer were going to stop the fullback, the ends were crashing hard on the quarterback, and the outside backers were responsible for the pitchman. That is standard defense. What made this different is that they were going to take those players down on every play whether they had the ball or not in a fearless display of aggressiveness. Setting aside the final score for a second, it worked. Normal Community did not move the ball very effectively on offense for the first quarter and a half, and never really did get the option going. The key for West was in changing the ;look of their front. It was still the 4-3, but gap assignments, slants, and alignments continually changed, making it difficult on the offensive linemen to adjust and pick up all their assignments.
Game #9 Decatur Eisenhower
Heading into the regular season finale, the Purple Raiders find themselves in a somewhat unfamiliar position. We are headed to the playoffs for a 22nd consecutive season, but will find ourselves on the road for the first round game for the first time since 1996. In addition, we need to win our week nine match-up with Decatur Eisenhower to avoid an even more precarious situation. At 6-3, with an average number of playoff points, we will most likely play a 6-8 seed in the southern bracket of the class 6A. Dropping to 5-4 would result in a match-up with a 1-4 seed in the first round. The game is also significant in that we need to continue to improve in all facets of the game. Proof of that can be found in last week's game against West. The Wildcats first touchdown was on a drive that was started by a fumbled punt. Offensively, we moved the ball almost at will in the first half while scoring 21 points, but stalled in the second half and only scored once. Defensively, we played well, but have yet to stop an opponent from scoring once they get inside the ten yard line this season, including one opportunity in the fourth quarter last week.
Offensively, who knows what to expect of the Panthers. At 0-8, with very few points scored, Eisenhower is likely to try anything. Traditionally a full house backfield, option team, over the past two seasons under Coach Don Flowers, they seemed to have converted more of a power running game with rollout and playaction passing. Base formations include pro, twins and the single wing. The backfield will line up mainly in the I formation. Base plays include lead, trap, isolation, and pitch. Out of the single wing they will also run a wing counter. To mix things up, they will also line up in trips (mainly to throw) and a double twins. Out of the twins they will motion to trips and run a speed option, and also run a counter play between the quarterback and running back out of a shotgun alignment. Passing mainly consists of two receiver routes out of twins and the single wing. They will run playaction off of the lead and isolation plays, and will also throw screen routes out to slot receivers in both double twins and trips. But again, expect the unexpected. Double passes, tailback option passes, and hitch and lateral may all come into play with a team that knows it is playing its last game and is not expected to win.
Defensively, the Panthers line up in a 4-3 cover 2/3 alignment like that of Normal West, and until last week, I would have said to expect much more blitzing this week. But Normal West manned up and sent everyone at times last week. When Eisenhower attempted to do that against Community a couple weeks ago, they gave up two very long touchdowns on simple passes in the first quarter. Have they learned their lesson? Whether they play man or not, we do have to work the passing game. Our two interceptions against man coverage last week was one of the reasons the offense stalled against West. We also need work against the blitz, and the 4-3 provides many opportunities for this when run by an aggressive defensive coordinator. There are as many questions concerning the Panther defense as there is with the offense. If we can stay focused and make adjustments, this uncertainty can actually help us prepare for the playoffs where we are likely to face and unfamiliar opponent week one.
There is one other factor that I want to point out, and it may come as a surprise to many of you. Can you name the two conference teams with the best record against the Raiders over the past fifteen years?............ The first one is easy, Normal Community. The second.... the Panthers of Decatur Eisenhower. They have beaten us three times since 1992 (one of the losses was nullified by a forfeit after the Panthers were found to have used an ineligible player) and two of those victories have come down in Decatur.
Playoffs - Round #1 - Chatham Glenwood
Week ten of the season finds the Raiders in a very familiar position, headed to the playoffs. But for the first time since 1996, that journey will begin on the road. If you have to start on the road, there is no better place to do it than Chatham Glenwood. For you fans that did not attend the quarterfinal match-up between the Titans and the Raiders in 2004, it is definitely worth the trip. The field is immaculate. Hands down the best the Raiders will play on this season. The bleachers have plenty of room, but just in case they fill up, one end of the field is enclosed by a hill that provides good views for everyone. There are concession stands next to both bleachers and a meeting room for both teams out at the field. It is quite simply one of the best settings in the state for a football game. The last time these two teams met, the Titans were attempting to march their way through the Big 12 to the 6A state championship. Back in 2004, they defeated Normal Community in the first round and Normal West in the second, but were stopped 20-7 by the Raiders in the quarterfinals. That game was defined by big plays including a twisting, spinning 70 yard jet sweep by Raider tailback Adrian Arrington and an 80 yard kickoff return by Titan receiver John Rourke. Ironically those two are still playing against each other with Arrington a free safety at Eastern Illinois, and Rourke a receiver at Illinois State. Neither team has advanced as far as the quarterfinals since that game. The Titans have lost in the first round of the playoffs each of the last two seasons, while the Raiders have dropped out in the second round. The winner of Friday's 7:00 p.m. match-up will face either two time defending 5A state champion Springfield Sacred Heart Griffith or perennial state champion New Lenox Providence in the second. For Chatham a win would put the on the road week two. for the Raiders it would result in a home game.
The Titans (formerly the Redskins, we have something in common with them) enter the game 8-1 with their only loss coming to Sacred Heart Griffith, 40-37, back in week five. In that game, they threw an interception into the endzone, and game up a kickoff return for a touchdown. So in the Titans minds, they could easily be undefeated, and rightfully so. Offensively they enter the game averaging 28 points a games. Base formations include pro, twins, double tight, double twins and trips. They will also run a couple of different unbalanced sets, where they line up a running back and all receivers outside the tight end in an attempt to outflank the defense. Seven different formations. For Big 12 fans that sounds like a lot, but in the Central State Eight, its a conservative number. Believe it or not, the Titans are the power team in a conference full of offenses that commonly run no back trips and quads sets. Out of those formations, base run plays include counter, counter, counter and more counter, oh and trap, pitch, iso and dive. Chatham runs all these plays out of deuce backfield, with both running backs stacked over the guards, allowing either one to be the ball carrier on any play. Up to week four, defenses could key Tyler Trimberger, the Titans returning 1000 yard rusher from a year ago. However, Trimberger broke his leg and has been out ever since (he could return this week). Replacing him has been a committee of running backs, three of which have posted 100 yard games in the five game since Trimberger's injury, making it impossible to key on any one of them. The frustrating thing is that with both backs five yards off the ball and the same distance from the quarterback, the counter play could go either direction on any play. The only read is the pulling lineman and the fact that the second back through gets the ball, but by the time you determine that, its too late. In the passing game, tendencies are somewhat easier to determine but the big play potential is much greater. The best receiver and player on the Titans is tight end/slot receiver Kyle Krager. On passing downs you have to find him. He is punishing blocker on the counter, but also runs well in the open field, and at 6'3" 215 pounds he is a big target. Play action plays include a bootleg off the counter, a play action off the pitch and a dump to Krager off the trap action. When they spread to the double twins, they will run a crossing and wheel route to one side, and posts back to the middle of the field. Out of trips they will isolate the split end to the backside, and run a crossing route with a vertical to the trips. Out of all sets, they will run a middle screen to the tailback, tight end or slot receiver out of the trips. They also keep the linebackers honest with a draw from any of the formations. In summary, the Titans will power the ball down your throat, catch you off guard with a play action pass off the power plays, then try to spread you out and get the ball into the hands of their best athletes with draws and screens. In the end, you can't really key anything and must cover every possibility on every play.
Defensively, well...it's hard to say. As I said earlier, most of their opponents run spread sets, so hard to tell how they will line up against our pro and twins sets. In 2004, they ran more of a traditional 4-3 cover 2, but now, they seem to always have a nose guard, two defensive tackles, and four linebackers, any one of which could be on the line of scrimmage and blitz on any play. In other words a 3-4 scheme, or if you want to play the numbers game another way, a 5-2 like the Raiders with defensive ends that will drop off any time there is no tight end to their side. The one thing that is certain is that they will line up in a cover 2 look in the secondary and press the outside receivers. Accounting for the linebackers, however, can be difficult. They all run very well and flow to the ball quickly. Their experiences against spread sets have also made them very good open field tacklers.
Playoffs - Round #2 New Lenox Providence
Those of you that have been regular readers of these previews over the years may have notice something missing this season. They have lacked heart. My goal has always been to objectively analyze the Xs and Os, but on several occasions, in seasons past, I let my heart felt bias come through. What the heck. It's not the Pantagraph and I'm not a reporter. I'm a coach and Raider fan. I try not to provide bulletin board material for our opponents, and don't give away any team "strategy," but when you finish reading one of these, they'll be no doubt from whose perspective it was written. This season, however, has been different, difficult. Inspiration has been in short supply. Ask any coach what his ultimate goal is for his team, and he will tell you that it is to see them play up to their potential and play with heart, leaving IT out on the field. Winning games and championships is great, but in the end, we all just want to see kids give their best effort and play the way we have coached them to play. If we get that kind of effort, win or lose, we walk off the field feeling like we have accomplished something. For a variety of reasons, this TEAM had failed to play up to its potential. IT had failed to play with heart, until last Friday night. The Glenwood game was the most complete team efforts of the season, and one of the best of the past few years. I'm not trying to elevate the victory to one of the greatest in team history, but I was very proud to see this team finally pull together, play with heart, and be rewarded for their efforts. In the end, it was a collection of great individual efforts, that taken as a whole, make it a team victory. It was Will Bishop setting the tone on game's first play with a big hit on the tight end, and then have to play his way through a stinger for the remainder of the game. It was Kyle Reilly playing guard for the first time in his career after the injury to Deonte Person. It was Marcus Johnson leading the team in both tackles and scoring. It was Ethan Young starting only his second game at center and having to go against a defender that outweighed him by 150 pounds on every play. It was James Monroe, who unfortunately dropped several potential interceptions, but seemed to be in the right place every time. It was Adam Peden kicking his longest field goal of the season and having his best game punting with a 36.3 yard average. And it was Levi Johnson for, well everything, 159 yard rushing (the most in a single game for the Raiders in over 15 years), two touchdowns, one passing, one rushing, and for literally, leaving IT out on the field. I know I have left some out, but I do need to get to this week's preview. Do enjoy it Raider fans, your team has finally come into its own and is playing its best football of the season.
Round two brings the Celtics of New Lenox Providence to Fred Carlton Field for a 2:00 p.m. Saturday match-up. The Raiders and the Celtics are very familiar with one another having met in state title games in 1991 and 2004, and in playoff games in 1999 and 2001, but this will be their first visit to Fred Carlton Field. The two teams last met in the 2004 6A state championship game in Champaign, a 41-0 victory by the Celtics. Since then, both teams have fallen on "hard times" by their standards. The Celtics have lost 14 games over the past three seasons. The nine time state champions did advance to the 7A semifinals last season, but have not won their conference (arguably the toughest football conference in the state) or appeared in a state championship game since 2004. The Raiders have failed to win the Big 12 for the past two seasons and have not advance beyond the second round of the 6A playoffs since 2004. The winner of Saturday's game will probably host top seeded and defending state champion Normal Community in the quarterfinals.
Offensively, not much has changed for the Celtics since 2004. As a matter of fact, I am tempted to go back to my preview of that game and cut and paste offensive stuff. Obviously the players have changed, but some of the same numbers are lining up at the same positions as they did back then. The Celtic philosophy is simple. They are bigger and stronger than most the teams they play, so they pound the ball down your throat and mix in a little playaction to try and pop a big play every once in a while. With a line that averages around 6'3" 260 pounds and a full back that is 6'3" 240 pounds they will line up in a pro and twins set and power the ball at you with an off-tackle lead play. To the play side, everyone blocks down. The fullback will then kick out the defensive end, opening a hole for the 550 pounds of pulling lineman that are coming from the back side. The tailback will simply hide out behind all of this till the running lane opens up. The most difficult part of stopping the play is simply finding the running back behind all that mass of humanity. In addition, out of the pro and twins the Celtics will also run a fullback dive and trap, a pitch and outside zone play with the tailback, and just in case you are keying the full back as a blocker on the lead play, a counter where the fullback goes opposite the hole being opened for the tailback. They will run playaction passes off the lead, counter and zone plays. The rest of the passing game consists of a three step read route, and a several crossing routes out of a double twins, and sometimes trips formations. These spread sets seem to be something new for the Celtics since the last time we played them. They are not, however, just passing sets. Out of one back sets, they will run a draw, screen, and even the lead play with the running back. In reality, this is all just a change of pace for the Celtics. In last week's game with Sacred Heart Griffin, they only spread out in long yardage situations and when time was short. When it comes down to it, they will start with their base formations and power plays.
Defensively, there has been a change. Like several other traditional 4-3 teams, the Celtics appear to have switched to a 3-5. Its really all just a numbers and terminology game. At times it will even look like the Raiders 5-2. The one thing that is certain is that the center and tackles will be covered by down linemen, and most of the coverage will be man. The five "linebackers" that are freed up could line up anywhere else on the field. Last week, against Sacred Heart, they were spread out in pass coverage. Earlier in the season against Brother Rice, they were on the line or blitzing out of an eight man front. They know we run the double option, so its a safe bet to assume that the look will be some soft of a 5-2 or 5-3 alignment created by moving the linebackers around.
Let's face it. No one expects the Raiders to win this game. We have not done well against the traditional catholic powers over the years, and are 0-4 against the Celtics. Most of the "experts" assume that the Celtics will have their way with downstate powers Sacred Heart, Bloomington and Normal Community on their way to a semifinal match-up with rival Joliet Catholic. A match-up several of their own fans concede they will probably lose because Joliet is the "anointed one" of the Catholic powerhouses. These are the same fans that believe Community only won the state championship last season because there was no Catholic powerhouse in 6A last season (Joliet was, but they were having a down year, and lost in the first round, therefore not falling under the definition of "powerhouse"). To them, the IHSA playoffs are a let down after their conference season, and they seem to be insulted by the fact that Providence and Joliet could meet in the semifinals instead of the finals. It's quite an arrogant attitude, but how can we argue back? We have lost these games. The only way to change the attitude is to win on the field. We've done it before. Ask St. Rita. Lets just play the game and see what happens.