Mallard Creek, Myers Park and Richmond: What’s the Common Thread?

Mr Honda

All-Conference
Nov 12, 2012
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It’s usually true anyway, but especially for these three teams this year. Hope the QB stays healthy. Like I said, it’s true anyway. You want your starters in there. But it’s especially true this year. Hood with his legs makes Richmond’s engine hum. Even with those top flight receivers, can someone make the throws like Maye? For Mallard Creek, Noller with his passing has been a game changer regarding make the Creek’s offense more dangerous. What are your thoughts?
 

rcoraider98

Senior
Sep 10, 2013
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If any of these 3 lost their QB they would be in trouble just like most teams. None of them would be the favorites to win the state. But if any of the 3 can survive I believe Creek would, because of their power run game and great defense.
 

BlueandGold34

All-Conference
Aug 17, 2013
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All 3 are elite players and are playing the most important position on the field so yes if you lost one it would be problematic.

Wake Forest has proven that you could win 4aa without an elite QB by being exceptional at most everything else but in most cases if you go back 25 years I can only think of 2 or 3 other teams that didnt have at least a very good one.
 

Raider7967

Sophomore
Oct 11, 2011
683
171
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If any of these 3 lost their QB they would be in trouble just like most teams. None of them would be the favorites to win the state. But if any of the 3 can survive I believe Creek would, because of their power run game and great defense.

Agreed. I think all three could be competitive if healthy on all ends.
 

704CougarsDad

All-Conference
Nov 11, 2015
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If any of these 3 lost their QB they would be in trouble just like most teams. None of them would be the favorites to win the state. But if any of the 3 can survive I believe Creek would, because of their power run game and great defense.
Dont b fooled...creeks DNA is the run...this passing now is jus smoke n mirrors to fool folx. Playoff time u will see a run oriented offense. I'm not saying wing T but they will get back 2 what won them championships during crunch time.
 

BlueandGold34

All-Conference
Aug 17, 2013
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Dont b fooled...creeks DNA is the run...this passing now is jus smoke n mirrors to fool folx. Playoff time u will see a run oriented offense. I'm not saying wing T but they will get back 2 what won them championships during crunch time.

Cougar- I dont think so. There has been no evidence of that with the exception of maybe the DF game when I think the offense was still in baby steps.

This is Hellams baby now and this is who these #airraid guys are. I dont think they even look at what the defense is in to determine run or pass. They throw the ball into two deep with corners playing off 10-15 yards. There was a series late in the game against you guys where they had just forced another 3 and out and it was clear your defense was gassed and he threw it 3 straight times. Incomplete, Holding, Incomplete.

I think maybe weather conditions may affect it some but it is clear he is working up the field and outside the hashes. He had D1 backs at RHNW and he threw it 25+ a game.

It will be interesting to watch come November because every instinct Palmieri has is to run the ball and run clock late but Hellams will want to be aggressive. They did not like the look of the last two playoff runs. I believe they will continue to be very aggressive. They havent been in 2 TE's once this year.
 

btango

All-Conference
Nov 5, 2003
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I agree, B&G.

I scratched my head on some of the play calling against Vance and DF. Sometimes it is better to get 11 in 3 plays than gamble for the homerun. Don't get me wrong, I love the passing game and the big play but a grinding that clock three straight runs sometimes take the wind out of an opponent as much as the thirty yard pass completion especially when they have to be prepared for that pass attempt.
 

BlueandGold34

All-Conference
Aug 17, 2013
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I agree, B&G.

I scratched my head on some of the play calling against Vance and DF. Sometimes it is better to get 11 in 3 plays than gamble for the homerun. Don't get me wrong, I love the passing game and the big play but a grinding that clock three straight runs sometimes take the wind out of an opponent as much as the thirty yard pass completion especially when they have to be prepared for that pass attempt.

Yup, There have been moments where I have given pause. Its so weird for me to see MC play anyone with safeties lined up 18 yards deep that I just think automatically they are running power. That hasnt happened this year and frankly I think it has cost them some physicality on offense.

Then I remember that in their last 4 playoff games they have averaged 9 pts per game because they haven't been able to throw it especially when they have needed to throw and it doesnt bother me as much. The West side is too good now. You just cant line up and maul people like you used too ( West Forsyth is gonna figure that out) and it puts far too much pressure on the defense. One or two bad sets and you lose.

Noller is special and has extremely good decision making and pocket presence. They trust him to pull it down if its not there or throw it away. The passing game has bailed them out multiple times this year when they got behind the chains. That is something that didnt happen the last two years.
 

btango

All-Conference
Nov 5, 2003
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Yup, There have been moments where I have given pause. Its so weird for me to see MC play anyone with safeties lined up 18 yards deep that I just think automatically they are running power. That hasnt happened this year and frankly I think it has cost them some physicality on offense.

Noller is special and has extremely good decision making and pocket presence. They trust him to pull it down if its not there or throw it away. The passing game has bailed them out multiple times this year when they got behind the chains. That is something that didnt happen the last two years.

I would probably say the last three (2016-2018).

I think they are confident enough in Noller and know he is capable of making decision. Not sure about the INT at Vance but the only really bad decision (three games against top flight teams / athletes) was the Gaffney INT.

The backs are quick and when the drop is so severe I think they can get five plus yards but I started to get concerned about the OL a bit against Vance. Vance front seven is fierce and they bring it but it seems to me, and did at Gaffney, that the OL is not firing on all cylinders and seems confused a bit. May be totally off on that but the O scheme is different this year in what they can do and the mix of plays. That will work itself out and the OL is the toughest place to pick up the changes.
 

BlueandGold34

All-Conference
Aug 17, 2013
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I would probably say the last three (2016-2018).

I think they are confident enough in Noller and know he is capable of making decision. Not sure about the INT at Vance but the only really bad decision (three games against top flight teams / athletes) was the Gaffney INT.

The backs are quick and when the drop is so severe I think they can get five plus yards but I started to get concerned about the OL a bit against Vance. Vance front seven is fierce and they bring it but it seems to me, and did at Gaffney, that the OL is not firing on all cylinders and seems confused a bit. May be totally off on that but the O scheme is different this year in what they can do and the mix of plays. That will work itself out and the OL is the toughest place to pick up the changes.

Pick against Vance was a bounce off a helmet on a shallow crossing pattern. The Oline has been good at times and average as well. The struggle against Vance had alot to do with penalties and the Vance design which is very good.At times they have been excellent. They have tried to run the ball out of 4 wides a ton this year and it has provided a challenge. The DF game and the Vance game they have gone to that split back set and used Simpson or Holmes as the lead blocker and they have had a ton of sucess with that. Straight downhill, hat on a hat is a little easier than pulling guards and tackles.
 

704CougarsDad

All-Conference
Nov 11, 2015
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Pick against Vance was a bounce off a helmet on a shallow crossing pattern. The Oline has been good at times and average as well. The struggle against Vance had alot to do with penalties and the Vance design which is very good.At times they have been excellent. They have tried to run the ball out of 4 wides a ton this year and it has provided a challenge. The DF game and the Vance game they have gone to that split back set and used Simpson or Holmes as the lead blocker and they have had a ton of sucess with that. Straight downhill, hat on a hat is a little easier than pulling guards and tackles.
Yeah Hack seen that on film...gonna b fun if theres a rd.2 in the playoffs
 

onebadtiger29

Senior
Jan 18, 2009
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The Air Raid is not easily learned in one season. I believe MC is very ready to commit to a punishing run game if and when it is necessary to win. Until then they will continue to work on their new offense. MC has been sporadic at best on offense and will continue to be so until every player fully understands the precision needed to sustain success. It's all about timing which can be effected by a poor snap, missed block, receiver getting knocked off his route, etc.., etc....
MC receivers are still not used to getting targeted by the QB so frequently and especially when they have DB's hanging on them. Noller obviously trusts the receivers as he keeps feeding the ball in some very tight windows. When the receivers learn how to consistently catch the ball during contact and more importantly attack the ball vs letting it travel to them then MC will hit a new level.
The only way to fix all of this is to keep throwing it, study film, and coach them up!
 

onebadtiger29

Senior
Jan 18, 2009
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I would probably say the last three (2016-2018).

I think they are confident enough in Noller and know he is capable of making decision. Not sure about the INT at Vance but the only really bad decision (three games against top flight teams / athletes) was the Gaffney INT.

The backs are quick and when the drop is so severe I think they can get five plus yards but I started to get concerned about the OL a bit against Vance. Vance front seven is fierce and they bring it but it seems to me, and did at Gaffney, that the OL is not firing on all cylinders and seems confused a bit. May be totally off on that but the O scheme is different this year in what they can do and the mix of plays. That will work itself out and the OL is the toughest place to pick up the changes.
Although I would have liked to seen more offense against Vance I left that game feeling that MC may have progressed. There was no good film on Vance and they ran a defensive scheme that MC was not prepared for. Fortunately the MC defense allowed the offense time to make adjustments and as the game went on they established enough of a run game to produce a few cracks in that great Vance defense. It caught me off guard, as it did many, that MC threw the ball 3 straight times on the series late in the game when it was obvious the run game was gassing Vance. I have to believe that was totally about getting work in when you have so much trust in your defense.
I do feel for every defensive coordinator facing MC this season. What do you prepare for? Air Raid, wishbone, twin backs? You all know as well as I do that they haven't shown everything yet. That two tight end set isn't far off! lol
 

BlueandGold34

All-Conference
Aug 17, 2013
4,551
3,378
113
The Air Raid is not easily learned in one season. I believe MC is very ready to commit to a punishing run game if and when it is necessary to win. Until then they will continue to work on their new offense. MC has been sporadic at best on offense and will continue to be so until every player fully understands the precision needed to sustain success. It's all about timing which can be effected by a poor snap, missed block, receiver getting knocked off his route, etc.., etc....
MC receivers are still not used to getting targeted by the QB so frequently and especially when they have DB's hanging on them. Noller obviously trusts the receivers as he keeps feeding the ball in some very tight windows. When the receivers learn how to consistently catch the ball during contact and more importantly attack the ball vs letting it travel to them then MC will hit a new level.
The only way to fix all of this is to keep throwing it, study film, and coach them up!

Here is the good news. The #1 issue the past 3-4 years has been explosive plays out of the passing game and that seems to be resolved. I think getting 21 on the defense now that the kicking game is intact becomes very tough. Take away the DF game and short fields at Gaffney and they have been very good.
 
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onebadtiger29

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Jan 18, 2009
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Here is the good news. The #1 issue the past 3-4 years has been explosive plays out of the passing game and that seems to be resolved. I think getting 21 on the defense now that the kicking game is intact becomes very tough. Take away the DF game and short fields at Gaffney and they have been very good.
You definitely don't have to tell me about that defense. Those men have been doing an unbelievably superb job!!