Parry McCluer preview
- Thread starter mikesalem
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I do have a great preview of Parry McCluer. They will be more of an aerial attack this year as they might have lost Cook and Nelson but the speed is there. Now I'm not saying they have the team to knock off Riverheads GW or Galax but they will be an exciting team to watch. I will start on offense. The tight ends are newly named starters. Josh Cash is 290 lbs and has pretty good footwork obviously very strong. He will be a great addition on the end. The other end will be DW Holzworth he's around 6'1" 205 ish and a technically sound player who will hit you and has great hands. The tackles will be Josh Fisher and either Tye Wheeler or Karl Davis. Wheeler is 6'3" 285 and Davis around 5'11" 400 ish. They're both big boys. Wheeler can move pretty good but cardio could be a problem for him as he's up from around 250 last year. He holds blocks pretty good as well Davis is a powerhouse the strongest player on the team. Not real fast being up around 400 lbs but a decent blocker. If he gets hands on you where he wants them good night because he's well over a 400 lb bench. Fisher is a biggin too around 6'4" 260-270 ish. He's a good blocker but cardio could be a problem with his added weight. Could be played at either tackle position possibly a guard with his speed. Looking back at the GW film against PM, Fisher needed to work on his strength in the off-season. At the guard positions you have two starters returning in Ryan Smith and Jared Mason. Both are seniors. Smith is 6'0" around 185 or so but is first and pound for pound does a heck of a job being inside with the hogs. Would have been nice to see him up around 200 this season but he's a wrestler so he keeps on the lighter but quicker side. Mason is an unusually bigger guard at 6'0" 295 lbs. This is his 3rd year starting at guard could be used at tackle as well. His first step is good for nearly 300 pounds. Technically speaking I would have to rate as the most sound of the offensive line. Very strong he moves you where he wants most of his defenders end up on their back. At center there's Graham Armstrong at 6'2" 240 he's a new starter on the line but will be a great addition. He's had a great off-season in the weight room and can finish blocks fairly well. Getting to work with the experienced guards will be needed to finish off a very good offensive line. At qb there's Zach Claytor a 6'3" 175 lb junior. The starter last season he has a great head on his shoulders and no doubt a cannon to get the ball down the field. Moves well in the pocket and great presence in the pocket. Not afraid to tuck and run and do not expect a slide as he will lower the shoulder on occasions.Expect numbers wise a 12-16 td year from him. At running back you have Marcellus Dawson for a 3rd season and only a junior. Coming off back to back 1,000 yards if I'm not mistaken expect more than that with Cook and Nelson gone. Dawson is around 6'0" 205 great vision, lateral movement, and breakaway speed not a 4.3 kid as I seen in another post I would put him in the 4.5-4.6 range but it's there when needed. Dangerous receiver out of the backfield as well. A very strong runner. Also at running back is Cole Walker. A new starter in the backfield will add the breakaway speed they like. On the smaller side around 5'10" 160-165 ish but is tough. Look out for highlights from him because this kid can fly. One step on you he's gone hands down. Wouldn't be scared to bet he is a legit 4.3-4.4 guy. Should be an dynamic backfield for the Blues as usual. At fullback you will have Eli Wheeler a 6'0" 235 lb junior. Wheeler the son of head coach Mark Wheeler is a brutal hitter and blocker. Lb's better be on a swivel when he comes through the line because he's very powerful and runs with a vengeance. The line has a couple reserves and the backfield is capable of rotating in and out for breaks. Speedsters Lance Fitzgerald and Austin Moore will get some carries as well. Both underclassmen. Offensively Parry McCluer can put 40+ points up a game on most opponents on their regular season schedule. Rockbridge will be improved as they are a large 3a school but the Blues have won the last 4 matchups. Expect a close opening rivalry game next Friday. Buffalo Gap a large 2a school is always a tall task as they are very physical. The rest of the schedule looks pretty favorable with a mid season meeting with William Campbell at home could be a shootout. Overall I see PM ending the regular season at either 8-2 or 9-1. A few breaks in the first two games they are looking at another 10-0 regular season. Nobody in the district will compete with them in my eyes. Defense will come tomorrow or Monday.
Defensively the Blues are stout in the front 7. Defensive end you will have Josh Fisher and Josh Cash. Fisher contains the end pretty darn good and with his 6'5" frame he can have great looks in the backfield. Needs improvement on fighting off double teams but time will tell he's a big guy. Cash is a new starter on the end moving from defensive tackle. It will be hard to overpower him from the end position. We will see how he contains against faster teams. Inside at the tackles you could also see Cash. Tackles are looking like a mixture of Karl Davis, Ty Wheeler, Graham Armstrong, Andreas Davis, and Jared Mason. Davis is a load to move at 400 lbs as well as the others hovering at near 300. Defensive line will be very hard to run between the ends at. Andreas Davis is around 150 lbs but is lightning off the ball and very strong. Look for him to cause some problems for the center. The linebacking corps lost all State and 4 year starter KJ Cook a William and Mary signee. Also lost Jace Wheeler. In the middle you will have Eli Wheeler a 235 brutal and powerful hitter. You better have your chin strap on good. He can cover as well and his great awareness puts him around the ball majority of the time. Look for an all State season for him. The olb will be Ryan Smith and Marcellus Dawson. Smith is a smart player and his vision will get him into some play making situations. A great special teams player. Dawson can stop the run or cover the #1 receiver he's very versatile. Great game speed and a hard hitter. In the secondary at corner will be Walker and Austin Moore. Walker was a starter last season expect a big season of him if they decide to test his side. Great closing speed and not afraid to lay the pads on you. Moore is a first year starter but don't let that fool you he has stepped in like he's been there before. At 5'9" 160 ish he will come up and stick you like a 200 pounder. Great hands. At safety you have Zach Claytor and either Lance Fitzgerald or Troy Coleman. Claytor also the qb reads the qb well and lays back there hiding well but will step up and lay pads on you with a pretty good smack for a qb. Had a pick against Stuart's Draft in a scrimmage in which the Blues shut out the Cougars. Fitzgerald has awesome hands and is very fast. Coleman is a big hitter and toughness is his middle name. At 6'3" around 185 he has a long wingspan which has helped him make plays in jv as well as varsity. Also could get time at fullback. Overall defensively the Blues will not be a shutout team week after week but they have some great experience on this side of the ball. If the Blues can stop the pass they will be very sound. I would like to see the corners play on the ball closer. In the GW game last season they were played about 12 yards off the line. Great instincts will only take you so far. Hopefully Wheeler will have them closer this season as they face a couple more pass attack teams. Look for alot of 3 and outs for the Blues this year. Will be the best defense in the district and one of the best in 45.
Pretty good/ok. Didn't play nowhere near all the starters. Ran the ball at will. Page has some athletes though, not the Page of old. Could have done better but the heat was getting to both teams. Should be an interesting game to say the least against Rockbridge County.