Who wins the 1a and 1aa state championships?

[mbdfan_rivals121259]

Everyone is wanting to talk roster numbers for Murphy and are giving them a smaller chance to repeat this year because of the 33 kid roster. If you look on maxprep, last year on opening day ( not counting but one freshman, Mccracken) because the roster has the jvs that got pulled up listed. Murphy had 37 kids. Correct me someone, if I'm wrong but Mccracken to my knowledge was the only freshman that played all year. I'm pretty sure that we had 35 dressed opening night against Pisgah. Two of which were girls. In 17' we had 38 if you subtract the freshman that are listed on maxprep. We have 33 listed this year. We have one injury that I know of. So we are gonna open up with 32 kids this year. I realize we are not as deep in the "back" department as we have been. But I also believe the last few years we have been deeper in that department than historically we have been. An injury to a key will always hurt Murphy or any 1a team. I'm just failing to see the HUGE deal with Murphy's numbers this year based on their numbers from the last few seasons and the success they have had with those numbers over those seasons.

I get where you're coming from about Murphy being deeper than normal in the backfield the last three years and the numbers this year not being too dissimilar to last year or 2017, but I just can't agree that depth isnt a huge issue for this year's team compared to the last three years.

You're right in saying that the numbers this year (it's not 33 though, Maxpreps is off) aren't too different from last year or 2017, BUT there were quite a few more contributing athletes on both of those teams. The best way to prove this is the fact that Murphy looks like they will have around 9 kids starting both ways this Friday, in 2018 Murphy had 6 kids starting both ways, in 2017 Murphy only had 4 kids starting both ways. 2018 is about an average year in terms of two way starters for Murphy, its typically around 5 or 6, but having 9 though? I can honestly never remember that here ever. 9 to 6 or 4 is a huge difference and the dropoff from the first string to second string is much steeper this year than it's been any year since 2015, there's just no way around that.

I really like what Murphy has as far as starters but it's been a long time since they were this thin in terms of actual contributing athletes.

 

[Gentle Knight]

I was talking about this the other day regarding the Zeke Elliot holdout. You can’t replace Zeke, but behind the cowboys o-line a half decent rb can still be productive. Murphy will be fine.

I have to kindly disagree..A good back will make an O-line look much better than they really are..I've seen it many times at Rville, even the championship teams. However you can have an excellent O-line and without a good back you are basically going nowhere. You have to have that one explosive back that can take it to the house on any given play.
Just my opinion.

 

[BulldogDad27-23]

I get where you're coming from about Murphy being deeper than normal in the backfield the last three years and the numbers this year not being too dissimilar to last year or 2017, but I just can't agree that depth isnt a huge issue for this year's team compared to the last three years.

You're right in saying that the numbers this year (it's not 33 though, Maxpreps is off) aren't too different from last year or 2017, BUT there were quite a few more contributing athletes on both of those teams. The best way to prove this is the fact that Murphy looks like they will have around 9 kids starting both ways this Friday, in 2018 Murphy had 6 kids starting both ways, in 2017 Murphy only had 4 kids starting both ways. 2018 is about an average year in terms of two way starters for Murphy, its typically around 5 or 6, but having 9 though? I can honestly never remember that here ever. 9 to 6 or 4 is a huge difference and the dropoff from the first string to second string is much steeper this year than it's been any year since 2015, there's just no way around that.

I really like what Murphy has as far as starters but it's been a long time since they were this thin in terms of actual contributing athletes.

I know what you are saying about contributing athletes and I agree. I wish we were three deep at every position, but we aren't. I dont think I said that I'm in love with our depth this year or lack there of. What I'm saying is I believe we have a great team this year. A team that is capable of repeating as State Champs. I'm saying that the season kick off is in about 55 hours and we are going to hit the field with the kids we have, the kids that WANT to play and be Bulldogs. The starters know that they will be asked to play more than normal this year, and from what I have seen they look more than capable. Without major injuries I like our chances against everyone on our schedule and every possible playoff matchup. I'm sick of hearing about the kids that didnt want to play and how great it would have been if they had played. Kickoff is on it's way and they aren't there or going to be there. If they didnt have enough "want to" to even play then I'm not to worried about what we are missing without them. I doubt coach Gentry or any of the other coaches have lost any sleep over it and I doubt they are dwelling on it this week. I'm looking forward to Friday night and the season ahead with the team we have. In no way do I think that our lack of overall depth RUINS our chance of repeating as Champs just like I wouldn't think we were AUTOMATICALLY champs if those kids had played. I say let's all enjoy the season with the Bulldogs on the field and forget about the "what if's" .

 

[mbdfan_rivals121259]

I know what you are saying about contributing athletes and I agree. I wish we were three deep at every position, but we aren't. I dont think I said that I'm in love with our depth this year or lack there of. What I'm saying is I believe we have a great team this year. A team that is capable of repeating as State Champs. I'm saying that the season kick off is in about 55 hours and we are going to hit the field with the kids we have, the kids that WANT to play and be Bulldogs. The starters know that they will be asked to play more than normal this year, and from what I have seen they look more than capable. Without major injuries I like our chances against everyone on our schedule and every possible playoff matchup. I'm sick of hearing about the kids that didnt want to play and how great it would have been if they had played. Kickoff is on it's way and they aren't there or going to be there. If they didnt have enough "want to" to even play then I'm not to worried about what we are missing without them. I doubt coach Gentry or any of the other coaches have lost any sleep over it and I doubt they are dwelling on it this week. I'm looking forward to Friday night and the season ahead with the team we have. In no way do I think that our lack of overall depth RUINS our chance of repeating as Champs just like I wouldn't think we were AUTOMATICALLY champs if those kids had played. I say let's all enjoy the season with the Bulldogs on the field and forget about the "what if's" .

Yeah I've lamented the fact that some aren't playing probably a bit more than I should but it's because it hurts the kids that actually are playing by making the situation more difficult than it neeced to be.

But with that stated I never said the lack of depth ruined anything and I never said this couldn't be a great team. Just that they aren't as deep as previous years and that they need to stay healthy to reach their goals, nothing more and nothing less.

 

[SitOut]

The boys not playing, are they dedicated to another sport 100%? Is it a case of specialization or just laziness? I would imagine it would be tuff at Murphy if basketball or wrestling was you number 1 sport. Murphy always goes so deep into the playoffs, you are way behind in winter sports.

 

[BulldogDad27-23]

Yeah I've lamented the fact that some aren't playing probably a bit more than I should but it's because it hurts the kids that actually are playing by making the situation more difficult than it neeced to be.

But with that stated I never said the lack of depth ruined anything and I never said this couldn't be a great team. Just that they aren't as deep as previous years and that they need to stay healthy to reach their goals, nothing more and nothing less.

I hear you. I know you didnt say all that. But that seems to be some folks attitude and I just dont agree with it. I like our chances.

 

[pollo_loco_rivals]

I have to kindly disagree..A good back will make an O-line look much better than they really are..I've seen it many times at Rville, even the championship teams. However you can have an excellent O-line and without a good back you are basically going nowhere. You have to have that one explosive back that can take it to the house on any given play.
Just my opinion.

Lol right, but if you actually read what I wrote, which I know reading comprehension isn't as important as it once was, I said "half decent" which means I'm not implying a freshman with no varsity experience is going to light up the stat sheet behind a good o-line, although I would think he might still do fairly well. To your point on a back making a line look good sure in high school (especially 1-A) that can be easily accomplished because the lack of talent on defense that plagues many teams at this level (although your all pro backs weren't so good at Murphy last year were they?? haha). But your argument doesn't hold once you step to 3-4A, college, and pros. The talent, speed, and athleticism on defenses doesn't care how good a running back is. If there isn't a good o-line that create holes and hold their blocks that back isn't gaining much. Being a Tennessee fan it pains me to say how awful the o-line play has been in recent years with the talented backs that have been in the backfield. Hence, Tennessee's running game has been mediocre at best. So I'm not sure what there is to disagree about?