Friday Night Lights 2010: An Offensive Primer Comment Count

Tim

For those who are new around here, I chronicle the high school exploits of Michigan commitments over the course of their seasons in Friday Night Lights. It includes statistical recaps, game stories, and even some original video. Here's a primer on the offensive side of the ball.

Lake Nona Schedule 2010
Date Time Team
8-27 6:00 Lake Howell
9-10 7:00 @ Lake Placid
9-17 7:00 Palm Bay Heritage
9-24 7:30 @ Lake Wales
10-1 7:00 Auburndale
10-8 7:00 @ Tenoroc
10-22 7:00 Sebring
10-29 7:30 @ Winter Haven
11-5 7:30 Lakeland Christian

Kevin Sousa

kevinsousa.JPG

Lake Nona, FL

Lake Nona High School

HS position: quarterback

Projects as: quarterback

Lake Nona had a rough inaugural season of high school ball, winning a single game on their way to a 1-9 record. Their only victory came over fellow 1-9 squad Celebration. That's understandable in their first season, one without many (or possibly any) seniors on the team as well. Sousa passed for 1346 yards and eight TDs, while rushing for 916 yards and an another five scores.

In year two of Lake Nona's existence, there's a good chance that they take a leap forward. Just like year two of a coaching change, the players are used to the coaches now (and are even used to each other, after coming from different high schools as sophomores and younger). Sousa will also be in his third year of football after growing up a soccer player. Lake Nona has added some talent as well, including RB Jarius Pace, so Sousa won't have to be a one-man show. That should mean more openings and better stats for him. I think Sousa has a chance to improve his rankings (currently a consensus 3-star) with a good year statistically.

I won't be able to catch any of Sousa's games live, but plan to follow his progress this year very closely.

Birmingham Seaholm Schedule 2010
Date Time Team
8-26 7:00 North Farmington
9-2 7:00 Bloomfield Hills Andover
9-10 7:00 @ Bloomfield Hills Lahser
9-16 7:00 Detroit Country Day
9-24 7:00 Auburn Hills Avondale
10-1 7:00 @ Hazel Park
10-8 7:00 @ Berkley
10-15 7:00 Ferndale
10-22 7:00 @ Birgmingham Groves

Shawn Conway

shawnconway.jpg

Birmingham, MI

Seaholm High School

HS postion: wide receiver/safety

Projects as: wide receiver

Last year, Seaholm started the season by losing their first six games, before rebounding to finish with a 3-6 record. They missed the state playoffs, though they typically make it into the state tournament. Their quarterback issues prevented Conway from racking up gaudy stats. He finished the year with 79 receptions for about 800 yards with ten touchdowns.

Seaholm should be improved this year as Conway has the opportunity to star in his senior season, and their coach is on record expecting to win the league. Mick McCabe calls Conway the #17 player in the state of Michigan, and notes that his size/speed combo makes him a tough matchup. Still, unless Seaholm's quarterback situation get much better, he might not rack up serious stats. The lack of numbers will likely prevent Conway from seeing his ratings improve.

Seaholm is close enough to Ann Arbor that I should be able to make it out to a couple of Conway's games this year.

Traverse City West Schedule 2010
Date Time Team
8-27 7:00 Grand Haven
9-2 7:00 Grandville
9-10 5:00 Essex (CAN)
9-17 7:00 Cadillac
9-24 7:00 Gaylord
10-2 6:00 @ Dearborn Edsel Ford
10-8 7:00 @ Petoskey
10-15 7:00 @ Alpena
10-22 7:00 @ Traverse City Central

Jake Fisher

fishermcap.jpg

Traverse City, MI

TC West High School

HS position: tight end/defensive end

Projects as: offensive tackle

Last season, Traverse City West went 4-5 in the regular season, missing out on the state playoffs. They run an option-based ground attack. Fisher played primarily tight end and defensive end for the Titans, accumulating 10 receptions (out of only 38 for his entire team) for 185 yards and a touchdown on offense, with four tackles for loss on D.

This season, Fisher will remain at tight end, though he's added plenty of size in the offseason (three inches and 20some pounds), so he might be more of a mauler up front and slightly less of a receiving threat. The TC West coach is dropping platitudes about character being important, so the team probably won't be that good. They received just one out of about 100 first-place votes for conference champions among local media. Since Fisher's still playing out of position in high school, he probably won't see his ratings get that much better.

I might get a chance to check out one or two of Fisher's games this year, but probably not.

St. John's Jesuit Schedule 2010
Date Time Team
8-26 7:30 Toledo Scott
9-4 1:30 @ Birmingham (MI) Brother Rice
9-11 7:00 Sandusky
9-24 7:00 @ Toledo Whitmer
10-1 7:00 Toledo Start
10-15 7:00 Oregon Clay
10-22 7:00 @ Toledo Waite
10-29 7:00 @ Toledo Central Catholic

Jack Miller

953859.jpg

Toledo, OH

St. John's Jesuit High School

HS position: defensive end/guard

Projects as: center

Last year, St. John's Jesuit went 6-4, but that wasn't good enough for them to make the state playoffs. The season included a heartbreaking 6-7 loss to crosstown rival Toledo St. Francis DeSales. [Update: your editor got confused by St. Francis DeSales claimed that was where Omameh and Rock were from; they're from Columbus. Not Tim's error.]  Miller had 12 sacks for his team, but obviously didn't accrue any stats as an offensive lineman.

St. John's Jesuit is in their final year of the City League, and will be competing in a new conference by next season, so this is their Nebraska-like last chance to win. Miller will play on both sides of the ball for his team. The recruiting sites can't even agree on what position Miller will play, so if he excels on the offensive line this year, he could see his ratings move up a bit.

I should have a couple opportunities to see Miller play in person (including tonight! Follow me on Twitter @varsityblue for updates) and plan to take some original mgoblog video.

Tampa Plant Schedule 2010
Date Time Team
8-27 7:00 @ Manatee (ESPNU)
9-3 7:30 @ Tampa Bay Tech
9-10 7:30 Hillsborough
9-16 7:00 @ Abilene, TX
10-1 7:30 Armwood
10-8 7:30 @ Gaither
10-15 7:30 Spoto
10-22 7:30 @ Alonso
11-5 7:30 Chamberlain
11-12 7:30 @ Robinson

Tony Posada

tonyposada.jpg

Tampa, FL

Plant High School

HS position: offensive tackle

Projects as: offensive guard/tackle

Last year, Plant was loaded, running up a 13-1 record and winning the Florida Class 5A State Championship. Posada was key a member of a line that racked up 2945 team rushing yards.

Plant is still loaded in 2010, with RB James Wilder and QB Phillip Ely committed to big time programs (Florida State and Alabama, respectively). They're the odds-on favorite to win a third consecutive state title. Posada should once again be a bookend for the line. With the amount of exposure that Plant gets, Posada will have to show some improvement in technique (and an ability to keep his weight down) if he wants to see his rankings move up.

I won't be able to see Tony play in person, however his team will be playing Manatee this Friday in a rematch of the 2009 state title game. The matchup will air on ESPNU.

Comments

Florida Blue

August 26th, 2010 at 11:07 AM ^

I am actually planning on going to the Plant vs Armwood game.  I will watch Posada and let the site know how he looks.  I am no expert on technique but I will at least give my opinion.

Hartmabm

August 26th, 2010 at 12:58 PM ^

Florida Blue,

I live in Tampa too. I was planning on trekking out to Tenoroc to watch Sousa on 10/8. Its only a 45 minute drive. Not bad at all.

I will bring my Flip cam to the games so the MgoCommunity will be able to get a decent look.

Email me Hartmabm [AT] Gmail [dot] com

BlindRef

August 26th, 2010 at 11:11 AM ^

I refereed Conway's scrimmage.  Albeit it was against Divine Child, he was a man amongst boys out there.  Seaholm's entire offensive strategy was "get the ball to Conway"

I watch a lot of high school school football and he's one of the better athletes I've seen in awhile.

mi_vandal

August 26th, 2010 at 11:24 AM ^

That is one weird schedule they put together - start the year with five straight home games, then finish with four on the road.  Is that typical, or some kind of weird quirk this year?

PTS

August 26th, 2010 at 12:35 PM ^

There schedual is an odd one this year becuase of confrence additions in the comming year.  And although Fisher could be a mauler he does have great hands.

kvnryn

August 26th, 2010 at 12:52 PM ^

I'm looking forward to seeing some coverage of my former high school (Seaholm) by way of MGoBlog. Sticking with Explosions in the Sky this year?

floridabronco

August 26th, 2010 at 1:09 PM ^

Kevin Sousa will be here in Inverness, FL tomorrow night in the preseason classic vs. Citrus High School.  Kickoff is 7:30.  Although a diehard WMU fan, I follow M primarily because I use to be Jon Jansens basketball coach for two years at Clawson High. I wll be at the game.

StraightDave

August 26th, 2010 at 1:11 PM ^

solid information that is not full of fluff.  You guys do a pretty good job with recruiting.  It's hard to go back to rivals and GBW.

bronxblue

August 26th, 2010 at 1:33 PM ^

Looking forward to the recruiting updates this year, especially as UM continues to improve and some of the big-name recruits start to fall.

Also, that Sousa picture is just a more little, I don't know, provacative compared to the other stock photos.  Nothing wrong with that, but every time I see it I imagine him immediately slapping a cheerleader on the butt and yelling out "It's Sousa Time!" or something along those lines. 

Yeah, maybe I need help.

Seth

August 26th, 2010 at 1:36 PM ^

So I guess his residency status was cleared up and he won't be playing for Clawson? Awesome.

If the MGoCreeper van is heading out to Birmingham for Conway or Brother Rice, <a HREF="mailto:[email protected]">giveme a heads up</a> and I might join ya. My brother and I try to get to the Seaholm/Groves game every year.

Watts Club Moz…

August 26th, 2010 at 11:21 PM ^

He finished the year with 79 receptions for about 800 yards with ten touchdowns.

Those seem like outstanding numbers for a guy with a shakey QB situation. Are they legit or coach-inflated?