Friday Night Lights 2010: An Offensive Primer
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
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
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
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
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
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.
August 26th, 2010 at 11:01 AM ^
There is a Toledo st. Francis and a Columbus Desales. Rock and Patrick are from Columbus Desales
August 26th, 2010 at 12:38 PM ^
Yeah, that wasn't included in the original text. Fearless Leader must have added it when editing.
August 26th, 2010 at 11:08 AM ^
is actually a lollipop.
Good stuff. Looking forward to another season of Friday Night Lights - not the tv show, never seen it.
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.
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
August 26th, 2010 at 1:04 PM ^
Sousa and Lake Nona will be here in Inverness tomorrow night at 7:30 for the Kickoff Classic at Citrus High Schools stadium.
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.
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?
August 26th, 2010 at 12:03 PM ^
Last game is away in name only. TC Central, TC West and TC St Francis all use the same field in Traverse City.
August 26th, 2010 at 12:31 PM ^
Can't wait for the return of the MGoCreeper Bus.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
August 26th, 2010 at 2:44 PM ^
You're thinking of Clarkston.
August 26th, 2010 at 3:21 PM ^
I'm not an Oakland County expert, but isn't Clawson more likely than Clarkson? Proximity-wise, at least.
August 27th, 2010 at 12:35 PM ^
One of the Seaholm coaches (who lives in Clarkston, not Clawson) is his legal guardian.
August 26th, 2010 at 2:22 PM ^
I think I might try to go to some Seaholm games this year and see him play. That guy is the real deal.
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?
August 27th, 2010 at 12:37 PM ^
Anything with "about" in it can only be considered so legit, but it seems to be accurate.
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