SCOL Notebook: The unknown is a factor for Miami Trace
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
Friday was the first day teams in Ohio were allowed to wear full pads during a practice, and so on the first part of day No. 5 of my high school football tour across five counties I visited with the Miami Trace Panthers, who are looking to build back the tradition of Panther football.
Thanks to Miami Trace head coach Mike Bernard I was able to get a glimpse of the '11 Panthers' football program 21 days before the first kickoff, though by the time I arrived it was punting practice. Still, the punting game is important, plus it was close to 99 degrees, so I didn't need to be outside that long anyways.
But in my conversation with Coach Bernard we spoke about how there was a sense of unknown with the MT squad, but he also told me that is one of the fun parts about coaching. He also told me that is why two-a-day practices, along with the scrimmages, will be very important for the Panthers this offseason.
One big advantage for the Panthers as a program is their overall numbers. Bernard said they have close to 65 players in their camp, which I think compared to any of the teams in the South Central Ohio League is above average. Of those 65 or so players, 12 are seniors.
One project (if you call it that) about the Panthers that I found interesting was not just their quarterback battle (they are replacing two-year starter Tucker Hughes), but was the "rebuilding" of their defense with just three players returning who took a majority of snaps of the defensive side of the ball. Any time a team has to replace eight players who were on the field the most (MT likes to rotate players) … well, that can be part of the unknown factor mentioned earlier. Again, what will help the Panthers is all the players they have to choose from.
Here are some other interesting facts and thoughts on the Panthers.
• Of the two players Bernard said were in the battle for the QB position (Austin Schoellkopf and Jimmy Stroker), both are very capable of being under center for the Panthers in '11. The next couple weeks should be exciting for fans of the MT Panthers as a QB will earn the starting spot. Bernard described them both as good athletes, and they both give the Panthers a good chance at achieving success this season.
• Miami Trace has a lot of depth in the backfield this season, with a couple of the backs seeing playing time last season.
• Bernard said his team talked about becoming bigger, stronger and faster (along with being more physical) all winter long. He felt their physicality was a drawback last season as MT went 2-8 overall (2-4 in the SCOL).
• Last season MT allowed 335 points and scored 215 points.
• Seven players on the Panthers' offense who took many snaps last season are back.
• MT fans should look forward to the talent they have on their offensive and defensive lines, which will be one of their strengths this season. Having a good, solid offensive and defensive line can make a world of difference when a team is trying to improve on a two-win season.
• Again the MT Panthers are a stronger team than last season. They were lifting weights before their final stretching exercise of the day when I was at their camp on Friday.
Quote from the coach
"We feel like we have a good amount of depth at running back, but we are a little inexperienced at wide receiver … you never know what that means. That might be good because you might have kids step up, or things might just not click there for us. — Mike Bernard, MT head coach on replacing players on the offensive side of the ball.
(Another) Quote from the coach
"Right now being so early (in the offseason) you are going to have surprises, and you are going to have disappointments when we put the pads on. An example is when we thought kids who are going to be ready to play aren't ready to play, or if you are lucky enough … you are going to have pleasant surprises." — Mike Bernard, MT head coach on two-a-day practices and evaluating the team in practice in preparation for the regular season.
Again, I can't thank the MT Panthers enough for their time today, as it was a busy atmosphere after practice with player weighing in, getting their T-shirts and photo packets. They are hard at work and the seniors (along with the rest of the team) want to help be apart of "THE" team that starts to bring back the "Panther Football Tradition" of years past.
MT will open the '11 regular season at Circleville.
Come back to the HCP website later this weekend as I will be visiting the Madison-Plains Golden Eagles on Saturday morning.
Remember to get a copy of the 2011 Highland County Press high school football preview that will be released before the start of the regular season.[[In-content Ad]]
Thanks to Miami Trace head coach Mike Bernard I was able to get a glimpse of the '11 Panthers' football program 21 days before the first kickoff, though by the time I arrived it was punting practice. Still, the punting game is important, plus it was close to 99 degrees, so I didn't need to be outside that long anyways.
But in my conversation with Coach Bernard we spoke about how there was a sense of unknown with the MT squad, but he also told me that is one of the fun parts about coaching. He also told me that is why two-a-day practices, along with the scrimmages, will be very important for the Panthers this offseason.
One big advantage for the Panthers as a program is their overall numbers. Bernard said they have close to 65 players in their camp, which I think compared to any of the teams in the South Central Ohio League is above average. Of those 65 or so players, 12 are seniors.
One project (if you call it that) about the Panthers that I found interesting was not just their quarterback battle (they are replacing two-year starter Tucker Hughes), but was the "rebuilding" of their defense with just three players returning who took a majority of snaps of the defensive side of the ball. Any time a team has to replace eight players who were on the field the most (MT likes to rotate players) … well, that can be part of the unknown factor mentioned earlier. Again, what will help the Panthers is all the players they have to choose from.
Here are some other interesting facts and thoughts on the Panthers.
• Of the two players Bernard said were in the battle for the QB position (Austin Schoellkopf and Jimmy Stroker), both are very capable of being under center for the Panthers in '11. The next couple weeks should be exciting for fans of the MT Panthers as a QB will earn the starting spot. Bernard described them both as good athletes, and they both give the Panthers a good chance at achieving success this season.
• Miami Trace has a lot of depth in the backfield this season, with a couple of the backs seeing playing time last season.
• Bernard said his team talked about becoming bigger, stronger and faster (along with being more physical) all winter long. He felt their physicality was a drawback last season as MT went 2-8 overall (2-4 in the SCOL).
• Last season MT allowed 335 points and scored 215 points.
• Seven players on the Panthers' offense who took many snaps last season are back.
• MT fans should look forward to the talent they have on their offensive and defensive lines, which will be one of their strengths this season. Having a good, solid offensive and defensive line can make a world of difference when a team is trying to improve on a two-win season.
• Again the MT Panthers are a stronger team than last season. They were lifting weights before their final stretching exercise of the day when I was at their camp on Friday.
Quote from the coach
"We feel like we have a good amount of depth at running back, but we are a little inexperienced at wide receiver … you never know what that means. That might be good because you might have kids step up, or things might just not click there for us. — Mike Bernard, MT head coach on replacing players on the offensive side of the ball.
(Another) Quote from the coach
"Right now being so early (in the offseason) you are going to have surprises, and you are going to have disappointments when we put the pads on. An example is when we thought kids who are going to be ready to play aren't ready to play, or if you are lucky enough … you are going to have pleasant surprises." — Mike Bernard, MT head coach on two-a-day practices and evaluating the team in practice in preparation for the regular season.
Again, I can't thank the MT Panthers enough for their time today, as it was a busy atmosphere after practice with player weighing in, getting their T-shirts and photo packets. They are hard at work and the seniors (along with the rest of the team) want to help be apart of "THE" team that starts to bring back the "Panther Football Tradition" of years past.
MT will open the '11 regular season at Circleville.
Come back to the HCP website later this weekend as I will be visiting the Madison-Plains Golden Eagles on Saturday morning.
Remember to get a copy of the 2011 Highland County Press high school football preview that will be released before the start of the regular season.[[In-content Ad]]