Game preview - @ South Plantation

FOOTBALL SEASON IS BACK!!!!!!!!!!!

2 a days, summer conditioning, and fall camp are all things of the past. Now, it's time for teams to write their chapter of history. And for your Miramar Patriots, this is a day that couldn't come fast enough. 

Before we look at the Patriots side of things, let's first examine their opponent.

South Plantation Paladins (0-0, 0-0 District 11-8A)

Over the past 2 years, this has been a playoff matchup. The first year in 2011, the Patriots (winners of their District) hosted and defeated the Paladins 38-0 in the Regional Quarterfinals of a playoff run that ended in the State Championship game. Read my recap of the 2011 game here.

Last year, the Paladins hosted, but the end result was the same: a 3-0 Miramar victory, and the end of the season for South Plantation. Read my recap of last year's game here.

As for this year, the Paladins figure to be in for a struggle. Over the past 2 years, South Plantation has lost some very good college level talents, including Broward County's leading rusher in 2011 RB Alex Collins (Arkansas) and QB John Frankline (Florida State). In all honesty, those 2 players were the ones who propelled South Plantation into the playoffs in these past seasons, and without them to create plays and score points, the Paladins will struggle to recreate their past success.

The Paladins lost their kickoff classic 39-7 to Everglades. While they have decent talent, losing by such a large margin to the Gators, who haven't made the playoffs 2005, is a warning sign. It doesn't figure to portend good things for the future prospects of the South Plantation season.

The Miami Herald and South Florida High School sports are calling for the Paladins to lost by 20+ points. Barring a bunch of turnovers from Miramar, I tend to agree with those predictions.

2 Reasons South Plantation might win:

The Paladins force turnovers and turn those takeaways into points.

The Patriots overlook a team without it's best 2 players from the last few seasons, and jump out to an early lead while Miramar tries to settle in and find a rhythm.

Miramar Patriots (0-0, 0-0 District 12-8A)

The Miramar Patriots have always played for Pride, but that mantra seems to be even stronger this year.

Last season, the Patriots couldn't find any consistency, earning the District runner-up spot in the last week of the season, and struggling to a 7-5 finish. While most teams would love to have a 7-5 season that included a playoff run, but Miramar isn't most teams. This is a program that has grown into one of the best in Florida, and anything short of contention for a State Championship is, in anyone's estimation, a failure.

But, that is in the past. This year brings a renewed focus and energy, and the Patriots will try to turn that focus and energy into on-field success.

Head Coach Damon Cogdell also serves as Defensive Coordinator of one of the best defenses in the State of Florida: the Darkside defense. This year's Darkside will be led by the back 7 (linebackers and defensive backs). For the linebackers, seniors Ryan Samuels, Kaywon Davis and David Lee figure to log most of the snaps, with junior Danzel King being the primary backup. There could also be occasions that see the Patriots using a 3-4 alignment where all of those players (as well as others) seeing time together.

In the secondary, there are many talented players. Led by senior Andre Godfrey and juniors Tyrek Cole, Jeff Hill Jr., and Josmar Diaz-Martinez, this unit is full of lockdown players who will make life difficult for opposing offenses.

On the Defensive line, senior Alex Trotman and junior William Crumpton will use quickness, agility, and technique to get to the quarterback. Other players on all levels of the defense will make names for themselves throughout the course of the season. 

As for the offense, it is no secret that last season was a struggle. In 6 of the 12 games, the offense scored 14 or fewer points, much to the chagrin of players, coaches, and fans alike. For a team as athletically talented as last year's Patriots were, that lack of production was puzzling, to say the least.

Enter new offensive Co-ordinator Travis Taylor. He joins the Miramar staff after spending time at Boyd Anderson, and brings a new spin to the spread offense. I can't tell you everything that I've seen in practice, but suffice it to say that you'll see some things you already know and love (multiple formations, multiple receivers on the field at a time), and some thing that are a bit different.

At the Quarterback position, seniors Gernald Hawkins and Nick Jeanty both have the talent to start and be very effective players. Hawkins, a dual threat player, can make plays with his arm or legs with equal success. Jeanty, a prototypical pocket passer, is most comfortable throwing the ball, but will run sporadically. The offense has unique packages for both players in addition to its base/staple plays. It will be interesting to see which player has won the starting job for the opener.

To say there is an embarrassment of talent at Running Back would be a gross understatement. Seniors Khalil Lewis, Eric Pittman, and Cameron Rigby all figure to play prominent roles, while junior Alex Anderson may be the most physically talented player of this group. There shouldn't be a play where the running back is tired. All of these players can play and make a big impact in games.

At receiver, seniors Kwasim West and Tyler Williams lead an impressive group. Junior Kahlil Lewis (no relation to the running back of the same name) might be the most coveted recruit of this group with his combination of size, speed, and skill. Watch out for manchild sophmore Kevin Purlette. He was a featured target in the summer 7-on-7 circuit, and continues to make plays in practice. He will make an impact through this season.

On the line, seniors Stewart Boyd, Yodny Cajuste, Damone Thompson and junior Leeward Brown are tasked with protecting the quarterbacks, and opening holes for the running backs. This group once again won the OLine challenge at the Dolphins 7-on-7 tournament, and will be integral to Miramar's offensive success this year.

For the Patriots, this season comes down to 2 things: can the offense consistently score points, and is this team going to be disciplined enough to eliminate the mental mistakes that plagued them a year ago?

While I don't have South Plantation's full roster (it is a new season afterall), I can't see the Paladins having much of a chance against the Patriots. A running clock in the 4th quarter wouldn't surprise me at all.

Why Miramar might win:
The Darkside defense comes out fast and strong, forces turnovers, and stifles the rebuilding South Plantation offense.

The offense finds its stride and replicates the chunk plays (20+ yards) and points that Everglades was able to achieve against South Plantation in the kickoff classic.

What to watch for:

South Plantation
Who are the playmakers?
Can the defense shore up the holes that were present last week?
Is there any home-field magic?

Miramar
Does the Darkside defense control the game?
Which QB runs the offense most effectively?
Which RB has the standout game?
Can the Patriots eliminate the mental errors (turnovers, penalties) that curtailed their 2012 season?

Kickoff for the 2013 season will be at 7pm on Friday night. For address information and customizable directions to South Plantation for the game, CLICK THIS LINK

Summer is over, and football season is BACK.

Is it time for kickoff yet?

Until Next Time,


Cameron J. Underwood
Miramar Sports

Playoff Game Recap - Regional Quarterfinal at South Plantation

After a long, intense, and interesting regular season, the Miramar Patriots began the Road to Orlando by travelling to face the South Plantation Paladins.

This was a rematch of the Regional Quarterfinal from last year. Last year, the Patriots demolished the Paladins 38-0. This year, the game was tightly contested, and very contentious at times. In the end, Miramar advanced with a 3-0 victory.

• You can read the Miami Herald recap by Manny Navarro here
• You can read the Sun-Sentinel recap here

Let's take a look at some of the key factors from this game:

South Plantation:

• Much has been made of the talents of senior RB Alex Collins. In this game Collins, Broward County's leading rusher, was contained and shut down by the Darkside defense. Collins, who sustained a shoulder injury last week (which I saw him get wrapped before the game), was unable to shake Miramar LB Jermaine Grace, who shadowed him all over the field. Collins grew frustrated to the point that he earned a personal foul penalty for grabbing Grace's facemask after the LB pushed Collins out of bounds. Collins, beaten and bruised, left the game for good due to a wrist injury (which I'm pretty sure occurred on the personal foul play) in the 4th quarter. He only played 3 snaps in the 2nd half. Collins ended the game with 9 carries for 13 yards, and 1 catch for -1 yard.
• Recent FSU Commit QB John Franklin was pressured and ran for his life most of the game. The senior was sacked by the Miramar Defense 7 times, pressured many others, and pretty well contained  on the night. He finished 6/17 for 42 yards passing and 1 interception. Much had been made about his progression since we saw him play last year. His performance on the night did not bear that to be true.
• The South Plantation defense played some good football. After allowing the Patriots into the red zone 6 times, they only allowed 1 field goal on the night. They played quick, smart, strong football, and should be applauded for their effort. They kept their team in the game, and kept this from being a much larger margin of victory for the Patriots.
• Overall, South Plantation just didn't have enough talent to win this game. Their star players, Collins and Franklin, were held in check, and without them playing amazing games, the Paladins weren't able to make much happen against the Patriots.

Miramar:

• Any recap of this game has to start by talking about the Darkside Defense. This group played outstanding football, and limited the Paladins to 83 total yards and 7 first downs on the night. Collins and Franklin were unable to shake the defense, and the Paladins were held scoreless for the 2nd time in 3 games. It was also the 2nd shutout for the Patriots on the year, and the 3rd time they held an opposing offense scoreless (Northeast's scores came on defensive returns). Great job by the Darkside!
• Leading the defense were Seniors Jermaine Grace, Sanka Harris, Ja'Quan Smith, and Junior Ryan Samuels. Grace and Smith had 8 tackles each, while Harris and Samuels had 7 tackles a piece. They were physical , ferocious, and determined not to let South Plantation find space for their players to operate.
• The defense sacked South Plantation quarterbacks 8 times. Ja'Quan Smith led the team with 3 sacks, while Alex Trotman and Shawn Stephens had 2 each. David Lee had 1 sack on the night.
• Andre Godfrey Jr. had a great interception, which he returned 34 yards. That's his 2nd pick in the last 2 games, and clear evidence that he's elevating his level of play at the perfect time of the year.
• There were a couple HUGE hits in this game, most notably delivered by Jermaine Grace, Telvin Arnold, and Tyrek Cole. I want to see more of that, gentlemen.
• Against our offense, South Plantation clearly had 1 goal: Don't let Eric Pittman get loose. They upped their intensity every time #4 came on the field, and it showed in their performance. Pittman, who had rushed for 227 yards and 5 touchdowns in the last 2 regular season games, found little room to operate, and was held to just 35 yards on 18 carries. He also dropped a pass on the game's opening play that, if caught, would have gone for a touchdown. I'm anxious to see how he bounces back next week.
• Nick Jeanty started hot, going 6/9 in the first half. His seam route pass to Tanares Robinson almost went for a touchdown, but Robinson was caught by the back of his jersey. Jeanty showed good touch, and nice velocity on his throws through the game. He struggled in the 2nd half after the rain started. I'd still like to see more decisive throws from him.
• Jeanty showed something that he hasn't very much this season: an ability to run. He kept the ball on the read option a few times, and stepped up out of pressure to find good yardage available. This might  prove to be a valuable weapon for the offense in the future.
• Wide receivers only got 6 receptions, but we only called about 16 passing plays on the night. With Jeanty running on a couple, the opportunities outside weren't many. There are still elite playmakers at this position, and they will make an impact for this team before long.
• Kicking has been an up and down proposition for the Patriots this season. Michael Allinder's 25 yard field goal, the only scoring in the game, was a pure kick and would have been good from 45 yards. I liked his confidence in taking and making that kick. His performance will be needed throughout the playoffs.

An Underwood Rant:

I hate to do this, but I can't let this slide anymore: the referees clearly have an agenda against Miramar. 

In this game, where BOTH teams were getting chippy, hitting after the whistle, and talking back and forth, the crew only cited Miramar for fouls. Miramar had 17 penalites. South Plantation had 5 (3 of which were false starts). 

This cannot continue. 

Over the years, the referees have repeatedly looked at Miramar as the only team who has infractions. There have been many games in the past and this year where the difference in the penalties for us versus the opponent is 4 to 1 or 5 to 1. The ONLY game where you could argue that we got the benefit of calls in the last 5 years would be this year's game against St. Thomas Aquinas. 

Let me be clear: I'm not asking for extra calls. I'm not asking for the referees to give us an advantage. I'm asking that they STOP giving the opponent the extra advantage, and call the game fairly. Offsides is offsides. I have no problem with that. But when you have a 5 yard penalty, then talk as a group of officials, and all of a sudden change that to 2 personal fouls, something has to be said. 

In short, Referees need to stop playing for the other team, and go back to being impartial arbitrators of the game action. Because, when it comes to Miramar games, they're playing for the opponent.

Those are my thoughts. What are yours?

Until Next Time,

Cameron J. Underwood
Miramar Sports

Regular Season Grades - Offense

People always ask me: “Underwood, what do you think about (insert player/position/scheme/playcall here)?” So, to answer everybody’s questions, here is your first installment of my Regular Season Grades.

Today, we’re starting with the Offense.

Here goes:

Quarterbacks – C+

After transferring from Archbishop McCarthy, Nick Jeanty won the job as starting QB and came out with a powerful statement on his first drive as a Patriot, leading the team down the field against National #1 Bradenton Manatee, capping the drive with a touchdown pass to Sean Avant. Apart from that, Jeanty’s play has been up and down. His completion percentage is strong (66.5%) and he has shown a good arm, and confidence in the pocket. He’s been the victim of some drops at key moments, but has also thrown into coverage a bit too often, resulting in 12 interceptions on the year. Jeanty appears to be either holding back, or being held back by the coaches (I’m not sure which one it is). Jeanty can still be a great player, but to do that the turnovers need to be cut down.

Gernald Hawkins has played some good football. When faced with starting defenses, the Junior struggled mightily, although he did progress as the season wore on. Late in the year against Western and Flanagan, Hawkins came into the games ready to throw, and throw deep. He connected on touchdowns each of the last 2 weeks, and showed that, when given time, he can be an effective player.

Joseph Testamark and Demari Simpkin did a good job running the scout and JV teams, respectively. Testamark has a live arm and good athleticism. Simpkin took over for Testamark/Hawkins and led the JV team to their 3^rd consecutive undefeated season.

Running Backs – A

Alex Lee came onto the scene this year as a man possessed. He opened the year with 133 yards on just 11 carries against Bradenton Manatee and didn’t stop there. The highlight game for him was the win against St. Thomas Aquinas, where he had 148 yards and 3 touchdowns. Lee’s spotlight season was cut short with a knee injury in game 6 at Boyd Anderson.

Cameron Rigby has added an element of shiftiness that was missing from the backfield after Trevon Rolle decided to leave the program. A polished receiver and dynamic returner, Rigby’s talents were frequently on display in many areas of the game. I would like to see him dance a bit less and get up the field, but that’s a minor gripe for a player of Rigby’s caliber.

Embodying the feast or famine nature of this season is junior RB Eric Pittman. Known to his teammates as E, Pittman’s lackadaisical punt return with premature celebration cost us the Cypress Bay game. But, Pittman did not let that mental lapse define his season, and he came back to rush for 227 yards and 4 TDs over the crucial season ending games against Western and Flanagan. Pittman has shown that he is a special player, and could possibly be the best RB on the roster. Which is saying something with the talent we have in the backfield.

Khalil Lewis put his toughness and blazing track speed on display repeatedly this season. The junior RB found great success the past 2 seasons on JV, and continued to excel on the Varsity level. He didn’t get as many carries as I’m sure he would have liked, but it’s tough to balance 6 quality players at 1 position. He’ll see his role increase next season for sure.

Alex Anderson had an interesting season. Too big/good to be on JV, but stuck behind 4 other players on Varsity. Anderson, who looks like a grown man standing 6’1” 212lbs and with a full beard as a SOPHOMORE, ran like Adrian Peterson when he got on the field, leaving defenders on the ground in the wake of his path. He ran for over 100 yards in very limited time, but he will definitely be a key player in near future. Just watch.

When the spread offense needed some more bulk, FB Malik Mapps came in to open holes and lead the way for the 5 RBs on the team. His contribution to the team goes further than stats, and his willingness to do the “dirty work” allowed for the skill players to find space and put points on the board.

Wide Receivers – B

Sean Avant was clearly the headliner of this group. He led the team in catches and receiving yards, and made tough catches over the middle when the offense needed them most. His leaping touchdown grab in the opener against Bradenton Manatee showed the elite ability he possesses.

Apart from Avant, the passing game was spread between a host of other playmakers. Tanares Robinson, Geonte Smith, Delano Whitehead, Khalil Webster, Alex Lee and Cameron Rigby all had 10+ catches. Add in Tyler Williams and Kwasim west, and you have a receiving corps that can put many different players on the field without any drop in production.

Drops were a particular scourge in losses to Northeast and Boyd Anderson. This wasn’t the only thing that contributed to those losses, but they didn’t help the team either. There were also times when receivers ran wrong routes or quit on their routes (didn't run them full out to the end). Both areas kept this unit from being more successful and dynamic.

On the season, 17 different players caught passes for the Patriots. This wasn’t the same explosive offensive season that we’ve had over the past 6 years, but there is still a wealth of quality talent at the receiver position.

Offensive Line – B

The play of the line mirrored that of the team this season. When they played well, they were GREAT. When they struggled, it was terrible.

Center/Guard Mike Miranda was the only returning starter to this unit, and he led admirably. His in line run blocking was the catalyst for the running game many times this season. He struggled at times with his shotgun snaps, which hurt the offense. He will probably move to guard full time at the next level.

Leeward Brown and Delvin Arnold played well at guard. Brown, a Sophomore, could be one of the top college prospects to ever come out of Miramar. Arnold eats up defenders as he drives in run blocking situations. Both struggled at times in pass protection, but they both improved over the course of the season.

Tackles Daniel McGhie and Damone Thomson struggled against quick pass rushers, particularly in the games against Northeast and Boyd Anderson. They played very strong games against Cypress Bay, Bradenton Manatee and St. Thomas Aquinas. Consistency is the only thing keeping this pair from being 

great. Overall, their play was solid if unspectacular. Definitely nothing to be ashamed about.

Stewart Boyd was a capable player who freely rotated at both Center and Guard. He will be a key to the success of this team in the future.

DTs Ja'Quan Smith and Telvin Arnold pulled a bit of double duty, playing on offense when the line was thinned out due to injuries later on in the season. They added a nasty streak and very good strength up front, and their additions, though intermittent, paid big dividends for the offense.

Overall Grade: C+

This season saw the offense struggle at times, and look like a well oiled machine at others. It’s taken some adjusting to find the strengths of this year’s team, mainly running the ball and timely ball control passing.

I lamented the struggles of this unit throughout the season, but also celebrated its successes. An average season from this unit was still good enough when it needed to be to earn a spot in the playoffs. Tailoring the offense to the talents of this year’s team has taken some time, but I think that the late season performance and production is more indicative of this team’s abilities than the early season struggles.

Game Preview - vs. Cypress Bay

District play continues this week, as the Football season hits its halfway point. Teams are starting to find their identity, and build their resumes for the playoffs. Also, as the season continues, Rivalry Games will be coming pretty frequently now.

And for the first major Rivalry Game in District 12-8A, I present to you the teams who have won this District (or any District they’ve been members of) for the past 6 years. Two teams who have a long history of fierce competition in many sports, but most of all Football.

Cypress Bay.

Miramar.

Only one can win. Let’s look at the teams:

Cypress Bay Lightning (3-1, 1-0 District 128A)

Cypress Bay has always been a tough team to play. Led by Coach Mark Guandolo, a veteran whose teams won multiple State Championships when he was at Chaminade-Madonna, the Lightning are a tough, disciplined, and opportunistic team who can present problems for their opponent in all 3 phases (Offense, Defense, Special Teams) of the game.

This year, Coach Guandolo got rid of the only offensive attack he’s ever used: the Wing-T, and replaced it with a hybrid I-Formation/Spread offense.  This has opened up the field for the Cypress Bay skill position players, and made the game a little more interesting for players and fans alike.

The offense is led by Senior QB Jaranta Lewis. Lewis, a 3 year starter, has pressured defenses for years with his dual threat (running and passing) abilities. Lewis has had a strong start to the year, but the passing game took a step backwards last week vs. Flanagan. Cypress Bay could only muster 59 yards passing on the night, and looked out of sync. Lewis will need a big game throwing the ball for the Lightning to be successful.

Lewis’ #1 target is Senior WR Alex Montgomery. Already committed to Wake Forest, Montgomery  is a large target (6’2”, 208lbs) who has become the headliner at receiver for Cypress Bay. His numbers are already impressive, with 12 catches for 338yards (28.2 yards per catch) and 2 touchdowns. He is one of the top skill position players in the District, and his production will be integral to the success that the offense will be able to enjoy.

The third leg of the triangle that is the Cypress Bay offense is Senior RB Matt Dayes. Another 3 year starter (along with Lewis and Montgomery), Dayes looks to add to his impressive resume at the expense of the Patriot defense. Dayes’ numbers are also impressive through 4 games (376 yards, 4 td), and that production on the ground has been the centerpiece of the efficient and effective Cypress Bay offense.

Complimenting Dayes is Senior RB Josh Kaiser, who seems to have a penchant for scoring long touchdowns. Last year, I remember reading recaps of games seeing Kaiser as having scored from 70+ yards multiple times. Already this year, he’s scored long touchdowns against St. Thomas Aquinas and South Broward. He doesn’t get many touches, but don’t let that fool you. Kaiser is a player. Watch out for him.

The offensive line is one of the best units in the State. Led by Senior C Jason Rae, the Lightning look to create lanes for their skill players to succeed in space.  The offense around them may have changed, but the offensive line, and their hard nosed mentality, remain the same.

The Defense is stingy, and full of solid players. WR Alex Montgomery pulls double duty as the starting Free Safety, and RB Maquese Dudley-Gordon is another 2-way star. Linebacker Nico Marley, grandson of Reggae music legend Bob, and CB Boaz Joseph are Division 1 recruits with multiple offers. The Defensive Line is largely unproven, and will face the uneviable task of containing the potent Miramar running game.

The defense is allowing an average of 17.75 points per game, but that stat is slightly misleading. Apart from St. Thomas score 43 points against them, Cypress Bay has not allowed more than 12 points to any opponent this season. They will need to have another good night, playing fast and hitting hard, to stop the Patriots and emerge victorious.

Why Cypress Bay Might Win:

We’ll get to that later.

Miramar Patriots (2-2, 1-0 District 12-8A)

The Miramar Patriots got back in the win column last week, defeating West Broward 48-3. That game, our first in the District this year, featured a solid effort in all 3 phases of the game. For more reaction to that game, check my Game Recap here: http://miramarsports.blogspot.com/2012/09/2012-game-recap-4-west-broward.html

The Patriots still need to find a consistent rhythm and identity on offense. They are averaging 335.5 yards of total offense and 25.25 points per game. Lackluster scoring performances against Bradenton Manatee and Northeast were balanced against high scoring games against Ely and West Broward. Miramar will need to find a way to play like the latter games, not the former.

Leading the passing attack is Junior QB Nick Jeanty, who has completed 71.8% of his passes, for 559 yards, with 4 touchdowns and 6 interceptions. Jeanty has been very effective completing short passes, and deadly in the screen game (3 of his 4 touchdowns have come on screens). I would still like to see him stretch the field vertically a bit more, but when you’re completing nearly 3 out of every 4 passes, you have to be pleased with that efficiency out of the QB.

The running attack is the heart and soul of the offense. Averaging 186.25 yards a game, and with 6 solid players who contribute, Miramar has shifted to a ground and pound team overnight, after years of spread football with 30+ passes a game. The coaching staff has made it a point to control the line of scrimmage and dominate the running game. I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Patriots eclipse 200 yards rushing in this game. This figures to be one of the focal points to the offensive gameplan.

The Lightning Squared backfield of Alex Lee and Cameron Rigby has combined for 488 yards rushing and 5 touchdowns through the first 4 games of the season. They are each adept at finding holes and using their speed and shake to leave linemen and linebackers grasping for air in the secondary. Both will need to bring their “A” games to Branca Stadium on Friday night.

Other players who figure to see time in the backfield for the Patriots are Juniors Khalil Lewis and Eric Pittman, Sophomore Alex Anderson, and Senior Malik Mapps as both the FB and single back.

The Receivers have done a good job so far this year, and many of them have contributed to the team’s success offensively. 11 different players have caught passes to this point of the season (although I don’t expect OT Damone Thompson to have any more catches this year). With a 10.14 yards per catch average, this group is nearly a guaranteed first down every time they get the ball. They, like their QB Jeanty, are looking for a breakout game.

Leading the 11 players who have caught a pass are Senior Sean Avant and Junior Geonte Smith. Also contributing to the passing attack are Tanares Robinson, Delano Whitehead, Khalil Webster and Kwasim West. With all that talent at receiver, it’s mildly surprising that 3 of the 4 touchdown catches have gone to running backs, with the Alexes (Anderson and Lee) and Cameron Rigby each having one.

The Darkside Defense has been one of the best in the State for years, and they look to build on their already impressive track record this season. They shut down Bradenton Manatee for the better part of 3 quarters, stifled Ely for most of the night, held Northeast to -17 yards of total offense, and outside of 2 Keenan Thompson runs from the Wildcat, completely shut down West Broward. This unit is full of playmakers, and they figure to bring their normal championship caliber effort .

Special teams, like offense, would like to have a strong game this week. There are many players who are fighting for playing time, and they might catch the eyes of their coaches with a solid play or 2 in the 3^rd phase of the game.

Lastly, no current Miramar player has EVER lost to Cypress Bay. Not on JV. Not on Varsity. I’m sure they don’t want the game on Friday to be their first experience tasting defeat at the hands of the Lightning. The whole team, to a man, will have to give his absolute best effort for the Patriots to extend the 6 game winning streak (including JV) against the rival Lightning.

Why Miramar might win:

Again, we’ll get to that later.

What to Watch for:

Cypress Bay

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Miramar

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Wondering where the “Why (insert team here) might win” section went? Well, I left that analysis up to 2 student journalists. One representing Cypress Bay, and one representing Miramar. For their analysis, and picks to win, check out the special feature “Point/Counterpoint” right here: http://miramarsports.blogspot.com/2012/09/pointcounterpoint-cypress-bay-vs-miramar.html

Until Next time,

Cameron J. Underwood
Miramar Sports

Game Preview - @ West Broward

GAME LOCATION UPDATE: THE GAME AGAINST WEST BROWARD WILL BE PLAYED AT EVERGLADES!!!! KICKOFF STILL AT 7PM!!! GOVERN YOURSELVES ACCORDINGLY!!

As the calendar switches from Summer to Fall, the schedule switches from non-district to district games for most teams. Like most Districts, with their longstanding traditions and heated neighborhood rivalries, District 12-8A usually delivers the type of hard hitting play that South Florida football fans have grown to love. I’m sure this season’s slate will live up to the standard of past experience.

The Miramar Patriots open their district schedule by taking on the West Broward Bobcats. The Patriots, 1-2, are aiming to capture their 4^th district championship in the last 5 years. A new school founded in 2008 with only 5 wins in their short history, West Broward will play the role of David to Miramar’s Goliath in this contest.

Enough of that. Let’s look at some of the keys to victory for this game:

West Broward Bobcats (0-3, 0-0 District 128A)

The Bobcats come into this game looking to be competitive, and hoping to maybe come away with the biggest win in their school’s short history.  If their history against Miramar is any indication, that may be too tall a task for West Broward to achieve.

West Broward enters the game having been outscored 104-38 by their first 3 opponents. While they have put up 14 and 17 points against McArthur and Key West, respectively, they have allowed 27, and 43 in return (with Cooper City also adding another 34 points). Their defense lacks elite players, and they have struggled so far this season. In their previous matchup with Miramar last year, the West Broward was on the business end of a 47-0 shellacking. The hope for the Bobcats has to be to stay closer than that score.

Taking most of the headlines for the Bobcats is Senior WR/DB Keenan Thompson. A fluid 6’1” athlete, Thompson uses his physical gifts of size and speed to make impact plays. Last season against the Patriots, Thompson appeared to have the talent level to compete with Miramar. For West Broward to spring the upset, he will have to have a very, VERY big game.

Trying to get Thompson and the other skill players the ball are a pair of Senior QBs: Brendan Stedfelt and Derek Victory. These players couldn’t be more opposite: Stedfelt stands 6’2” and is a pocket passer, while Victory is 5’9. They both figure to find the field on Friday, and the Bobcats hope they can build upon their scoring success from previous games.

On defense, the Bobcats are very young. From what I’ve been able to find, they have no less than 18 Freshmen and Sophomores on this side of the ball. That kind of youth is usually seen at the JV level, but, with a new school, young players are counted on to make plays with the Varsity team. While this experience could pay dividends down the line, it figures to make for some tough times in the present.

Overall, this is a program that hopes to one day be on the level of Miramar and others of that ilk. 

Unfortunately, that day is still a ways off in the future.

Why West Broward Might Win:

The Bobcats get a couple turnovers, and some luck.

Miramar Patriots (1-2, 0-0 District 12-8A)

The Miramar Patriots look to start District competition with a win following a 13-5 loss to Northeast. I’m not going to talk about that game again, but if you want to know the full run-down, you can check out my game recap here: http://miramarsports.blogspot.com/2012/09/2012-game-recap-3-northeast.html

The Patriots still need to find a consistent rhythm and identity on offense. They are averaging 324 yards of total offense and 17.7 points per game. Those numbers are enough to keep the Patriots competitive and will hopefully help us win plenty of games this season, starting with West Broward on Friday.

Leading the passing attack is Junior QB Nick Jeanty, who has completed 70.3% of his passes, for 420 yards, with 3 touchdowns and 6 interceptions. While Jeanty’s completion percentage is very strong, his 6 interceptions are as many as he had his entire Sophomore season. Look for him to try to get on track, and in the end zone, against the West Broward defense.

The running attack is the heart and soul of the offense. Averaging 183 yards a game, and with 6 solid players who contribute, Miramar has shifted to a ground and pound team overnight, after years of spread football with 30+ passes a game.

At the top of the rotation at running back is Senior Alex Lee. Already with 300 yards and 2 TDs rushing (averaging 11.5 yards per carry), in addition to 65 yards and a TD receiving, Lee is proving his worth in multiple areas of the offense. Lee, like many others, struggled in the Northeast game. A bounce back performance would be nice to see.

Cameron Rigby was one of the few offensive players who had a strong showing against Northeast.  Already with 198 yards as the compliment to Alex Lee, Rigby should be able to find plenty of open space in the Bobcat defense.

Other players who figure to see time in the backfield for the Patriots are Juniors Khalil Lewis and Eric Pittman, Sophomore Alex Anderson, and Senior Malik Mapps as both the FB and single back.

The Receivers have done a good job so far this year, and many of them have contributed to the team’s success offensively. 11 different players have caught passes to this point of the season (although I don’t expect OT Damone Thompson to have any more catches this year). With a 9.21 yards per catch average, this group is nearly a guaranteed first down every time they get the ball. They, like their QB Jeanty, are looking for a breakout game.

Leading the 11 players who have caught a pass are Senior Sean Avant and Junior Geonte Smith. Also contributing to the passing attack are Tanares Robinson, Delano Whitehead, Khalil Webster and Kwasim West. With all that talent at receiver, it’s mildly surprising that 2 of the 3 touchdown catches have gone to running backs, with the Alexes (Anderson and Lee) each having one.

The Darkside Defense has been one of the best in the State for years, and they look to build on their already impressive track record this season. They shut down Bradenton Manatee for the better part of 3 quarters, stifled Ely for most of the night, and held Northeast to -17 yards of total offense. This unit is full of playmakers, and they figure to bring their normal championship caliber effort .

Special teams, like offense, would like to have a strong game this week. There are many players who are fighting for playing time, and they might catch the eyes of their coaches with a solid play or 2 in the 3^rd phase of the game.

Why Miramar might win: The Offense gets back on track.

The Darkside defense continues to do what they do.

What to Watch for:

West Broward

How much can Keenan Thompson impact the game?

Can the Bobcats match up with a bigger, stronger team?

What elements of Coach Wagner’s gameplan will prove effective?

Miramar

Is this Nick Jeanty’s break out game?

What will Alex Lee and Cameron Rigby and friends give us in the running game?

Can the Darkside sustain their excellence?

How does the Offense rebound?

Until Next time,

Cameron J. Underwood
Miramar Sports

2012 Game Recap #3 - @ Northeast

The Miramar Patriots continued their 2012 season with a trip to Oakland Park to play the Northeast Hurricanes. After a defensive struggle, the Patriots lost by a score of 13-5.

There’s plenty to talk about, so let’s get right to it:

Northeast:

The Hurricanes came out with a simple game plan: Hold the Miramar offense under 10 points, and let Stacy Coley make a couple plays to win the game. In the end, this plan worked to flawless perfection.

Leading the charge was Coley. The 6’2” WR didn’t do much on offense, but he still found a way to impact the game. On offense, he had 1 catch for -4 yards. Northeast tried to get Coley involved often, throwing the ball his direction 6 times on the night. Coley’s athleticism and talent were apparent, even without much on the stat sheet for his primary position. But, that wasn’t the only position Coley played.

Coley, who is CLEARLY Northeast’s best player (and one of the best in the State) had a 65 yard punt return early in the game to energize his team. He nearly broke this play for a touchdown, further proving the point that Special Teams are a major issue for this year’s Miramar team. His biggest play, however, came on defense.

Playing Free Safety the entire night, Coley came up with an interception on a ball that went through a Miramar Receiver’s hands. After catching the interception on his own 5 yard line,  Coley went into offensive mode, and made a highlight reel 95 yard return for a touchdown, weaving his way through, around, and past the entire Miramar Offense. This play, Northeast’s second Interception returned for a touchdown, put the Hurricanes up 13-0 late in the 2^nd quarter. On this night, that lead would prove to be insurmountable for the Patriots.

Other than Coley, who basically won the game by himself, Northeast got good pressure on the Miramar running game from their defense. Constantly stacking 8 men in the box, even with Miramar in their traditional spread formations, the Hurricanes blitzed up the middle and dared the Patriots to beat them by throwing the ball. This was something that worked well for Northeast.

The other play that turned the tide was Zeffery Clark’s interception return for a touchdown. Sitting in the flat, Clark under cut an out route, and caught the ball that seemed as though it was thrown directly to him. 27 yards later, the Hurricanes had a 7-0 lead, and all the momentum they needed.

Apart from those 2 plays, and the constant stuffing the middle to prevent Miramar from running the ball, the Hurricanes didn’t do much of anything. Their offense ended the night with -17 yards of total offense. RBs Jamal Wallace and Timonte King had a couple decent runs in the 6-8 yard range, but that’s it.

In the end, it was not a team but a singular player who won this game. With his passion (heard SCREAMING at team mates on a number of occasions), football knowledge (it was he who called the defensive coverages, not the middle linebacker), and physical skills (which I’ve already noted), Stacy Coley dominated this game from beginning to end. That Northeast as a team won is only a side note.

This night, this game, and this victory belonged to one man.

Stacy Coley.

Miramar:

Let’s start with the good, before moving to the bad.

Jermaine Grace and the Darkside defense had another strong showing. They held Northeast to -17 yards of total offense, and limited Stacy Coley to 1 catch, and 1 run from the wildcat. All night long, the Hurricanes struggled to gain any traction on offense.

While Grace (8 tackles, 2 Tackles for Loss) had another strong game, the real stars were DTs Telvin Arnold and Ja’Quan Smith. Arnold (11 tackles,  3 TFL) provided constant pressure in the center of the defensive line. Smith chipped in with 6 tackles (1 TFL), and the two occupied the Northeast offensive line all night long.

With the line concerned with Arnold and Smith, the linebacking corps of Grace, Ryan Samuels (8 tackles, 2 TFL), and Sanka Harris (7 tackles, 2 TFL) were able to run free and find the ball, something they are obviously adept at doing.

The secondary stood up to the challenge of containing Coley. CB Tyrek Cole was primarily responsible for this task, as he shadowed Coley for most of the night. The Safties, Andre Godfrey and D’Kambui Graves, were good in both run support and deep coverage over the top of Coley.

When your defense pitches a shutout, holds the opposing team to -17 yards, and limits the touches of it’s All-American caliber player to 2 for the whole game, normally you expect to win.

That didn’t happen.

And now, for why that didn’t happen: the offense.

Northeast had a simple gameplan on defense: stack the middle, contain the lightning-squared running attack of Alex Lee and Cameron Rigby, and force Miramar to complete passes vertically. They accomplished the former, and with Miramar unable to do the latter, the Hurricanes looked like geniuses.

The running game, which had been the unquestioned strength of the Miramar offense, was subpar on this night. Alex Lee, who entered the game averaging 149.5 yards per game, was limited to 1 yard. He did lose 22 yards recovering a bad snap, which detracted from his total, but even still, he was not the electric player we had seen in the previous games.

Cameron Rigby found slightly more success. He finished with 67 yards on 11 carries, and had the biggest offensive play of the night: a 35 yard run shortly before halftime that put the Patriots at the Northeast 3 yard line. Inexplicably, the Patriots decided to throw the ball 3 times, and not run it, and were forced to settle for a 27 yard David Campbell FG.

Overall, Miramar could only muster 48 yards rushing on 32 carries. That number includes sacks and other losses, usually from recovering a bad snap. Whichever way you look at it, this level of production is not going to be good enough to win games.

While the running game had its struggles, the real issue facing the offense is the lack of a downfield passing game. QB Nick Jeanty’s numbers look fine on the surface (19/25, 167 yards), but upon further examination, they leave much to be desired.

There is an argument that there are issues beyond Jeanty’s control (more on this later), but there is no argument that his play can still improve. The first interception for a touchdown was just a bad read. Jeanty threw the ball to a defender who was in the flat playing cover 2 zone, and that was that. With the entire offense up the field, the Northeast defender had a clear path to the endzone, and a 7-0 lead. That throw was Jeanty’s fault. The other interception? Not so much.

Driving late in the 2^nd quarter, Jeanty looked to hit a receiver deep down the middle of the field on a post. The receiver (I forget which one) let the ball go through his hands, and the pass was intercepted by Stacy Coley at the 5 yard line. I’ve already detailed the rest of this play, so I don’t need to do that again. I will say that during this return, the offense did not hustle, did not chase Coley with any sense of urgency.  I know the pick wasn’t Jeanty’s fault, but somebody has to at least TRY to tackle Coley on that return.

Jeanty completed many passes (76%), but they were mainly underneath routes, and screens. You can’t run an effective passing offense with every throw being less than 15 yards from the line of scrimmage. Defenses are too good for that, even from a team like Northeast who, realistically, had no reason to be within 2 touchdowns of this Miramar team.

The offensive line could have been better. The bad snap was a scourge again, hindering the offense from getting or maintaining a rhythm.  The Tackles were repeatedly beaten in both running and passing situations, and the Patriots rotated 8 players up front. I know that having depth is key, but if we can’t find a consistent group of 5 linemen to rely on, this season may continue with problems and disappointment.

Now, to address a real hot button issue: play calling.

Many people have been talking about it, and I can’t ignore it anymore. The offensive play calling has been bad. In the Manatee game, we went away from the run, even though we were gaining huge chunks of yards on every play. Against Ely, I thought it was marginally better, but still not great. We basically just outmatched the Tigers physically.

In this game, it was abundantly clear that if we couldn’t run the ball up the middle our offense would struggle to do anything. Once that was taken away, there was no wrinkle, or adjustment, or constraint play to counteract what the defense was doing.  Here is an analogy that you will understand: it was like we were playing NCAA on Heisman Difficulty and only running 3 plays. Not gonna get very far with that.

Special teams didn’t help any either. Kicker David Campbell went 1/3 on Field Goals, making from 27 yards, and missing from 37 and 44. His leg is big enough for those kicks, but his technique is not consistent in game action.

Kick coverage was once again an issue. Coley had a 65 yard punt return that he almost took to the house, and another Northeast player had a 30 yard return on a kickoff. Both players were steps away from breaking loose for touchdowns. Following Rashard Robinson’s 96 yard kickoff return in the Ely game, and the 2 blocked punts at Manatee, and we have PLENTY of hard evidence that the systems we are running on special teams are greatly flawed. If they’re not changed, they will continue to cost us ballgames, plain and simple.

When you have only 1 of your 3 phases (Offense, Defense, Special Teams) that is positive, you can’t win games. We have tried this experiment twice so far this year.

I’m not sure how many more times we need to do this before realizing that we need some MAJOR changes to get back to competing to win games, let alone challenge for championships.

Where do we go from here?

In my opinion, this game is more troublesome than the Manatee game. This was a team that is not as talented as we are, save for 1 player. They had no business being on the same field as us, and we still found a way to lose, and look BAD losing. It’s time for real concern.

Issues to address:

1. Offensive gameplans and efficiency. I go to practice almost every day. I see what we’re working on and installing every week. I will say that I’ve seen no less than 8 different offensive concepts practiced EXTENSIVELY through the week, and not run even one time in the games. There are others, like the triple stacked WR look from the first play of the Manatee game, that have only been run once or twice TOTAL this season.
   
   We have become far too predictable on offense. If we’re going to only run our “staples”, the basic plays that our offense can rely on depending on the situation, then why are we practicing these other concepts so much? If we’re practicing them as much as we are (which is a substantial amount) why are we not running them in games? I have more questions, but you get the idea. The offense needs a lot of work, from the playcalling, to the passing game, to the revival of the running game, and the consistency of offensive line play. Lots to address here.
   
2. Quarterback-Center exchange. Bad shotgun snaps came back to haunt this team yet again. Something has to change.
   
3. Details. The Offense tried to “go on 2” a couple of times. Having little or no experience with that, the younger offensive linemen jumped early. The wide receiver from the 2^nd interception didn’t look the ball into his hands. Players jogged on that return, and on the 65 yard punt return, and didn’t wrap up when they made contact. Alone, the issues aren’t the bad. Put together, and the details made the difference. Gotta fix that.
   
4. Protect the ball. 7 turnovers in 3 games. Do I really need to say anything else?

In my game preview I said that Northeast would try to let Stacy Coley win the game singlehandedly. He came through for them in a way that Denard Robinson, Patrick Peterson, Jeffery Godfrey and others could not. I had never seen a Miramar team lose to 1 man.

Until Friday.

This season is at a crossroads. This team has to dedicate itself to playing a complete game each and every time out, or run the risk of being in this same position, questioning what went wrong, more times than they’d like.

Miramar Football. 1-2.

I still can’t believe it.

Those are my thoughts. What are yours?

Until Next Time,

Cameron J. Underwood
Miramar Sports 

Game Preview - vs. Blanche Ely

As the calendar ticks from August to September, Football season is hitting full stride. As we move to week 2 of the regular season, teams are still trying to find out who they are, and what this season may have in store for them.

The Miramar Patriots will continue their season by hosting the Blanche Ely Tigers. The Patriots, 0-1, will try to rebound after a loss at Bradenton Manatee 41-6 on Sunday. Ely enters the game 1-0 after having defeated Stranahan 37-14 in their season opener.

That being said, let’s find out more about the teams, and look at the keys to victory in this game:

Blanche Ely Tigers (1-0, 0-0 District 14-7A)

A team with a strong sense of history and tradition on the gridiron, Blanche Ely comes to Branca Stadium looking to extend one streak, and end another. The Tigers, who enter undefeated at 1-0, are looking to re-create the magic of their 2010 season, which saw them start the year 6-0 on their way to a playoff berth. They also look to end their winless streak against Miramar, a drought that dates back to 2005.

Ely, who has their 3^rd coach in 5 seasons, will look to ride a stout defense, and ball-control offense, to victory. And, any discussion of their defense (or their team, for that matter) has to start with Cornerback Rashard Robinson.

A tall corner at 6’2”, Robinson looks to follow in the footsteps of former Tiger Patrick Johnson (now Peterson) by playing multiple roles at a high level. Robinson’s emulation of Peterson won’t stop when his days at Ely are over: He, like Peterson and Peterson’s brother Avery Johnson before him, will continue his playing days as another kind of Tiger: one who plays for LSU.

Outside of Robinson, the Tigers don’t have many big name players. But, don’t let that fool you into thinking this team isn’t talented. Ely has a long tradition of excellence on the field, and in developing top level college recruits. We might not know names now, but the talent is there up in Pompano Beach.

This is also a team that won’t quit just because they fall behind. Last week in the opener against Stranahan, Ely found themselves behind 14-0 and without any answers at halftime. 37 unanswered points later, and that slow start was a distant memory.

The offense for Ely has always been run-based, and that trend continues in 2012. The Tigers ran for over 150 yards in the second half against Stranahan, and will look to pound the ball against the Patriots. Most of their passing comes on short, controlled routes, with the occasional shot down the field. I think it’s going to be important for Ely to find some success passing, or risk having the Darkside defense load the box and blitz on every play.

On defense, Ely runs multiple sets to try and confuse teams. They usually stay with “base” or normal coverages out of their multiple fronts, but will mix in the occasional blitz. Playing 7A football is a big boy level, so this team has experience playing top competition. They always play with swagger, and have built a reputation as one of the hardest hitting teams in South Florida. I’m anxious to see what this version of the Tigers looks like in person.

Overall, this is a solid team, and they will present a tough challenge for a Miramar team looking to get on track, and earn their first win of the season.   

Miramar Patriots (0-1, 0-0 District 12-8A, District Champion)

The Miramar Patriots enter the first home game of the season coming off of a 41-6 loss to Bradenton Manatee, the defending 7A State Champions. I’m not going to rehash the details of the game, but if you’re interested in them, you can read 2,500 words I wrote about the game here: http://miramarsports.blogspot.com/2012/09/2012-game-1-recap-at-bradenton-manatee.html

On offense, the Patriots will  turn to the Lightning-Squared duo of Alex Lee and Cameron Rigby at running 

back. The pair repeatedly gashed the Manatee defense in the season opener, combining for over 200yards rushing. Although this has not been the typical style of offense Miramar has run over the past 7 years, I think the talent at running back is such that this type of production can be repeated on a weekly basis.

QB Nick Jeanty started hot against Manatee, completing his first 5 passes, and 7 of his first 8. During that stretch he showed good arm strength, nice touch, and solid decision making. After that, however, he was not as effective as he, or the coaches, would have hoped, ending the day with 3 interceptions. Backup Gernald Hawkins saw action as well, showing a live arm, and very good athleticism in the read-option running game.

On defense, the front 7 played well early, but mental breakdowns and physical mistakes overcame the unit as they were on the field for the vast majority of the second half. To emerge victorious against Ely, the front 7 will have to play with the same intensity and execution as they did in the first half of the Manatee game, and sustain that level of production for an entire game.

Leading the defense was Senior LB Jermaine Grace. His all-around effort (11 tackles, 2 for loss, 1 pass broken up) showcased all of his playmaking skills, and was a sure preview of what we can expect from him throughout this season.

In the secondary, the G-unit safties (Andre Godfrey and DKambui Greaves) will need to provide steady 

cover while the cornerbacks get used to starting at the varsity level. Darren Wilcox, Jeffery Hill, and Tyrek Cole all have plenty of physical ability, but lack the game experience of players like Tracy Howard and Terence Hill who preceded them.

The talent on this team remains at a high level. For Miramar to maintain the success that we have had since 2007, the focus and execution needs to match the physical talent of this team.

Why Ely might win: the offense is able to run the ball and complete short timing passes to control the clock, and keep the Patriot offense on the sidelines. There have also been blown coverages in each of the first 2 games (including the McArthur kick-off classic), but only 1 (of the 4) has resulted in a touchdown. If Ely can fool the Miramar Secondary, which has happened multiple times, and convert those plays into touchdowns, the Tigers would be in a good position to emerge victorious.

The defense is able to continually pressure the Miramar QB (whoever is playing), and disrupt the running 

game. Also, whoever wins the turnover battle will probably win the game, so Ely will have to take some chances in the secondary to go for a game changing play.

Why Miramar might win: The Running game is the focus of the offense, even at the expense of working on or using the passing game. While Miramar’s starters are lightning-squared, there are 6 legit running backs who can play in this offense and be productive. Being a top team means embracing what you do well, and punishing your opponent by doing that repeatedly. In the case of the Patriots, that comes down to 3 words: RUN. THE. BALL.

The Darkside defense does what it has done to Ely over the better part of the last decade: hold them to little or nothing on offense. With players like Jermaine Grace, Ryan Samuels, Sanka Harris, and Telvin Arnold, the talent is there to lockdown any opponent. If the Darkside wants to maintain its name, this would be a good game for them to show that they can take on anybody, and shut them down.

What to Watch for:

Ely

Can the Tigers hit a homerun pass against the Darkside?

Can Ely run enough to field a balanced offensive attack?

Will Rashard Robinson prove his LSU pedigree?

How will the new coaching staff prepare their team to end the losing streak against Miramar?

Miramar

Can Nick Jeanty have a solid performance end to end?

Will the lightning-squared backfield get loose?

Can the Darkside stop the Ely offense?

Who in the secondary steps up this week?

How will the team respond after losing the season opener?

Come out to watch this fantastic game. It’s sure to answer a LOT of questions, for both teams.

Until Next time,

Cameron J. Underwood
Miramar Sports

2012 Game #1 Recap - at Bradenton Manatee

The 2012 season opener featured the Miramar Patriots taking a trip to Bradenton to take on the Manatee Hurricanes on Labor Day Weekend.  After a hard fought first half, Manatee exploded in the 2^nd half for 35 points, and a 41-6 victory.

While the final score may seem like this game was a blowout, the contest was actually much closer than the score may have indicated. Let’s take a look at what happened:

Bradenton Manatee:

Cord Sandberg played a good game. He’s not an explosive player who just does things you can’t comprehend (think Duke Johnson last year). What he is is a very good player, with above average skills across the board, and a phenomenal understanding of his abilities and the Manatee offense.

Sandberg’s performance was not flawless, however. He had 3 fumbles in the  game. He was ruled down on the last 2 (both recovered by Miramar) by what can only be classified as questionable calls.

Throughout the game Sandberg operated the Manatee offense with controlled excellence, making all the right reads in the option running game and the controlled passing game. And, in the end, he led his team to victory. Can’t ask for much more than that.

RB/WR Anthony Lauro was billed as the other top offensive playmaker for Manatee. He had a solid game and showcased good skills, but he wasn’t the player who really hurt the Patriots.

RB Trevon Walters made a name for himself based off his stellar performance. He ran for nearly 100 yards, showed good hands as a receiver (his wheel routes were positively destructive), and scored 2 touchdowns, 1 rushing and 1 receiving. Only a Junior, Walters is sure to garner many accolades and college attention. It was he, not Sandberg, who was the difference marker for the Hurricanes.

Apart from Sandberg, Lauro, and Walters on offense, the Manatee Defense made timely stops, and caused turnovers when they had the chance. Free Safety Willie Smith had 2 interceptions, and provided solid coverage in the secondary. The linebackers and defensive backs played solidly throughout the game, but left plenty of open space for Miramar Running Backs (more on this later).

The vaunted Manatee Defensive Line played well at times. Marquis Dawsey had a solid if unspectacular game. Derrick Calloway had ½ a sack, and made a few plays behind the line. DeMarcus Christmas had a sack, and disrupted a couple inside running plays. But nothing they did can compare to the game that Blake Keller had.

Keller, a 3 star recruit committed to UCF, was the best player on the field. He blocked 2 punts (returning the 2^nd for a touchdown), had 2.5 sacks, 8 tackles (4 for loss), and provided constant pressure when the Patriots looked to pass. Without a doubt, he was the MVP of this game. His big plays, especially the blocked punts, turned the momentum of the game, and gave Manatee short fields, which they converted into touchdowns in the 2^nd half.

Lastly, the wrinkles employed by Coach Joe Kinnan and his staff were great. Particularly, sending an outside receiver deep down the field, and replacing that open space on the field with Walters (and Lauro a couple of times) was something that gave Manatee an advantage on the edge of the Patriot defense. That one strategic move made the rest of the Manatee playbook come alive, and enabled them to put points on the board quickly, and repeatedly, in the second half of the game.

Miramar:

Even in the face of defeat, there were some bright spots for Miramar. The running game, led by Alex Lee and Cameron Rigby, continually gashed the Manatee defense. Lee finished with 133 yards on just 13 carries, and showcased his top level speed. Rigby had somewhere in the neighborhood of 85 yards, and routinely made guys miss with his open-field shiftiness.  Rigby was about 2 steps away from breaking a long touchdown in the first quarter, but stumbled as he crossed the Manatee 45. Huge opportunity missed there.

Alex Lee running away from Manatee's Derrick Calloway

In the past, Miramar has employed a running game we named “Thunder and Lightning”. This year, it’s more like Lightning-squared. And, when you add in Khalil Lewis and Alex Anderson,  you have a formidable group of running backs who will pose problems for every opponent Miramar faces this season.

Nick Jeanty started strong in his Patriot debut. He opened the game 5/5, and hit Sean Avant with a perfectly thrown fade for Miramar’s only touchdown on the opening drive of the game. After that strong start, Jeanty wasn’t as successful as he or the team, would have hoped. He threw 3 interceptions on the day, but let’s look at them each individually:

1. The first one was an under-thrown ball where his receiver, Tyler Williams, was open by 3 steps up the sideline. If properly thrown, Williams walks into the end zone. Since the ball was short, the defender was able to get a hand on it, and it was intercepted on the deflection.
2. The second one was a desperation heave on the last play of the first half, kind of a throw and pray play. No bearing on the outcome. Almost like a punt.
3. The third one came on a play with a low snap. Jeanty did well to get the ball off the ground, and throw cleanly. He threw to a spot, based on his pre-snap read, and didn’t see that the DBs all jumped their coverages once the ball was on the ground. Yes, he threw it, but the snap played heavily into that last pick.

Overall, I liked the poise and pocket presence I saw from Jeanty. He displayed good arm strength, and even overthrew a couple of open receivers. He showed flashes of greatness early, and also areas where he can improve. Let’s see what he does from here on out.

Gernald Hawkins got some quality work in this game, playing 3 complete drives. He was not able to put points on the board, but neither was Jeanty after the first drive of the game. Hawkins only completed one pass, a short completion to Khalil Webster. He showed good athleticism, and a live arm. I still like Jeanty as our starter, but am confident that Hawkins can be a valued asset to this team.

Wide receivers didn’t get to show too much in this game, as our passing attack is clearly still under construction. I did like what I saw from Sean Avant, who scored the only touchdown of the day for the Patriots. Additionally, Tyler Williams ran good routes and was open a few times (including on the first interception), and Dellano Whitehead also found open space in the Manatee defense. Overall, this group wasn’t really able to showcase their many talents, but they should be able to bounce back as this season progresses.

The offensive line was an ever-shifting unit, with 9 players getting snaps on the day. Guard Delvin Arnold missed a few series while icing an ankle, and others were shifted in his absence. Also, Mike Miranda and Devaughn Thomas had their struggles with shotgun snaps, especially in the second half. It’s hard to run our offense, or any offense, if you can’t get the quarterback-center exchange cleanly. This is something that will need to be worked on and fixed in practice.

Moving to defense, there were 4 players who really stood out for their stellar play: Linebackers Jermaine Grace, Ryan Samuels, and Sanka Harris, and Defensive End Shawn Stephens.

Grace, a 4 star recruit and the only returning starter on the Dark Side defense, played a great game. He had 11 tackles, 2 for loss, and was all over the field. He was a constant presence on defense, and will continue to be the leader of the team.

Samuels and Harris are both new starters, but played like veterans.  Samuels had 12 tackles, and Harris had 8, along with multiple pressures to Cord Sandberg, Manatee’s QB. While they had positives, Samuels and Harris were the particular victims exploited the aforementioned wheel route adjustment from the Manatee offense. Their run defense is incredible, but their pass coverage is not to the level where they, or the coaches, would like it to be.

Stephens supplied constant pressure from the edge, and was very disciplined when faced with the option game. He had some hard tackles, and was very consistent. I liked what I saw from the 6'1" Senior.

Up front, Telvin Arnold, Ja’Quan Smith, and Darius Young played well on the inside of the defensive line. They were able to get penetration and disrupt the Manatee offense early on. In the second half, they, like many, were unable to maintain their high level of play.

Andre Godfrey and D’Kambui Greaves played alright in the secondary. They blew a couple coverages, but weren’t hurt by them thanks to a dropped touchdown pass. Coaches told them they need to be leaders in the secondary, especially with the youth at corner. While they weren’t 100% lockdown, I liked what I saw from the G-unit (Godfrey and Greaves) at safety.

At corner, Terence Gaskins played a good game, while he was out there. Gaskins provided solid coverage, good speed, and recovered a Manatee Fumble in the 2^nd quarter. Gaskins was hurt on the play, unintentionally kicked in the mouth by a Manatee player during the scramble to recover the fumble. He stayed in Bradenton overnight before being able to have minor oral surgery. Administration and Coaches told me he’ll be fine, and should be returning to Miramar Monday or Tuesday. As for how long his injuries might keep him out, I have no new information as of the writing of this article.

The other corners, Darren Wilcox, Tyrek Cole, and Jeff Hill played average at best. Wilcox got caught peeking in the backfield and was beat for a 52 yard touchdown on the first play of the 4^th quarter. Cole, who replaced Gaskins after his injury, played well, only allowing 2 completions to his side. He also came up to make a couple tackles in run support. Hill got good reps in the game, and should continue to play a large role this year.

And now, the pink elephant in the room.

Special Teams.

When you miss an extra point, and have 2 punts blocked, and 2 more ALMOST blocked, there are obviously problems. I know there are a lot of new players on the special teams units, but I would like to see more starters playing in this vital 3^rd phase of the game.

Little details, single plays/calls/non-calls in a game like this, against a top opponent, can turn the tide of the game. In this game, there was 1 call that I look to as being THE MOMENT the game turned from being a tough, tightly contested game into Manatee’s favor.

Tied as 6 to start the 2^nd half, Manatee was facing 3^rd and 6 on their own 45. Sanka Harris tackled Trevon Walters  for a short gain, and was called for a personal foul for a “late hit”, although he was already bringing Walters to the ground before crossing the sideline. That call allowed Manatee’s offense to stay on the field, and that drive resulted in the first touchdown Manatee scored on the day.

While that call was not the reason Manatee won, or Miramar lost, it was a huge turning point in the game. 

Take that for what you will.

Where do we go from here?

Last year, when I started this blog, we won every game until the State Championship game. I wrote recaps for all games but the State Championship game. I just couldn’t bring myself to do it with all the emotions I felt. 

But now, after a loss, we have to look at what we can do to change the game, and return to the winning side of things.

1. Address special teams. 1 missed Extra point. 1 Kickoff out of bounds. 2 blocked punts. 2 more punts that were THISCLOSE to being blocked. This MUST be priority #1 for Coach Cogdell and the staff.
2. Center-Quarterback exchange. Under center, we’re fine. Shotgun or Pistol formations? Not so much. Can’t run offense if you can’t start the play properly.
3. Consistency and execution. Jermaine Grace said it best when interviewed by Andre Fernandez of the Miami Herald: “We’re a first- and second-quarter team right now. We have to focus on learning how to finish all four quarters.”  Couldn’t have said it better myself.
4. Stay with the Run Game. Look. We have 5 quality running backs (Alex Lee, Cameron Rigby, Khalil Lewis, Alex Anderson, and #32 E [don’t know his full name….they just call him E]). 6 if you count FB Malik Mapps. Our running game gashed Manatee’s defense time and time again. Running the ball has many ancillary benefits for the team. What's that mean? RUN. THE. BALL.
5. Stop cheating on Defense. Every team has tendencies that you can start to identify. If you OVERREACT (or cheat) to stop something, that leaves you vulnerable for a counter or constraint play (plays that are designed to work when the defense cheats). We got caught cheating on the last 3 Manatee touchdowns. I think that says it all.

Obviously, nobody likes to lose. It highlights your errors, and puts pressure on your team to recover. Manatee is the first team to score 40+ points against the Patriots since DeSoto (TX) in the 2010 season opener, a game Miramar lost on the road 42-41. 

This game is very similar to games we've played recently vs. St. Thomas Aquinas. Once you make a mistake, the opposition is deadly at making you play. If you spoke to me about the game, then you know that's what I'd been saying for the longest time. And, true to form, we made mistakes and Manatee made us pay. 

I know the final score is ugly. I know that there are a lot of people (Miramar fans, Miramar haters, and journalists) who are writing us off, and have only negative things to say. Multiple journalists (who shall remain nameless) made snarky comments to what I'm about to say: 

This game was not as lopsided as the score indicated. 

After that personal foul call which led to Manatee's first touchdown, every single Miramar mistake ended with the same 2 words: Touchdown Manatee. They only drove the field on our defense 2 times. They hit a long pass when the DB was caught cheating. They had multiple short fields to drive for points. When you put it together, this game was really only a few plays from being a very different one than it ended up being.

Overall, there were positives and negatives. And while we may be left looking at all the negatives (of which, there are plenty), I believe that with a little focused attention in the 5 areas I outlined above, we'll be just fine.

Those are my (long-winded) thoughts. What are yours?

Until Next Time,

Cameron J. Underwood
Miramar Sports

2012 Kickoff Classic Recap - McArthur

The Miramar Patriots began a new season on Friday night by taking on the McArthur Mustangs in the 2012 Kickoff Classic. The Patriots were victorious 28-0 on the night, and the performance provided plenty of fodder for me to talk about.

So, let’s get to the recap:

McArthur

The Mustangs moved the ball very well early on. Running back Cameron Johnson ran with good vision and impressive power. The line blocked well, and created space for Johnson to gash the Miramar Defense. 

Johnson’s power running created an opportunity in the play-action passing game, but McArthur couldn’t capitalize.  WR Onis Marte dropped a pass in the end zone when he was open by a solid 20 yards. That was a key play in the game, as the Mustangs couldn’t muster any points on that possession, or any other all night long.

McArthur’s struggles on offense really started under center. The Mustangs used 2 freshmen as their Quarterbacks, and neither one was able to add a positive element to the offense.  Starter Kato Nelson was able to complete a few short hitches early, and also had the throw into the endzone that was dropped. Other than that, the quarterback play was fairly pedestrian.

On Defense, Linebacker Jeremy Benjamin stood out for his solid play. The 6’1 senior made plays all over the field all night long as he rotated between inside and outside linebacker. Benjamin had at least 9 tackles, 2 sacks, and 2 tipped passes by my unofficial count. His play will be key for the Mustangs to be successful this season.

McArthur’s team features a few former Miramar Patriots, including the aforementioned Cameron Johnson, DB Nehemiah Ali, and CB/K Malik Wisdom. All 3 played major roles in this game for the Mustangs, and figure to continue to do so through the entire season.

McArthur had hopes of beating Miramar in this game. Unfortunately for them, their effort and execution were not good enough to make that dream a reality.

Miramar

The Patriots took their time getting into the flow of this game. The Defense started out shaky, allowing McArthur to march down the field, and had a wide open touchdown pass dropped against them. After that early adversity, the Darkside Defense started to live up to its name, and reputation.

Jermaine Grace is better than ever. He had 6 tackles (2 for loss), a sack, and a deflected pass all in the first half. His ability to switch from run defense to pass coverage to blitzing on any play make him a terror for any offense he faces. McArthur tried to chip him with a tight end or pull a lineman his way, but Grace was able to shed those blocks easily and make plays. I'm interested in seeing him continue this type of performance through the season.

In addition to Grace, Ryan Samuels and Sanka Harris played pretty well on the first team. Samuels can be more consistent in pass coverage, and Harris needs to control his emotions as he can be too hyper on the field at times. Kaywon Davis, Mike Shivers, and Julian Lowe provided solid performance on the second unit, along with a few players who played both DE and LB.

Up front, a host of Patriots proved they will be valuable contributors during the season. Alex Trotman had 3 sacks, and provided relentless pressure off the edge. Shawn Stephens did well against the run, and also power slammed a running back on a tackle. Darius Young and Telvin Arnold were stout and physical on the interior of the line. Adding depth and a physical presence was David Lee, who had a few highlights in his time on the field.  Add Damone Thompson and Damarious Graham to this group, and you can see why the coaches are so excited about what this defense can do.

In the secondary, the safety tandem of D’Kambui Greaves and Andre Godfrey Jr. played very well.  Greaves jumped an underneath route, which opened up the endzone for that one pass McArthur dropped that was a sure touchdown. Outside of that one play, he provided good and steady coverage in the secondary.

Behind them, Deonta Fair, Marquino Martin and Dante Campbell all showed they can be big time players. At Corner, Terrence Gaskin had a very strong performance. Darren Wilcox played well, but didn’t really impact the game satistically.

The much celebrated sophomore CB duo of Tyrek Cole and Jeffery Hill played decently in their first varsity action. Cole was the better tackler of the two, and Hill provided better pass coverage. I like the confidence of both players, and I really believe they will be a major reason why the defense limits opposing offenses this season.

On offense, the thing everybody is talking about is the competition to be the starting Quarterback. After this game, I believe we now have a definitive answer. Junior Nick Jeanty started the game, and played to a high level. His stats, 111/19 for 124yards with 1 TD and 0 INTs, weren’t eye popping, but when you consider that he only played a half of football, they make a bit more sense. Jeanty had to deal with a bit of pressure, and some low snaps, but seemed to keep a cool demeanor on the field. His last second heave to the endzone in the 2^nd quarter was dropped by a wide open Kwasim West, which would have added to his stats.

Gernald Hawkins played the majority of the snaps in the second half. His play was frantic and every play seemed rushed. He missed a few open receivers, most notably sophomore Khalil Lewis who was all alone down the right hash mark. Hawkins was eventually able to lead a touchdown drive that was based around the running game, but overall his performance was not as effective or dynamic and Jeanty’s.

Freshman Demari Simpkin, who will be the JV quarterback this year, also played about 8 plays in the game. He has a decent frame at 5’9”, and figures to grow into his body over the next few years. He is just starting to be exposed to the Miramar version of the spread offense, and he will have plenty of opportunities to hone his craft at the JV level.

The receivers were alright, but not spectacular. Junior Tanares Robinson caught the only touchdown of the day. Kwasim West, who dropped a touchdown to end the first half, had a couple tough catches in the 3^rd quarter. Khalil Webster had a touchdown that was called back by penalty. Geonte Smith was open in the same on a couple plays that went to another receiver. He would have scored each time had he gotten the ball. Tyler Williams had 2 catches and some nice moves in the open field. Khalil Lewis had a nice catch, and was overthrown on that one pass I already mentioned. Dellano Whitehead had a catch with some nice YAC. Last, but not least, Sean Avant had 3 catches, and showed the good hands that he has earned a reputation for having. Overall, I’d call the performance of this group decent, but there is room for improvement.

The running backs were OUTSTANDING in this game. Alex Lee led the charge at the beginning. Most people think of him only as a speed back. He showed in this game that he’s a part of the #WeightRoomGang by running through defenders, and refusing to let the first hit bring him down. His added strength is going to help him perform this season, and hopefully (for him) earn scholarship offers from a few more colleges.

Cameron Rigby showed why he’s such a highly touted player. He had 2 long touchdowns (each 65+ yards) called back by penalty, but that didn’t stop him. On one drive, he had back to back runs of 38 and 52 yards. He is also the primary punt and kickoff returner, roles which let him showcase his playmaking ability in open space. His impact on this team may be even more than some people anticipated. I’m very, VERY anxious to see what he can do this season.

Khalil Lewis (same name as the receiver, but no relation) showed that he has continued his progression after being the JV MVP last year, and earning a call-up to the varsity team for the last 4 regular season games and the playoffs. He ran hard, made decisive cuts, and showed good speed once he hit the second level of the defense. Lewis runs best when he goes north and south without dancing. He has learned to make that his style of running, and his game has jumped to another level because of it.

3 running backs into the recap, and I still haven’t gotten to the most impressive one. Alex Anderson ran like a man possessed. The 6’1” 210lb sophomore showed that he is a top level player whose physical style will be a great compliment to the slashing cutback style Lee, Rigby and Lewis employ. Anderson, who at his size still runs a 4.4 in the 40, came into the game and ran for 60 yards on limited carries. Anderson has the potential to be the best offensive player to ever come through Miramar. Yes, including Geno Smith. That’s the level of talent this kid possesses. Watch out for #23. Trust me.

The offensive line was average at best. Mike Miranda struggles with the shotgun snap showed up again. Those low snaps break the offensive rhythm and put the Patriots in long down and distance situations. Additionally, this group had at least 5 holding penalties, and 3 false starts.

That’s the bad.

Now for the good. 

The line provided ample time for all 3 quarterbacks to throw the ball. They also gave the 4 running backs plenty of space to operate. Through this season, consistency will be the key. If the line can find it, the Patriots will undoubtedly be successful. If they can’t, the team will struggle. It’s that simple.

Lastly, the kicking game is in solid shape with not 1, but 2 quality kickers. Replacing Malik Wisdom who transferred to McArthur are sophomore David Campbell and junior Michael Allinder. Campbell, a soccer style kicker, has the stronger leg of the 2, and has made kicks as deep as 47 yards in practice so far. 

Allinder, a straight-on kicker, is a bit more accurate but his leg isn’t as strong. Both players made kicks in this game, and both did very well on their kickoffs. This will be an area of strength unlike any year in the recent past for the Patriots.

Overall, I would grade this performance as a C/C+; Passing, but not exactly where we want to be. There are a lot of good things going on with this team, and quite a few that need improving. If the coaches can get this team to buy into the system, and get rid of the miscues and penalties, this season will be very satisfactory to Miramar Patriot fans.

That’s it for now. Enjoy your bonus 3-day weekend, Patriots.

Until Next Time,

Cameron J. Underwood
Miramar Sports