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

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.

2012 Game Recap #4 - @ West Broward

After an uneven start to the season, the Miramar Patriots got back on the winning side of things, defeating West Broward 48-3 in the first District game for both teams.

Without any further ado, let’s get to what happened

West Broward

It was clear from the start at the Bobcats were outmatched in this game. The team, buoyed with hope after Miramar’s loss to Northeast, came in with good intensity and hoped to pull off a major upset. Unfortunately for them, that would not happen on this night.

It was clear early on that West Broward just didn’t have the athletes to match up with the Patriots, and the hopes for a miracle upset were quickly dashed. Miramar sprinted out to a big halftime lead, and never looked back.

For the Bobcats, there were only a couple of players who stood out as positives for coach Chris Wagner. First of all, Senior WR/DB Keenan Thompson was clearly their best player. The 6’1” speedster wasn’t able to get the ball when he was split wide, so Wagner moved him to QB in a sort of Wildcat formation. It was here that Thompson found his success.

On his first snap at QB, Thompson found a seam on the right side of the offensive line, and raced down the sideline for a 68 yard gain. He showed vision, quickness, and speed, and would have scored if not for a great effort by Darren Wilcox to track him down. Thompson fumbled on the next play, and the one credible scoring chance went by the wayside for West Broward.

Junior K/P Anthony McGill was a busy man on this evening. He punted 8 times, and made a 25 yard field goal, which proved to be the only points the Bobcats would score. He has a decent leg, and very good technique. He should be proud of his effort from this game.

Senior QB Brandan Stedfelt did not have the game he hoped for. Completing less than 40% of his passes, Stedfelt was constantly harassed by the Miramar defense. He did display a decent arm on a couple downfield throws, but his accuracy (perhaps a result of the pressure he was facing) was less than stellar.

The West Broward defense played hard, but they could not stand up to the physicality, or speed, of the Patriots.

Overall, this team will have some hard times ahead as they continue to build towards being a competitive team in a very tough district and classification. Coach Wagner seems to have a plan, and hopefully he’ll have the time needed to continue the slow ascent to respectability.

Miramar

Miramar, looking to rebound after a tough loss at Northeast, came out with a vengeance, and left no doubt from the first snap of the game as to who the better team was.

The Patriots started out by going back to basics: running the ball with great success. The first 2 plays of the game were runs by Alex Lee that went for 21 and 48 yards, the second of which went for a touchdown. Lee would finish the game with 5 carries for 70 yards and a touchdown in just 1 half of work.

Adding in to the rushing attack were Cameron Rigby (20 yards and a TD), Eric Pittman (44 yards and a TD), Nick Jeanty (25 yards and a TD), Gernald Hawkins (14 yards and a TD), and Khalil Lewis (5 yards and a TD). All told, Miramar rushed 27 times for 196 yards (7.26 per carry) and 6 touchdowns.  Pretty efficient if you ask me.

The Quarterback play was solid complimenting the rushing attack. Nick Jeanty was 11/14 for 139 yards, a touchdown, and no interceptions, and Gernald Hawkins was 2/3 for 35 yards. The overall numbers (combined QB efficiency rating of 181.86) were decent, but there is still room for improvement. The intermediate and vertical passing games are not fully polished yet, but they should continue to improve over time.

8 players caught passes on the night. Delano Whitehead (2/47 yards) made a nice move up the sideline on a quick screen that went for a big game, and Cameron Rigby (2/12 yards) had the only receiving touchdown, an 8 yarder midway through the 3^rd quarter.

On defense, the Darkside continued their strong play that has become standard operating procedure. Start players Jermain Grace and Telvin Arnold played so few snaps on the night that their white #2 and #53 jerseys were crisp and clean, even after a game played at the sloppy, muddy atrocity known as Everglades field.

Leading the way in their place were Junior LBs Kaywon Davis and Ryan Samuels, and Senior DL Ja’Quan Smith and Darius Young. Davis ended the game with 7 tackles (4 solo, 3 assist), a forced fumble, and 2 fumble recoveries. His best play was the defender trifecta: a solo tackle in space, forced fumble on a strip, and fumble recovery. The only thing that could have added to that play would have been a return for a touchdown, but it was still a great effort.

Samuels, the starting Middle Linebacker, had 5 tackles (2 solo, 3 assist) along with 2 tackles for loss. His steady play against opposing running games has been one of the keys to the success of the defense, and we should continue to see good things from him as we continue through this season.

Smith dominated the line of scrimmage all game long. His stats (6 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 2 QB pressures, and a forced fumble) are even more impressive when you consider he played only a little more than 1 half of football. He was an absolute terror on the interior of the defense, and his continued dominance will be a key as the Patriots move towards the meat of their schedule.

Teaming with Smith was Darius Young, whose stats (6 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, and 1 QB pressure) were nearly as impressive. He must have taken a 5 hour energy before the game, because his motor was running on a level that we haven’t seen before. He was motivated and disciplined, and played a major role in stifling the West Broward offense. This performance is one he should be proud of.

In the secondary, Darren Wilcox made the most out of the few plays that he was involved with. He showed remarkable acceleration and recovery speed in chasing down Keenan Thompson late in the 2^nd quarter. Needing to make up some 25 yards, Wilcox turned on the jets and chased him down at the 4 yard line, saving a touchdown. Tackles aren’t ordinarily the highlight plays for cornerbacks, but this was no ordinary tackle.

The G-Unit of DKambui Greaves and Andre Godfrey had another strong game from their Safety positions. Greaves (3 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, and a forced fumble) was disciplined in his pursuit, and consistent in his tackling. It was he who forced Keenan Thompson to fumble on the play after Wilcox ran him down at the 4. Very nice play from #11.

Godfrey was arguably the defensive MVP of this game. He had 7 tackles (3 solo, 4 assist), 1 tackle for loss, and a sack. He hit anything that moved in his area, and hit it hard. After this performance, I think he’s primed for a signature game. Outstanding job.

Special teams were solid all around. Kick and punt returners seemed to find open lanes, and coverage units allowed minimum yardage against them. Shawn Stephens added in the Special Teams play of the day: a blocked punt that Kaywon Davis recovered and returned to the 5 yard line. It was a great move for Stephens to get by his blocker and block the kick, and hopefully something he, or another Patriot, can replicate in future games.

Overall, this was the most complete game that we have played this year, and it couldn’t have come at a better time. On the heels of the loss to Northeast, and before key games against Cypress Bay and St. Thomas Aquinas, the Patriots needed an effort such as this to steady their season, and give us momentum as we go to face our toughest opponents.

Co-Players of the Week

• Kaywon Davis - 7 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 1 forced fumble, 2 fumbles recovered
• Ja'Quan Smith - 6 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 1 forced fumble, 3 QB pressures

Where do we go from here? - Review

Let’s look at how we did with the issues to address for this game.

Issues to address:

1. Offensive gameplans and efficiency: Grade: A-. We controlled the game from the very outset, and had very few issues. There were a couple of things (missed receiver down the seam, false starts, holding penalties) that we could clean up to get an A or A+, but this was a much better showing from the offense.
2. Quarterback-Center exchange. Grade: A. Only 1 bad exchange, and that was more on the QB missing the ball than on the Center not getting it there.
3. Details. Grade: B+. While penalties remain our biggest issue, the majority of the other issues were effectively addressed.
4. Protect the ball. Grade: B+. 1 turnover on the aforementioned QB-Center exchange. I would like to see 0 turnovers, but this was a great improvement.

Looking Ahead

Up next are 2 tough opponents: Cypress Bay and St. Thomas Aquinas. These are teams with whom we have a long history, and who both have an axe to grind after losing to the Patriots last season. There will be plenty of time for analysis and previewing both games, but suffice it to say that the next 2 weeks will go a long way to determining just how far this Miramar team can go.

Those are my thoughts. What are yours?

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 

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

Ask Me Anything Volume 2, Number 1

After a long and relaxing summer vacation, we're back to business here at the Miramar Sports Blog. I've been active on twitter, and posted a couple articles, but now, we're cranking back up to full-time Miramar Sports news. 

And, in that vein, here's the first article of the school year: Ask Me Anything, the Miramar Sports mailbag. Here we go:

Q: Who is going to be the Starting QB? –  From Kennetha @_HeadVsHeart_

Miramar Sports (MS): As I said in the QB Competition breakdown from the spring, Nick Jeanty looks like the frontrunner for the position. Through the first week of fall practice, I still have him in the lead to be the starter. (Note: Bud Martin is no longer a Miramar Patriot. He transferred to Dillard early this summer)

Both Jeanty and Gernald Hawkins have had their ups and downs, but overall, I just like the way the offense looks better with Jeanty out there, so I’m sticking with him as my pick.

Q: Who is the breakout Patriot that nobody is talking about? – From Shawn @ShawnFace

MS: I asked this same question to Jermaine Grace, Alex Lee and Mike Miranda for the Captains Corner feature (which debuts on Tuesday). I won’t give you any of the players the captains mentioned. You’ll have to read their article for that. But, here are 3 players that have stood out to me through the first week of fall practice:

• Junior Running Back Cameron Rigby – Apart from having the best name on the team, Rigby has been an absolute terror on the field. His playmaking ability has shown itself repeatedly in both the 1-on-1’s and 7-on-7 segments of practice. He will definitely be contributing heavily on offense this year, as well as on special teams as a punt returner.
• Junior Wide Receiver Tyler Williams – Williams burst onto the scene last year with his touchdown catch against Palm Beach Gardens in the Regional Semi-Final. He has used that day as the starting point to a great summer, and wonderful first week of practice. During every practice segment you can see Williams making plays. His all-around technique is very good, and his speed makes him a challenge for the defense on every snap.
• Sophomore Cornerback Jeffery Hill – One half of the super sophomore corner combo with Tyrek Cole, Hill has consistently played solid defense in practice. He had a pick-6 on the 2^nd throw of the fall in 7-on-7, and has displayed very good technique. Obviously, being able to watch Tracy Howard hone his craft last year has helped Hill, and he looks primed to be a solid player this season.

Q: What is the biggest overall challenge for this year’s team? – From Adam @Akosnitzky

MS: Easy: youth. Having only 5 returning starters on this year’s team means that there are a lot of players who will need to step into larger roles for the Patriots to maintain the level of success that we have had over the past 5 seasons. It’s never easy when you rely heavily on sophomores and juniors, and harnessing that young talent is a challenge the coaches will have to face throughout this season.

Q: Who is the one team you wish was on the schedule this year that’s not? – From George @Sportsnut_

MS: I’ll do you better. Here's my top 3 "I wish they were on the schedule" games:

1. The University School. Everybody is talking about how good they are, and I would like to see what we could do against them.
2. Miami Central. The only time we’ve played them in school history, the State Semi-Final in 2009, was an epic game. Central is loaded once again, has 2 All-American level Running Backs, and I’m sure they would relish the chance to avenge that loss. That would be a great game, and I wish it were real, instead of a fantasy in my mind.
3. Miami Booker T. Washington. Everybody says they're the best team around. I feel that Miramar is the best team around. Let's settle this on the field, and not in a message board.

Q: What game are you looking forward to OTHER THAN Bradenton Manatee, St. Thomas, and Cypress Bay? – From George @Sportsnut_

MS: Outside of “the big 3” games of the year, I’m very anxious to play Everglades. I’ve heard the whispers that they have been talking noise about beating the Patriots for the first time in 6 years, and win the district as well. This neighborhood rivalry has been very heated over the last few seasons, and I don’t see that changing this year.

Q: Who is going to step up and be the all-star #1 Wide Receiver? – From Nicole @Sweetchoc85

MS: I can always count on Nicole to ask me about the Receivers.

There is no easy answer, since we have 12 players who will see time at receiver this year. During practice, the offense subs them out in groups of 4, so there is a lot of talent at this position.

The easy answer is Sean Avant. He’s the leading returning receiver, was a starter on last year’s State Runner-up team, and figures to have a big season as a senior. But, since I don’t like easy answers, I’ll look another way.

My pick for the #1 receiver this year is Junior Kwasim West. He’s tall and thin, but runs great routes, has good hands, and above average speed. He will probably see his role increase dramatically from last year, and could emerge as the top target for whoever wins the job as starting Quarterback.

Q: Do you think  West Virginia will win the Big12 in their first year in the conference? – From WVNation @WVNation

MS: I think they have a great chance to be special. The offense will obviously have to carry them, and with Geno Smith, Tavon Austin, Stedman Bailey, and Ivan McCartney, that shouldn’t be a problem. The defense is one of the stronger units in the conference as well, so I think the Mountaineers have a good chance to make some noise.

You should respect every team on the schedule. That being said, to me, they have 2 big challenges on the schedule:

1. The first challenge is the back-to-back trips to Texas in October to play Texas and Texas Tech. Those are longer trips, and that travel could play a role in the team not being fully in sync at gametime.
2. The second challenge is a late season trip to Iowa State. The Cyclones are a decent team who obviously gets hype for big games. They ended Oklahoma State’s run to the BCS Championship game last year, and would love nothing more than to do the same thing to a highly ranked West Virginia team this year.

Q: Based off their performances at MHS, how would you rank the past QBs: Cam Hudge, Ryan Williams, and Geno Smith? – From George @Sportsnut_

MS: Ok, here goes:

• Geno Smith – Took the Patriots from being good to great. Had a State Championship season ruined in 2007 after a questionable brawl vs Flanagan. He did things I’d never seen before from a HS player.  He was 2 time first team All-State, a Parade magazine All-American, Elite 11 MVP, took Miramar to our first State Semi-Final, and set the stage for our continued success. He has to be #1 on the list. 

Here’s a story for you:
In the middle of the 2008 season, Coach Cogdell held a 6am practice on Thursday before the Piper game. A few players were late and were suspended for the first half of the game, including Geno and Stedman Bailey. On the first play of the second half, Geno and Stedman checked to a double move (pump and go), and hooked up for a 76 yard touchdown. As soon as he threw the ball, Geno started walking off the field with his arms up in the typical “make some noise” stance. When I saw that, I knew he was a special player.

• Ryan Williams – His only season at Miramar started slowly but ended in fine fashion. Struggles vs. Monsignor Pace in the opener were repeated mid-season vs. St. Thomas Aquinas. But, apart from those 2 games, he progressed every week of the year. His performance in the playoffs was outstanding. He beat Miami Central with a 56 yard bomb to then-sophomore Malcolm Lewis, and shattered records in the State Championship game vs. DeLand. Many people say he finished the job that Geno started, but I look at his accomplishments on their own. If he had another year as a Patriot, he could have been #1 on this list. Still, 2nd behind Geno Smith isn't too shabby.
• Cam Hudge – He played on Varsity for 4 years, backing up the other 2 players on this list as a Freshman and Sophomore, respectively. Hudge saw some game action, and showed plenty of promise, including a huge arm in his 5’9” frame. Hudge added a running threat that neither Smith nor Williams had. Hudge led the team to the second State Championship game in school history, and, while that game ended in a loss, his impact over his 2 years as starter cannot be understated.

As a bonus, here's a video of that famous Williams to Lewis play from 2009. (And yes, it's called Patriot Missile. So fitting.)

Q: Favorite Miramar athletic memory BESIDES winning the 2009 6A State Championship in football? – From George @Sportsnut_

MS: Funny story: I wasn’t at the 2009 State Championship game. A close friend of mine got married that day, and I was a groomsman in his wedding. So, my connection to that day is not the same as most other Patriots’.

Anyways, my favorite Miramar Sports memory would have to be beating St. Thomas Aquinas in football last year. We’ve had some good games against them (although the final score might not indicate it), and I really felt that we had a great chance to dethrone the Raiders as the kings of Broward County. After some, ahem, QUESTIONABLE calls let St. Thomas hang around, coming through with that blocked field goal, then goal line stand to win the game, and give us the first win against St. Thomas in forever, the elation of running around the field victorious was absolutely amazing.

Since this is my article, I’ll add another one: Beating Central to get to the 2009 State Championship game. I won’t wax poetic about this one. But if you were there, you know the emotion that was in that stadium that night. Powerful stuff, man.

Q: Early prediction on where Jermaine Grace will play his college football? – From almost everybody who I’ve spoken to since last signing day

Before I answer this one, let me give you a disclaimer: The following response represents MY OWN INDIVIDUAL THOUGHTS. Now that that’s out of the way…

I think the University of Miami is the clear leader at this point. The coaches would like to see Country add more size to his frame, but I don’t think they will risk missing out on his completely. Apart from that, he lists Tennessee as a finalist, and notes that Florida State has been in heavy contact with him.

In the end, my feeling is this is Miami’s race to lose. For a bit more on Jermaine’s recruiting, check out an interview I did for CanesInSight.com last week. The link is here: http://canesinsight.com/content.php?412-Jermaine-Grace-talks-Recruiting

That's it for this edition of Ask Me Anything. Welcome back, Patriots.

Until Next Time,


Cameron J. Underwood
Miramar Sports

QB Competition Breakdown

For the past 7 years, the Quarterback position for the Miramar Patriots has been one of the most high profile positions in all of High School Football.

Geno Smith, 2005-08

Beginning with Parade magazine All-American Geno Smith, this group has been incredibly productive over the better part of the last decade. Smith led his team deep into the playoffs for 4 years, culminating in the first Regional Championship in school history, and a berth in the 2008 Class State Semi-Final, where the Patriots lost to Miami Northwestern.

Ryan Williams, 2009

After transferring from American Heritage, Ryan Williams built on that success and guided the team to the 2009 Class 6A championship. In the title game, Williams had a record breaking performance, where he shattered previous marks set by players you may have heard of: former Wake Forest QB Riley Skinner and Florida Gators 2 time National Champion and Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow.

Camren Hudge, 2010-11

Following those prototypical QBs for the previous 5 seasons, Miramar went in another direction the last 2 years. Undersized at 5’9”, but possessing a big arm and huge heart, Camren Hudge took the reigns under center for the Patriots, and led the team to a 22-4 record. Hudge led the team to the 2011 Class 8A State Championship game, where his team was defeated by Tampa Plant.

Now, with those former Miramar QBs all having moved on to the FBS (Division 1A) college ranks at West Virginia, University of Miami, and Florida Atlantic, the Patriots are in search of the next player who can continue to guide this program into the upper esceleon of State and National powers.

This year, there are 3 players who are competing to be the next Miramar Quarterback. Let’s meet the candidates (in alphabetical order) and look at their strengths and weaknesses:

#18 Gernald Hawkins, Sophomore, 5’10” 175lbs

Hawkins is the only returning player at this position. He’s already played some good games in Branca Stadium, both as the JV starter and the Varsity backup.

Strengths

• Prior knowledge of the system with his 2 years in this version of the Spread Offense.
• Very athletic, and can use his running ability as a weapon in the Read Option game
• Has been around the program, and understands the Patriot Way
• A proven winner, having led the JV team to a 11-1 record over the last 2 seasons, including their first undefeated season this past year.

Weaknesses

• Like Cam Hudge, less than prototypical size for the position
• Not very consistent throwing the ball
• Struggles to read the defense
• Tends to panic and run if first option is covered on a pass play

#12 Nick Jeanty, Sophomore, 6’2” 180lbs

Jeanty has starting experience from his time at Archbishop McCarthy, earning a reputation as one of the next great South Florida quarterbacks. No Miramar player has worn #12 since Geno Smith wore the Red, White, and Blue. That could change with Jeanty on campus.

Strengths

• Great height for the position. Looks the part.
• Good feel for the rush in the pocket. 
• Has a good on-field relationship with 2 receivers who will see lots of snaps (Kwasim West and Tyler Williams)
• Previous starting Varsity experience, so he understands what it takes to compete at the highest level
• Throws a beautiful ball up the sidelines

Weaknesses

• A bit on the thin side. Needs to add size to his frame
• New to this system, so he can be confused by his reads at times
• Not as accurate on intermediate and crossing routes as he is on sideline throws
• Not fleet afoot. Needs good protection to be effective

#14 Lee “Bud” Martin, Sophomore,  6’1” 210lbs

Another player with experience playing for a top program after being at St. Thomas for the last 2 years. He's the biggest of the players at this position, and uses his size well on the field.

Strengths

• Tough, Physical approach to the game from his days at Linebacker as a youth
• Very strong arm, can make all the throws in any offense
• Surprising overall athleticism. A good dual threat player, who runs with power when outside the pocket.
• Very upbeat demeanor. Seems to have connected with all of his teammates

Weaknesses

• Accuracy needs to improve  to take advantage of his arm strength in this offense
• Can be overly emotional on the field at times
• Tends to fall in love with chasing the big play, sometimes missing other more effective options
• Only player in competition for QB job who has never taken a Varsity level snap.

Handicapping the competition

As Spring Practice ends, and summer workouts begin, I don’t anticipate hearing anything official on a decision on this position from the coaching staff until the week of the Norland game in August.

The motivation for this is simple: push each player to work their hardest to improve, which will add depth and quality at this position, no matter who ends up winning the job heading into the season.

In my opinion, Nick Jeanty has the inside track for this job after a strong showing this spring. He has shown good accuracy, and is advancing in his knowledge of the system. Bud Martin would be my #2 right now. His arm strength and fiery demeanor lend themselves well to this team, and this offense. Gernald Hawkins is a nice player, but I just don’t think that he has the arm strength or consistency throwing the ball to make up for his lacking ideal size for a Quarterback.

Obviously, it’s early, and each player has a long time to develop their skills and prove to the coaches that they should be the next player at the controls of the potent Miramar offensive attack. 

Those are my thoughts. What are yours?

Until Next Time,

Cameron J. Underwood
Miramar Sports