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More time, reps nets early signs of progress for Titans |
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Friday, 03 July 2009 |
 Kerry Smith/The Associated Press East Oktibbeha running back Lexie Edwards (6) turns upfield against Montgomery County during the West Oktibbeha Spring Jamboree on May 15. By DAVID MILLER
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Anthony King’s first year at the helm of East Oktibbeha football was a learning experience for both he and his players. King hopes more time together will translate into greater success this fall.
The second year skipper was a late hire, so he wasn’t able to go through spring practice with his players. King didn’t get the chance to put his team through a full slate of summer workouts, either, so when the 2008 season rolled around he wasn’t sure what to expect from his team.
Injuries hit, inexperience lingered and a tough Class 1A slate put the Titans through a gauntlet of learning experiences.
“I came in late and had to learn a lot of guys — they had to learn me too,” King said of his first season in charge. “We didn’t put in the work in the weight room last year because I was hired pretty late. It was a challenge, no doubt.”
King knew the spring would bring about a greater opportunity to evaluate personnel, get his team stronger and continue to develop the relationship he needed for everyone in his program to feel comfortable.
In King’s eyes, the greatest attribute his team can have is chemistry.
“The guys understand me, so the chemistry is there now,” King said. “We had a good spring game, and the offseason really helped us. Guys doing what they are supposed to do in the offseason carries over in the game. I think by having that extra time, we should be better.”
The Titans’ coach points to the spring jamboree at West Oktibbeha as one reason to believe his team is much improved over last year. There, Chris Hunter hooked up with Terrance Rice for a 30-yard touchdown pass, while Lexie Edwards posted a 16-yard touchdown run against McAdams.
That should be good news for Titans’ fans, as the team’s offense was hit hard by injuries last season, which forced a lot of youth onto the field. That will be the case this year, in terms of young skill-position players, but King is confident in the talent he has to work with.
Lexie Edwards, who played quarterback and tailback last year, is projected to be the feature back after a positive spring and strong showings during the team’s 7-on-7 drills this summer. Hunter projects to be the No. 1 QB, but Marlon Fair will be in rotation for that job along with receiving carries out of the backfield.
The players to benefit most from the 7-on-7 drills are wide outs Rice and Arthur Gillespie, both of whom featured on the Titans’ 4X400 state-title winning track team this spring.
“We’re going to be young at the skill spots, but the talent is there,” King said. “We have a pair of guys at wide out (Rice and Gillespie) who are each about 6-2 and are fast. Terrance had a real good game to end last season and has looked good this summer. With Chris at quarterback, we should be better in the passing game.”
Fortunately for King and his staff, numbers will not be an issue this season as 35 players make up the Titan roster. Most of the 35 players saw the field last year, and with just four seniors King has plenty of youth to build around for the next two seasons. District realignment has removed powerhouse programs East Webster, West Lowndes, Calhoun City from the schedule and evened out the landscape of 1A football.
King acknowledged the revamped district will help his team, as well as the other mid-level programs looking to reach the playoffs. That, along with the improvements gained since last season, should make for a more confident squad.
“I realized when I came in that Class 1A football is tougher than it looks,” King said. “There’s a lot of hard work that has to go on to come out on Friday nights and beat the teams in our district.
“Ultimately, we have to believe we can win. We started off with it (confidence) last year, but it kind of dropped off because we weren’t winning. I want them to know that being in the weight room, running routes and pulling tires in the summer carries over. Your season is won by your offseason, I truly believe that.”
The offensive line, which has had extra onus applied from King, will need to follow the lead of right tackle Lee Roberts, King said. His senior lineman has been the beacon for the team’s blockers.
“Lee did a good job of controlling the line in the spring and the rest of the guys seemed to feed off him,” King said. “Our line, though we are a little bit small, did a good job of blocking up front. The game is won up there, and Lee has to lead that bunch.”
One challenge King said he might face is keeping players fresh through the grind of playing both ways. He said Tevin Poe, Davlin Bell, Freddie Williams, Matt Rice and Roberts will all see time on offense and defense. The defensive side of the ball, King believes, will benefit more from the two-way players.
“Kind of like our offense, we’re a little small, but we have good team speed,” King said. “People shouldn’t be able to run east/west with us. Strong schools might be able to run the middle, but we have enough athleticism to compete.”
King has placed extra emphasis is in the secondary, where last year’s crop of defensive backs produced just two interceptions last year. He hopes cornerbacks Marvin Rice and Bracie Johnson, along with projected safeties Gillespie and Terrance Rice can apply the experience gained from extra 7-on-7 reps.
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Last Updated ( Sunday, 05 July 2009 )
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