[NIKE2010]

Congrats Ashland. Didnt see this one coming.

[Beetle01]

I disagree with the passing comment that there was no time, yeah there's no time when 9 guys are coming and you try and play action, you gotta do quick passes over the middle and the sprint passes and let AJ get some room with his speed. Ashland sold out on the run and said beat us through the air. We played right into their game plan and never changed a thing.

I agree the team acted like they did not care one bit.
Our D was atrocious, but once again it was 6-3 @ halftime and no adjustments were made at all.

They should have brought Dave and AJ out on D and thrown in another lineman and another linebacker.

Ashland can not beat anyone passing this year, they have no choice but to run but yet we kept 4 db's on the field instead of throwing different packages @ them.

When a team is bringing the house you can not run play action I don't know what is so tough about that. I'm not even a football coach and I know that.

The wing t works to perfection when you have a bigger stronger more athletic team but when you play teams who are just as big and strong and athletic or even more, and they load the box?? You can't run Abrams off tackle 20 times and expect to win.


Also I will die a happy man if I never see another Russell team run those stupid reverses. They work about 1 out of every 20 times.

These kids need to put this loss and embarrassment on their shoulder and use it as motivation for the rest of the year, I can also say I think the coaches should do the same. This is the worst loss for a Russell team since 2001. I can promise you its not the most untalented or gifted. So there has to be something wrong there.

UTILIZE the players we have and what THEY are good at.

[highschoolfootballfan]

I disagree with the passing comment that there was no time, yeah there's no time when 9 guys are coming and you try and play action, you gotta do quick passes over the middle and the sprint passes and let AJ get some room with his speed. Ashland sold out on the run and said beat us through the air. We played right into their game plan and never changed a thing.

I agree the team acted like they did not care one bit.
Our D was atrocious, but once again it was 6-3 @ halftime and no adjustments were made at all.

They should have brought Dave and AJ out on D and thrown in another lineman and another linebacker.

Ashland can not beat anyone passing this year, they have no choice but to run but yet we kept 4 db's on the field instead of throwing different packages @ them.

When a team is bringing the house you can not run play action I don't know what is so tough about that. I'm not even a football coach and I know that.

The wing t works to perfection when you have a bigger stronger more athletic team but when you play teams who are just as big and strong and athletic or even more, and they load the box?? You can't run Abrams off tackle 20 times and expect to win.


Also I will die a happy man if I never see another Russell team run those stupid reverses. They work about 1 out of every 20 times.

These kids need to put this loss and embarrassment on their shoulder and use it as motivation for the rest of the year, I can also say I think the coaches should do the same. This is the worst loss for a Russell team since 2001. I can promise you its not the most untalented or gifted. So there has to be something wrong there.

UTILIZE the players we have and what THEY are good at.

Your 100% correct...we should probably turn to a spread offense...we'd do much better then

[ryanparker]

It sounds like the posts are getting a little harsher as we go along! I watched the game on TV again last night and it is rather obvious that Ashland is just flat out the stronger and more passionate team. Russell lost some very strong players from last year's team in Hicks, Foster, Tyler Jones, and Cornwell to graduation as well as Bates to injury. Those are a group of tough and strong guys that are difficult to replace...some of which appeared to be emotional leaders. Weren't some of those guys contributors to the state weightlifting title? It seems like those losses have sort of gotten exposed as we stepped up in competition Friday night.

Beetle makes several seemingly valid points as it sure did seem that a quick passing game might have worked against that D last night and it did seem that the 4 DB's were sort of irrelevant as Ashland chewed up yards on the ground. Let's hope the coaches work with what they've got this year and figure out a way to give them the best chance for success.

[Beetle01]

Your 100% correct...we should probably turn to a spread offense...we'd do much better then

LOL lets not get ridiculous, they can still run but when teams come out and load 10 in the box and noone deeper than 5 yds, we may want to run something other than an off tackle play. This game was 13-10 late in the 3rd, it was 6-3 after the half with Russell getting the ball. That fumble seemed to really hurt any momentum we would have had, especially if we come down and score to go up 10-6.

Ive yet to understand why we have 3 returners in the game, 2 at most and bring in another blocker.

Although in all honestly this team would be better suited for a spread type offense. Making teams honor the pass and using Abrams as your power back. They can still run the wing T and use it to score a lot of points, but the play calling has to change if we are to beat any good teams.

[Beetle01]

I also want to add if these kids can't get motivated now, they never will.

Everyone is making them the laughing stock of area football. Calling them the Russell Runts among other things. Calling them weak and soft and bad football players in general. Making them the joke of area football.

If this doesn't put any hate in their hearts for every player that lines up across from them, I would probably just hang up the pads myself and focus on school.
I say play every down and game to the end. (Sorry Lewis and East) This team also needs to get in shape and this team playing half games isn't going to help them either. If those teams don't like it, well, work harder in the off season.

[FBALL]

I thought the play calling was pretty poor last night as well. A simple screen to the weak side would have gone for huge yardage all night.

But play calling aside. The players and coaches should be held accountable for this one for simply not being ready to play. They got hit in the mouth and backed down like a bunch of sissies.

[kybaseball]

I thought the play calling was pretty poor last night as well. A simple screen to the weak side would have gone for huge yardage all night.

But play calling aside. The players and coaches should be held accountable for this one for simply not being ready to play. They got hit in the mouth and backed down like a bunch of sissies.

Daggone Fball being a little hard on Ivan and the boys aren't ya? Games like that pop up now and again. Like i said Ivan won't let that happen again this year,You can take that to the bank.:Thumbs:

[Jeepman]

I thought the play calling was pretty poor last night as well. A simple screen to the weak side would have gone for huge yardage all night.

But play calling aside. The players and coaches should be held accountable for this one for simply not being ready to play. They got hit in the mouth and backed down like a bunch of sissies.

I'm just not so sure that this team has the heart that past Russell teams have had. This was the first time I have seen a Russell team in the past 10 years just give up and take a beating. It's Okay to get smacked in the mouth once. The next time Russell needs to do the smacking. I for one question if Russell has the heart and player leadership to rebound. We will find out what this team is made of on Friday. I for one hope that they get mad as **** regarding what they read on here and take it out on Carter.

[kybaseball]

No offence to East but it is going to be a long night next Friday.

[SmackDaddy2]

I'm just not so sure that this team has the heart that past Russell teams have had. This was the first time I have seen a Russell team in the past 10 years just give up and take a beating. It's Okay to get smacked in the mouth once. The next time Russell needs to do the smacking. I for one question if Russell has the heart and player leadership to rebound. We will find out what this team is made of on Friday. I for one hope that they get mad as **** regarding what they read on here and take it out on Carter.

THIS RUSSELL TEAM IS JUST FINE!! The players were not ready to play, and the coaches made no adjustment to what the Ashland coaches laid on the table for them! Anybody that knows anything about Football could see that!!! The coaches are the ultimate leaders of any team, and have to take responsibility no matter what happens! I am sure that the ship will be righted for the future and all is not lost! I hope most of us Russell fans can rebound also! It almost makes me sick to read some of the post on here! These young men have not given up the ship! Lets give them a break and let them do there jobs! The ashland game was not as bad as the score indicated, nor was it very pretty! But all will work its self out I am sure! I sure would not want some young players to give up as easily as some fans do! If we have to judge them, lets a least give them the benefit of a full season! REMEMBER 2005!

[Devil09]

The heart is there. The egos have to go.

[DevilsWin]

It wasn't the officiating that was terrible last night...

The team didn't quit in the first half down only 6-3 but they looked like a fighter that was stunned by a huge right hand and not sure they wanted to get hit again...Am I the only one who got that sense?? I felt like we were lucky to be down only 6-3...

I said it before, I was at the Ashland/Raceland game and they outplayed the Rams in the second half...If Albers doesn't get hurt I believe Ashland wins that game...Even with that said, they played much better last night than they did against Raceland...They looked hungrier...

Not time to push the panic button...Russell will regroup...

There were 2 No Calls in the 3rd that were missed, a clipping and a false start against Ashland.

Be that as it may and I know you are "friends" with the assigning secretary, but that crew is notoriously horrible. It starts with their white hat and it doesn't matter what game they're calling. They never call a good game.

[jgrubby]

The heart is there. The egos have to go.

Out of all the posts in this thread you hit the nail on the head!!!!

[DevilsWin]

On the kickoff that you are talking about not one Ashland player was blocked. Not one. It looked like as if the players did not care. I know they do care but that is what it looked like.

I saw that one too. An Embarrasmnent. I heard there were supposed to be "Scouts" there last night. I'm sure they saw all they needed to see.

[sports_report]

Congrats to Ashland, good move going to freshman quarterback, just seems that move gave the rest of the team more motivation. Where the past couple of weeks the offense was stale, and didn't believe in the other quarterback for whatever reason.

[sports_report]

By the way Raceland is probably that good. Could be a rough night for Russell because Raceland man handled Ashland. That game should have not even been close. However the Ironton game rested on Ashland's quarterback and offensive play calling.

[PBurg1313]

Wow, all I have read is fans sitting here bashing the players. Real fans stand behind their team whether they are mad at first they look past it and just say its okay guys you win some you lose some so regroup and take what you can from this game and get better. And Devilologist why dont you go and watch film my god, every lineman was on someone and there was still more guys coming. If all you Russell fans are going to sit here and do is criticize your team for their game then you all aren't the fans i really thought you all were. And i know if i was one of those Russell players i would hate everyone of you that is sitting here bashing them. And im sure they do, you all are wrong for doing that. What would have happened if Russell would have beaten Ashland?.........NOTHING AT ALL!!! Life goes on... you all would be saying oh well just another win. We are all grown men so why dont you all act like ones.

From a stands view and a neutral side on this it looked like Ashland played their best tonight they studied Russell inside and out. It didn't matter who the lineman blocked there was still 3 guys coming.
Russell never capitalized on any of Ashlands mistakes. Russell got beat in every aspect of the game including coaching.
And coming from a past player

And Russell should have passed, but on 1st down rather than 3rd down.

[jgrubby]

Wow, all I have read is fans sitting here bashing the players. Real fans stand behind their team whether they are mad at first they look past it and just say its okay guys you win some you lose some so regroup and take what you can from this game and get better. And Devilologist why dont you go and watch film my god, every lineman was on someone and there was still more guys coming. If all you Russell fans are going to sit here and do is criticize your team for their game then you all aren't the fans i really thought you all were. And i know if i was one of those Russell players i would hate everyone of you that is sitting here bashing them. And im sure they do, you all are wrong for doing that. What would have happened if Russell would have beaten Ashland?.........NOTHING AT ALL!!! Life goes on... you all would be saying oh well just another win. We are all grown men so why dont you all act like ones.

From a stands view and a neutral side on this it looked like Ashland played their best tonight they studied Russell inside and out. It didn't matter who the lineman blocked there was still 3 guys coming.
Russell never capitalized on any of Ashlands mistakes. Russell got beat in every aspect of the game including coaching.
And coming from a past player

And Russell should have passed, but on 1st down rather than 3rd down.

We are not "bashing" anyone here. We are talking about what went wrong. This is not a pep rally web site. Sounds like everyone of this generation has the "tude". This is football and it gets a little loud. What is unreal is that the talent is there, they just chose not to bring it with them Friday!!!

[PBurg1313]

So who do you think is to blame in this game jgrubby?

[jgrubby]

So who do you think is to blame in this game jgrubby?

The whole team. They were to blame. Their is no "I" in team. They gave up in the fourth. Thats not Russell. The fans leaving early in the fourth. Thats not Russell. Yes, their was a few miss calls, but the kids shouldn't have hung their heads. We have had missed calls before. We shake it off and get ready for the next play. We did capitalize on an Ashland mistake. We scored a TD off a fumble in the first half. They did not prepare for Ashland correctly. The line was blew off the ball just about every play. We had no penetration on the defensive line and no containment on the offensive line. I saw hemets come off and thrown on the sidelines. I didn't hear the sidelines cheer for the team the whole time. They were slow on the reverse hand off several times. I saw, the outside corners come in untouched and sack AJ. I saw all arm tackles, no one put shoulder pad in the gut and wrap. I saw a hurried interception because of the line getting beat off the ball. I saw a kick off return when a back just danced and didn't shoot the hole and get a few extra yards. I saw hands on hips at the beginning of the game. I saw no enthuziasm what-so-ever. THATS NOT RUSSELL!!!!

[highschoolfootballfan]

We are not "bashing" anyone here. We are talking about what went wrong. This is not a pep rally web site. Sounds like everyone of this generation has the "tude". This is football and it gets a little loud. What is unreal is that the talent is there, they just chose not to bring it with them Friday!!!

Yes you are, alot of people are here bashing the players saying they dont have heart or whatever...i got a question for all of you...are you all in the locker rooms? or at practices? or even know what all goes on, on the field that you cannot hear? just a question...this team has alot of heart...its hard to come back when you make mistakes and other teams capitalize on them and you get further and further behind...they game was alot closer than the score said...we still had a chance going into the forth quarter, and a bad snap interception, penalties, they just hurt you, especially when they other team capitalizes on them....so stop bashing the players saying they dont have heart and stuff unless you know what goes on when you cant see them.

[EKY Sportster]

Well, from a neutral party, if the players see the game get out of hand and if the players see the coaching staff doing the same thing over and over and it isn't working, then wouldn't you expect the players to give up. You can only try to topple a brick wall for so long before the fire is gone. I don't know the Russell players and I didn't watch the game, but from what I am hearing the coaching staff wasn't as prepared as they needed to be, didn't apparently make the necessary adjustments and brought down the morale of the team. That is surprising considering the coaching staff Russell has, but that is what you guys seem to be saying. If that is the case, then I would blame this performance (not necessarily this loss because Ashland is a good team) squarely on the coaching staff and give the players a break. There comes a point when effort becomes futile!

[FBALL]

For all of you who think the players don't need to hear or read the criticism you need to grow up. They have been told how great they are enough. Sure they are high school kids. But they are not babies. Maybe hearing they are not as great they think they are is exactly what some of them need. Sure the coaching staff takes some of the blame. But the attitude of the players is something that can't be coached.

If this makes any of the players mad. Well good. Do something about. Prove me wrong. I would love nothing more than to see this team regroup and run the table.

Also you are right about some of the fans. Some of them are not true fans. Some know nothing about the game of football. All they want is to tell the players and coaches how great they are win they are winning and whine when they are losing.

I for one don't have a problem with losing a game. Its going to happen. I do have a problem with what I saw friday night and for that matter even in the Boyd County game. I saw lazy and I saw some players just give up. That I do have a problem with.


On another note. I had a talk today with someone whose relative played for Russell in the past. This person told me how his relative "made Russell football". "Russell was nothing before this person and they will be nothing after him." is what I was told. Never mind all the other great players that have gone through this school. This is the kind of attitude we are talking about. ITS NOT ABOUT ONE PERSON.

For the players, the person that told me that works at Raceland and told me the Rams were going to embarress you when the time comes. Do us all a favor and show the teamwork and character that it takes to win championships.

The talent is there. There is no way I would question the talent in this group. Lets see if they can come up with a championship attitude.

[FBALL]

Wow, all I have read is fans sitting here bashing the players. Real fans stand behind their team whether they are mad at first they look past it and just say its okay guys you win some you lose some so regroup and take what you can from this game and get better. And Devilologist why dont you go and watch film my god, every lineman was on someone and there was still more guys coming. If all you Russell fans are going to sit here and do is criticize your team for their game then you all aren't the fans i really thought you all were. And i know if i was one of those Russell players i would hate everyone of you that is sitting here bashing them. And im sure they do, you all are wrong for doing that. What would have happened if Russell would have beaten Ashland?.........NOTHING AT ALL!!! Life goes on... you all would be saying oh well just another win. We are all grown men so why dont you all act like ones.

From a stands view and a neutral side on this it looked like Ashland played their best tonight they studied Russell inside and out. It didn't matter who the lineman blocked there was still 3 guys coming.
Russell never capitalized on any of Ashlands mistakes. Russell got beat in every aspect of the game including coaching.
And coming from a past player

And Russell should have passed, but on 1st down rather than 3rd down.

You are right on almost everything in this post.


Ashland did outman them at the line of scrimmage. Seven cannot block nine.

Ashlands staff did outcoach them. Coach can get a little stubborn at times. In defense of that the off tackle trap was almost sprung a number of times. I can remember several where Abrams was tackled by one man at the ankles and tripped up. If that one man didn't get him he was gone. Also passing on first down would have helped. And I have said for a couple of years now. Run the screens and swing passes again. They take alot of that pursuit from the defense away.

But the lack of determination the other night was obvious even in the first half and in games earlier. Not only this year but last year. Some of the players got mad at comments on here then too. Well if you want to be babied go talk to your moms. If you can't take the truth then maybe this game isn't for you.

I want all of the players to do well. I really do. Win or lose I still pull for them and wish them nothing but the best. At the same time I'm not going to say on here or to their faces that they tried their best when they do not. To me that is not being a fan at all.

[FBALL]

Daggone Fball being a little hard on Ivan and the boys aren't ya? Games like that pop up now and again. Like i said Ivan won't let that happen again this year,You can take that to the bank.:Thumbs:

No I don't think so. I still love them. Some of them may be mad about what they read but I'm not making any of it up.

"To witness involves bad news as well as good news"

John 16:7-11

[kybaseball]

No I don't think so. I still love them. Some of them may be mad about what they read but I'm not making any of it up.

"[COLOR="Red"]To witness involves bad news as well as good news"

John 16:7-11

[/COLOR]

Fair enough!

[sore_looser]

For all of you who think the players don't need to hear or read the criticism you need to grow up. They have been told how great they are enough. Sure they are high school kids. But they are not babies. Maybe hearing they are not as great they think they is exactly what some of them need. Sure the coaching staff takes some of the blame. But the attitude of the players is something that can't be coached.

If this makes any of the players mad. Well good. Do something about. Prove me wrong. I would love nothing more than to see this team regroup and run the table.

Also you are right about some of the fans. Some of them are not true fans. Some know nothing about the game of football. All they want is to tell the players and coaches how great they are win they are winning and whine when they are losing.

I for one don't have a problem with losing a game. Its going to happen. I do have a problem with what I saw friday night and for that matter even in the Boyd County game. I saw lazy and I saw some players just give up. That I do have a problem with.


On another note. I had a talk today with someone whose relative played for Russell in the past. This person told me how his relative "made Russell football". "Russell was nothing before this person and they will be nothing after him." is what I was told. Never mind all the other great players that have gone through this school. This is the kind of attitude we are talking about. ITS NOT ABOUT ONE PERSON.

For the players, the person that told me that works at Raceland and told me the Rams were going to embarress you when the time comes. Do us all a favor and show the teamwork and character that it takes to win championships.

The talent is there. There is no way I would question the talent in this group. Lets see if they can come up with a championship attitude.

Very Well Said!!!

[sore_looser]

[QUOTE=

UTILIZE the players we have and what THEY are good at.[/QUOTE]


I hope there will be changes made.

[sore_looser]

I can't believe that some of these kids for Ruseell have even been to a practice this year. This is the most unconditioned team I have seen Russell have. Also, congrats to Ashland and the freshman QB, they made adjustments to win, and that they did.