[EKUAlum05]

Watched the first couple offensive series for Tate's Creek. Looks like they have some big athletic receivers. They get the ball out quick too. Belfry probably won't match up as good as Scott Co. I can see Tates Creek hitting some big plays and scoring some points.

We should march on offense.

TATES CREEK OFFENSE
-The Beerman kid is very good at WR. 6'4 and ball skills. Belfry's corners have a tough matchup with him. Tates Creek's best offense is to go downfield to him.

- The other receivers are not in the same class as Beerman but run crisp routes.

-The QB showed flashes of brilliance. Not the strongest arm but threw some absolutely beautiful deeper passes and some perfect slants. Also took Tates Creek off the field by completely missing some shorter stuff or trying to scramble for very little.

-Tates Creek's run game was non-existent. It's basically as if the staff abandoned the thought of running between tackles. Their run game is dumping flare patterns and trying to make a play outside.

- OLine play is spotty. Belfry could very easily get pressure on the QB but I am a bit afraid they will only rush three and drop everyone.


TATES CREEK DEFENSE
- I actually think Belfry will have some issues that Scott County didn't. Tates Creek has big boys up front that take up space and has two very good LB's. Scott County killed them with misdirection and Tates Creek "over-penetrated". Scott County's yardage came in chunks and the biggest runs came when two Coomodore defenders were deeper in the backfield than the actual handoff. Scott County did a great job of using their elite speed to bounce runs outside when Tates Creek was too agressive.

- The LB's I mentioned are fast, aggressive, and don't miss tackles when they get on you. Belfry has to get their linemen to the 2nd level to be successful. I don't see Belfry being as successful outside as Scott County and if Belfry compacts the offense the lanes may not be there.

- With that said, as long as Belfry is protecting the football I think they will constantly be moving forward and that Tates Creek's big Linemen will wear down. If they can sustain success getting 4 or 5 yards up the middle there will be big play opportunities with mis-direction and the pass.


TATES CREEK SPECIAL TEAMS
- Solid kick returners who seldom got chances. Scott County was hardly ever punting and most of their kickoffs were Touchbacks. They have speed though, so Belfry needs to be ready.

- Belfry has struggled with longsnapping...but Tates Creek had the worst punt longsnapping I have seen in a while. Twice they couldn't even get the punt off because of snaps. Two other times it was actually so bad it was good. Bad snap and Scott County went for the block and missed and got penalties.

- Kickoff and Punt Return are inconclusive. Not enough body of work.



OVERALL:
- Tates Creek was better than I expected from a skill standpoint and from a defense standpoint surprisingly. Scott County was simply a bad matchup for them and whatever momentum they gained they squandered with Punt Disasters and giving up the big play.
- The key to Belfry is not to let Beerman hurt them with 25-30+ yard catches going over top of corners.... they also have to defend the flare well. Those are Tates Creek's two primary forms of offense.
- If Belfry fumbles they lose. I don't think Tates Creek can sustain enough drives to score enough points to beat Belfry..but if Belfry hands them short fields where all it takes is one jump ball to Beerman then this could get scary. I don't see Belfry running wild and free for 30 yard chunks like Scott County, but I think Belfry can brutalize the Commodores and grind them into submission until a couple of big plays open up... once again though..if you fumble all that is for naught

Best case:
35-7 Belfry, No turnovers in their own territory...give up a lone big play for a score

Worst Case:
28-20 Tates Creek, Fumbles and Beerman puts on a show. Tates Creek turns a flare into a long TD or two.