[bucslover68]

Other options at HB for Belfry? Edwards, Hall, and possibly Fletcher and Wellman. Wellman runs with a burst and is built more like a HB, but has been playing some FB...Possibly Hunter seeing some time?

[jetpilot]

Also, Jetpilot is one of my favorite members of this site. Dude can troll and joke but he's also for real and pretty cool.

Man thanks so much for the kind words and believe me it goes both ways and then some. I had my final post in this thread ready and it was long....but I am going a different route and will have my final post up Friday....it will be scoffed at by many I'm sure but the people that matter will get it....

[dawgbyte02]

Belfry wins this one in typical pirate fashion. With class.

[jetpilot]

He is a good athlete, not amazing IMO. Would not have been starting had Catron not been hurt. Very good player, but learning to run like a Pirate back is a different animal. According to my source, Joplin informed them today that he will no longer be playing at Belfry. Makes the halfback spot thinner with Catron still injured.

When I saw 4 carries last week for 16 yards I thought there may be a problem. Big fish in a small pond doesn't adapt well to a minnow in a big lake.

[EKUAlum05]

Best of luck to Joplin.

Edwards and Hall sound like the best bets until Catron returns from injury. Once Catron comes back I feel very comfortable with the Pirate backfield. Definitely a blow though but the kid has his right to make a choice.

Hall is the most intriguing option but I am not sure how I feel about making him play both ways. He is so valuable at DE.

[jetpilot]

So can Joplin play anywhere else this year?

[EKUAlum05]

So can Joplin play anywhere else this year?

I am not sure what kind of rules there are over in WV which is where I presume he would be returning.

I hope for his sake he is able to become eligible wherever he so chooses. Would hate for the kid to miss out on 3/4 of a season.

If he is returning to Mingo Central and can become immediately eligible I am betting MCMiner will be one happy camper. Mingo Central is off to their best start in school history and getting Joplin back who ran for 1000 yards would really inject even more optimism into that program.

[cuppett777]

I am not sure what kind of rules there are over in WV which is where I presume he would be returning.

I hope for his sake he is able to become eligible wherever he so chooses. Would hate for the kid to miss out on 3/4 of a season.

If he is returning to Mingo Central and can become immediately eligible I am betting MCMiner will be one happy camper. Mingo Central is off to their best start in school history and getting Joplin back who ran for 1000 yards would really inject even more optimism into that program.

where was he from,Mingo?

[jetpilot]

I am not sure what kind of rules there are over in WV which is where I presume he would be returning.

I hope for his sake he is able to become eligible wherever he so chooses. Would hate for the kid to miss out on 3/4 of a season.

If he is returning to Mingo Central and can become immediately eligible I am betting MCMiner will be one happy camper. Mingo Central is off to their best start in school history and getting Joplin back who ran for 1000 yards would really inject even more optimism into that program.

In all seriousness, it would be big for Mingo Cent. and would barely move the needle for Belfry. Never can have too many options but Belfry's chance at another title didn't decrease by more than 2%. And it was already very high.

[PaytoPlay]

Hate to hear about Joplin. I wonder if it was simply lack of carries or if there were bigger issues at play. Maybe he just missed his buddies.

Wish Catron wasn't hurt. I'm interested to see who steps in now. Edwards or Hall would mean a kid playing both sides. I would be inclined to try out Fletcher - but I am probably higher on him than some others.

[jetpilot]

I would rather prepare for Joplin if I am the Pikeville staff. Whoever Belfry inserts will be more dangerous than 4 carries for 16 yards. Fact.

[jetpilot]

Hate to hear about Joplin. I wonder if it was simply lack of carries or if there were bigger issues at play. Maybe he just missed his buddies.

Wish Catron wasn't hurt. I'm interested to see who steps in now. Edwards or Hall would mean a kid playing both sides. I would be inclined to try out Fletcher - but I am probably higher on him than some others.

Outsider vote is both.

[EKUAlum05]

Double Post

[EKUAlum05]

Hate to hear about Joplin. I wonder if it was simply lack of carries or if there were bigger issues at play. Maybe he just missed his buddies.

Wish Catron wasn't hurt. I'm interested to see who steps in now. Edwards or Hall would mean a kid playing both sides. I would be inclined to try out Fletcher - but I am probably higher on him than some others.

I am going to throw a crazy idea out there.

How about Derek Wellman getting some snaps at the other wing back?

It's obvious that the carries in the backfield will lean heavily toward Hatfield/Fletcher at FB, Willis, and Taylor.... What Wellman does give you is great blocking and on the counter he will give you some real hard nose running and will not be afraid to hit the hole.

Wellman right now is offense only so now you make sure another player isn't going both ways...and you still have flexibility to use a guy like Hall in specific packages to create a different look like they used to with Dixon.

Wellman won't be the optimal guy on the option or the passing game, but if 85% of the carries are coming from the other guys any way that blocking ability is a big plus. In addition, he gives you two guys in the lineup on goal line situations with the ability to pound the ball in by simply hitting the hole and shedding contact.

Just throwing an idea...

[Chasin Bucs]

I'm going to throw out an even crazier idea, how about Fletcher at FB and Hatfield at the other RB position. Maybe for a few series, to see how it works. I would be interested to see how he does with a little more room run.

[EKUAlum05]

I'm going to throw out an even crazier idea, how about Fletcher at FB and Hatfield at the other RB position. Maybe for a few series, to see how it works. I would be interested to see how he does with a little more room run.

Dustin May was able to do some of that.

Hatfield would be a scary thought with a head of speed on that 2nd man through the hole. Would have to definitely be as a change of pace though... kid is as good as you will find at FB and no offense to Fletcher but they just aren't the same right now.

[Belfry0304]

WISH. BONE.

Blast plays with Hatfield at HB... just the thought gives me chills.

[Belfry0304]

In all seriousness, it would be big for Mingo Cent. and would barely move the needle for Belfry. Never can have too many options but Belfry's chance at another title didn't decrease by more than 2%. And it was already very high.

This is pretty much what I told MCMiner247... it sounds cocky but I think they can use him more than we. Once Catron returns he will step in and Corbett is relieving him at safety, so maybe if he does well Cameron won't have to play that position as much.

[Pirate4Life]

I wish Joplin the best, he does have talent. I have watched WV and KY high school football all of life and IMHO there is no comparison. WV does have some powerhouse football teams like Wheeling Central (private school of course) and Martinsburg and recently Wayne but put those school in KY and they would go no farther than the quarterfinals. This theory can never be tested but that's my 2 cents worth. Joplin will get more praise in WV because of the diluted talent pool.

[bucslover68]

I am going to throw a crazy idea out there.

How about Derek Wellman getting some snaps at the other wing back?

It's obvious that the carries in the backfield will lean heavily toward Hatfield/Fletcher at FB, Willis, and Taylor.... What Wellman does give you is great blocking and on the counter he will give you some real hard nose running and will not be afraid to hit the hole.

Wellman right now is offense only so now you make sure another player isn't going both ways...and you still have flexibility to use a guy like Hall in specific packages to create a different look like they used to with Dixon.

Wellman won't be the optimal guy on the option or the passing game, but if 85% of the carries are coming from the other guys any way that blocking ability is a big plus. In addition, he gives you two guys in the lineup on goal line situations with the ability to pound the ball in by simply hitting the hole and shedding contact.

Just throwing an idea...

This crazy idea was initially interjected in post 181:biggrin: I believe Wellman could play some HB too. Will be interesting to see how Haywood and the staff juggles the talent.

[MadHatter]

I'm looking forward to this matchup. Best of luck to both teams

[Leonidas]

If you're going to start trying to insert freshman into the mix Devin Varney would be my choice.

[bucslover68]

If you're going to start trying to insert freshman into the mix Devin Varney would be my choice.

To be honest I had forgotten about Varney. He has done a real good job holding for PATs and on kickoff coverage. Who knows, he may get a chance. Like I said, it will be interesting to see how the pieces are used now that Joplin is gone.

[AtlPirateFan]

I hate to see Joplin leaving, I was starting to hope that he would evolve into a receiving threat as the season went on. I wish him the best in his future, that being said I think the backfield will be just fine.

[topnotch]

Go Pikeville win one foe the little schools.

[Chasin Bucs]

We won't be losing much, but both of our best options start defense, so they will obviously be splitting the time in the backfield. IMO, both Edwards and Hall would be a better blocking back than Joplin anyway.

[PaytoPlay]

Hall is the fastest of the kids that could slide into Joplin's role IMO. He is a big tall kid who still hasn't quite filled out his frame though and he runs high from what little I have seen. When he gets some space though, few will run him down.

Just put Rayquan back there at RB.

[free ride]

When you go out and transfer a new player and they don't get the ball 8 out of 10 times.
The player wants some other school to transfer them.

[Westside]

Pikeville is going to spank that ass.

[EKUAlum05]

Pikeville is going to spank that ass.

Is that Pikeville's strategy for tackling?

Since the Belfry backs will be a step ahead of them running down the field they aren't going to dive and hope to trip them up..instead they are just going to reach out and smack them on the butt in hopes of surprising them enough they slow down?