[Scotty_Bronson]

That was the question i had as well.

[anotherfootballnut]

You have to go with what works snd the passing game wasnt , why throw the ball when u can run it down their throat plus the game itself kind of controls that . Good example is the fairview game they threw the ball 50+ times before half time so Raceland was running the ball to slow the game down and control the game

[Scotty_Bronson]

No that part i get and understand that we simply didt need to. Problem was, we totally got away from any sort of balance. We also had nearly nothing in regaurds to play action or screens to the rb. I think with the backs we have we should be utilizing that. But i know that the coaches are doing their best what they feel is the right thing to do. So while I dont always agree w the play calls, im not going to think any less of the staff. We have a great staff and they all care a great deal for the kids and community. Thankful for them.

[Scotty_Bronson]

Finalized schedule if I am not mistaken:
8/22 West Carter H
8/28 At Ashland
9/4 At East Carter
9/11 Greenup County H
9/18 At Lucasville Valley
9/25 Portsmouth West H
10/2 At Lawrence County
10/9 BYE
10/16 Fairview H
10/23 At Paintsville
10/30 At Russell

At first glance the schedule may not seem as tough as in years past, but IMO, its one of the stronger 1A schedules in the east. Ashland and Russell will be tough this year and both games will provide a big atmosphere to go along with great competition, Lucassville Valley is probably a step better than Ironton and Portsmouth West is likely a step up from Coal Grove. Glad we kept two OH teams on the schedule, they really test your toughness upfront in that confrence, good or bad the teams usually play really physical football. Both LV and PW are two of the better teams in their conference, so those are great additions. Greenup County snd Lawrece Couty give good defense and should give us some different looks offensively (GC in the Bone and LC's option game), Paintsville will give us a balanced team and stiff competition for the the district title and Fairview will be slinging it all over the field to give our youg secondary a chance to put up or shut up and prove themselves. East Carter and West Carter should allow us to see what kind of Depth we have early on in the season. After week 4, Idk if there are going to be any "gimme games". 10-0 or a 6-4 reg season record with a deep run in the playoffs is what ot looks like on paper, hopefully to BG. Close Losses to Valley, Ashland, Portsmouth or Russell wouldnt shock me, but we shouldbe more than capable of winning those games as well. I lean toward a 8-2/7-3 season though. Either way I think we will win the district and three-peat the region and HOPEFULLY make it over the hump and get to BG. Cant wait for the fall, is it August yet?

[Scotty_Bronson]

I would still like to see us schedule a couple mtn or Lex/Lou/NKYteams though. Prestonsburg, LCA, Holy Cross, Beechwood or Bellevue. But this schedule should be a good mix of competition and development games.

[samson81]

Considering what Lawrence Co. has coming back, I wouldn't be shocked to see the Dawgs come out of that game with a win. They return almost all of their major offensive weapons.

West Carter - Win (Comets should be improved, though)

Ashland - Toss up (Can the Rams contain Baker just enough to get the W?)

East Carter - Win (Starters probably won't break a sweat)

Greenup Co. - Win (With Greenup heading in the right direction, this one could be competitive)

Lucasville Valley - Toss up (Closest thing to an L on the schedule at this point. I think they return a very good QB, but that's all that I know of for sure. Lost to powerhouse Kirtland in Ohio D-VI semis last season)

Portsmouth West - Toss up (Don't know much about next season's team, but they're a solid OH program so it should at least be a good game)

Lawrence Co. - Toss up (I don't envision a duplicate of last season's blow out)

Bye - Win (Should be an easy W, but you can't get caught looking ahead :biggrin

Fairview - Win (Eagles could hang around for a little while, though)

Paintsville - Toss up (Tiger's lose some good players, but return some as well, including arguably the best player in eastern Kentucky)

Russell - Toss up (I'm already salivating over this one :yum:. Atmosphere at the Hank should be electric)

[Scotty_Bronson]

Considering what Lawrence Co. has coming back, I wouldn't be shocked to see the Dawgs come out of that game with a win. They return almost all of their major offensive weapons.

West Carter - Win (Comets should be improved, though)

Ashland - Toss up (Can the Rams contain Baker just enough to get the W?)

East Carter - Win (Starters probably won't break a sweat)

Greenup Co. - Win (With Greenup heading in the right direction, this one could be competitive)

Lucasville Valley - Toss up (Closest thing to an L on the schedule at this point. I think they return a very good QB, but that's all that I know of for sure. Lost to powerhouse Kirtland in Ohio D-VI semis last season)

Portsmouth West - Toss up (Don't know much about next season's team, but they're a solid OH program so it should at least be a good game)

Lawrence Co. - Toss up (I don't envision a duplicate of last season's blow out)

Bye - Win (Should be an easy W, but you can't get caught looking ahead :biggrin

Fairview - Win (Eagles could hang around for a little while, though)

Paintsville - Toss up (Tiger's lose some good players, but return some as well, including arguably the best player in eastern Kentucky)

Russell - Toss up (I'm already salivating over this one :yum:. Atmosphere at the Hank should be electric)

I agree. Lawrence has the atheletes to compete the last few years, but they have been kind of weak upfront and alot of that has had to do with a lack of depth. Offensively they also seem to like an identity. Lots of formations, schemes, and sets. Seems like the kids are unsure at times. Very little continuity. Its a good schedule for what we have comig back.

[Scotty_Bronson]

And i think we showed even with Baker breaking runs, we can play with Ashland. They have and possibly will rely on the homeruns of Q. Not msny of their drives were sustained. We have just ran out of time the last few years, their massive numbers have alot to due with that as well.

[anotherfootballnut]

Lucasville valley is by far the toughest team on Racelands schedule , they have a lot coming back which includes the best qb in the tri state a big line and a all state linebacker , Raceland will have their way with Lawrence co bc of the line , the same goes for Russell

[mightydog]

So if I read samson81s predictions correct the Rams could be 4-6 or possabley 3-7 in a competitive upset game with GC. Or they could go 10-0, that's a pretty wide range

[Scotty_Bronson]

I dont see GC or WC playing within any closer than 3 tds of Raceland. Raceland goes 8-2/7-3 regular season.

[BOOGIE WOOGIE MAN]

This team will not lose more than 3 games. Way too much talent and will to win for that to happen. You can count on 1 hand the number of games (JFL, Freshman, and JV) that the Junior class has lost since they started their 6th grade JFL year.
The Seniors are also accustomed to winning as they also had very good records during their younger years and have only seen 6 losses in their last 2 Varsity seasons, going 10-2 in the regular seasons and then losing both years to a very good and experienced Williamsburg team in the playoffs.
There's more to this team than what most people are seeing right now, and that's fine, time will tell the tale.
Don't be surprised to see them at 10-0 when playoff time rolls around.

[BOOGIE WOOGIE MAN]

That was actually 8-2 regular seasons.

[mightydog]

From what ive been reading, the fans in Ram land are worried about the QB

[BOOGIE WOOGIE MAN]

Nothing to worry about at QB. There are 3 players more than capable of stepping in that position and all 3 are dual threats. It's really not a problem.
I understand that the Rams lose alot, but most don't realize or haven't seen what's coming back.

[mightydog]

No matter what you have coming back, I cant see them going undefeted with so many toss up games. Everything would have to go the Rams way, and every team would have to come out flat for that to happen.

[samson81]

So if I read samson81s predictions correct the Rams could be 4-6 or possabley 3-7 in a competitive upset game with GC. Or they could go 10-0, that's a pretty wide range

I think this is a good schedule that will challenge Raceland. A handful of those games could go either way. I tend to agree with Scotty, 7-3 or 8-2 is the likely outcome. I think they'll be well prepared for another deep playoff run.

[anotherfootballnut]

10-0 would be tuff and I wouldn't be surprised at all if it happened

[mightydog]

They're schdual just dosent favor an undefeted season at all. 6 tough games, and 5 are on the road. They'll be fortunate to split those six games and go 7-3

[Scotty_Bronson]

Id rather be 10-4 or 11-3 and sitting in Bowling Green preparing to watch the Rams finally make school history, than be 11-1 and go home after the regional championship game. We have played that game before, a few times, didnt sit well sith me.

[pjdoug]

7-3 regular season sounds about right.that's a tough schedule to get the Rams ready for the playoffs.

[Scotty_Bronson]

Imo upgraded in terms of the Oh schools. Valley is usually better than Ironton if im not mistaken and Port West is usually as strong or stronger than Coal Grove. Adding Russell and losing Nicholas Co is a step up. So the only real weak school is East. West is probably about as good as Greenup and if Greenup gets an offense going, then they will be a solid team that should be able to hang with anyone.

[Scotty_Bronson]

*in our area

[pjdoug]

Imo upgraded in terms of the Oh schools. Valley is usually better than Ironton if im not mistaken and Port West is usually as strong or stronger than Coal Grove. Adding Russell and losing Nicholas Co is a step up. So the only real weak school is East. West is probably about as good as Greenup and if Greenup gets an offense going, then they will be a solid team that should be able to hang with anyone.

Russell is a little down right now but I dont expect them to stay that way.

[anotherfootballnut]

Russell is down ?? They won the region last year what are you talking about

[pjdoug]

Russell is down ?? They won the region last year what are you talking about

Yes Russell is down right now.its obvious what I was talking about.

[Slic Ric]

Yes Russell is down right now.its obvious what I was talking about.

If you are saying they're down in terms of comparing them to the consistency of the Russell teams of old, then maybe. But I wouldn't say they're down in general. They just won 11 games and a regional title. If that's down I'll take down on most years...lol.

[anotherfootballnut]

Yes Russell is down right now.its obvious what I was talking about.

Not obvious at all , no idea what your talking about

[E's Army]

I expect Raceland to be very good. But I think it will take a while to find Messer's replacement. He showed what kind of athlete he was at the state track meet. He did a lot of nice things for the Rams. Probably have to replace him by committee.

[pjdoug]

If you are saying they're down in terms of comparing them to the consistency of the Russell teams of old, then maybe. But I wouldn't say they're down in general. They just won 11 games and a regional title. If that's down I'll take down on most years...lol.

Yes,I meant they are down compared to what they were.I obviously didnt mean they are a bad team