New Players Encouraged to Come Out

Greenville Griffins 45- Clemson 19

The start to our season certainly hit us with a bang. A cold Clemson Thursday night was the venue for our preseason warm up. We traveled strong with 26, which definitely helps morale and allows the training staff to try out new options.

First Quarter
To say that we started slow would be an understatement. We let Clemson dictate the game to us even though we outweighed them in the pack 2 to 1. Poor tackling in the midfield and incorrect field positioning saw Clemson punish us on returning tactical kicks. We started to find our feet but were timid and I think that the lack of contact at practice was showing.
Second Quarter
Things started to go better for us here and I felt like we started to take control of the game, even though the scoreboard did not reflect it. We need to take advantage of good field position and not turnover the ball with careless plays. The forwards started to run the ball off set plays, which got us moving forward, always dangerous when the Griffins start moving forward. The backline started to show signs of being a defensive unit. With Josh and Matt at centers the line stood tall.
Third Quarter
Momentum was definitely on our side. The pack started to open up with Mulli working the fringes and putting the loosies into some good gaps on the inside. This was the quarter that we really started to look like a well-oiled machine. The ball moved freely and I think this was a great set of controlled plays.
Fourth Quarter - the rampage!!!!
We should have been tired, but I think we were saving ourselves for the end. What a quarter!!! Some well worked tries with the ball seeing just about everyone before getting into the try zone. True team effort with some excellent highlights, it just shows how well we can play when we get ball hungry.

Notes:
   1)We are deadly off set plays when the loosies unload the ball on first contact.
   2)Always remember field positioning, its no sense running across the field to the ball when our defense needs you to spread and contain the open field. Think smart, it will save you energy for the big plays and make you look like you know what you are doing.
   3)WE MUST CHASE OUR KICKS. This doesn’t mean that the kicker is the only chaser. The more that chase the less options the returnee has and the more likely we will close him down behind his support. Turnovers!!!!
   4)NEVER EXPECT DAN TO PASS!!!!!!!!
   5)Back yourself, be confident that you can do it and commit.

Guys we have a lot of work to do before Saturday. Judging by this game we cannot afford to start so slowly. This was a good performance as a whole, but not a great one, we can always do better.

Posted by Webmaster February 1^st, 2010

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