FB: Garrison Bulldogs Season Preview
They may be a Class 1A ballclub now, but the phrase 'Where's the beef' doesn't fit for the 12th-ranked Garrison Bulldogs. In might be more fitting to say, "Where ISN'T the beef."
The 'Dogs plan on using overall team size and speed to move anything or anyone that gets in their path as they try to better last season's Class 2A D-II Area finalists.
A year ago fleet-footed Scooter Ross ran to the tune of 1,700 yards, while mostly running around defenses. This year Ross and many of his teammates have graduated, but the Bulldogs plan on man-handling their opponents when needed and throwing over them when the situation presents itself.
Garrison fourth-year Head Coach Craten Phillips only welcomes back two true starters on both sides of the football, but with the experience that his reserves obtained while the 9-3 Bulldogs advanced to the second round of the Class 2A D-II playoffs, he may be singing another happy tune come November.
Why is Phillips already happy? First of all, the Garrison team which was 'on the bubble' between Class 2A and 1A was reclassified and dropped from District 19-2A and the likes of Tatum and Arp and placed in District 10-1A D-I. Not that joining the likes of Alto and Grapeland will be a cakewalk, but it'll even the playing field somewhat.
OFFENSE
In addition to bringing in three runningbacks that weigh more than 200 pounds in senior Josh Williams (255), senior Desmond McKibbens (205), junior C.J. Henderson (210) and senior Deadrain Roland (205), Phillips gets a twinkle in his eye when he talks about guard Brian Wright (285), along with junior center Kord Bradshaw (265) and Garrison senior 'bookend' tackles Jeremy Robison (280) and Klint Powell.
Opponents will definitely feel the effects of tangling with the 'Dogs.
"Jeremy and Klint saw a lot of action for us last year and started a couple of games each," said a stoic Phillips, who is confident in the ability of his 2010 squad. "They've got pretty good experience and have gotten quicker in the offseason. They're big kids and they can handle you if they get their hands on you. It's exciting to have them leading the line this year.
"Brian Wright could be one of the best in the district. He moves really well and hits his assignment every time. That's going to open up some big holes for us.
"Kord also gives us a force in the middle, so putting a big noseguard in front of him is not going to hurt us because he's a strong kid."
Phillips said not only is his offensive line large, but the athletes have a good collective head on its shoulders.
"Our offensive line is made up of smart kids and they get their assignments most of the time," he added. "You can talk to them and make adjustments fairly easy, which will be a big asset for us. There are many occasions where we prepare for a certain defense and then the other teams shows up with something different and the line has to be able to make adjustments at the last minute. And to have kids that can adjust to it and can understand what you're telling them and translate it to the field is a huge bonus."
Phillips could talk all day about his offensive line, but he doesn't want to leave out his backfield, which bring almost as much meat to the table as his offensive front. His fullbacks can aid the line in opening up holes for fleet-footed running backs such as McKibbens and junior Nathan Burkhalter, or bull ahead for yardage on their own. Williams rushed for 481 yards and eight scores a year ago as a two-way starter and McKibbens added 644 of his own, giving Garrison a multiple threats in the backfield.
"Behind the big offensive line we should be able to move the ball on anybody," Phillips reasoned. "Coaches are going to have to think outside the box - which many of this area coaches do - but we have quite a bit of size for a Class 1A team."
And then last but certainly not least there is the Bulldogs' quarterback. Junior Dustin Strahan had 12 starts under his belt as a sophomore a year ago, running for 417 yards and seven scores, while passing for 482 yards and seven more TDs. His experience and savvy when in the pocket could make the Bulldogs more of dual threat in 2010.
"Dustin stepped in as a sophomore in our option-based offense and was mobile in the pocket and a good ball carrier," the GHS coach noted. "He did all those things for us last year and I think he's more calm and confident back there these days. I think that'll be a big asset to the team to have somebody in control who's seen [the varsity game experience] and we're hoping he'll have an even bigger season this year."
Phillips says senior receivers Zach Russell, A.J. Bryant, Bryan Bush, along with freshman Cameron Rodriguez will all be splitting time as wide outs and also working in the defensive backfield.
DEFENSE
Speaking of defense, the Bulldogs won't be too shabby there either. Despite some inexperience due to a loss of defensive backs to graduation, Garrison will be pretty 'salty' with its front seven.
"We'll be running the same defense for the first time since I've been here, so the kids are comfortable with it," Phillips expressed. "They understand the concept and their jobs. They know they still have some work to get the job done physically, but they're comfortable with the concepts.
"We have good size in our line and our linebackers are pretty good readers. I was pretty impressed with them in the Groveton scrimmage, the way they were flying around and latching on during tackles."
Williams had 54 tackles and will anchor the defensive line. He will complement Henderson, who tallied 84 stops from his linebacker spot a year ago.
"The area we'll have some inexperience is in the secondary," the coach stated. "We'll have four new guys out there that didn't get many reps last year. But they're also smart kids and have good athletic ability and they know what they're doing. The more they see it the more they'll be a force back there."
Phillips says the diverse talent in the Bulldogs' non-district opponents should prepare his team for the league schedule and the challenge of knocking off sixth-ranked (Friday Night Football magazine) Alto for the league title. But despite only returning two starters on both sides of the ball, Garrison has already earned some respect, garnering a 12th ranking in the state. And he says his players are determined to outlast the team of 2009.
"I think this team wants to go further (in the playoffs). I think these kids have that expectation and want to do what they've done before and take it even further."
And it appears they'll be pushing anyone out of the way that tries to stop them.