Well... November 29, 2014 marked Day 1 of the 2014-15 offseason for the Cy Woods Wildcats. One thing you should know about me is that I'm always jumping the gun on stuff. This post is no exception. And so... without further ado, here's my look ahead to the 2015 season.
Who's Not Coming Back?
Asterisk indicates a starter.
QB Nick Hooper*
QB Reece Clark
RB Jacobi Boudreaux
WR Zac Duncan*
WR Taylor Tesch*
WR/long snapper Chad O'Donnell
OL Ty Dendy*
OL T.J. Frank
OL Brian Biddy (injured much of the season)
OL Andrew Gallagher*
OL Wyatt Wozniak*
OL Shiva Reddy*
OL Brandon Kula
OL Hunter Rohles
DL Randall Medlin*
DL Isiah Clay
DL Morgan Tosten*
DL Justyn Johnson*
LB Wade Carson*
LB Tyler Greaves*
LB/Special Teams Ace Danny Malone
LB Shane Lawless*
LB Elijah Pierson*
DB Jake Jones*
DB Robert Barrientez
DB Michael Wirt*
DB Matthew Swalm*
DB Nick Bailey
Who's Coming Back (as far as I know)?
Italics- Junior in 2015
RB R.J. Harmon
RB C.J. Jones
WR Tre' Hart
WR Jared Taylor
WR/QB/P Jordan Johnson
OL Skylar Schulz
OL Andrew Gonzalez
DL Caleb Smith
DL Brandon Love
LB Keith Watson
LB Austin Greaves
LB Brandon DePrato
DB Kason Franklin
DB Myles Wilson
DB Bryson Powers
K Luis Reyes
Returning Statistical Leaders
Passing: R.J. Harmon (this is not a typo), 1-3, 40 yards, TD
Rushing: R.J. Harmon, 122 carries, 1,118 yards, 8 TD (C.J. Jones leads the team with 12 rushing TDs)
Receptions: R.J. Harmon and Jared Taylor, 35 each
Receiving yards: Tre' Hart, 541
Receiving touchdowns: C.J. Jones, 7
Interceptions: Bryson Powers, 3
Questions That Must Be Addressed
1. Who's going to be the QB?
The Cats went through a similar situation after the 2010 season when Colton Huntsman departed. Gabe West, who made a couple of spot starts in Colton's stead due to an injury, stepped in the following season and while he wasn't electrifying, he provided stability at the QB position and proved to be more than a capable performer. However, this situation is a little different. The Cats will be losing both their starter (Nick) and backup (Reece). Here are three guys who are probably going to be the primary contenders in the mix this spring.
Other than Nick and Reece, Jordan Johnson was the only player on the 2014 team that had QB experience. He has played quarterback at the sub-varsity levels and has performed well in that capacity, so presumably, he might be the front-runner for the job. He got in at quarterback during a couple of blowouts this past season, but he did not attempt a pass. Jordan's an outstanding athlete. He fits the mold of the Wildcat QB: a dual threat who is capable of making plays and extending them with his feet.
Austin Goffney was one of 3 (4, maybe?) players who saw action at QB at the JV Cardinal level this year. That position was a revolving door due to injuries, and the coaching staff was looking to see who could separate themselves from the pack. Goffney also fits the Wildcat QB mold in that he is also a dual threat. Although he might need a little more refinement as a passer, he possesses a good arm. He was also deployed as a receiver and a running back in certain situations this season on the JV level, so he could help as a utility player.
Jacob Kainer, a sophomore (OK, he's a freshman, but as far as the program is concerned, he's a sophomore), performed well as the primary freshman A-team QB. His skill set is rather reminiscent of Nick when he was a freshman, and I thought he played pretty well in the 2 freshman A-team games I saw this year. If (that's the operative word) he were to make the big club as a sophomore, which would also continue a trend of freshman A-team quarterbacks making the jump straight to the varsity, my guess is that he'd be broken in as a receiver, much like Nick and Mason Roberts were when they were sophomores.
Whoever gets the nod will have some weapons at his disposal, and more than likely, in keeping with the Wildcat tradition of employing dual threats at the quarterback position, he'll be a weapon himself. R.J. Harmon and C.J. Jones are both returning; they're looking to build on electrifying 2014 seasons. Tre' Hart and Jared Taylor are the top 2 wideouts. Throw in R.J. and C.J. in the passing game, and the Wildcats are getting their top 4 receivers back for next season. The cupboard will hardly be barren for the new QB.
2. Who's going to be protecting the QB and creating lanes for the running backs?
The Wildcats will also have to rebuild their offensive line. Skylar Schulz is the only returning starter, and if I'm not mistaken, he was the only non-senior offensive lineman in the rotation for much of the season. The Cats only brought up one offensive lineman during the course of the regular season: a junior named Andrew Gonzalez, and if I remember correctly, his playing time came when the outcome of the game was well in hand. It is pretty much a given that the 2015 season will be the first exposure to varsity football for the vast majority of the offensive linemen.
3. The Defense
The Wildcat defense surrendered 455 points, which is by far the most they've allowed in any season. They gave up 359 in the regular season alone. Again, that was also the most points that they've allowed through the 10-game regular season. I was actually much higher on the defense to begin the season, so their rather poor performance was definitely a surprise.
The front 7 will be a new-look unit in 2015; DLs Brandon Love and Caleb Smith, and LBs Keith Watson, Austin Greaves, and Brandon DePrato, who were all juniors last season, are the 5 returning defensive players on the front line who saw any sort of playing time on the varsity level. In the secondary, Kason Franklin, Myles Wilson, and Bryson Powers were all key contributors as sophomores. Bryson, along with Jake Jones and Michael Wirt, led the team in interceptions with 3. They cut their teeth in 2014 and performed admirably. Now, they're looking to take the next step in 2015.
I think the youth of the secondary was a key factor in the struggles of the defense... I mean, they played 3 sophomores. Then, when injuries thinned the ranks, the Cats had to draw from offensive players. They were also susceptible to the big play through the air. A possible silver lining from all this was that they got a healthy number of interceptions because teams were looking to throw on them quite a bit this year.
Part of this also stemmed from their inability to just get off the field. At times, it felt like the opposing team was converting on every single 3rd down situation, regardless of distance. The Jersey Village game was a prime example of this deficiency. The Falcons went 13-18 on 3rd down, and the 13th was killer, as they got a 12-yard pass play when they needed 7 yards to move the sticks. To top that all off, that occurred when the Cats had the Falcons pinned deep in their own territory late in the 4th quarter. A stop there could have given the offense the ball for one final attempt at a comeback with great field position. They were also hit by the injury bug, especially in the secondary. They had to find receivers that could play corner towards the end of the season. Shane Lawless missed some time. Keith Watson was not totally healthy this season. But... yeah, injuries are a factor, but whoever steps in has to contribute as well. It's a somewhat valid reason, but not totally valid.
Since day one, this is a defense that has subscribed to a "bend, but don't break" philosophy. The amount of yards they gave up didn't matter, as long as they kept the opposing offense out of the endzone. Keeping opponents out of the endzone didn't happen very often with this defense, where teams seemingly put up points at will on them. It's fun watching a shootout, unless you're more defensive-minded. Now, the defense played well for stretches, but they had very few games where they were able to put it all together on that side of the ball.
I'll get this out of the way, too: The offense scoring too quickly is not a valid reason for the defense's struggles. In the past, the Wildcat defense still found ways to stuff opposing offenses even as their own offense was busy running opposing defenses off the field.
I doubt that Coach Faith, who, lest we forget, was a defensive coordinator prior to taking the reins at Cy Woods, was pleased with the team's performance on the defensive side of the ball. Between now and August, I know he and the defensive coaches will be finding solutions in order that a season like this does not happen again on the defensive side.
4. How is this team going to remain a playoff contender even as the landscape of the district changes?
Simplest answer: Find 22 kids on each side of the ball that will compete fiercely on every down.
However, we all know that's easier said than done. Note that I didn't say that it couldn't be done. Thankfully, the Cats have not run into many serious complications in this aspect in the past.
Although.... admittedly, I do have my reservations about the kids coming up from within the system, and these reservations are about the kids that are probably going to be counted on to contribute at the varsity level. I won't openly elaborate on this further, but I have concerns.
5. Is there any reason why the Cy Woods Wildcats can't be a playoff team in 2015?
Maybe it's the blind homerism speaking, but on paper.... no, I don't see a reason why the Cats don't make the playoffs in 2015. But the reality is that there are countless variables that will be in play.
For one, injuries. Some key players will be banged up along the way, some more serious than others. Another factor will be how the new quarterback handles the reins. Nick Hooper's production won't be replaced instantaneously, but sometimes, stability at the quarterback position is what matters most. The defense is going to have to reinforce itself. They will need to step up, because there will be teams in the district that will be bringing back many of their key players on offense.
Cy Ranch's appearance in the state championship game just raised the stakes significantly in this district. Their run to the title game has pretty much ensured that the district will be a slugfest in 2015. Think about it. Not only will the Cats have the Mustangs to contend with, but Langham Creek will be hell-bent on defending their crown. Jersey Village is hell-bent on ending their playoff drought after getting eliminated on the final day of the regular season. Cy-Fair, in all likelihood, will do what they usually do: lean on an outstanding running game and a stout defense to get them to the playoffs.
Even the non-playoff teams look to be much improved. Falls is a proud program that has suffered long enough, and they have key players coming back to give the opposition fits. Creek looks like they've solved a problem that has plagued them for the past few seasons. The revolution at Springs looks like it's about to bear fruit. Like I said... this district is going to be as rugged as ever. But I know that the Cats will be in the mix when the dust settles.
On Ranch playing for State, from the guy who was once a player but now randomly turns up at practices and JV games
Disclaimer: I never played against Ranch, so I found this somewhat easier to type out. I know... yuck. Truth hurts, but it's got to be said.
Consider that their ultimatum. It was an ultimatum that was not just aimed at the rest of the district, but one that was composed with you, the returning Wildcat football players, in mind. Hopefully, they've gotten your full and undivided attention.
Sometimes, teams you don't like are successful. That's sports. There is really no use in being bitter.
