skyway

Some balance is needed, but not necessarily any more than what they had for Plant. The simple, complimentary passing plays off of their best runs will be enough. The 62-yard PA TD pass to Zipperer being an obvious example. Against STA, they'll need to control the clock and avoid turnovers as well. If they approach it like they have to score a TD every possession-and/or if they really do end up needing to score a TD every possession-it ain't happening.

Lakeland unquestionably has enough to win a state title in any other classification. Do they have enough to beat STA? At the moment it looks like they do not. However, I just went back and re-watched some of the Plant game. After they got scorched on the three big plays, they replaced a safety and took a LB out and went nickel. Plant tried them deep again and were denied. Plant turned it over on downs. It is possible that Plant caught them off guard (due to so many blowouts and shutouts) and took advantage of some dumb calls/decisions by DBs, but that those are mostly correctable. Ultimately, you're looking at three big (and awful) plays, but beyond that the defense was fine. So, we shall see!

Looking at the video of the QB I shared from the spring, it's possible. Watching them this season and many others, I'm inclined to answer no. The time management at the end of the 1st half was evidence of their limitations here IMO. They scored a TD anyway, but clearly didn't manage the clock as they should have.

Old school coaches are a factor. Can't really argue with the notion that more could be done in this area.

They scored so many points so quickly through other means (rushing, defense and special teams) that it was hard to do much in that regard. But, there were times where they tried to open it up a little more in blowouts. It is interesting to go back and watch the QB McWilliams's highlights from both the spring game at Venice and last season at Jenkins. Against Venice-without Bowman playing and with three current starting OLs out-they did look like a spread, open it up type of team. http://www.hudl.com/v/2A05hJ

The best argument for Venice having a shot is that they are so precise, and exploit every inch and every questionable aspect of the rule book, that they are just going to score a bunch of points no matter what. And they're used to giving up points, so they won't be shocked when STA scores. They hope to come up with a couple of timely turnovers, hold them to a couple of field goals and win something like 38-35. I'm afraid it won't happen like that, though. I think this will look a lot like the 2016 game.

I'm not sure why you bother to try to pass as some objective observer. You're a Manatee fan who's jealous of Lakeland this year. It's OK. We were jealous of Manatee a few years ago. Just own it.

Edgewater's QB is like Demarkcus Bowman with an arm. I think if Lakeland sits in zone all game, he probably won't consistently be able to make the reads and throws he needs. But, against man he'll be able to chuck it deep, hit slants, curls etc, not to mention scramble all game long. I fear Edgewater is going to score a good number of points.

Lakeland kept Plant in check in the first half, allowing only 3 points. In the 2nd half, each time Plant had the ball, they were down by at least 18 points. So, they had to air it out. Of major concern for Lakeland is the fact that, with that big 2nd half lead, they allowed Plant to easily get behind the secondary for big plays three separate times. Like, glaring, WIDE open. Safety bit on one play-action, and a DB fell down on another play. But, problem is, Lakeland insists on staying in its base personnel all game long. So, Plant goes 4 WR (I think, off the top of my head), Lakeland's still in its 4-3 defense. Eiither you end up with a LB on a WR (mismatch), you have a safety on a WR and zero coverage over the top, or you have to be in a zone where a good QB can find the creases. Manatee got them a couple times with a similar scenario back in week 1. Against such packages, Lakeland is going to have to stay in zone for most of the game. Hopefully, this serves as a wake up call and they're able to patch some things up. If that's the kind of coverage we're going to be stuck with, Edgewater and/or STA will carve them up. They might be able to win a shootout vs. Edgewater, but not against STA.

I was feeling pretty confident about this game for Lakeland...and then I checked out Edgewater's QB RJ Harvey on huddle. Now I'm scared LOL

Ah yes. Forgot!

The playoff loss to Hillsborough in 2003 was at Hillsborough.

Plant had several guys playing who seemed to be really, really banged up. QB in particular. With the game over, he probably figured it best to spare the guys another possible collision.

There are two advantages (along with some disadvantages): 1) Easier to keep players healthy in what could be a marathon, 15 game season. 2) Easier to conceal both effective schemes you might employ later as well as to conceal weak points on your team.

At that point, with his QB hurting, I think Weiner wanted to avoid giving Lakeland an easier chance to break the 50 point mark. Yes, they badly gashed Lakeland deep those three times, but those were early enough to where Play-action was still being honored by the safeties. On 4th and long down big with a couple minutes left, PA wasn't going to be there and so a conversion on 4th and long was unlikely.

haha. By three+ scores I mean that absolutely no combination of two scores evens the game. Including two TDs and two two-point conversions.

That said, 13 games for Lakeland and 13 wins by 3+ scores. I believe they are the only team in the state who can make that claim.

Very impressed by the offense! Very concerned about the secondary! They had better learn a lot and make some adjustments, otherwise a team I thought needed to win defensive struggles in the late rounds will be stuck having to win shootouts. They appear to be more capable there than I feared, but, we can only hope there are some rare circumstances that led to three embarrassing blown coverages on deep balls. On an otherwise awesome night, those plays stand out as unacceptable embarrassments.

Great! Now if they can just keep the wide shot from the press box during all plays! Don't need to switch to close-up shots in the middle of plays haha

I like Bloomingdale to hang around with Venice, but Venice wins late. Armwood takes out Vanguard. Vangaurd has the best player in the game, but Armwood has more athletes across the board. No prediction on Plant-Lakeland. My "gut instinct" says Lakeland puts it all together, runs only a few of their best offensive plays over and over, and rolls. But, my head reviews recent history and sees Lakeland failing to execute the "little things", getting too complicated and getting away from what they do best, and stalling on offense. While this is the best defense Lakeland has ever had, Plant is really good on offense. One offensive touchdown-all Lakeland got the last two years-likely won't get it done. So, I don't know. I do know I hope to be able to watch the game, but still no announcement on that.

That too. That was a little bit harder to be certain of watching the webcast, but I remember the guys in the booth being amazed. In California, last week Corona Centennial ran a basic zone read, the QB keeped it, but the ref THOUGHT the back had it, back was tackled and the ref blew it dead. QB was long gone to the endzone before it was clearly blown dead. Dreadful!

haha thanks. Though I've been around the block for a long time. (Took a hiatus for a few years as I was over all of the super team building. I'm still over it, really. But, this is the first time Lakeland ratcheted things up to where they have Polk County's version of a super team.) I was around when Student Sports was the main message board-literally before the "turn of the century" lol. I think Canes came into the picture around 2005 or so. Maybe later. I was arguing with him some back then too

Well, this is all good to hear. I will agree about fans bitching about officials. It's like politicians bitching about the media. A lot of it is just sour grapes over being called out for something they don't like. But, I have seen some genuinely horrific calls made over the years. Calls made that simply do not even align with the rule book. Some that even helped my team, like last year when a WR completed a pass for 50+ yards to an offensive guard on a broken play that was allowed to stand. And of course the three downs crap with Columbia. It's one thing to have some subjective calls that are iffy. Some officials have better/different judgment than others, but that's the game of life. But blatant violations of the most basic rules of the game can't be a part of playoffs.

yeah.

Sometimes it's a great idea to get out and find a new place! Funny tidbit: My very last day in Florida as I was leaving to move away for good ended with me watching Lakeland beat Columbia in Lake City in the 2001 KOC. I drove away from the stadium after the game, hit I-10 west and haven't looked back since! (Other than still following HS football haha).