Week one is always filled with the most unknowns with many teams changing in varying degrees . New coaches , some injuries not disclosed which happens all year of course .
Coach Stokes loves the changed behaviors of his year round workout warriors , the buy in . What he doesn’t know is how much better it will make them on the field .
We used to have a much better idea how the team was going to be year in and year out . These past years it’s been more murky . Good signs physically . Good signs toughness wise on defense and Tina less degree up front in offense. Not a great sign that they don’t have a clear QB 1 and the passing game is going to be a work in
Progress for a while .
Stokes not saying that the team is a lot better than last year is not a good sign . The buy in and willingness to fanatically work out is great . How does it show up on the field ? Making football plays that make a difference ? Defense won’t give up what they did last year and the opponents on average won’t be as strong . OCC central opponents won’t overwhelm them with talent . Improvements should be evident , but offensively it may be bumpy and the question is can they score enough to win a lot more games this year ? I saw a better team physically and a tougher team than I saw last year in the PC scrimmage but the offense set is a unknown really . They weren’t as good as last year . Don’t have the same level QB . New receivers .
Tonight they face a similar team from an athletic standpoint , but can the home Rocks win with emotion , strength up front and make enough plays ? QB advantage with St John’s and that has me taking the points here .
Some questions about a handful of Rocks players will be answered tonight . Some veterans who struggled at times last year will look to be much better tonight . Sobe new guys looking to make their initial mark .
St John’s. + 8. Coffman - I think the Rocks can win here but it should be a ballgame . SJ. QB will make some plays to either keep his team in it or even win it .
3 -7 point game either way ? Rocks need to contain the QB , not let the motion jet sweep package and regular sweeps hurt them . I think they will be sturdy inside Va. the run but the QB running and escaping pressure and May be hitting someone downfield for explosive plays is a worry .
Not a must win but this is as close to one as there is .
Rocks in a close one but grabbing the 8 points is probably the way to go .