Pantherguy
12-27-2006, 04:37 PM
Since we were the only team that played both of these teams, I wanted to throw my thoughts into the debate...all the other threads had kind of turned to SLC-bashing and name-calling, so maybe this one can stay on topic...
First of all, congrats to both teams. I hate arguments like this because it kind of demeans teams that did nothing but win when they were supposed to (but its the offseason and what else is there to talk about?)...going 16-0 is a big time achievement no matter what district or division you play in. Congrats to both teams.
With that said, a few thoughts...first of all, I know Cedar Hill had to improve a great deal from when we played them, since that was Cole's first game at QB, and they were still building the offense around him. I thought it might have been the best game we played all year to hang with them (we lost on a TD run with 18 seconds left). Cedar Hill also had to overcome a little bit of a mental hurdle to beat us as well, because we play in non-district every year, and we had beaten them 9 times in a row (might have been 10, not sure). As soon as the game was over, I thought they would challenge for the state title, and I said so in several threads once I started posting here a few games into the season. Everyone knows how fast Cedar Hill is now, and how great Cole is, so I won't go into that (by the way, I think Cole is the most dynamic player I have seen in high school in a real long time). I do think Cedar Hill does some things on defense that would be interesting to see against SLC. They blitz quite often and play man coverage everywhere, and they have the players to really pull it off. I watched SLC many times this season and they never really got blitzed a heavy, heavy amount all season, mostly because of their running game. But I think SLC would be able to score points on them.
The key that no one really ever talks about with SLC is that defense. Talking about Riley vs. Cole is the sexy argument, but the reason I would lean toward SLC is their defense. Even against us (in the playoff game), I contend that despite SLC moving the ball, we got stops when we needed them and could have stayed in the game if we could have gotten anything going on offense. We weren't able to in both games, and while I thought we played poorly the first time against SLC, two times is a trend, not an abberation. Their defense shuts down teams that are one-dimesional. As much as I enjoy watching CH play, they are one-dimensional. They don't throw the ball real well. They are able to do it some, but not as well as they run it. Westlake probably moved better than anyone did against them, but they did it with balance. Even against Trinity, the Tojan's inability to pass the ball cost them in the 4th quarter (on the two drives that really mattered before the much talked about fake punt). For this reason, I give the slight nod to SLC. I would LOVE to see this game. I hate that people on other threads have torn down Cedar Hill to some extent, that is not my purpose. Cedar Hill is a great football team, I just think at the end of the day, SLC's defense is so much better than anyone realizes, even against a speedster like Cole. I will say that Cole is the X factor and thats why I think saying Cedar Hill might win isn't over the top. He is truly one of the bests talents I have seen on a high school field, and I would love to see him against SLC's D. Congrats to both teams. Like I said before, if you go 16-0 you have earned it, no matter which division you were in. Hope everyone has a great offseason and I look forward to us squaring off against two defending champs next year....
First of all, congrats to both teams. I hate arguments like this because it kind of demeans teams that did nothing but win when they were supposed to (but its the offseason and what else is there to talk about?)...going 16-0 is a big time achievement no matter what district or division you play in. Congrats to both teams.
With that said, a few thoughts...first of all, I know Cedar Hill had to improve a great deal from when we played them, since that was Cole's first game at QB, and they were still building the offense around him. I thought it might have been the best game we played all year to hang with them (we lost on a TD run with 18 seconds left). Cedar Hill also had to overcome a little bit of a mental hurdle to beat us as well, because we play in non-district every year, and we had beaten them 9 times in a row (might have been 10, not sure). As soon as the game was over, I thought they would challenge for the state title, and I said so in several threads once I started posting here a few games into the season. Everyone knows how fast Cedar Hill is now, and how great Cole is, so I won't go into that (by the way, I think Cole is the most dynamic player I have seen in high school in a real long time). I do think Cedar Hill does some things on defense that would be interesting to see against SLC. They blitz quite often and play man coverage everywhere, and they have the players to really pull it off. I watched SLC many times this season and they never really got blitzed a heavy, heavy amount all season, mostly because of their running game. But I think SLC would be able to score points on them.
The key that no one really ever talks about with SLC is that defense. Talking about Riley vs. Cole is the sexy argument, but the reason I would lean toward SLC is their defense. Even against us (in the playoff game), I contend that despite SLC moving the ball, we got stops when we needed them and could have stayed in the game if we could have gotten anything going on offense. We weren't able to in both games, and while I thought we played poorly the first time against SLC, two times is a trend, not an abberation. Their defense shuts down teams that are one-dimesional. As much as I enjoy watching CH play, they are one-dimensional. They don't throw the ball real well. They are able to do it some, but not as well as they run it. Westlake probably moved better than anyone did against them, but they did it with balance. Even against Trinity, the Tojan's inability to pass the ball cost them in the 4th quarter (on the two drives that really mattered before the much talked about fake punt). For this reason, I give the slight nod to SLC. I would LOVE to see this game. I hate that people on other threads have torn down Cedar Hill to some extent, that is not my purpose. Cedar Hill is a great football team, I just think at the end of the day, SLC's defense is so much better than anyone realizes, even against a speedster like Cole. I will say that Cole is the X factor and thats why I think saying Cedar Hill might win isn't over the top. He is truly one of the bests talents I have seen on a high school field, and I would love to see him against SLC's D. Congrats to both teams. Like I said before, if you go 16-0 you have earned it, no matter which division you were in. Hope everyone has a great offseason and I look forward to us squaring off against two defending champs next year....