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Going into the Ponca City scrimmage with the Wildcats and fellow 6A foe Enid
Plainsmen's, I and most BlueJay fans were interested in watching this somewhat
new personnel Guthrie offense.
Got to be honest with you, I was stunned to see just how smooth it went for the
first outing of the year. I will insert a disclaimer here and say all 3-teams
appeared to be in base defense's and kept it simple.
This may be more of a compliment to the Jays defense, but days earlier in the
Jays inter squad scrimmage, the offense went backwards more then down the field.
The quarterback race is what has the most attention of the many Jays races for
playing time and maybe rightfully so as we wait to see who the signal caller
will be this 2009 season.
Senior Christian Lamb, sophomore Hayden Seifert, and freshmen Bryan Dutton all
took snaps in the 3-man rotation in both the junior varsity and varsity portions
of the scrimmage. All three gun slingers look well at times and at times you
could tell it was their first time out. No fault there, that's going to happen.
Don't believe me? Ask Brett Favre (1-3, 4-yards in his first pre-season game).
Lamb made the first nice play of the evening with a fade pass to 6'4 junior
Devonte' McCully in the corner of the end zone on a ball that had a nice touch
on it. Lamb, later in the scrimmage, found McCully for another touchdown, but
McCully made that particular play by making a couple of moves before speeding
past the would be tacklers.
Seifert stayed poised, for the most part in the pocket, and made some nice
plays. The sophomore will just get better each time he hits the field. The
freshmen quarterback a year ago seemed to force the ball at times, but you have
to chalk that up as a learning experience because the speed of the game has
changed since last October.
Dutton's best pass on the evening was a drop pass from a Jay receiver 30-yards
down the field, but the toss was a tight spiral on the money (numbers). Dutton
looked more athletic of the two and the play calling seemed to fit that more for
him.
Dutton took a snap and rolled to his left and then let go of a pass into the end
zone for a wide open sophomore Luke Davis for a touchdown. There was a time he
rushed his decisions as well, but again that is to be expected from him and the
others.
From what I took from the first scrimmage, it appeared Dutton may have given the
Jays a more offensive balance attack with his feet and arm. He impressed me with
his arm strength. I saw what he can do with his feet in junior high, but he has
a good arm to play varsity quarterback.
Can you name a quarterback the starter yet? You could, I suppose, but lets wait
and see what happens Thursday in the Ada scrimmage, at Jelsma Stadium.
"All three looked good and all three made mistakes. We looked good tonight then
any other practice we've had so maybe they will be gamer's. I hope." head coach
Rafe Watkins said of the three canidates.
The running backs did not have just an unbelievable night. We know what J.P.
Bruner brings to the offense with a quick move here, or there and boom he's gone
with his speed.
Junior Alphonzo Wilcox had a tough time getting going, but junior Derek Kelly
had a nice evening. Luke Davis, who can help the running backs if needed, did
not have a rushing attempt.
The Jays offense may be a little further ahead because of who they go up in
practice everday. The BlueJay Defense.
The defensive line is as good as advertised especially with the junior book ends
with Kentrell Brothers and Felix Scott. Blaine Smedley, Martell Oates, Cody
Doyle, and Mikey Johns were in the back field all night and that was going
against 6A offensive lines.
The offensive line did a good job of keeping the quarterbacks on their feet. It
is interesting to watch some of these linemen returning. Blake Belcher fills out
his BlueJay uniform nicely over at left tackle.
Linebackers, not to shabby either with Jaden Chappell and cousin Landry
Chappell. Oh, it is going to be fun the next three years to watch the hard
hitting Landry Chappell. Of course, the Ponca City quarterback may not of had
such a good morning after getting to meet Landry yesterday and one of those
hits.
Sophomore John Clark will be solid as he learns the position and will be a force
as he continues to mature in the defensive scheme.
Perhaps, the name that was called upon the most in the secondary was senior
Devin Williams. Devin seemed to be all over the field and will have a chance to
be a leader in the secondary.
Overall, I came away impressed with the Jays offense and will look for better
play this week with Ada and the defense is going to be so tough especially the
front seven up front.
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