Denizens, today we’ll take a quick look at the teams I’m following this year in the Perfect Football Weekend™.
MERLIN:  Quick?  You?
KORRIOTH:  When have you ever  done anything “quick”?
VENOMOUS:  How about that time I doubled your salary?
KORRIOTH:  Twice nothing is still nothing.
VENOMOUS:  Precisely what Cyrano Jones said.  Now shaddup or I’ll throw you in a pool of tribbles.  Head first.
KORRIOTH:  (grunt)
Okay, let’s get on with it.
High school:  The (Fort Worth) Arlington Heights Yellow Jackets
Ged Kates returns for his second year at the Jacket helm, and his job this year will be slightly tougher than it was last year.
Last year he inherited a full cupboard of talent from predecessor Steve Hale.  This year, that cupboard may or may not be empty.
Going off last year’s roster, we see that Omar Valadez will be a senior, but he won’t have all-universe do-everything back Marquis Jackson to make plays for him this year.  Looks like his best bets will be Jesse Lenz & Dennis Brooks, to assist a running game led by junior Adrian McKenzie.  Nate Guidry, Hallante Edwards & Kameron Holmes look like they may be seniors that will help anchor the defense.  Again, these are just guesses.
Besides, like I said last year, I never know from one season to the next whether Heights is going to be any good or not.  Guess we’ll find out after “Week Zero’, won’t we?
College:  The Texas Christian University Horned Frogs
With the exception of the national championship years, last season for the TCU Horned Frogs could arguably be considered the best ever.  13-0, a Rose Bowl victory over a bigger & stronger Wisconsin opponent – how do you top that?
Gary Patterson, Dickie Bumpas and company will attempt to do just that this year.  With a new quarterback (Casey Pachall) replacing Andy Dalton, and Phil Boyce, Antoine Hicks & Skye Dawson replacing Jeremy Kerley, Jimmy Young & Bart Johnson, an undefeated season appears unlikely.
But then, that’s what I said last year.
Ed Wesley & Matthew Tucker will continue to anchor a running game that wore down opposing defenses last year, though Pachall’s early inexperience will cause teams to load up the box & dare him to throw.  Wesley’s healthy this year – and when healthy, he’s a bona-fide 1,000-yard back.  They’ll run behind a line that, despite losing Ryan Cannon & Jake Kirkpatrick, is well stocked with game-tested talent.
The defense may need time to round into shape.  The line is a bit thin in depth, but will start with a front four of Stansly Maponga, DJ Yendrey, Braylon Broughton & Jeremy Coleman.
Tank Carder & Tanner Brock will once again kick major ass at linebacker, and Greg McCoy leads a secondary that will have to grow up fast.
This will be TCU’s last go-round in the Mountain West Conference, and the MWC has repaid all TCU’s done for their newfound credibility by giving them a fuck-you schedule – all the tough games on the road, especially having to play on that POS Smurf Turf.
The Froggies will grow up pretty fast this season, I’d imagine.
NEXT:  Of coaches & short leashes…
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