PLYMOUTH – The non-conference tests are over, it’s NLC time and what could be more of a headline for week one of conference play than the traditional rivalry of Plymouth vs. Warsaw?
“It’s Plymouth-Warsaw, what more can you say,” said Plymouth head coach John Barron. “It’s not like the communities dont’t have respect for each other, it’s two great towns that have been butting heads for decades. It’s a great game.”
Barron’s team continues to ride high on two big wins in the opening weeks of the season with very little to complain about from an execution stand point.
“I thought we were cleaner as far as all facets of the game,” Barron said about the Rockies game with Rochester a week ago. “After that first series we executed pretty well. We had some new faces in the lineup and moved some people around. It looks great on the dry erase board but it doesn’t mean anything until you get out there.”
The emergence of the young faces in the Rockie lineup a week ago allows for some confidence and flexibility on the sideline.
“We have a lot of depth, especially on the perimeter. Having the younger guys play will benefit us down the road here. We can play (Caleb) Koss and (Matt) Friar and (A.J.) Styres on the offensive side but we don’t want too,” said Barron, “They need to be one way guys.
“I say that but you’re going to see Friar in some tight end sets and Friar and Koss in some back field sets that (Offensive Coordinator) Mike Kershner likes. It may not be until the playoffs. They are athletic, good football players. We need them – however – to be the anchors with a couple others on that defense. I know our offense gets a lot of notoriety and rightly so, but I believe it that defense wins championships.”
Defense will be the challenge against the Tigers who fell to an outstanding East Noble team a week ago.
“They are big and fast and well coached, Michael Jensen is back at quarterback,” said Barron of the Tigers. “He’s got a good feel for the offense, he’s smart, he gets the ball where he needs to get it. They are going to move the ball. They have big athletic receivers, they have a great running back and on defense they fly around.
“They can score on every snap. Last year we could focus in on Riley Rhoades, but this year Jeremy David, he’s 6’4” 200 pounds, Rhoades is 6’4” 195, (Thomas) Hickerson is 6’3” 195, these are big, big guys.”
The Warsaw offense that will have the ball in the air as often as possible is a new challenge for the Plymouth defense that has been outstanding this far.
“We’ve been able to sit in our defense nobody has removed us,” said Barron. “They are going to remove our outside linebackers so the question is can we defend their run with our five inside guys, and can we defend the pass if we bring one of those guys?”
An offense that has clicked on all cylinders will see a challenge too.
“We think they are going to run our (defensive scheme) so we’ve asked how would we defend us,” said Barron. “The nice thing is that we have four or five guys we can throw the ball to. Hopefully we can figure it out and get the right play called.
“We have to establish the running game, That’s first and foremost. They’ve got big linebackers that can run.”
“We have to be patient,” said Barron. “They are going to catch the ball. They are going to move the ball. We have to be able to tackle some guys in space. We need to have fun. I want them to enjoy it. I may kick and scream if we lose, I may kick and scream if we win but I just want them to try and have fun.”
