Rez Ipsa

WO-S will be ready to play. Even predicting a Crosby win, it will be a good game. I don't expect a blowout.

(Note: I'm not responding exclusively to Cougar 14.2, but this quote sums up a lot of what I'm responding to on this thread. Appreciate ya'll, and I'm enjoying the back and forth from everyone.) Judging PNG on a single game is silly -- I admit there are causes for concern, but looking at "How PNG was without RJ" in the minutes after he got hurt is not a good look at how PNG will be without him. Losing a player like RJ mid-game is demoralizing. Let's see how PNG plays with a week to prepare for it. What is strange to me out of all of this is how quick/eager everyone is to rush to use a single game as an indictment on the entire PNG program (a program with more history and better results than most teams represented on this forum). PNG has had really good moments in recent history, really good moments that didn't involve Roschon Johnson. Further, let's stop acting like Roschon Johnson doesn't benefit from being at PNG. It's true that: 1) he would be good anywhere, and 2) he has a seemingly never-ending list of God-given talents and innate ability that anyone would term "once-in-a-generation" (to quote Coach Riordan of Crosby). But it is also true that we cannot fully separate Roschon's rapid development from the good quarterback coaching he gets from Coach Faircloth. Coach Faircloth has a long history of making so-so QBs decent, good QBs great, and great QBs legendary. There is no measurable way to concretely say that being at PNG hasn't made Roschon better. It is strange to me the tendency people on this site have to separate RJ from PNG, as if he isn't on the team. He is certainly a huge part of what makes PNG good at this point in time, but if this team had developed without him (as all but two other PNG teams in history have had to do), the team would find ways to be good, as the vast majority of PNG teams have done. None of this is intended to minimize the impact RJ has, and his value to the team. In my opinion, he is by the far the best, most dynamic player in PNG history. Finally, this idea that PNG is "just not that good" deserves some consideration. Good, relative to what? The reality is that there are several hundred teams in Texas. Half of them are at or below average. On a normal statistical distribution, about 60% of the teams will cluster on either side of the median, being slightly better or slightly worse than average. Does anyone honestly think that PNG is below average in the state of Texas? And, if we are above average, doesn't that make us "good." I don't mean "great," I don't mean "legendary." I mean "good." And even if I were to take at face value the argument that PNG is "simply not good," then I have to ask why PNG has so consistently beaten so many teams represented on this forum? If PNG is so bad, what's wrong with the rest of you? If PNG is so bad, we certainly over-perform enough for us to be confident that things are going to be ok. It also strikes me as telling that some of the most eager voices to rush to put dirt on the PNG grave site support programs with less pedigree. Crosby? They are good right now, but they have certainly had their ups and downs in recent history. Port Arthur? Given the talent, depth, and potential with which that team is swarming, juxtaposed with its mostly so-so performance across its 15-ish years in existence, Port Arthur might be one of the most under-performing teams in the area. Nederland? Certainly a solid program, but the Bulldogs are no strangers to starting out slow and finishing strong. So before we all rush to write PNG's obituary, a little perspective can help see that we'll be fine. Even if we lose on Saturday, even if this whole season goes down the drain (I say it won't, but time will tell), we still have a proven history of coming back the next year and punching "better" teams right in the teeth.

Go Indians! What do we know about Tomball?

That's good -- We can chalk it all up to experience. It will only make the defense deeper.

Not to do the warden's job, but talking about racism is only going end badly. Let's keep it on football.

That's tough

Is there a timetable as to when the suspended defenders for PNG will be back?

I do need to thank pakronos for introducing the term "donkey stomped" to my vocabulary. I will definitely use that in the future.

I think fans suggesting that RJ should sit out (even if for a while) are thinking like parents, not like fans. There is nothing wrong with that. I agree that RJ probably (definitely) doesn't want to hear it, and we should be sensitive to that. But I imagine most people on this site have children, and when you are thinking like a parent, you're not going be thinking like a "good" fan (whatever that even means). As a fan, I want to see RJ play every game, push through his injuries, and continue to win games and string up highlight reels. But if it were my kid, or my nephew, I would be extremely hesitant to see him get out there again without being 100%. He has a high ceiling, enormous potential, and is, from what I understand, an overall great, special kid. It isn't ridiculous to want him to be careful, and it certainly isn't ridiculous to expect that the coaches will put his health ahead of records or win/loss differentials. As to PNG being "not good," I'm laughing. How do you even define "good"? PNG has one of the best players in the country, and a legitimately respectable supporting cast. We don't have a perfect team, but most teams have some flaws. Working with what you have and overcoming is what separates the good teams from the bad ones. Good teams lose games sometimes. Just ask Manvel.

Great post -- I'm out of likes

I don't understand the hysteria over one preseason loss. This is why we play preseason games! It's not like we have to impress a playoff selection committee. This is a chance to get focused and sort out the kinks. We may lose next week -- If it helps us get better, that is a good thing. How many times in recent history has Nederland started out 0-3 and gone on to win the district? Last night was a reality check. Reality checks are good, they're just a hard pill to swallow.

I think the offense will regroup. We very well could end up being a strong team. If the line improves and the receivers get more reliable, we can put away some ball games.

The dropped passes can be corrected. I'm more concerned by what seems to be a lack of speed in the receiver corps. I miss Riggs.

Caveat: I listen to the games, so my observations are based solely on the impression I get from how the game is announced. If I remember right, through three quarters the defense gave up two touchdowns and a field goal. One of the touchdowns was scored by Huntsville's defense, and the last touchdown was scored on a demoralized PNG defense in the last minutes of the game. It is true that we gave up some big pass plays, but we also forced a fair number of three-and-outs and were able to penetrate to the QB on more than one play. PNG was in this game for most of the game, and it certainly wasn't due to our fantastic offensive play. So it's not unreasonable to credit the defense for what it was able to accomplish. It also had to practically live on the field with very few breaks. From what I understand, two of our starters were out as well. All things considered, it sounds like the defense did pretty well.

Sounded like our defense was pretty good for the most part.

And just like that, shivers down the spines of the rest of the district.

I still like this better than playing three cupcakes in a row for pre-season. It seems like our receivers aren't very fast, or reliable. And it sounds like the offensive line, which I had heard on this forum was supposed to be really good, is not protecting Roschon at all. Hopefully it all turns into good playoff and district prep for us to learn from, get tougher, and be prepared for more important games.

Thank you!

Can someone translate "ttt" for me? I see it all the time on this site (mostly from WOS grad).

Go Crosby! Props to Crosby for going after the beast.

1. Beaumont United/Nederland 2. Silsbee/Newton 3. Beaumont Kelly/Beaumont Legacy 4. West Hardin/Hull-Daisetta 5. West Brook/Houston Strake Jesuit 6. Galena Park/Dayton 7. Houston Madison/Port Arthur Memorial 8. Huntsville/Port Neches-Groves 9. Manvel/Crosby 10. New Caney/Houston Heights 11. Barbers Hill/Montgomery 12. Orange Community Christian/High Island 13. Liberty/Cleveland 14. Bridge City/Jasper 15. Kirbyville/Lumberton 16. Orangefield/Livingston 17. Diboll/Huntington 18. East Chambers/Hardin-Jefferson 19. Kountze/Hamshire-Fannett 20. Edna/Anahuac 21. Buna/Hemphill 22. New Waverly/Hardin 23. Woodville/Madisonville 24. Warren/Evadale 25. Beckville/West Sabine Like this

Good luck to Silsbee!

Great video. I didn't realize how elusive he was.

Haha -- ok, you have better seats than me. I have to watch highlights and listen to radio broadcasts. My memory from video is that he runs like a bruiser.

Also, given that Sislbee is our oldest opponent, it's a shame there isn't more of a hyped rivalry between the schools. We should play every year.