La Porte Report (vs Clements)

[LP0175]

It was a great game for La Porte to start the season off, considering the opponent is picked by some to win district 24-5A.  The game got off with a fury for La Porte both offensively and defensively. I will start by addressing the offense and then defense finishing with final overall critique.  La Porte's running game was carried early on by a combination of running backs senior Anthony Webb and freshman Hoza Scott but it was a TD pass by Jeremy McNeil that reaped the rewards of the first drive. I expected the running game to carry the offense but suprisely QB McNeil showed a good passing I.Q. when called upon.  He (McNeil) was not asked to make big plays with his arm but when asked to complete a pass he delivered catchable balls to the best options that got the desired results.  Credit is to be given to O.C. Terrabonne for putting together a good gameplan that was efficent.
The run game was a mix of inside zones, counters, and dives that was presented from multiple looks including the pistol formation.  Off of the success of the run game the passing game benefitted.  A heavy dose of play-action carried the passing game with maybe one or two drop back passes called.  One note of concern i did find in the passing game was the frequency in which a defender or two split the line. The blocking scheme for oline centered around either turn blocking or sideline(what i call carrying out the blocking inertia to the sideline) both of which should have prevented inside penetration but on any given pass play a defender would find an short block or a missed block all together. With that being said the secondary of Clements didnt do much to smother the La Porte recievers, allowing simple 9-12 yard digs or 7-15 yard crossing routes to be high-percentage passes. 
Another suprise, for me atleast, was the the size of the offensive line. For the better part of the 2000s, La Porte has not field a sizable online, the 2010 La Porte line sports  three 300 pounders.  I played varsity oline for LP '98-'00 seasons and at the heaviest we averaged out at 287 lbs. (i donated 325 lbs. to that figure), this year's line is close to those numbers.  The hogs upfront lined up near foot-to-foot to maximize the size while negating obvious average agility.  I approve of the way the offensive line was used, it will trouble undersized teams while forcing equally sized defensive linemen to grudge out a grueling style of trench warfare. 
Some how year after year La Porte is able to produce a two-back system.  In the early 2000's it was HB Gainus Scott and FB justin Matthews, then it was HBs Quinten Castille and Deewee Davis followed by Kendrick Perkins and Anthony Webb.  After the departure of Perkins due to graduation many (including myself) figured only Webb would be the workhorse of the running game but freshman Scott (6'3" 200 lbs)showed capable lane awareness and hardnose running. I am pleased to see QB McNeil to have a good game. One of the concerns most La Porte fans held was the play of the QB. Last year, some thought that McNeil should have been starting because of his obvious legs but his arm and decision making was a question, well in the first game he showed an obvious growth in the passing game.

The defense set the tempo for the offensive by holding clements to a three and out.  Again size has made an apperance to the line. The defensive line sported a couple of big bodies in the 240-265 range in the 50 front with a 3-4 base.  Because clements lined up in mainly a I-formation look with a split between one and two receiver sets, the 50 front did a number on collapsing lanes and creating clutter. The defense as awhole did a good job of putting more than one tackler on the ball carriers and creating turnovers.  The linebackers did a good job of filling the holes when given and flowing with the ball on outside runs.  on the night, the defense produced 3 sacks (by my recollection) and a pair of interceptions.  I believe the defense has improved from last years defense that saw alot of heart and effort filling the gap caused by lack of size and pure athleticism. I do worry what will happen when we play a team that has a competent pass game. I didnt like our CBs hesitating on breaking on obvious slant routes. Its hard to say that the problem is skill or technique but i have a sense that a weakness in the CB position would put stress on our Safeties to have to eye the outside allowing the middle of the field to be a land of oppertunity.

Overall it was a good game to start the year.  No knock at Clements but going into the game i expected more out of a district champion pick.  I'm hesitant to play La Porte up to a katy level (i know that after reading my above statements one could assume that i am) due to conflicting theories of excellent play against a good team or excellent play against a mediocra or sub-par team. With this game in the books i look forward to the game against Klein Forest, another team that is predicted to be a play-off threat as a gage for our team but until we hear what comes out of their camp on the health of their QB, La Porte may find another capable win against another picked tough opponent. I look forward to talking football with you guys and i hope this assessment finds satisfied minds.  I hope to trade conversation of possible strategies between our teams which adds excitement to the upcoming games. if you have any question you want to ask me about LP( outside of me giving away LP staff gameplan  ;D) feel free to ask. if i dont know at the moment i will do my best to find out. Good luck to all the teams in District 21-5A, LETS MAKE THIS ONE OF THE BETTER DISTRICTS IN REGION III!!!!!

[gary-us-bonds]

Nice report.
Can't wait to see how Lee does against the Bulldogs next week.

[LP0175]

im equally excited. i predict the lp defence will blitz early and often to try to cause turnovers or keep the passes to 5-9 yd routes. lots of man coverage too. lp offense will run the ball as the gameplan. the scheme depends on the type of defense lee runs, which is?

[gary-us-bonds]

Lee just runs a vanilla 4-3 defense.
They don't, or have not yet, do much stunting or blitzing or sophisticated scheming.
LP should be able to line up and stuff it down Lee's throat for the most part.

LP probably doesn't want to do a lot of blitzing and man defense.  Richardson would have a field day with one on one coverage.
He single-handedly beat the Bulldogs last year on two jump balls that he leaped over the DB on and snagged the ball for td's.

[LP0175]

I didnt attend last year's contest.  So i will just assume from what i saw on la porte end and what i am reading on the forum about lee.  Maybe La Porte will do zone blitz with an emphasis on Mr. Richardson.

[Keyser Soze]

Was there a score in this game ??? Don't read the Houston area papers over here.

[gary-us-bonds]

Hey LP,
I am assuming that is your blogspot with the video?

LP looks pretty tough.
The offensive line is huge. 
Is that #20 the freshman?  He is huge.  He is ripe for some fumbles though the way he is holding the ball.  Coaches need to get on him about securing the ball.

About last year's game.  Lee had two touchdowns basically on 4th down and long when they just threw up a Hail Mary type pass to Richardson and he skies over #20 I believe it was, the cornerback for LP that was about 6'2" .  Those two touchdowns were the difference in the game.  That and the fact Perkins hadn't come back yet. ;D

Lee has a lot more speed than the team LP played in that video.  We should be able to score some.  I'm just not sure about holding that punishing ground game in check that the Bulldogs have.

[LP0175]

i assume Lee still run a shotgun spread o, im guessing LP will not load the box as it did last week. i still expect to see a 3-4 defense although we wont see much 50 front like last week.  i hope LP can pressure with the "four" upfront so we can clog all passing lanes. the alternative to that would be as i mentiomed earlier which is mask zone blitz force short passes and frustrate offensive expectations of open field/big game plays. hopefully that frustration will result in careless passes down field.  a note i forgot to mention...i dont like that our dline play flypaper techniques. i was very pissed to see hands on the, eyes on qb and push till qb passes. i felt the clements oline were less than par pass blockers and hand techniques at first contact would have lended 4 sacks. that must chang when u play a team who will pass the ball as first option. 

[gary-us-bonds]

Yes, Lee is entirely a shotgun team.

Hopefully Lee takes the end around option out of the playbook.  That is a recipe for disaster.  It never works.  The best you can hope for out of it is a no gain.  There were nearly 3 fumbles off of it.

I think what separates a team like Lee from a really good team is the ability to execute on a consistent basis.

You look at NFL teams.  Even the best offenses don't get 12 yards a pop every play.  You have to understand you will get 6 yards one play, 5 yards the next, 4 yards the next, 7 yards the next....

Lee doesn't seem capable of being happy with just making the required play to keep the chains moving. 
They have the sure-handed receivers and a shifty running back to just nickel and dime it down the field if they so choose.

It's just a matter of execution.

[LP0175]

I would like to see the FB used in the La Porte play-calling more. when i played for Coach Wiegand, he spent the entire practice with the FBs.  We had a play called "wedge" where we would quickly run up to the line of scrimmage in our I-Back, foot to foot line-slit, fullback a yard and a half from QB, on first sound or snap of the ball the whole line would block towards the APEX. most teams kept a middle linebacker over our center so we would aim for him. the goal was to force all the defenders to penetrate our OUTSIDE SHOULDERS (NEVER, NEVER LET SOMEONE BEAT YOU INSIDE ON THIS PLAY) which meant the DT often ended up being blocked by the TE (or having three people blocking him) and weakside offensive tackle. Cut blocking by end blocker was acceptible if you can get the INSIDE THIGH AND WORK UP TO 2ND LEVEL DEFENDER. The DEs had to monitor our HB because we did run the option, so to him he was staying put to keep eye the QB and HB. THE whole oline would just push at the MLB and keep going. That Play earned our FB 600+ yds of rushing ALONE!!! It killed defenses and kept them from keying on our sweeps and outside options. 
I wouldnt be suprised to see Terrebonne line up Webb and Scott in the backfield. With Castille and Davis he use the Pro-formation and als put big Castille at FB and Davis at HB. and used that same format one game for Perkins/Webb. Question would be can Scott adjust back and forth?  I will bet that after week 5 Coach T will start using it in game situations.