2006 Season Outlook:
(from the desk of Head Coach, Greg Moore)
Much like last year at this time, I am really excited about our new team. They give us all reasons to be excited. Fifty-three (53) members of the sixty-two (62) man roster have qualified for Elite Viking status, based on their exceptional off-season strength and conditioning work. The numbers are growing each year, and the program seems to be tougher every year. I want to salute Coach Jonathan Gess and the rest of the staff for the job they have done, and the time they have committed, to improving the program and our players.
As for the actual "on the field" things, here's what I expect right now. Based on the 40 times conducted at the end of summer workouts, this will be a very fast team. More and more, football seems to be moving in the direction of speed, and that means we're headed in the right direction as a team. For the first time ever, we have more than 10 different players who are all running 4.65 or better, and that will pay off for us as the season unfolds. The increased strength gained will also pay dividends for us. We'll be stronger, and deeper, in the front seven on defense, and the offensive line will be able to match pretty well with our opponents up front. Strength up front, coupled with speed on both sides of the ball on the perimeter, will hopefully be a great combination for us.
Offensively, we have 9 starters to replace, and they put up big numbers. Every starter at the skill positions will be starting for the first time when we open the season. That means we have some growing up to do in a hurry, and along the way, we have to start figuring out who is capable of making big plays for us in crunch time. Expect great things from returning starters Will Patterson (C), and Hampton Gray (RG) on the offensive line. They are the only experienced players, and hopefully having them on the offensive line will speed up our maturity as an offense. As it goes up front, so it will probably go everywhere else on offense. The receivers and running backs are quick, fast, and they have a good grasp of what we are doing, but they have never had to make plays before. The quarterback will be poised, even though he too is a first time starter. We will all enjoy watching him mature over the next couple of years. As usual, we'll do everything we can to keep teams guessing, and we will again strive to be balanced in our attack.
Defensively, we are all very excited about the prospect of speed and strength combining to make a very formidable defense. Look for some big hitting, a bunch of flying around, and a lot of enthusiasm. We'll possess all of the intangibles to have a great defense, but we have to fill some holes at End and in the Secondary. How quickly we're able to get those two things solidified will be key for us. All great defenses will hit you, but the very best are also smart. We do have some experience in a few key spots on defense (Linebackers Blake Yaughn, Foster Veazey, and Josh Jackson), so hopefully our team "smarts" will come about pretty quickly in identifying opposing threats and plays at the snap.
Let me close by encouraging you to join us as the season approaches. Tailgate parties, live webcasts, pre-game activities, a new video board, the Viking Walk, etc.. all of these things go into making Friday nights something special for all to enjoy. I hope you'll come early and stay late every Friday...this will be a fun team to watch. They will, however, need your support, for the schedule is tough, and the realignment has posed some challenging region games throughout the season. It is a privilege to coach at FPD, the finest school in the state, and it is an honor to work with these young men. I trust our efforts will be first class in everything, and I hope we can be seen as pleasing in the eyes of the good Lord Almighty. If you see opportunities for us to do these things better, please give me a call.
God Bless and GO BIG RED!
Greg
