Sal, I rushed this some with writeups of finals on front burner and hope it's not too convoluted. I see them and CD once a year, as can, staying in touch with buds who are closer to the programs but in no way expert. Bunch of guys that like football who've been doing this for years. As always, this is just the opinion of a former linebacker and fan of the game, not a coach.
The 2016 group was especially talented at quarterback with Yahmir Wilkerson (+2000) having a strong arm to get it deep, surprisingly deep. Could run but nothing like Kane Everson’s elusiveness. Kane can get it downfield and is a smart, smart heads up Qb. Average running backs until Micah Parson transferred in from Central Dauphin late in the season. LB Zion Patterson also transferred in from Carlisle. Parson’s was a brutal runner with tremendous strength. Jahmir Plant was a sophomore on the team then and has developed into a deceptive, productive runner this year and can catch. Dana Purdy is a water bug at 5-6 160. Nothing physically imposing about their backs but they get the job done, especially with defenses focusing on Qb. That’s a big difference whereas Parson’s mauled you as a pure physical runner. They don’t have that this year. 2016 had a flock of wide outs including Joel Davis, Donnell Henriquez, Ronald Kent and Shaquon Anderson-Butts to stretch any defense. Sure handed like this year’s group although they don’t have a Shaquon Anderson-Butts who was a difference maker like Parsons. The O-Line was massive and surprisingly mobile including Raymond Allen 6-1 315, Javon Mansfield 5-11 270, Jeffrey Chisolm 5-11 260, Trevon Baltimore 6-3 280, Chris Rojas 5-10 215 and Fernando Genao, 6-2 240. It was balanced with defenses having to respect Butts and Parsons but not as dynamic, versatile as 2018s. Except for Everson, this year’s group has little star quality but is a better overall team per chemistry, Qb, sour taste of last year, egos having graduated, speed.
Defensively, 2016’s was superior at DEs in Parson’s 6-3 235 and Damion Barber 6-4 250 with Baltimore, Allen, Mansfield inside. This year’s version is lighter, faster with Saquon Carter-Barton 6-2 230 and Jeff Chisolm-Wilkerson 5-11 260 inside, Dionte Nichols 6-2 230, Brian Yates 6-0 210 outside-DE. Always thought the secondary, essentially the receiver corps was a weakness although not so much this year with corners Dionte Kent and Rynell Gantt with at least 5 picks each, a result of good front pressure rushing 4, almost always 4. Success here allows them to drop S/LBs into coverage. Passing teams gave them problems in 16. Not surprisingly, those are the teams they lost to; McD 28-12, SC 35-28 and CD 13-11 while crushing West Allegheny, Cumberland Valley and Governor Mifflin types. Wood was another story being a state playoff final. This year’s lost the opener; not an excuse but a factor in the loss per new Qb and replacing a slew of offensive contributors. Last year was the year they were supposed to win the title before Governor Mifflin loss with many key parts graduating from that team. This year’s linebackers are a strength, featuring Andre White 6-3 220, Elijah Scott 6-2 210, Jai Burney 5-9 190, Harold O’Neal 6-0 185. Unlike 2016’s D, 2018’s has played well all year, scoring Tds, forcing turnovers as demonstrated in the postseason.
The 2016 group was especially talented at quarterback with Yahmir Wilkerson (+2000) having a strong arm to get it deep, surprisingly deep. Could run but nothing like Kane Everson’s elusiveness. Kane can get it downfield and is a smart, smart heads up Qb. Average running backs until Micah Parson transferred in from Central Dauphin late in the season. LB Zion Patterson also transferred in from Carlisle. Parson’s was a brutal runner with tremendous strength. Jahmir Plant was a sophomore on the team then and has developed into a deceptive, productive runner this year and can catch. Dana Purdy is a water bug at 5-6 160. Nothing physically imposing about their backs but they get the job done, especially with defenses focusing on Qb. That’s a big difference whereas Parson’s mauled you as a pure physical runner. They don’t have that this year. 2016 had a flock of wide outs including Joel Davis, Donnell Henriquez, Ronald Kent and Shaquon Anderson-Butts to stretch any defense. Sure handed like this year’s group although they don’t have a Shaquon Anderson-Butts who was a difference maker like Parsons. The O-Line was massive and surprisingly mobile including Raymond Allen 6-1 315, Javon Mansfield 5-11 270, Jeffrey Chisolm 5-11 260, Trevon Baltimore 6-3 280, Chris Rojas 5-10 215 and Fernando Genao, 6-2 240. It was balanced with defenses having to respect Butts and Parsons but not as dynamic, versatile as 2018s. Except for Everson, this year’s group has little star quality but is a better overall team per chemistry, Qb, sour taste of last year, egos having graduated, speed.
Defensively, 2016’s was superior at DEs in Parson’s 6-3 235 and Damion Barber 6-4 250 with Baltimore, Allen, Mansfield inside. This year’s version is lighter, faster with Saquon Carter-Barton 6-2 230 and Jeff Chisolm-Wilkerson 5-11 260 inside, Dionte Nichols 6-2 230, Brian Yates 6-0 210 outside-DE. Always thought the secondary, essentially the receiver corps was a weakness although not so much this year with corners Dionte Kent and Rynell Gantt with at least 5 picks each, a result of good front pressure rushing 4, almost always 4. Success here allows them to drop S/LBs into coverage. Passing teams gave them problems in 16. Not surprisingly, those are the teams they lost to; McD 28-12, SC 35-28 and CD 13-11 while crushing West Allegheny, Cumberland Valley and Governor Mifflin types. Wood was another story being a state playoff final. This year’s lost the opener; not an excuse but a factor in the loss per new Qb and replacing a slew of offensive contributors. Last year was the year they were supposed to win the title before Governor Mifflin loss with many key parts graduating from that team. This year’s linebackers are a strength, featuring Andre White 6-3 220, Elijah Scott 6-2 210, Jai Burney 5-9 190, Harold O’Neal 6-0 185. Unlike 2016’s D, 2018’s has played well all year, scoring Tds, forcing turnovers as demonstrated in the postseason.
