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2011 KHQA BARNSTORM TOUR: STOP #1 MONROE CITY

Returning Starters: 10 on Offense, 5 on Defense

2010 Record: 4-7 (2-1 in Districts)

2010 Stats: Averaged 21 points per game, gave up 21. 7

Projected 2011 Strengths: Linebacker, Offensive Line, Wide Receiver

Question Marks: Depth, Defensive Line

LESS IS MORE: There was plenty of soul searching for Tony DeGrave and his Panther Coaching staff in the wake of a 4-7 2010 campaign. After contemplating that disappointing outcome (and after picking the brains of coaches at Illini West and Geneseo, two highly successful Illinois powers) the Monroe City boss decided that he and his staff had spent too much time coddling, making excuses for, and devoting time to borderline kids. More to the point, the added "drama" of trying to keep kids on the team who weren't willing to pay the price to be productive football players (missed practices, disciplinary problems, selfishness) had stagnated the program. As a result, there is a now zero tolerance policy of sorts in play in Title Town. If you don't hustle, work hard or can't show up for practice, no one is going to cater to you or let you be a part of this team. As a result, the Panthers are just 22 players deep on the varsity roster, but it is a tight knit crew with great chemistry and commitment. The theory is this: populate your team with hard working, good character players and inevitably better days are ahead. And it seems to be working.

THE BLAKE KEYS: Veteran Quarterback Blake Grice appears to be moving to Wide Receiver this season to clear the way for Blake Rodgers to take over as the team's signal caller. Tony DeGrave calls Rodgers a pure field general and I was really impressed with his poise and demeanor. He had command of the huddle from the word go and seems incredibly comfortable running the Panthers spread offense. He's not the pure athlete that Blake Grice is (few players are) but gives Monroe a much more proficient feel in the passing game. Truth be told, Rodgers has a funky delivery (his deep ball mechanics almost look like a shot putter) but the kid throws an accurate, tight spiral and hit on a pair of deep bombs during my camp stay to...Blake Grice. Tony DeGrave thinks that in the cause of putting the eleven best football players he has on the field on offense, it is important to infuse Grice's athleticism to what is already a very deep and talented receiving corps with Kody Karr and Josh Berry. And it sounds as though DeGrave is comfortable in using Grice as a situational quarterback as well, when his mobility may come in handy. More to the point, the Monroe City skipper thinks having two capable starting quarterbacks in the mix is a luxury most Class 2 squads don't enjoy.

DON'T SLEEP ON....Monroe City's Offensive Line. Tyler Gosney, Nick Eckman, Colton Bock, Brenden Williams and Kevin Crabtree aren't household names. And there are no returning All Conference honorees here. But forget individual achievement. This is a workman like group with some decent size, great resolve, and a fundamental understanding of how to get a job done. And with all that speed in play behind them, the Panther lines job is simply to get a piece of a defender and let the quick guys make them look good.

STAR POWER: Shane Williams is the most obvious choice here given his pedigree and the way he arrives at the football with gusto. I tend to think the kid will make some college coach one heck of a free safety some day, but for now his lot is at outside linebacker. The revelation of my camp visit was that I did not know how quick Austin Hawker was until I saw him up close today cutting up the interior of the Panther defense. Grice has great upside at Wide Receiver, but I think you can make an argument that any of the Panther Wideouts has a chance to push for postseason awards, depending upon how often they get targeted. Heck, pick a skill position kid. They all have high ceilings here.