KHQA BARNSTORM TOUR CAMP REPORT:
MONROE CITY PANTHERS
Projected Team Strengths: Blake Grice, Team Speed, Brendan Williams
Projected Question Marks: Experience on the Offensive and Defensive Line
A CLEAN HOUSE: Love what Tony DeGrave has done over the last two years in putting the emphasis on high character kids within his program. As a result of thinning the roster of some of its more problematic players (be it classroom issues, team chemistry problems, or legal risks) Monroe City has a roster absent drama. Based on what we've seen this off-season, Monroe boasts one of the more blue collar, hard working lineups in the area. It's a nice model for what happens when you coach kids who truly want to be there and work without personal entitlement. As Assistant Coach Jamar White reminded the kids today: Football is a Privledge, not a Rite.
A WING-T AND A PRAYER: The Brock Edris-aided embrace of the Jim Unruh Wing-T becomes more evident by the day. To wit, Running Back Coach David Kirby even quipped to me today that he might need to remind that I was actually in Monroe for the barnstorm tour and not Carthage. As facilitated by Edris, who played under Unruh at Carthage, Kirby and Quarterbacks Coach Jordan Walkup have adopted a portion of the Illini West model in their playcalling and schemeatics. This year, the Panthers are moving even further in that Charger Direction and there is no greater evidence of this than the conversion of Offensive Lineman Tyler Hetherition to Fullback. Hetherition is straight out of Carthage Central Casting as a Cody Grotts/David Watts/Luke Wessel type move-the-chains option between the tackles. Hetherition isn't overly flashy as a runner but doesn't need to be. What he does have is the requisite toughness and fearlessness inside to make this work. He's sharp and driven and packs quite a wallop at the end of a run. In short, he is the perfect compliment to the Home Run hitters Edris will employ at Tailback (where Blake Grice makes a nice approximation of Wyatt Green) and at the Wingback slots (Kenny Smithey, Michael Hays) After watching it in application today, I think Monroe City will be very effective running the football this season even in the absence of one huge Shane Williams type yardage compilier. I suspect Monroe City's run totals make look a lot like the great Brown County teams of the last few years, which would be the perfect m.o.
AT THE CONTROLS: The unfortunate circumstances surrounding Blake Rogers concussion issues have forced the would-be Panther starting Quarterback to retire from the sport. That has opened the door for Grant O'Bryan to take over the signal calling duties. To be honest, I knew nothing of the kid as a QB entering today since his body of previous work was all at the Junior Varsity level. I walked away from practice feeling like Monroe City caught a real breaking having O'Bryan in the system. He's a savvy, unflappable kid with top end poise and decision making ability. Does he have an elite arm? No, but he more than makes up for it with his decision making. His passes aren't always pretty (although he did have a pair of absolute gems today to Kyle Fulton) but they are unfailingly thrown to the windows where only his receivers can get them. Grant doesn't make mistakes. And he thinks the game at a very fast level. There is nothing mechanical about his approach, which I really like. He's a tough kid with seemingly no fear of the stage or anything else. I tend to think Monroe City has a real sleeper on its hands here.
PLAYER OF GRAVITY: Grice. Obviously, his role within the offense is set to expand significantly. That is just icing on the cake. Blake's true value here is as the ultimate "cleaner" on Defense. His ability to get from place to place and knock down running backs makes everyone around him better. He could be a 170 plus type tackle producer this season, if the rebuilt Monroe D-Line can keep him clean. If there is a CCC Defensive Player of the Year front runner, Grice might well be it.
SLEEPER TO WATCH: Dylan Buckman. It's hard to know much until the pads come on but in lineman drills today, the Panther Junior clearly demonstrated the best footwork and the most fluid athleticism in pulling drills. Plus it's hard not to like a kid who so relentlessly and forcefully pops his targets, even if it just a kid with a blocking shield. He's a bit undersized; then again so to was seemingly every great offensive lineman of the Unruh era at Carthage and Illini West. He's a kid who merits further attention.
PROSPECT WATCH: Derrick Kendrick. He is just a Sophomore but has great bloodlines (brother of former Monroe City star Richard Comstock) and tremendous athleticism. He's likely a factor a Linebacker right away and has an ideal frame to add some weight in the coming years. Great quickness and range. Caught my eye today playing Tight End where he has rare speed for the position and made a pair of fantastic catches.
(To view our Television Barnstorm Reports from Monroe City from August 6th, click on the above icon)
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