VERNON, Ala. — Lamar County High School football coach Ken Adams takes a unique approach when sizing up his 2011 Bulldogs.
Adams feels his squad”s main strength and weaknesses may go hand in hand.
As the Bulldogs try to build on last season”s strong finish and 4-6 record, Adams and the Bulldogs will look to several young pups to help the program turn the corner. While this youthfulness causes concern, it also is the beacon of light shining toward a brighter future for the tradition-rich program.
“We have stressed that you don”t have to be a senior to be a leader,” said Adams, who is in his fifth season. “We have so many young players that we will be asking many of them to step up and be leaders. Our strength is really the quality number of young players we will have to be playing this year.
“It may take until the fourth or fifth game, but we are going to get there. We are trying to stress how hard you have to play on every snap. I think you see the effort has gotten a little better in that regard each and every practice.”
The Bulldogs travel to Fayette County for a scrimmage tonight. The season opener is Aug. 26 when arch-rival South Lamar makes the cross-county trek for the annual neighborhood battle for bragging rights.
Traveling is nothing new for the squad. The Bulldogs opened training camp at Tombigbee State Park with several days of work.
“We took our players away to help get them focused on what we need to do this year,” Adams said. “We only have like 15 upperclassmen on the team. Mainly the team is full of ninth- and 10th-graders. We are asking these players to step up and be major contributors right away.”
Lamar County will look for leadership and contributions from quarterback Dallas Cockerham. The 6-foot, 175-pound Cockerham was the starting quarterback on the junior high team last season. Making his varsity debut late in the year, Cockerham also started the final two games of the 2010 season.
“We really have stressed with Dallas taking on the leadership role,” Adams said. “I think he will adjust. He is the kind of player other players really want to play for. You have to have that in your quarterback. Teammates have to know he is going to lay it on the line to be a leader and a winner.
“We are working on his temperament and his reads. Other defenses are going to throw a lot at him. Fortunately, we have him for three more seasons.”
Youth also will be served in the backfield, where freshman Alex Wheeler (5-9, 165) and sophomore Eric Smith (5-9, 185) will serve as tailbacks. Adams expects big things out of Wheeler and Smith, and said “they will be carrying most of the offensive load.”
Blocking backs include junior Kendall Smith (5-9, 210) and freshman Ty Herron (5-8, 155). Wingbacks include sophomore Ty Waldon (5-9, 160), senior Josh Smith (5-9, 180), and junior Jamar Plant (5-8, 150). Split ends include junior Hunter Cunningham (5-10, 145), senior Cory Hill (5-8, 155), and junior Jabarrus Buchanan (5-10, 155). Tight ends include senior Alex Denton (6-2, 170), freshman Jeremy Denton (6-1, 200), freshman Brady Merchant (5-5, 150), and freshman Tyler Cunningham (5-9, 140).
“We typically run a two-tight end set,” Adams said. “We have some very talented players to throw the ball, too. The key on offense is we have to get these players playing with a purpose.”
The line will include three-year starter junior Tyler Sprouse (5-10, 220) at right tackle, senior Spencer Martinez (6-1, 195) at right guard, junior Colby Bradford (6-2, 205) at left tackle, senior Caleb Randolph (5-9, 165) at right guard, and sophomore Joshua Smith (5-9, 160) at center.
Defensively, the Bulldogs expect leadership and continued strong play from senior linebacker Lemetrius Williams (5-9, 180), who has started since the eighth grade.
“Our defensive success begins with him,” Adams said. “He has really emerged in the leadership role. As a senior, he wants to make his mark on this team. He has done a great job of helping the younger teammates out on the defensive end.
“We have five players who are slated to go both ways. However, we would like to get that number down to two or three. We are trying to find some other players who can be key contributors on the defensive side of the ball.”
The linebacking corps also will include Bradford and Sprouse. The secondary will be inexperienced but will feature senior Cory Hill (5-8, 155) at one corner.
“We have a lot of question marks in the secondary,” Adams said. “We are teaching you have to learn from your mistakes. As you see things, you will get better. The key, though, is keeping everything in front of you.”
While the Bulldogs will be a work in progress on defense, Adams is pleased with the attitudes and athletic abilities of his players.
“We have a puzzle and we do have all the pieces to the puzzle,” Adams said. “Our job is to get the pieces put together. We have talented guys in the skill positions. … We have to mold these players into a team.”
“When you put the puzzle together, you put the side pieces in and then work it toward the middle. Our strength is the good number of young kids who are coachable and have a great attitude. The older guys realize they have to step up and be leaders. At the same time, our weakness may be the youth, but I tend to like to view that as a positive.”
Adams and his staff again plan to face a rigorous Class 2A, Region 8 race.
“We play some very athletic teams who are well coached,” Adams said. “We don”t play the same type of ball that most teams in our region play. Most of our opponents will run the spread. We are more two tight end, Notre Dame box. It is something other teams don”t see a lot of. We hope that can be an advantage.
“We see the spread all the time, so there are not as many surprises when we are getting ready to play. However, our young players will have to learn how physical they will have to play on every snap to be able to win against the teams we will be playing.”
Justin Land (defensive coordinator), Ryan Atkins (secondary), David Easley (receivers), Don Thornton (line), Tim Bobbitt (quarterbacks/linebackers) Steve Rock, and Kevin Naylors (junior high) will assist Adams.
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