? for Veteran 8-Player Supporters

[Lonetreehawk]

Just like my Lions, I am new to the wide open 8-Player game this fall. So far, their transition has gone better than we could have hoped for. Five of the Lions six games thus far have instituted the continuous clock, with a few being decided by 50+ points.

Inevitably, this has spurred a bit of debate between myself and some friends about running up the score. I've countered their allegations with a few facts. Our team leader in carries has only 51 rushes on the season. Seventeen of the 32-players on our roster have carried the ball, twelve of whom have rushed for a TD. We've only thrown 36 passes on the season, and only five after halftime. It gets difficult to limit scoring when you average 11.6 yards per pass attempt, 8.6 yards per rush, are +14 in turnover margin & add another touchdown plus per game on special team or defensive returns.

With an 8-game JV schedule, participation limits come into play as well. I know our staff is walking on a tightrope to make sure we will have enough players available for the last couple. With all eight seniors being key contributors this season, JV games are essential for our programs development. Our freshman & sophomore players have seen ample varsity action, but mostly with a very vanilla playbook.

Anyway, here's my question. Does anyone have a go to response, that will silence any naysayers? There is one guy in particular, who I really need to shut down. Of course he hasn't been to any of our games, but he's convinced we're piling it on.

 

[sford07]

Any time you see success on the field, specifically success like what Lone Tree is seeing this year, you're going to get people who accuse you of one thing or another. I think that's sort of similar to those who accuse Regina players of taking steroids, cheating, taking steroids, recruiting, cheating, etc. Haters gonna hate.

I think there's a distinct difference between leaving starters in all the time and airing it out for the single purpose of scoring more points and putting in reserves and running the ball to kill the clock, effectively ending the game. When you run the ball with 2nd and 3rd stringers in while up several dozen points, there's literally only one other thing you can do to prove youre not running up the score - punt on 1st down. Nobody's going to do that.

 

[Lenmaster]

For many in the 8 man game the drop off between the varsity player and their 2nd string player (assuming they have a second string) is quite substantial. Since the nature of 8 man is for schools with lower beds numbers, 2nd and 3rd string players are few and far between if not nonexistent period. Often JV games can't happen on the same night because there are many players that play at both levels and simply can't put in that many quarters in a single night. Ultimately what this means is you need a really big lead in order to play backups. It is far too easy for any varsity squad to tally up a couple quick touch downs and undo any cushion you had allowing backups to play while keeping the lead. These same fact explain why there is such disparages between teams in general. When you couple that with the fact that there is so much more square yardage that each defender is responsible for on an 8 man field it then turns into a touchdown rich environment. You cannot leave your best out there and ask them to go half intensity because to do so will only get them hurt so you play on. It is a different game when it comes to scoring points.

On a slightly different note I always felt the field width compensation was never adequate by it's self and the 80 yards in length was irrelevant no matter what. It should be a 100 yard field 40 yards in length with either 15 yard first downs or defenses being allowed 9 men against an 8 man offense. Extra points should start on the 10 yard line for 2 point tries and at the normal spot for kicking attempts. This would put kicking back into the game, reduce the wide open aspect of the scoring and let inferior teams put up a better defensive effort.