PORTAL — It’s no surprise that the Portal Panthers will be offering a new look in 2008.
For the third time in two years, PHS is offering something new for its opposition. The last change was a new look — from a flex, option-based formation to more of a spread look. This time around, Portal will still be lining up out of the shotgun and spreading out the receivers, but the emphasis will be more on the quarterback’s arm, and less on his legs.
With Steven Cox out most of the offseason due to injury, senior Nick Boggs took most of the snaps at quarterback. He impressed the Portal coaching staff to the point where he earned the nod on opening night.
“Right now (Boggs) will be the starter for the Metter game,” said Panther coach Justin Chester. “We could see a possibility of splitting time (between Boggs and Cox), but right now he’s the quarterback.”
Cox will still be an asset.
“Steven Cox being the athlete he is, he’s able to help us out in terms of playing free safety and at running back as well,” said Chester. “He’s a great athlete, and even last year when we got to the end of the season and Octavious (Rawls) was our quarterback, Steven came in and was one of the best blocking running backs we’ve seen in quite some time.”
Boggs can also run when he has to, but Chester expects him to be effective in the passing game, something to which Panther fans are not very accustomed.
“Expect to see a lot of three-step, drop-back passing,” said Chester. “Probably not as much rollout stuff as you’d see with Steven, but I look for Nick to be one of the best guys on our schedule in terms of carrying out fakes and making sure the running backs are doing their jobs, and just being a general in that huddle. Hopefully, he’ll carry us to a point where we can put some points up on the board.”
Some of Boggs’ targets have been impressive in the preseason, too. Casey Ware has emerged as a solid target, and the receiver corps is also getting some help from an unexpected source.
“Brett Rivers is the baseball star,” Chester said. “He’s playing football for the first time since the eighth grade. He’s such a competitor, but if you throw a football term at him, he’ll say, ‘Coach, I don’t have a clue what you’re talking about.’ But he’s a very coachable kid. Watch for him to progress and become a great Class A football player as the season goes along.”
Rivers has worked out as a receiver in the slot and has practiced at strong safety as well.
The Portal offensive line was a young group in 2007, but all five starters return with experience. Sophomore Nolan Clark will handle the snaps at center, and seniors Parker Goodman and Joe Williams return to the mix as well.
“Those guys grew up a lot last year. They’ve really taken it personally that they want to make sure we get five yard’s a clip.
Senior Joseph Ware will be the leader in the backfield, while freshman running back Cory Walker has turned some heads on the coaching staff and is expected to contribute early.
Defense
With just 40 players wuiting up for the Panthers this fall, many players will be plaing on both sides of the ball.
Steven Cox and Brett Rivers will both play safety along with their duties on the offensive side of the ball, while the wide receivers will be expected to match up with those on the other team as well.
Most linemen will also pull double duty.
That’s a lot of football for most of the team, so conditioning will be a huge factor heading in to the regular season.
“That’s one thing we’ve preached all summer long,” said Chester. “Five quarters. We feel like if we can get our guys into shape to play five quarters, then we can just about hang with anybody.
“The guys that made it a priority to come out for those voluntary workouts certainly were doing well with the sprints. We do have some men that are going to be able to contribute on both sides of the ball and help us out - men like Casey Ware, Chase Sheffield and those guys that are committed to turning this program around. It’s pretty exciting when the other guys feed off them.”
Defensive coordinator Cherrard Freeman is back for his second tour of duty in Portal, returning to the Panthers for the first time since 2005 after spending two seasons in Claxton.
He’s glad to be back.
“I was here (in Portal) two years ago, and it’s just a great community. Good school system, good administrators and everything.”
Freeman brings with him his 50 defense, which was responsible for five shutouts in 2004 when the Panthers finished 10-3 (6-1 Region 3-A).
Because so many of his players spend half of their practice on the offensive side of the ball, Freeman believes that simpler is better.
“It’s more of an old-school defense,” said the Panther defensive coordinator. “It’s just a simple defense for everybody. It’s good for a (Class A) school to not have to put that much emphasis on defense because you have to work so much on offense. We just don’t have the time to put in a defense that’s too big.”
Freeman views the defense as a way to play assignment football. If everybody does their job, says Freeman, the defense will be successful. It has a long way to go after allowing 26.5 points in the 2007 season.
“This defense is made for everybody to take their own responsibility,” he said. “I feel like if the tackle does what they’re supposed to do, if the nose guard does what they’re supposed to do, the safeties – it’s like a puzzle. If one person’s not where they need to be, then we won’t be successful as a team. If everybody matches up where they’re supposed to, that’s going to make our defense work.”
For the third time in two years, PHS is offering something new for its opposition. The last change was a new look — from a flex, option-based formation to more of a spread look. This time around, Portal will still be lining up out of the shotgun and spreading out the receivers, but the emphasis will be more on the quarterback’s arm, and less on his legs.
With Steven Cox out most of the offseason due to injury, senior Nick Boggs took most of the snaps at quarterback. He impressed the Portal coaching staff to the point where he earned the nod on opening night.
“Right now (Boggs) will be the starter for the Metter game,” said Panther coach Justin Chester. “We could see a possibility of splitting time (between Boggs and Cox), but right now he’s the quarterback.”
Cox will still be an asset.
“Steven Cox being the athlete he is, he’s able to help us out in terms of playing free safety and at running back as well,” said Chester. “He’s a great athlete, and even last year when we got to the end of the season and Octavious (Rawls) was our quarterback, Steven came in and was one of the best blocking running backs we’ve seen in quite some time.”
Boggs can also run when he has to, but Chester expects him to be effective in the passing game, something to which Panther fans are not very accustomed.
“Expect to see a lot of three-step, drop-back passing,” said Chester. “Probably not as much rollout stuff as you’d see with Steven, but I look for Nick to be one of the best guys on our schedule in terms of carrying out fakes and making sure the running backs are doing their jobs, and just being a general in that huddle. Hopefully, he’ll carry us to a point where we can put some points up on the board.”
Some of Boggs’ targets have been impressive in the preseason, too. Casey Ware has emerged as a solid target, and the receiver corps is also getting some help from an unexpected source.
“Brett Rivers is the baseball star,” Chester said. “He’s playing football for the first time since the eighth grade. He’s such a competitor, but if you throw a football term at him, he’ll say, ‘Coach, I don’t have a clue what you’re talking about.’ But he’s a very coachable kid. Watch for him to progress and become a great Class A football player as the season goes along.”
Rivers has worked out as a receiver in the slot and has practiced at strong safety as well.
The Portal offensive line was a young group in 2007, but all five starters return with experience. Sophomore Nolan Clark will handle the snaps at center, and seniors Parker Goodman and Joe Williams return to the mix as well.
“Those guys grew up a lot last year. They’ve really taken it personally that they want to make sure we get five yard’s a clip.
Senior Joseph Ware will be the leader in the backfield, while freshman running back Cory Walker has turned some heads on the coaching staff and is expected to contribute early.
Defense
With just 40 players wuiting up for the Panthers this fall, many players will be plaing on both sides of the ball.
Steven Cox and Brett Rivers will both play safety along with their duties on the offensive side of the ball, while the wide receivers will be expected to match up with those on the other team as well.
Most linemen will also pull double duty.
That’s a lot of football for most of the team, so conditioning will be a huge factor heading in to the regular season.
“That’s one thing we’ve preached all summer long,” said Chester. “Five quarters. We feel like if we can get our guys into shape to play five quarters, then we can just about hang with anybody.
“The guys that made it a priority to come out for those voluntary workouts certainly were doing well with the sprints. We do have some men that are going to be able to contribute on both sides of the ball and help us out - men like Casey Ware, Chase Sheffield and those guys that are committed to turning this program around. It’s pretty exciting when the other guys feed off them.”
Defensive coordinator Cherrard Freeman is back for his second tour of duty in Portal, returning to the Panthers for the first time since 2005 after spending two seasons in Claxton.
He’s glad to be back.
“I was here (in Portal) two years ago, and it’s just a great community. Good school system, good administrators and everything.”
Freeman brings with him his 50 defense, which was responsible for five shutouts in 2004 when the Panthers finished 10-3 (6-1 Region 3-A).
Because so many of his players spend half of their practice on the offensive side of the ball, Freeman believes that simpler is better.
“It’s more of an old-school defense,” said the Panther defensive coordinator. “It’s just a simple defense for everybody. It’s good for a (Class A) school to not have to put that much emphasis on defense because you have to work so much on offense. We just don’t have the time to put in a defense that’s too big.”
Freeman views the defense as a way to play assignment football. If everybody does their job, says Freeman, the defense will be successful. It has a long way to go after allowing 26.5 points in the 2007 season.
“This defense is made for everybody to take their own responsibility,” he said. “I feel like if the tackle does what they’re supposed to do, if the nose guard does what they’re supposed to do, the safeties – it’s like a puzzle. If one person’s not where they need to be, then we won’t be successful as a team. If everybody matches up where they’re supposed to, that’s going to make our defense work.”
