Post by Mavchamp on May 22, 2024 19:11:03 GMT -6
The game wasn't flashy....we didn't get too cute with things. Very vanilla. But got some good looks at several players.
Some of my observations:
POSITIVES
1. The running game should be pretty dang good.
Semaj Gatson will be back for his senior season...he had 812 yards and 8 TD's last year in spite of the Mavs using s large stable of RB's. He's elusive and quick....lots of finesse.
Landon Jones had 600 yards and 11 TD's last season as a sophomore and he is a MAN-CHILD. He's not finesse....he just runs over you. He's BIGGER and STRONGER than he was last season. Guy should be a BEAST on short yardage.
Isaiah Bush will also be back for his senior season. He had 500 yards last year with a couple of scores. He's just another body a defense has to worry about. Another speedster too. He's put on about 25 lbs from last season.
2. The offensive line is intact and SHOULD be improved
The Mavs have 5 returning on the OL. They have 12 games under their belt from last season....and it looks like we've gained some beef over the offseason. The success of the offense will be directly tied to these guys. They had flashes of brilliance last season in some games....but laid some eggs in a couple too (Mount Pleasant, Texas High)
Eric Perkins will anchor things as he's getting some D1 looks headed into his junior year.
3. WR Corps is young, but has some experience from last season
Raijon Sims will return for his senior season at WR. He was the #1 target last season for Slone with 510 yards and 5 TDs. He will need to step up for a more diverse offense in a WR corps that will be very young this season.
Gatson and Jones...in spite of being primary RB's.... also combined for 300 yards receiving last season. That's likely to increase in 2024 as the Mavs look to spread the ball out a little more.
TONS of potential with at WR with senior Judson Illingworth and Sophomore Tyler Johnigan who lit it up on the Freshman team last year. J. Sparks is back in football after taking last season off. He will be a Sophomore.
4. Most of the defense returns
The Maverick defense was no doubt the strength of the team last year. Most of the squad will return in 2024. They will need another stellar season in the secondary with Texas High, Mount Pleasant, and Whitehouse all expected to be "pass-happy" again this year.
Bryon Williams
Brandon Richardson
Kaden Rogers
Jayden Cooks
Trayvon Tucker
SIZE AND SPEED on the defensive line. Haven't seen the Mavs be this big in many moons (2018-ish).
5. Numbers and depth
The Maverick varsity roster got crazy small in 2022. It rebounded some in 2023...but still wasn't back to normal. Thanks to two freshman teams moving up.... the JV and varsity rosters should be much deeper and it appears Marshall is getting back to normal levels. MJHS participation continues to grow as they field two 8th grade teams and two 7th grade. I've been told they have enough to have a third team in both grades. So the numbers at MHS should continue to increase after a brief dip.
---------------------
Points of concern
1. Offensive line
I listed this as a positive...but this knife cuts both ways. The OL was a little inconsistent last season. They would have great games one week....and struggle mightily in others. Poor OL play was the culprit to the shocking loss to MP last season (17-7).... a game in which a porous Tiger defense all but shut the Mavs down most of the game. Another egg was laid against Texas High. The were very good in the first round of the playoffs Vs Denison...but struggled in the second round (particularly in the second half) of the Midlothian Heritage game. They will need to learn consistency.... especially in QB protection, which was a MAJOR struggle last year.
2. QUARTERBACK
Replacing a guy like Collier Slone is really tough. Slone was Mr. Dependable when it came to game management. He was a master at being a field general without being flashy. His games Vs. Whitehouse in 2022 and 2023 were both highlights....but he also put on clinics Vs Pine Tree and Nac when needed.
Who takes his place?
Looks like a three man race
Alton Henderson will be a Junior and has quick release. Short passing game looked pretty sharp in the scrimmage. Struggled with accuracy on long passes. However.... his scrambling ability was very appealing. He is quick and elusive. Having a mobile QB is huge with this offense.
Kyler Thompson will be a Junior. He had a some strong throws in the scrimmage. Not as mobile as Henderson but had more success on the long pass.
Bryce Alexander is an All-District pitcher in baseball so he has arm strength. He had some good passes on the night that were dropped by his WRs.
3. KICKING GAME
Didn't see much action. Only 1 PAT attempt on the night and it was missed. One kickoff on the night too...and it came down at the 10...so no endzone kicks. This area of the game is VERY important. Hope they work it out.
----------------
OVERALL
Defense looked pretty good on the night. Had some great stops Vs the running game. Some very good stops in the secondary. Hard hitting. Fast. BIG.
Offense was inconsistent especially in the passing game. Running game looked solid between Gatson, Jones, Bush, and Hill.
WR's had some drops that should have been caught. but had some nice grabs too.
QB play was inconsistent... but we had a lot of rotating going on. Some strong arms. But Henderson had some great moves with his legs, which is something of a fresh look for the Mavs in a while.
Great spring.
7 on 7 next
GO MAVS GO!!!!
See ya'll in September
Some of my observations:
POSITIVES
1. The running game should be pretty dang good.
Semaj Gatson will be back for his senior season...he had 812 yards and 8 TD's last year in spite of the Mavs using s large stable of RB's. He's elusive and quick....lots of finesse.
Landon Jones had 600 yards and 11 TD's last season as a sophomore and he is a MAN-CHILD. He's not finesse....he just runs over you. He's BIGGER and STRONGER than he was last season. Guy should be a BEAST on short yardage.
Isaiah Bush will also be back for his senior season. He had 500 yards last year with a couple of scores. He's just another body a defense has to worry about. Another speedster too. He's put on about 25 lbs from last season.
2. The offensive line is intact and SHOULD be improved
The Mavs have 5 returning on the OL. They have 12 games under their belt from last season....and it looks like we've gained some beef over the offseason. The success of the offense will be directly tied to these guys. They had flashes of brilliance last season in some games....but laid some eggs in a couple too (Mount Pleasant, Texas High)
Eric Perkins will anchor things as he's getting some D1 looks headed into his junior year.
3. WR Corps is young, but has some experience from last season
Raijon Sims will return for his senior season at WR. He was the #1 target last season for Slone with 510 yards and 5 TDs. He will need to step up for a more diverse offense in a WR corps that will be very young this season.
Gatson and Jones...in spite of being primary RB's.... also combined for 300 yards receiving last season. That's likely to increase in 2024 as the Mavs look to spread the ball out a little more.
TONS of potential with at WR with senior Judson Illingworth and Sophomore Tyler Johnigan who lit it up on the Freshman team last year. J. Sparks is back in football after taking last season off. He will be a Sophomore.
4. Most of the defense returns
The Maverick defense was no doubt the strength of the team last year. Most of the squad will return in 2024. They will need another stellar season in the secondary with Texas High, Mount Pleasant, and Whitehouse all expected to be "pass-happy" again this year.
Bryon Williams
Brandon Richardson
Kaden Rogers
Jayden Cooks
Trayvon Tucker
SIZE AND SPEED on the defensive line. Haven't seen the Mavs be this big in many moons (2018-ish).
5. Numbers and depth
The Maverick varsity roster got crazy small in 2022. It rebounded some in 2023...but still wasn't back to normal. Thanks to two freshman teams moving up.... the JV and varsity rosters should be much deeper and it appears Marshall is getting back to normal levels. MJHS participation continues to grow as they field two 8th grade teams and two 7th grade. I've been told they have enough to have a third team in both grades. So the numbers at MHS should continue to increase after a brief dip.
---------------------
Points of concern
1. Offensive line
I listed this as a positive...but this knife cuts both ways. The OL was a little inconsistent last season. They would have great games one week....and struggle mightily in others. Poor OL play was the culprit to the shocking loss to MP last season (17-7).... a game in which a porous Tiger defense all but shut the Mavs down most of the game. Another egg was laid against Texas High. The were very good in the first round of the playoffs Vs Denison...but struggled in the second round (particularly in the second half) of the Midlothian Heritage game. They will need to learn consistency.... especially in QB protection, which was a MAJOR struggle last year.
2. QUARTERBACK
Replacing a guy like Collier Slone is really tough. Slone was Mr. Dependable when it came to game management. He was a master at being a field general without being flashy. His games Vs. Whitehouse in 2022 and 2023 were both highlights....but he also put on clinics Vs Pine Tree and Nac when needed.
Who takes his place?
Looks like a three man race
Alton Henderson will be a Junior and has quick release. Short passing game looked pretty sharp in the scrimmage. Struggled with accuracy on long passes. However.... his scrambling ability was very appealing. He is quick and elusive. Having a mobile QB is huge with this offense.
Kyler Thompson will be a Junior. He had a some strong throws in the scrimmage. Not as mobile as Henderson but had more success on the long pass.
Bryce Alexander is an All-District pitcher in baseball so he has arm strength. He had some good passes on the night that were dropped by his WRs.
3. KICKING GAME
Didn't see much action. Only 1 PAT attempt on the night and it was missed. One kickoff on the night too...and it came down at the 10...so no endzone kicks. This area of the game is VERY important. Hope they work it out.
----------------
OVERALL
Defense looked pretty good on the night. Had some great stops Vs the running game. Some very good stops in the secondary. Hard hitting. Fast. BIG.
Offense was inconsistent especially in the passing game. Running game looked solid between Gatson, Jones, Bush, and Hill.
WR's had some drops that should have been caught. but had some nice grabs too.
QB play was inconsistent... but we had a lot of rotating going on. Some strong arms. But Henderson had some great moves with his legs, which is something of a fresh look for the Mavs in a while.
Great spring.
7 on 7 next
GO MAVS GO!!!!
See ya'll in September
