[ManOfTheFall]

Let's get this started. Does anyone know the schedule yet? I do believe we will be replacing Carrollton and Woodward. Who will be QB1. I'm thinking it will be a Mammarella. Mason or Merrick? I would like to see them go with Merrick. That would give him 3 years as a starter. Mason has turned into a very good receiver and I like seeing him as a DB as well. Can we turn it up on defense any? We will have some beef on the line coming back. I think the O-line will be ok as well. Who will be the upcoming freshmen that will be contributing besides Merrick?

[ifftsupporter]

Tons of returners on the O-line! If they hit the weights hard, they could be one of the best Dover has had in while! It will also be exciting to see Farmer, Morris, and Clinker on the D-line next year! I think it could be a GREAT team... If they work their tails off in the off season.

Some other kids to watch: Raber, D'Egidio, Short, and Fell.

[RadCard]

Your offense is TRULY amazing! That passing game is the best I've seen in many years! If you can find a way to add a strong defense to that...you guys would be darn near unbeatable! Good luck next year and beyond to your boys!

[roll_red_roll]

If Dover had a real defense, they just might already have a couple state championships in their trophy case. Hats off to Dover this year. See y'all next year I'm sure.

[Columbus_Card]

I agree with RadCard, best passing attack I've seen in years, just need to shore up the D. Good luck to all the Dover faithful and Happy Hoildays.

[ManOfTheFall]

Thank you guys for the complements. I have been saying this for years. I think Coach Ifft needs to sit back and look why our defense is almost always second rate. We obviously have the talent here to produce a good solid defense. I'm not even asking for a great defense. Just a strong above average defense. I'm guessing it may be the defensive coaching. I don't know. I'm just saying. Look at all the talent that has came through Dover the last 10 years. We should have no excuse to have to score the way we do just to win a playoff game. I love the offense but it seems like the defense is light years behind our offense. Yeah sure, there are always a couple standouts on defense. But, the defense as a whole is soft and weak. I ask again. The only reason I can come up with is the defensive coaching staff is not getting the job done.

[ifftsupporter]

Not to get into this debate with you on too many threads, but the very fact that we run a five wide system is going to put our defense in a bind. I don't know how you can call our defense soft over the years. Last year's defense was pretty darn tough and had no problems laying the wood... remember the hits that Johnson, Zahner, and Shalosky had last year? I think you're over-reacting to a sub-par defensive season.

[billy the kid]

IMO 1) most of the best athletes a on the offensive side of the ball.2)Then when we have the ball on offense we are 3 and out 5 and out or score on a few plays or not holding the ball very long because the clock is stopping on our possession.This puts the defense on the field sometimes with little or no rest.Also most of the D backs are wideouts and there is no rest for them.
I don't feel it is bad coatching peorid.

[ifftsupporter]

Very good points. I agree on all but the first. I think that Farmer, Morris, and Lehr were the best lineman on either side of the ball, yet they played entirely on defense. Schneeberger was also one of the better athletes on the team.

[billy the kid]

I agree with this years line but through the season they played some O too and prior seasons the is not the case.

[onehnglo]

i know that you have canfield at home on sept 7th.

[ifftsupporter]

That's true. I remember when Dover started the new offensive scheme, it did seem like the offense got first dibs on personnel. Though I think its gotten a little better over time.

[ManOfTheFall]

Like I said, there are always a couple of standouts on defense. Yes, I do remember those hits and they were great. The problem is not being on the field too long either. There are alot of teams that have several players go both ways. These high school kids play with guts, heart, and give everything they have. I see other teams of Dover's caliber that have an above average defense and that is all I am asking for. I am not asking for the Buckeyes D who is usually brutal every year. I dont care if we beat the has beens on our schedule 72-0. Most teams shut out those bad teams anyways. When we get deep in the playoffs we don't have the D we need to win games. We have the talent on the team but obviously we don't have the right recipe to make it good. This can only mean one of two things. The coaching on defense is not getting it done or the boys are slacking off on D. I know the boys aren't slackers. I have not seen a dominant D here in Dover for a very long time. Yes, a five wide team can have a very good defense. It is possible.

[Rocco83]

Originally Posted by ManOfTheFall

Like I said, there are always a couple of standouts on defense. Yes, I do remember those hits and they were great. The problem is not being on the field too long either. There are alot of teams that have several players go both ways. These high school kids play with guts, heart, and give everything they have. I see other teams of Dover's caliber that have an above average defense and that is all I am asking for. I am not asking for the Buckeyes D who is usually brutal every year. I dont care if we beat the has beens on our schedule 72-0. Most teams shut out those bad teams anyways. When we get deep in the playoffs we don't have the D we need to win games. We have the talent on the team but obviously we don't have the right recipe to make it good. This can only mean one of two things. The coaching on defense is not getting it done or the boys are slacking off on D. I know the boys aren't slackers. I have not seen a dominant D here in Dover for a very long time. Yes, a five wide team can have a very good defense. It is possible.

Our D in 2009 & 2010 were pretty darn good.

[ManOfTheFall]

Ok guys, I'm done venting about the defense. I do think the defense will be looking pretty good for next year though. I really like Farmer, Morris, and Clinker anchoring the D-line, and our secondary will be very experienced. Who will be stepping up at the LB positions.

[OSUEAST22]

Is there any other programs out in ohio with similar passing offense??
I know off ; Mentor, Kenton, Bellaire.
As to the defense, you have to pick your poison at the DIII level, imo.
Only so much time allowed to practice a year, a day. With not enough talent or numbers to "two-platoon" I'm sure the offense gets more attention and time.
This system could be bruttle at a DI school.jmo.

[ECOLace]

Playing good defense, especially in high school football, if you have talent, is all about a state of mind. Dover always used to have a staunch defense, and they have the horses to run a good system, but the right state of mind really goes a long way. To play really good defense, you have to tell yourself that you have to stop the other team from scoring to win the game. Look at Dover's lower scoring games this year, Ashland, Dover's defense played awesome in the 4th quarter. And look at vs Tri-Valley, arguably the best offense Dover played all year, save Cardinal Mooney, and you hold them to nine points because you know your offense isn't going to be as good without Swinderman.

I think with the offense being changed to the spread, and then being able to score so many points, the defense kind of lets down, telling themselves that they don't need to necessarily try as hard because the offense can bail them out. Part of that is coaching, and part of the mentality of the players. Stick your most hard nosed kids in on defense, and coach them to eat the ball, make them believe they HAVE to stop the other team every time, that they're protecting a 1 point lead, and you'll see a drastic change, imo.

[ifftsupporter]

I think you all make very good points. I do agree that there is room for improvement defensively, but I also think we have the right coaches there who can make this improvement. Maybe Ifft should take a more hands on approach with the defensive coordinating next year, after all that is what he specialized with under Wakefield.

Out of curiosity Manofthefall, in the years of watching Dover football, which years do you rank as Dover's best? I've been watching sinse the early '90's and am just curious to get a broader perspective.

[ManOfTheFall]

Originally Posted by ifftsupporter

I think you all make very good points. I do agree that there is room for improvement defensively, but I also think we have the right coaches there who can make this improvement. Maybe Ifft should take a more hands on approach with the defensive coordinating next year, after all that is what he specialized with under Wakefield.

Out of curiosity Manofthefall, in the years of watching Dover football, which years do you rank as Dover's best? I've been watching sinse the early '90's and am just curious to get a broader perspective.

That is a very tough question. I have been watching Dover football on a consistant basis since 1975. The 79' team was awesome on both sides of the ball. That team did not make the playoffs but may have been one of the best in the state period. That was when they took one from each region and it was AAA, AA, and A. Only four teams made it from each division. Another team that I loved to watch was the 87' team with the man-child Paris Washington. You talk about a powerful ground attack that team was beastly. I think Washington averaged like 10 yards a carry that year. In the 90's I would go with the 98' and 99' teams. The 98' team lost to eventual state champion Chardon in the first round. I believe it was like 10-7. That game was played on a college field and we missed one field goal that would have been good on a high school field. Chardon then went on and destroyed the rest of the teams they played. In 99' in round 2 against Lake some key injuries really hurt us. I liked the 03' team but they really fell apart in that first rounder against Sheridan. Then comes the 06' team. This may not have been the best of these teams but they were definitely a state champion caliber team. The 08'-11' teams all were really good. I'd say the best of that bunch was a tossup between the 08' and the 10' team. As for the best of this bunch? It's too hard to make the call because of the contrasting styles of play. The defenses were definitely better on the 79', 98', and 99' teams though.

[rubble]

Originally Posted by ManOfTheFall

That is a very tough question. I have been watching Dover football on a consistant basis since 1975. The 79' team was awesome on both sides of the ball. That team did not make the playoffs but may have been one of the best in the state period. That was when they took one from each region and it was AAA, AA, and A. Only four teams made it from each division. Another team that I loved to watch was the 87' team with the man-child Paris Washington. You talk about a powerful ground attack that team was beastly. I think Washington averaged like 10 yards a carry that year. In the 90's I would go with the 98' and 99' teams. The 98' team lost to eventual state champion Chardon in the first round. I believe it was like 10-7. That game was played on a college field and we missed one field goal that would have been good on a high school field. Chardon then went on and destroyed the rest of the teams they played. In 99' in round 2 against Lake some key injuries really hurt us. I liked the 03' team but they really fell apart in that first rounder against Sheridan. Then comes the 06' team. This may not have been the best of these teams but they were definitely a state champion caliber team. The 08'-11' teams all were really good. I'd say the best of that bunch was a tossup between the 08' and the 10' team. As for the best of this bunch? It's too hard to make the call because of the contrasting styles of play. The defenses were definitely better on the 79', 98', and 99' teams though.

You are right MOF, I started watching Dover football in the mid 90's and when Dover made it to the playoffs against Chardon and lost @ Dix stadium (KSU), it was a battle in the trenches, only Chardon did not win the state championship. I went to that game, they played a Dayton team and lost on the last play, hook and ladder from 60 something yrds out with no time. The Lake games the next yr, IMO the best high school game ever @ Dover 2 overtimes where Dover won, then lost in the rematch in the playoffs. Defense was the key along with a running offense, with little passing. We were also Div. 2 and playing bigger or more populated schools in the playoffs, we were a small Div. 2 school. If you want to blame someone or something, blame Kenton, when they won their 2 straight state championships, I went to both of them. I was amazed and had never seen anything like it in high school. As for the best defense Dover has had, right now would be 98 & 99.