In this post, I’m going to go and analyze how 4 teams in the MIC are doing this season in football…and what can be done to improve.

Carmel: 4-1 conference record

Carmel is currently sitting on a 4-1 conference record and getting ready to face Warren Central. So how can Carmel improve?

Offense: Don’t overly rely on the Merriweather-Viktrup combo. A lot of teams, especially Warren Central, are realizing how easy it is for Viktrup and Merriweather to connect on big plays. Other receivers will need to step in and be ready to replace Viktrup when the time comes.

Defense: Defense needs to be more efficient on first down and third down. Third down conversions and letting opposing offenses getting major yards on first down is an area where the defense is sorely lacking. Improving in these areas will help majorly.

Special Teams: Prepare for the squib kick. Two times opposing teams attempted a squib kick, two times the squib kick almost succeeded. If special teams don’t prepare for the squib kick, it could be disastrous.

Ben Davis: 1-4 conference record

The former state champion Ben Davis is suddenly about to press the panic button. They are 1-4 in conference play and lost to Carmel by a score of 35-21 after BD led at halftime by 21-14. How can Ben Davis improve?

Offense: Settle on one QB. When the QB responsible for keeping the team together graduated in May, Ben Davis has yet to find a replacement. They have been experimenting with different QBs and they haven’t settled on one. To win games, you need a few experienced QBs, not many inexperienced QBs.

Defense: Get to the opposing QB. Sounds like common knowledge, but Ben Davis’ defense need to get to the QB if they want to limit the amount of yards gained.

Special Teams: Actually kick the ball through the uprights. Sounds like common knowledge, but their kickers cannot kick a field goal or extra point to save their life. I still have fond memories where a kicker smacked a ball right into one of the linemen’s rears. Then they smacked one into the wing’s rear. Finally, when they got it up and away, it took 3 tries before the ball went through the uprights. QBs don’t really want to attempt a 2-point conversion every time a TD is scored.

North Central: 0-5 conference record

North Central has lost 17 straight games and have been a team that even Lawrence North can beat. So how can North Central win? Process to winning below:

Step 1: FIRE THE HEAD COACH! To truly kill a snake (in this case, it’s losing streak), you must cut off its head (or in this case, the head coach). While there were 2 assistant coaches fired in this past offseason, the number of assistant coaches fired will not make a difference while their head coach is around.

Step 2: STOP FOCUSING ON HIGH LEVEL THEORY! Too many times, they spend too much of film sessions on high level theory and not enough on nuts and bolts matters of football. Stop devoting your film sessions to speculating and theorizing, and start devoting your film sessions to improving during practice.

Step 3: HIRE A HEAD COACH THAT CAN DEVELOP LEADERSHIP AND IS A STRONG TEACHER! As far as head coaches, you want someone who is worth their salt. Therefore, someone who can be a teacher and can develop leadership in the boys on and off the field is going to be the best head coach.

Step 4: INSTITUTE TOUGH POLICIES FOR BREAKING RULES! Don’t let kids get away with anything.

Lawrence North: 1-4 conference record

Lawrence North is currently sitting on a 1-4 conference record. So how can they improve? Let me show how:

Offense: Improve on the plays you already have. If you can execute plays you already know better, then you can go far.

Defense: Stop reacting and plan ahead. I know this is a bad analogy, but a chess grandmaster usually sees more than 3 moves ahead. Don’t be that team who reacts to what the opposition has done when the opposition moves on. Preact, don’t react.

Special Teams: Punt the ball quickly. Blocked punts are no fun if you’re a punter, and usually result in safeties, or worse, TDs. Get the ball away. Punt first, ask questions later.