Tom Halliburton
CNHI
NEDERLAND —
NEDERLAND — By Tuesday afternoon, his long-time beat reporter wondered what Nederland coach Larry Neumann had concluded about this ongoing problem of injured Bulldogs quarterbacks.
At least the jovial head football coach could address the problem with a brief smile and humor.
“For at least a decade or more, I never had to answer that kind of question because we never had that kind of quarterback problem,” Neumann said. “Maybe we need to rename the position quarterdog or something... You know you can get caught up in that kind of thing but I can’t do that.”
Translation: Larry, offensive coordinator Monte Barrow and the coaching staff has to play the cards that they are dealt and make the best possible hand of it. That’s coaching. It always has been and it always will be.
Fact: Sophomore QB Carson Raines has favorably impressed Neumann, Barrow and the coaches at practice. His progression was far from an embarrassment even though West Orange-Stark won the 40-19 season opener last week at Bulldog Stadium.
Fact: Raines began the month of August as a likely junior varsity starter at quarterback and never was included on the varsity roster before mid-August.
Here’s an educated guess, too: Raines likely will continue to improve with each separate opportunity to adjust to varsity football. The next chance under the lights arrives Friday here when NHS plays host to Goose Creek Memorial, a second-year 19-4A varsity program out of north Baytown.
It’s a mere coincidence that Ryan Sampere, Kirby Bellow and now Dionte Forney have sustained injuries at or before the first game — three Nederland QB starters in the past four years. Forney will not be cleared to play during Nederland’s three non-district games due to a fracture on the ring finger of his throwing hand and a knee sprain.
Neumann and staff spotted 22 missed tackles, several big plays and too many points allowed (40) against WO-S. Those have equated to the greatest priorities which the Bulldogs have addressed after Game 1.
“What really disappointed me the most was how poorly we tackled against West Orange and we really experienced that problem with every area of our defense,” Neumann said. “By missed tackles, I’m defining that as any time a player had an opportunity to make a tackle and didn’t do it.”
Seven defensive starters played their first varsity games last Friday night. Only one starter (sophomore right end Koby Couron) scored above 80 (83) on the coaches’ grade book.
Defensive coordinator Delbert Spell, defensive line coach Reed Lowrance, linebackers coaches Bill Jardell and Chris Theriot and secondary coach Terry Pool are the position coaches under Neumann’s scrutiny. Larry expects his defense to perform much better than on opening night.
“I think our defense is going to be a good one,” he said. “For whatever reason, we’re not getting the mileage out of them. We gave up seven big plays and you’re not going to be very successful when you give up big plays and have that many missed tackles. We have got to tackle better.”
Neumann’s brightest spot on video was the work of junior center Kanton Richard, who bloomed in practice about a week ago. Three of coach David Crommett and Jae Stoker’s offensive line pupils graded above 80. The group did not overly impress Neumann with its pass protection in the Dayton scrimmage, but showed encouraging signs in the season opener.
BULLDOG BITES: When the Texas Longhorns open their season in Reliant Stadium against Rice at 2:30, former NHS defensive standout Dravannti Johnson is ticketed to start for Horns at outside linebacker..... Top tacklers against WO-S were DB Trevin Sonnier and LB Brett Brown (9 tackles and 3 assists each), and LB Jordan Wood (6 and 5).... Dogs safety Brett Butler will not play Friday after a concussion in the WO-S game. Neumann and NHS players will attend a Highland Park elementary school pep rally Thursday at 2:30. The NHS student body pep rally will be Friday in the Dogdome at 2:40 p.m. HP elementary students will greet the Dogs as they enter the field before the 7:30 kickoff against Goose Creek Memorial (0-1).... Top grades vs. WO-S were center Kanton Richard (87), WR Stephen Schlett and DE Koby Couron (83), tackles Andrew Lack and Ben Jones, and tailback Jake Kemp (82)....
