Mustangs working to improve running game
Losses reveal to a head football coach where his team’s flaws are.
Friday’s 17-7 loss in the district opener to Lake Dallas confirmed Grapevine coach Randy Jackson’s chief concern. His team is just not running the ball effectively or efficiently. Through the first five games, the Mustangs have 115 attempts for 380 yards. That’s a 3.3 yards per carry average.
Now, there are a few sacks that figure into it (sacks count as rushing yards) and will somewhat distort the numbers. However, this is the part of Grapevine’s offense that has to change for the better in the second half of the season. It should look better this week when the Mustangs (3-2, 0-1 in 6-5A) play Fort Worth Poly (0-5, 0-1) at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Fort Worth’s Handley Field. But this game will be an opportunity for the Mustangs to make sure they can move in the right direction.
There are a couple of factors playing into this struggle. First, there are two new starters on the offensive line still learning to be cohesive with the others. Second, running back Jacobi White, who missed the first two games with an injury, is still not where he needs to be.
“Right now, I think our passing game is good enough to win in the playoffs,” Jackson said. “Our defense is good enough to win in the playoffs. Our kicking game is good enough to win in the playoffs. Our running game just has to be better if we want to get to where we want to be. Our kids understand that and will work to do that.”
Finding Polo
Lake Dallas devised a strategy that other teams will likely try. The Falcons locked down on wide receiver RalphLauren McCauley. They pretty much eliminated Grapevine’s most dynamic playmaker by holding him to one reception for a loss of seven yards.
“Really, they just put two guys on Polo [McCauley’s nickname] and said to us that they’re going to put their nine on our 10,” Jackson said. “It was a good plan, because we had to work for everything we had.”
Don’t be surprised if other stronger 6-5A teams in Birdville or Fort Worth Dunbar can have any success. Should the Mustangs return to the playoffs, their opponent likely will do the same.
Colleyville Heritage update
The Panthers (2-3, 0-1 in 7-6A) enjoy a bye this week following their 59-33 loss to Euless Trinity.
There are several items that head coach Joe Willis and his team have to refine. First, the relationship between quarterback Cam Roane and new receivers Ke’Von Ahmad and Germon and Gervon Thothion needs to continue to evolve. Those receivers either moved in over the summer or on the first day of fall camp.
The team also has had some injuries on its offensive line that has impacted the center position. Several snaps sailed over Roane’s head that wiped out drives.
“We’re just going to work on fundamentals,” Willis said. “We’re still scratching the edge of being a physical team. But I know this team is working hard to get there.”
The Panthers return on Oct. 10 to play Haltom at the Birdville Fine Arts and Athletics Center.
This story was originally published September 28, 2015 at 3:18 PM with the headline "Mustangs working to improve running game."