Boyd County to be more physical with move to flexbone

CANNONSBURG, Ky. — As Boyd County heads into the 2009 season, the Lions are looking to flex some muscle this year.

The only hope is that the team doesn’t pull a muscle trying to flex too hard.

Boyd County coach Lee Evans decided after the 2008 season to move to the Flexbone offense. However, depth is a concern when playing the physical offense.

“We talked about it and gave it a lot of thought. (The Flex is) going to fit our personnel continuously,” Evans said. “It’s going to be a physical offense and we are going to have the same 11 on the field quite a bit. We need to stay healthy.”

Skill positions are not necessarily an issue as the Lions have experience returning. However with a new offense in place, Evans knows even his experienced players might look a little green early on.

“You are relying on kids to do a lot of the reading of this offense,” Evans said. “It’s a little shaky now, but we are going to pressure them to do it perfect.”

Evans said that a senior class is integral for success in any given season, but this year’s class will be counted on moreso than in years past. The 2009 seniors have seen extensive on-field action since being thrown to the fire as sophomores.

Donnie Bryant, Kevin Stewart and Lee Smith will be pivotal on both sides of the ball if Boyd County is to see success.

Bryant is a strong, athletic player that fits into several roles for Evans offensively and defensively.

“Donnie is going to take a hit on every play,” Evans said of his leader.

In the offensive backfield, Bryant will join junior Cody Rice at fullback — one of the deepest positions offensively.

“We might have a 1a and 1b at fullback (Donnie and Rice),” Evans said. “I can see those two splitting time 50/50. Donnie started getting some reps at tailback, too, to spell the other guys.”

Junior quarterback Tyler Arthur will be under center and Stewart and Smith will be at tailback. When Arthur is forced to go to the air, Ethan Ross will be one of his main targets out wide.

On the defensive side of the ball, the entire offensive backfield will make for one of the area’s strongest linebacking corps. Bryant, Stewart and Smith each have three years of extensive varsity experience under their belt while Rice has beefed up in the offseason and emerged as potentially the strongest linebacker of the bunch.

While the skill positions look set, the Lions are paper-thin across the offensive and defensive fronts. Evans said that one or two injuries could decimate his team’s strength in the trenches.

“If injuries happen, we have some kids in skill positions that can back up, but offensive line we don’t have a lot of depth,” Evans said.

Evans said getting his players ready to play four full quarters each Friday night was the focus of the preseason camp. His team even did three-a-days at their camp at Kentucky Christian University.

“We’ve never had a conditioning issue before, but not having a lot of depth, it’s going to be pretty important this year,” Evans said.


 

The Herald-Dispatch

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