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DEL.ICIO.USSpring Football Fling: Tucker must replace most of defense, find new QB
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
THE SPRING FOOTBALL FLING
In upcoming weeks, teams throughout the state will spend 10 days on the practice field preparing for the 2008 football season. In a series of stories, ajc.com will provide an offseason outlook for 25 of the top teams in the metro and state.
This Week’s Lineup
• 4/21: ML King • 4/22: Valdosta • 4/23: Buford • 4/24: P’tree Ridge • 4/25: Tucker • 4/26: Fayette Co. • 4/27: Brookwood
Photos: A look at Tucker
You make the call: What’s the buzz on Tucker in ‘08? Are the Tigers AAAA contenders? Games start in August. Talk starts NOW.
It will be remembered as the season that went up in smoke.
Tucker was ahead 28-7 against Northside-Warner Robins, two quarters away from a school-record 14th victory and a trip to the 2007 state finals, when an undefeated season imploded.
After losing nine players on defense to graduation, the questions abound for a team that is widely considered one of the top title contenders in Class AAAA.
“That’s a huge hole to fill,” coach Franklin Stephens said. “It’s going to be a hard hole to fill because, out of those nine kids, you have some very good football players. You’re losing kids who played for two or three years. That’s a lot of experience.”
In 2007, nobody scored on Tucker until the sixth game against Mays. Tucker had seven shutouts, and only three teams scored more than eight points.
Without that level of defense, the offense likely will need to improve. It occasionally sputtered last season against defenses that could match its speed.
Seniors Jonathan Davis and Drayton Calhoun are the only runners with experience.
“Those two individuals are going to have to carry us for a while,” Stephens said. “The great thing about last year is we had depth. This year, we’re going to have some good players, but we’re not going to be nearly as deep. We’re going to have to avoid injuries.”
Tucker Tigers
Region 6-AAAA
Spring practice dates: May 8-20.
Last year’s record: 13-1, lost in the semifinals to Northside-Warner Robins.
Reclassification challenge: Does not apply.
Working on: The biggest challenge for Tucker may be replacing nine starters on defense, including the entire secondary. After that, finding a quarterback is next on the agenda for a team that won its first 13 games last season. Tucker will try to decide who’s going to fill the holes on the defense that often carried the team.
Key starters lost: WR/DB Jamoris Slaughter; RB/LB Tristan Carter; WR/DB Derrick Harris; WR/DB Neiko Lipscomb; QB Chris Simpson; TE/LB Marcus Nedd.
Key starters returning: RB/LB Jonathan Davis; RB/DB Drayton Calhoun; OL/DL Malcom Davis; OL/DL Carl Taylor.
2008 strengths: The Tigers should be more athletic and have more speed than most of their opponents. Jonathan Davis is still one of the most talented linebackers in the state.
2008 weaknesses: When depth and experience are two of your biggest strengths one year, they’re often your biggest weakness the next. Tucker will have experienced athletes, just not as many.
This season’s projection: Southwest DeKalb would appear to be the only true test for the Tigers in the new subregion B. There should be no problem reaching the playoffs.
Comment: “We’ve been knocking on the door, and we just need to take that next step up,” Stephens said. “It could have happened for us last year, but it didn’t. That’s always going to be our goal, to win a state championship.”
Photos: A look at Tucker
You make the call: What’s the buzz on Tucker in ‘08? Are the Tigers AAAA contenders? Games start in August. Talk starts NOW.
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Comments
By Dan
April 25, 2008 5:15 PM | Link to this
I think Tucker will still be pretty good, they just aren’t going to beat everyone by 40 points like they did last year. I’ve played against some great Tucker teams in the past, but that team they had last season was the best Tucker team I’ve ever seen, especially on defense. They’re very well coached and they play physical football. The only way to beat them is to be able to throw the ball against them and to run right at them b/c they have too much speed going east to west that will KO most running teams. But you can run the ball right at them, especially if you have a big O-line. If I had to give a season prediction, I’d say 12-1 or 11-2.
By Dekalb Dominance
April 25, 2008 6:44 PM | Link to this
I’m not sure about 11-2 or 12-1 but I know they have tradition that has represented Dekalb County well. We at Stephenson High School look so forward to playing Tucker in our big pre-season game at Hallford Stadium. This is the type of competition Dekalb has been waiting to see again.
By Ben
April 26, 2008 8:53 PM | Link to this
Is it such a loss to have the secondary gone given the way that Northside threw long passes to open guys last year in the semis? Or were those just great throws? Maybe Tucker can replace w/ better cover men this year. But that was an impressively fast team otherwise.
By GC
April 26, 2008 10:16 PM | Link to this
I was at the Tucker/Northside game and it was one of the greatest collapses I’ve seen in my 7 years as a resident/HS sports follower. Nothing you can blame on the kids though…Tucker had one of the fastest secondaries I’d ever seen. Not enough offense to come from behind. If they want to get back to the Dome, the offense has to better manage leads and learn to play from behind.
By CO-The Sports Writer
April 28, 2008 10:52 AM | Link to this
Tucker will be fine. True indeed, coach Stephens will have to replace a slew of talent from last season’s team that could have easily won the state title if it wasn’t for a player named Marquez Ivory; but the Tigers will reload. If the Tigers have athletes-which I belive they do-the defense will, once again, be dominent. The key, however, will be the offensive and defensive lines. If the Tigers can win the battle in the trenches, you can go ahead and crown them 2008 State Champions!
By Dekalb Football
April 28, 2008 5:46 PM | Link to this
Devin Scott your day is comming. This young man is a magical runner and will help Drayton and J.Davis. Tucker will be fine. Hard work in the offseason is tradition and that’s not about to change. If anything Coach Stephens makes them boys work even harder. Hats off to Thomas Brown !!!
By NFL MAN
May 7, 2008 11:05 PM | Link to this
tucker may not have a good season this year because everyone is leaving so i think tucker may not EVEN MAKE IT TO THE DOME you they may go 9-4