Coach Jason Johnson, left, and QB Bryce James
Football Preview Gary West Side Leadership Academy
Contributed By:Tommy Williams
Tajeem Muhammed: If he's even, he's leavin'
This week we begin our coverage of high school football with previews of all three Gary high school football teams, beginning this week with Gary West Side.
Coach: Jason Johnson, 22-32 in sixth year
Last year's record: 4-6, lost to East Chicago 28-22 in first round of Class 4A sectionals.
Go-to-guy: QB Bryce James is one of the few offensive returnees for the Cougars. He's an all purpose QB who can throw and run the ball if necessary.
If he's even, he's leavin': Cougar running back Tajeem Muhammed was fast enough to make it to the regionals in boy's track last season.
So if he gets a step on the defense: See ya!!
Season opener: August 19th at home against Hobart
Must see tackle football: September 7 at East Chicago (the last three times the two teams played in the sectionals was straight up exciting football including the 46-44 cliffhanger won by East Chicago in 2013 at Morton) and October 14th hosting Roosevelt (you need a reason on why the Side and the Velt are must see football? Really? You must be new around here).
Bragging rights: Coach Johnson is a former Denver Bronco running back and of course his NFL alma mater won the Super Bowl last season.
The good news: James could be one of the best quarterbacks in the region this season.
The not so good news: Numbers, something that haunts every Gary team.
Johnson says depth could be a huge problem for the Cougars this season.
Q-and-A with the coach: It's only been a week, but where do you see progress in your football team?
JJ: Defensively I think we're going to be OK but on offense, we have three offensive linemen returning but they have not shown up to camp yet, so we have five guys on the line who have never played varsity football.
TW: Far from us to tell you how to coach a football team, but if you can't count on those guys now, can you count on them when the season starts?
JJ: " We can't. We have 21 guys out here right now and that's the make-up of our team. I'm disappointed in the numbers and I don't know why the numbers are where they are.
It could be that we're no longer a community school, so kids have to come here from Miller, Aetna, or Glen Park. I think that plays a little role in it but I remember when I played and I bicycled, walked, or caught the bus to practice.
I guess it's a different time, now. But again, I'm, not sure why the numbers are down."
TW: Talk to us about your quarterback Bryce James.
JJ: "I'll put him up against anyone else in the area. The challenge is putting a supporting cast around him. But talent wise he is as good as anyone in Northwest Indiana right now, I'll guarantee you that.
TW: OK, Coach, how about that supporting cast? Who are the leading candidates?
JJ: "We have running back Tajeem Muhammed (who's practice time has been limited because of what Johnson calls "a sincere situation") who could help along with linebacker Bashaar McCarter. We have two big linemen in Jalen Johnson and Ryan Miller. So we have talent, we just don't have depth."
Story Posted:08/13/2016
|