Greenland leery of letdown against Mountainburg
Posted on Wednesday, October 8, 2008
GREENLAND - Tracy Sutton is engaging in psychological warfare to keep his team focused on the task ahead.
No, Sutton isn't playing mind games. He's just making certain his unbeaten Greenland Pirates pinpoint their aggression on this Friday's tilt at home against Mountainburg and are not peeking ahead to their road trip to undefeated Charleston in Week 7.
"We're not good enough to be looking ahead and thinking about Charleston," Sutton said. "I don't care what the standings say, looking at film, Mountainburg's a good football team and we better be prepared for a battle. If we start thinking we're good and believing what everyone on the outside tells us, we're going to be in trouble. We've got a lot of work to do and we're not there yet."
If the Pirates aren't there yet, they've got to be getting close. Greenland (5-0, 2-0 ) is fresh off a 34-6 drubbing of Mansfield. The Pirates are racking up 38 points per game and their average margin of victory is 27 points.
"I thought we had a shot to do well," Greenland said. "You never know how a team's going to come together but I thought our defensive line would be good and we could move the ball. We're about where I thought we'd be, maybe a little more."
Sutton said he's been most impressed with his team's offensive balance.
"We've been able to run it when we want to and throw it with success when we want to," Sutton said. "That's been the biggest reason for the start we've had. "
Sutton, though, knows it can all come crashing down if his pupils overlook the Dragons (2-2-1, 0-2 ) Friday. Mountainburg currently shares the 1-3 A cellar with Mansfield and Lincoln.
"You can't compare scores or look at the standings," Sutton said. "You've got to look at matchups and what they do. And they do some things offensively that scare you. Mountainburg's quarterback can throw it from here to Little Rock. He's the best quarterback we've seen so far. He can scramble around, too."
Sutton also said impeding the success of Mountainburg's myriad of offensive formations will be an arduous assignment for his defense. The Dragons are averaging 19. 6 points per game this season. Greenland's defense is allowing 11 points per contest.
"They come out in two tights, double flankers, all kinds of things," Sutton said. "You've got to align and adjust. They're in a run formation and they pass out of it and then they will run out of a pass formation. They do a good job of getting you out of position and outflanking you. You've really got pay close attention to detail and what they're doing."
Offensively, Sutton said his offense will again strive for balance against a Dragon defense surrendering 21 points per contest.
"We've got to continue to mix it up," Sutton said. "The biggest thing is we have to hold on to the football. They've got some athletic ends and linebackers and speed at those areas always gives you trouble."
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