By BRET H. MCCORMICK, Journal Sports
The Many Tigers are going back to the basics.
After a humbling, 46-7 loss to Logansport in the season opener, Tigers coach Dillon Barrett admitted his team did not play up to its potential.
“That was not the outcome that we were expecting at all,” Barrett said. “We just didn’t play well, to put it simply like that. We didn’t show up to play. We didn’t execute.”
The Tigers faced a great deal of adversity last week and didn’t rise to the challenge. Starting quarterback Levi Booker went down with an injury in the first half, the Tigers trailed by three scores at the half, and things didn’t improve in the second half.
Many struggled to finish drives and also didn’t do a very good job of tackling, Barrett said. One bright spot was the composure of sophomore backup Kellen Cox, who came off the bench after Booker’s injury and tossed a touchdown pass to Payton Hyden for the Tigers’ only score.
Barrett said he felt the Tigers entered the Logansport game with a solid game plan in all phases, but they just didn’t execute at a high level. They must play better this week, when they travel to DeRidder on Friday.
“This weekend as a staff, we talked about solutions – what happened and making sure that doesn’t happen again,” Barrett said. “That’s not who we are. We’re better than that. Our guys know that. The coaching staff knows that. I know that.”
Although the forecast early in the week showed DeRidder could be in the pathway of Hurricane Francine, as she shifted east on Tuesday, Barrett said the projection was there would be no issues with the two teams playing Friday night.
With Booker still injured, Cox will be the starting quarterback this week, and he’s taking all of the first-team snaps in practice to prepare for that opportunity.
“He’s young, obviously, only being a sophomore, and he’s inexperienced, but I was very pleased with how he responded not only Monday and this week, but also Friday whenever our starter got hurt,” Barrett said. “He was completely composed, and a lot more mature in handling that situation.”
Barrett said he believes Cox has had a good approach to practice this week and is ready for the challenge that faces him.
“He’s had a good week so far,” Barrett said. “He’s had a good approach every day. He’s had a good attitude. I think his mindset is right. I think he’s in a good headspace. Now we’ve got to get him ready to play come Friday.”
But it’s not just at quarterback where the Tigers have to be ready. Barrett wants to see improvement from everyone. That begins with getting back to the Tigers’ core principles – players knowing their assignment, alignment and technique.
Despite last week’s outcome, Barrett remains confident in his team’s plan and ability.
“I do believe in our team,” he said, “I do believe in our guys, and I do have confidence in our guys. I know our potential, and we haven’t played up to that potential yet. I know we have it, and it’s a matter of putting that product on the field and pulling that out of every guy individually and bringing them all together as one. That’s been part of the struggle last week and even in the jamboree, not playing as one unit together at times and trying to do our thing.”