Prep Blitz 2014: LaFayette Ramblers

Chad Fisher has been here before, and if history repeats itself the second-year LaFayette coach will be just fine with that.

The Ramblers went 2-8 in 2013 as they struggled to adapt to Fisher's fast-paced spread offense and the physical demands it requires. As camp opened in August the coach couldn't help but see a similarity to his last rebuilding job.

"I like where we're at, and this team reminds me a lot of that second-year group we had at Gordon Central when we went from 0-10 to 5-5," Fisher said. "The biggest thing we learned last year was that we were behind strength- and size-wise and pretty much outmanned every game. We spent a lot of time teaching and installing different principles and philosophies, and they have really adapted well this year to them."

The main principle is pace, as in the faster the better. Fisher wants his offense to click off plays at a dizzying rate, the better to wear out defenses and to benefit from the one advantage the Ramblers feel they can exploit this season - speed.

"The kids are excited about the pace we want to get to, and even though we're nowhere near where we want to be, we know it's coming," Fisher said. "Athletically we have some very good skill kids, and they really enjoy this offense."

Among the playmakers is senior Kolbe Mosely, a speedster who will fill a variety of roles, most notably as the offense's long-play threat on screens. He also will run the ball some, start at defensive back and be a gunner on special teams.

"Our practices have been real up-tempo, and we know we need to play a faster pace this year and use our speed to our advantage," said Mosely, who is getting collegiate looks from Georgia Southern, Georgia State and Kennesaw State. "Our biggest area of improvement is our receivers and skill group as a whole. We have a lot more athletes on both sides of the ball. We should be able to out-athlete most teams we play."

Though overall skill has improved, Fisher warns that the Ramblers will be young, including no senior starters on either of the lines. However, some of the lumps the team took last year should pay off just in experience, he says.

"We have a lot of youth, but they are experienced youth," Fisher said. "We should be able to start reaping some of the benefits of those young kids getting to play early, and if we play well our early schedule gives us a chance to have some success."

- Lindsey Young

LaFAYETTE RAMBLERS

Head coach: Chad Fisher (2-8 in one year here; 29-44 in six years overall)

Last year: 2-8, 1-4 in Region 7B-AAAA

Returning starters (O/D/K): 9/8/3

Control panel: WR/DB Kolbe Mosley (5-8, 180, Sr.) is the headliner of a LaFayette offense that will show a lot more speed this year. Defensively, LB Clayton Lane (5-10, 210, Jr.) is the leading returning tackler, and DB Kadarrian Ramsey (5-8, 165, So.) had five interceptions as a freshman starter.

New producers: The Ramblers will get bigger and tougher up front as OL Jake Russell (6-3, 230, So.) and OL T.J. Sizemore (6-3, 235, So.) step into starting positions, while Evan Head (5-11, 190, Sr.) brings a run threat to the quarterback position.

Items of interest:

20 - The Ramblers have gone 20 consecutive seasons without making the playoffs.

520 - Junior defensive lineman Logan Wattenbarger set a school record with a 520-pound squat this spring, part of the program's impressive year of weight work.

"We've decided that we need to go hard every play and that when our tempo picks up we can tire the other team out. Our summer work was really good and our speed was second to none, and we were running all over the place. Our speed is going to surprise everybody because we just didn't have much last year." - Quarterback Evan Head

2014 SCHEDULE

(all games at 7:30 Eastern)

Aug. 29 - at Gordon Central

Sept. 5 - at Gordon Lee

Sept. 12 - Trion

Sept. 26 - Northwest Whitfield *

Oct. 3 - at Southeast Whitfield *

Oct. 10 - at Heritage *

Oct. 17 - Pickens County *

Oct. 24 - at Gilmer County *

Oct. 31 - Cartersville *

Nov. 7 - at Ridgeland *

  • Region 7-AAAA game

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