It's possible that Sequatchie County's season could hinge on a lean.
If Hayden Hicks can learn to lean forward, the Indians could prosper. If he doesn't, he may find himself at tight end and coach Ken Colquette back at the drawing board.
Plans are for the 6-foot-2, 242-pound senior to shoulder the load in Colquette's split-back option offense, but nothing was etched in stone as the preseason progressed.
"He couldn't lean last year, and I moved him to tight end," Colquette recalled. "He had a lot of bad habits and he'd get to running straight up, and he was a little stubborn about changing."
Hicks almost shudders with a resounding "nooo!" at the thoughts of going back to tight end, making it clear he'd rather pound nails all day long for his dad's construction company.
Still, as Colquette pointed out, a 242-pounder shouldn't get knocked backward, especially if he's leaning into the effort.
"He gets on me for that," Hicks said. "He gets onto me a lot more than anybody else."
And it's likely to get worse if he runs standing straight up.
"He could be the focal point of the offense. We've just got to get him running downhill," Colquette said.
When asked what set Hicks apart, the coach was quick to respond.
"With Hayden it's just ability - that and nobody wants to mess with him because he's so dadgum strong," the coach said. "When he leans he's pretty hard to bring down, and when he doesn't he gets knocked around the shoulders and spun around, making him easier to tackle."
Hicks wants to do it up to Colquette's standards.
"I like playing defense. I like to react and I like to hit, but offense is easier for me," the honor roll student said.
So it seems certain he's going to lean.
- Ward Gossett
SEQUATCHIE COUNTY INDIANS
Head coach: Ken Colquette (254-87 overall; 5-6 here)
Last year: 5-6; lost to Polk County in first round of Class 3A playoffs
Returning starters (O/D/K): 7/8/0
2014 Schedule
(all games at 8 Eastern unless noted)
Aug. 22 - Community
Sept. 5 - at Grundy County*
Sept. 12 - South Pittsburg
Sept. 19 - Chattanooga Christian*
Sept. 26 - Marion County
Oct. 3 - at Bledsoe County*
Oct. 10 - at Stone Memorial
Oct. 17 - Notre Dame*
Oct. 24 - at Boyd-Buchanan, 7:30
Oct. 31 - at Signal Mountain, 7*
- District 7-AA game
Control panel: Lineman Zane Swanger (6-2, 270, Jr.) played center and guard offensively and some on defense. "He worked like a dog in the weight room and he seems to be a little more vocal this year," Colquette said. RB/LB Hayden Hicks (6-2, 242, Sr.) is the strongest player on the team and Colquette says "nobody wants to fool with him; a blue-collar type kid. We'd like to see him take a more active leadership role." WR/DB Brad Thompson (6-3, 190, Sr.) has stepped it up and could definitely have an offensive impact if opponents begin clogging the middle to stop Hicks.
New producers: S Caleb Lofty (5-10, 170, Jr.) is a newcomer. "We thought he'd play safety but he hadn't been out a week when he proceeded to hyperextend his knee," Colquette said. "We think he'll be back before the jamboree." LB Kyle Cates (6-1, 200, So.) is the younger brother of Blake Cates. "He's a good one and we think he'll be playing outside. He's already a lot bigger than his brother," the coach said. RB/DB Brandon Turner (5-8, 170, Sr.) missed last season. "He's still suffering from it, but he is really, really quick and very, very strong," Colquette said.
BLURBS
Colquette is ranked 12th in winning percentage (.745) among Tennessee coaches with at last 100 games.
The Indians at one time had an assistant coaching staff loaded with head coaches, but now Colquette is down to former Central coach Curt Jones. Sam Montgomery (Central/Whitwell) and Tim Taylor (Whitwell/Marion County) have departed. Montgomery has gone to work for the state, and Taylor is now at Warren County as an assistant.
The Indians have two players at Division I universities. Gaither Barker, Sequatchie County's valedictorian for the class of 2013, is at Vanderbilt as a sophomore long-snapper, and running back/linebacker Blake Cates is in his first year at the Air Force Academy.
There'll be no more wet-weather work in Dunlap unless the coaching staff wants it, and they should be able to avoid heat-restriction delays in practice. They have the option of using a multipurpose indoor facility that is close to 25,000 square feet. The building, constructed at a cost of $1.2 million, will be used by the elementary school until 2:30 each day and then will be available for the football, baseball, soccer and softball teams or the band.