Going On The Defensive?
After a few seasons of receivers and other offensive skill players attracting the lion’s share of attention, 2024 could be the year of the defensive Greyhound. Two ACC-bound standouts are on that side of the ball on Zacarri Thomas and Javion Butts with others, notably in the back seven, getting looks for at the next level as well.
Going Both Ways
Roles will be multiple for at least a handful of Greyhounds as they’ll be set for play on both offense and defense.
Players going both ways is not new.
Well-known teams on the collegiate and pros have on occasion slipped defensive players in for goal-line packages, but JCHS appears headed toward having players get work on both sides of the ball in multiple settings. In doing so, more players will get work at more position in practice, which could help with roster depth management over the course of a season.
Secondary Options
One thing that made Jones County’s offense hard to defend the last few years was the fact that opposing defenses could not focus on one player.
For instance, locking in to slow up Zion Ragins only opened things up for Tyler Stewart or Jaivon Solomon to make plays deep. Solomon is by far the biggest deep threat, but others stepping forward as secondary options for Edmonds will be an important element for the Greyhounds’ offense as the season goes on.
Running Henry Again?
Since the start of the 2017 season, the Greyhounds have lost just five times against teams from Henry County.
What’s more is that no trip to Henry County has resulted in a loss since Stockbridge in 2019. Dutchtown, consistently one of the toughest opponents for the Greyhounds in Henry County, has been shuffled from the region, but Stockbridge returns after a few years away. After the last few years of tussling with Warner Robins and Dutchtown for a region title, first place may very well on paper come down to Jones County and Stockbridge.
– Brad Harrison
