DECATUR -- Tyler Riddle is optimistic Decatur can overcome several big deficiencies to make a run at the Class 2A playoffs.
Riddle is one of just a handful of Bulldogs with extensive varsity experience on one of the smallest rosters in the state, and the senior will be counted on on both sides of the football. He will be a target at tight end in the Bulldogs' double tight end I-formation attack and Decatur coach Shane Holland expects the 6-foot-1, 171-pound returning starter to be a leader on defense.
DOG DAYS CAPSULE
TEAM: Decatur
COACH: Shane Holland
LAST SEASON: 3-7 overall, 3-5 2A-4 Conference
OFFENSE: I-formation
DEFENSE: 3-4
RETURNING STARTERS: Offense 3, Defense 3
POINTS SCORED PER GAME: 15.2
POINTS ALLOWED PER GAME: 27.1
OFFENSIVE PLAYERS TO WATCH: Ryan Shaffer (Jr., WR, 5-11, 150), Leng Lee (Jr., QB, 5-6, 135), Tyler Riddle (Sr., TE, 6-0, 171), Meng Vang (Sr., OL, 5-11, 195).
DEFENSIVE PLAYERS TO WATCH Leng Lee (Jr., CB, 5-6, 135), Tyler Riddle (Sr., LB/DE, 6-0, 171), Ryan Shaffer (Jr., CB, 5-11, 150), Meng Vang (Sr., LB, 5-11, 195).
KEEP AN EYE ON: Tyler Riddle. Riddle will be a two-way starter at tight end and linebacker or defensive end. The Bulldogs will line up in a double tight end set and the 6-foot-1, 171-pound senior will be a big target. He averaged 22 yards a catch last season on seven receptions. Defensively, Riddle had 39 tackles at linebacker but he could play some on the defensive front.
OFFENSIVE OUTLOOK: Decatur will look to run out of the I-formation in a double-tight end set. Size up front is a concern but there is speed at the skill positions. Quarterback Leng Lee passed for 621 yards and rushed for almost 300 yards last season
DEFENSIVE OUTLOOK: Size is a concern up front but Riddle can play defensive end and linebacker. Speed will be a plus and the linebackers are a strong point.
SEASON OUTLOOK: Depth and a lack of size is a big concern. Decatur had only 11 players before school started but the roster is now up to around 20. Lee has experience at quarterback and Riddle will be a top target. Decatur has just three home conference games so the Bulldogs are going to have to win on the road to advance to the playoffs.
KEY GAME: Oct. 2 at Johnson County Westside. The road to the postseason has to include a win against the Rebels and against Western Yell County two weeks later. In between, Decatur has an open date in the most important stretch of the season.
QUOTING COACH: Shane Holland. “With Victor Urquidi being out so much last year, Leng got a lot of reps at quarterback and he looks a lot better. Tyler Riddle, at receiver, looks good. Our big problem is on the line, and we are very worried about our linemen numbers.”
SCHEDULE
Sept. 4^at Berryville^7 p.m.
Sept. 11^at Gentry^7 p.m.
Sept. 18^Mountainburg*^7 p.m.
Sept. 25^Hackett*^7 p.m.
Oct. 2^at Johnson County Westside*^7 p.m.
Oct. 9^Open
Oct. 16^at Western Yell County*^7 p.m.
Oct. 23^Hector*^7 p.m.
Oct. 30^at Union Christian*^7 p.m.
Nov. 6^at Magazine*7 p.m.
- Denotes 2A-4 Conference game
—Paul Nielsen
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"My expectations are like any other high school football player, I expect to win," Riddle said. "I'm just hoping we can do something with what we have this year. It's going to be a challenge. It's a new offense, but I expect us to pick it up really fast."
Holland said Riddle is a complete football player.
"Tyler is a very good student, a 4.0-type of student, and he comes in and works hard," Holland said. "You never want to say he can't do something because he will come out and do it. He is an unselfish player and he will play where ever we tell him to play. We expect him to provide leadership and be a role model for the younger guys."
Riddle said playing almost every down in every game is something that he readily accepts. He caught seven passes for 152 yards last season, and he had 39 tackles while playing linebacker. He is expected to play linebacker or defensive end this season.
"It's going to help me play with a lot more intensity," Riddle said. "I just want to play the best that I can to help the team out. One of the things that we do have is a lot of speed. We lack power and size, but we can move."
Prior to the start of school, Holland had anywhere from four to 11 players at the first two weeks of August practice. Holland was hoping to add six or seven players when school started, but the Bulldogs coach was pleased when the roster swelled to more than 20 players this week.
"It's a low number," Holland said. "But we are not unlike several other teams in the league that are in the same boat."
While he had hoped for more teammates at practice the first two weeks, Riddle said the players that were there got extra attention that will help in the long run.
"We got a lot of one-on-one time with the coaches, and we did a lot of running," Riddle said. "It really helped our conditioning, and that will help us during the season."
Sports on 08/21/2015