October 1, 2020
SILVER ANNIVERSARY
Year 25 of our broadcasting Denham Springs HS Football commences Friday night (tomorrow evening) when the Jackets visit St Amant HS. This game marks the debut of the Brett Beard era at DSHS
Josh Ward and Andy Duckworth are on the call. I’ll contribute to pre-game, half-time and post-game shows. The broadcast starts at 6pm with Sport-N-Center Jackets Warmup. For more information, please scroll down to the bottom of this newsletter for an extensive press release
A special thank you to the Denham Springs business community, who, en masse, stepped up big time, in troubled times, to sponsor our broadcasts. YOU’RE THE BEST!!!
GOD BLESS
My heart goes out to my friends in the Lake Area who endured major destruction at the hands of Hurricane Laura. My thoughts and prayers are with you. We strongly urge readers of this newsletter to donate to a worthwhile Hurricane oriented charity in the Lake Area.
TODAY’S COLUMNS:
Scott offers an extensive post-mortem on LSU FB
Dennis conveys a profound message…
Please scroll down below.
OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS GO OUT TO ONE AND ALL AS WE TRY TO MAKE OUR WAY SAFELY THROUGH THE PANDEMIC. WE STAND WITH THOSE THAT ARE PEACEFULLY PROTESTING AGAINST POLICE BRUTALITY AND RACISM.
LSU, SAINTS AND MUCH MORE
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THE WIZARDRY OF OS
Over the summer, the talk was that LSU would still be good because, despite losing a record number of players to the draft, LSU still had All-Americans in Shelvin, Chase, and Stingley.
LSU played with 1 returning starter on defense once Logan and Stingley were out. LSU had just 2 on offense. How did the returning players do? Marshall, Stevens, and Deculus played pretty well. The rest of the guys were the typical up and down for their first start.
I appreciate Sean Payton, Ed Orgeron, and all the other coaches who sell their team and the public on the next man up mantra. When it is your team, that is what you have to do in order to function. But, that doesn’t mean the world should be stupid enough to believe that playing without the best player on the team won´t have a massive impact on the performance of a secondary that had already lost 3 starters from last year (Fulton, Delpit, and Vincent).
Clearly, there are many areas to criticize from Saturday´s performance. 5 drops with three on second down that set up third and long in the first half. Those are drive killers when you are trying to break in new players and get a rhythm in the first half of the first game of the year.
While Myles Brennan has many areas to improve, did he look worse than Joe Burrow the first half of his junior year when Joe had not started since high school? It blows my mind how quickly fans and media write off players. We are so quick to forget there was a time where it was an accomplishment for a LSU quarterback to throw for 200 yards in a game. To be clear, Brennan knows he needs to improve.
But, in his first start with only Deculus and Marshall as returning starters, I would think that logic tells us that he will improve and be a solid SEC starting quarterback at worst this year based on what we saw.. At best, he and the whole offense will grow and he will look like Burrow did at the end of his junior year. The jump from that to senior Burrow is too much to expect, and I am not predicting that. The people that have already written Brennan off after one start though need to check themselves.
The defensive numbers were awful. Yet, while the coverage wasn't great, the worst thing I saw from the defense was the tackling. The game actually reminded me of the Texas game last year. Ehlinger was 31-47 for 401 yards, 4 TDs, and no INTs. That is almost 13 yards a catch and a 66% completion percentage. While Costello’s completions went for over 17 yards per catch, his completion percentage was 60%. His quarterback rating was only 82 compared to Ehlinger´s 89.2.
Last year´s defense got better and so can this one. Many of the mistakes can be fixed, and the fastest way is with Stingley returning and Ward getting healthy. My concern which cannot be fixed is that some of LSU´s cornerbacks are simply too light to hold up against large, physical SEC receivers.
Please allow me a quick sidebar. How did the hit on Terrace Marshall not elicit some kind of penalty. I have a tough time letting things go and Mississippi State is the same team that Devin White was called for targeting at the end of a blowout. What happened to forcible contact to the head or neck of a defenseless player?
Assuming I don´t know what I am talking about in regards to targeting (which is very possible since I don´t think anyone knows), how was it not a regular personal foul? The State defensive back took THREE extra steps. Many times we talk about there being no time for a player to react and there was nothing else he could have done. This was not that. There are many other things he could have done.
Now that I have that out my system, let's look at what really matters. How does this team improve to win 6-7 games? The reality is the depth and experience of this team dictates LSU should lose to Florida and Alabama for sure, and either Auburn or A&M. I have been shaking my head since the opt outs at the people that still thought this team should win 8-9 games. Ridiculous. As I said a couple of weeks ago, 7 wins would be an amazing coaching job.
Offensively, I think LSU will need to get back into some bunch formations to help the running game, mix in some different personnel, and help the offensive line. Also, formations that give more of a run look that help play action might be in the future.
Defensively, let's be honest. LSU will be lucky to win 5 games if Stevens or Stingley are not 100% throughout the year. The secondary was ravaged this off season. People forget that Eric Monroe and Marcel Brooks transferred too! There is more than one way to play man coverage, though. Ricks and Stingley can play tight bump and run. The other corners played tight on Saturday, but are not physical. They did nothing to disrupt routes, and I am not sure they could if they tried. They might be better served playing some off man coverage. Of course, they are going to have to find a way to tackle better if they do that.
I know it is hard to see when it is your team, but I don't know what else could have gone against LSU in that game. Looking around the country, has anyone noticed that favored teams have really struggled? Iowa State, Texas, Oklahoma, Texas A&M, Georgia, and of course LSU have struggled.
Hopefully, Vanderbilt and Missouri will be the two layups LSU needs to figure a few things out. Maybe these two games will provide a few weeks for the young skill players on offense to settle down and make more plays going forward, and give the coaches a couple weeks to establish an identity. Defensively, only Alabama and Florida would have been worse teams to open with than Mississippi State considering Stingley was out. I didn't expect LSU to beat those two teams anyway at the start of the season.
It was a rough weekend last weekend and the Saints don't deserve much talk. I am mostly down on this team because every time the Saints sign a player they talk about how quick they are to pick things up, and they are smart players. Yet, through three games this team is doing some of the dumbest things to hurt themselves. I don't care what the scheme is at this point. Cover the tight end.
Again, I could go on and on, but instead I will take the following approach for this week. So far, the Saints have killed themselves with penalties, blown coverages, and there is a clear lack of trust between Brees and the receivers. Cam Jordan is not providing the pass rush we have come to expect. The injuries are piling up. While the Saints might clearly be in trouble, there is also another possibility.
The Saints are a good team playing its worst football to start the year. There is a long way to go, plenty of time to improve, and many reasons to think they will. As badly as the Saints have played, they could have beaten the Packers who were the best team in the NFC the first two weeks of the year. Look, after a long time without sports, I think we are better off holding out hope than writing off seasons that have just started.
HEY REF
I’ve spent more than three weeks shaking off some very harsh pain and believe I’ve turned the corner so to speak. So I sat down and had lunch with a coach that I’ve known for more than thirty eight years. If there ever was anyone that could be called a living legend he is by far the one. I remember the first game I worked for this coach because he “burned” me with a play that’s called a hide out.
HOLD UP, TIMEOUT! Please excuse this old football official. I just found something that I’ve never noticed before. Right after the 2016 flood my wife, daughter and I stayed with my parents. My Mom died on July 6, 2018 and since we lost everything I was given her desk. Taped to her desk is a tiny, newspaper clipping with her writing “THINK”! Well, Mom I just read it. The message you left for me is so powerful I’ve got to share it this week. Sports can be put on “hold” for a week.
My Mom felt its message so important and I agree with her. I pray everyone will feel like my Mom did. If you don’t then I’ll do for you what she’d have done for you and that’s pray for you. I can only hope her message reaches you. So here’s her message to all of us; “An old Cherokee told his grandson, my son, there is a battle between two wolves inside us all.
“One is Evil. It is anger, jealousy, greed, resentment, inferiority, lies and ego. The other is Good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, humility, kindness, empathy and truth”. The boy thought about it, and asked, “Grandfather, which wolf wins”?
The old man quietly replied, “The one you feed”!
I need not add another word. We all should read this message. My Mom knew a way to make everyone stop and find a way to “get along”. She is missed so very much. The world is a better place because of her and the way she touched all our lives. We miss you, Mom!
Till next week when we return to SPORTS!
DENHAM SPRINGS HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL IS BACK ON THE AIR!
Our silver anniversary! The 2020 school year marks the 25th season that Jon Fine (Sports) Productions will have the privilege of producing and calling play-by-play for Denham Springs HS Football radio broadcasts. In 2020, the broadcast slate will include all 8 regular season Denham games, and every playoff game. Broadcasts will air on Family Radio-91.9 FM-Baton Rouge, starting at 6:00 pm Friday nights. All broadcasts can also be heard on the Internet at JonFineProductions.com (click Listen Live on the Denham Springs Football PBP page). The first broadcast is Friday, October 2, when the Jackets travel to St Amant HS.
Denham Springs HS grad Josh Ward will be the play-by-play announcer of the Jackets. He will be joined by Andy Duckworth as the color commentator. Jon Fine will contribute to the pre-game warmup, half-time report and post-game show.
This year’s broadcasts will be dedicated to the memory of Jackets Football player Remy Hidalgo. Ward, Duckworth and Fine will each be wearing broadcasts shirts which feature a #77. Throughout the broadcasts, there will be mentions of ways that Jackets fans can contribute to a charity in memory of Remy.
“Sport N Center Jackets Warm-Up” will feature an interview with Jackets Football Coach Brett Beard conducted by Josh Ward. Jon Fine will speak with a prominent Denham Springs community and/or sports figure. Josh Ward and Andy Duckworth will also offer a preview of that night’s game and other pertinent information.
The “North Oaks Health System Half-Time Report” will include Fine interviewing another Denham Springs personality. In addition, Ward and Duckworth will provide a recap of the first half and a look ahead at the second half of action.
During the “Ralph Sellers Chevrolet Post-Game Show”, there will be an extensive game recap, final stats and a look ahead.
When Denham Springs picks up a first down, they’ll achieve an “Ollie’s Car Wash First Down”. When the Jackets score, you’ll get the particulars on the “Big Mike’s Sports Bar & Grill Jackets Scoring Drive”.
Sport-N-Center owner Stacy Phipps (Baseball) and Big Mike O’Neal (Football) were athletes at Denham Springs HS. Ward was an assistant basketball coach with the Jackets.
Ralph Sellers Chevrolet Parts Manager Jim McChristian says he was an athlete at Denham Springs HS, but we have had a difficult time verifying this claim! LOL
Fine expressed that he is especially appreciative of the loyal commercial and name mention sponsors the broadcasts have had on Jon Fine Sports Productions’ Denham Springs HS play-by-play broadcasts throughout the years. Many have been with the broadcasts on a year-in, year-out basis. Fine expressed hope that listeners will have the opportunity to patronize these businesses and let them know they heard about them on DSHS Football radio broadcasts.
Josh Ward not only graduated from Denham Springs HS, but served as an assistant basketball coach under Coach Paul Smith. He has called Redemptorist HS and Central HS Football games for Jon Fine Productions in years’ past. He is presently the Traffic Manager at Guaranty Broadcasting. Ward is a native of Denham Springs and is single.
Andy Duckworth grew up in Mississippi, played high school football, basketball and baseball and was a 4 year baseball letterman at Belhaven. He is a former radio station manager and sports-talk host in Mississippi. In this capacity, he hosted a sports talk show and did play-by-play for Mississippi College Athletics and Madison Central HS. He presently works as a financial advisor. Duckworth is married and has 2 children.
Jon Fine co-hosted and produced daily 2 hour drive-time radio sports-talk programs in the Greater Baton Rouge area for close to 20 years. His programs (first SportsTalk, which changed its name to SportsGumbo), aired, at times, in New Orleans, Lake Charles, Monroe and Alexandria, in addition to the Baton Rouge market. His company, Jon Fine Productions, has produced numerous Denham Springs HS and area HS sports programming on television, radio and internet. In addition to his Denham Springs broadcasting chores, Fine has an EBay internet store--ArrestedDevelopmentMedia Guides, and is a marketing representative for SportsRadio-1310AM-KEZM-Lake Charles/Sulphur. Fine is a native of Valley Stream, New York and a graduate of Penn. He is single.
For more information on Denham Springs HS Sports programming and Jon Fine Productions, please visit JonFineProductions.com.
DENHAM SPRINGS HS FOOTBALL RADIO BROADCASTS ARE A JON FINE PRODUCTION ON FAMILY RADIO, 91.9 FM, BATON ROUGE and JonFineProductions.com.
JON IS THE OWNER OF AN EBAY STORE. ArrestedDevelopmentMediaGuides, SELLS SPORTS PUBLICATIONS. YOU CAN LINK TO IT BY VISITING JonFineProductions.com.
JON IS PROUD TO WORK AS A MARKETING REPRESENTATIVE FOR SPORTSRADIO-1310-KEZM-SULPHUR/LAKE CHARLES.