Challenges stacked for Reid in 1st year
By Jeremy Stewart
Sports Editor
[email protected] | Posted: Wednesday, August 19, 2015 8:55 am
Challenges stacked for Reid in 1st year
Rome high head football coach John Reid talks to the varsity players after their intrasquad
scrimmage at Barron Stadium.
PIGSKIN PREVIEW
The Rome High football team is coming into the season with a new head coach and a new sense
of purpose that they hope will bring them back to prominence.
Former Tift County head coach John Reid was hired as the Wolves' head coach in February and
said he has worked to mold the players into a smarter and more aggressive unit.
He said the first practice in spring opened his eyes.
"I just couldn't believe how lethargic and slow and with no real sense of urgency that these kids
moved," Reid said.
"Since then to now, that's changed. Our knees are bent.
We're sliding around. We understand now fundamental football."
It's been nine years since the Wolves, who went 3-6 last season, ended their run of six-straight
region titles. Reid was in his first year as head coach at East Paulding that year, which beat Rome
27-3 in the second round of the AAAA state playoffs.
"When I got to East Paulding, Rome was untouchable," Reid said. "We expect to get back to
those times and, really, add some more championships."
However, Reid said they aren't bringing up such things on a daily basis. They are working to
teach the players that success begins with the next play.
"We don't sit there and lay out overall goals," Reid said. "We have got to take this one step at a
time. We have got to start winning games, and that comes from winning series, quarters, halves."
For Reid, that all comes from core values such as family, trust, toughness and integrity.
"They know darn good and well that I want to be in the playoffs. They know darn good and well
that I want a home playoff game," Reid said.
"But today we won't talk about playoffs. We'll talk about getting out there and being a good
practice player. Somebody's got to be the other guy, and we'll see if we can't get better today.
Part of Reid's emphasis includes teaching better practice concepts at a younger age, but he'll have
his hands full with youth on the Wolves' varsity squad this season.
While key players like wide receiver Jai Creamer, and linemen Andy Mathis and Zach Kadum
return, inexperience will be a big hurdle for Rome to conquer.
The team will be made up of mostly underclassmen, including several sophomores, according to
Reid.
"There is some talent there. Don't get me wrong. But it's still difficult to rein them in because
there is a number of sophomores that you're depending on," Reid said, adding that six are set to
start on defense.
"They didn't have a quality down on tape as a freshman. Zero Experience. So that's a major
concern."
The Wolves' most seasoned units on offense will be in the trenches and on the perimeter as
Mathis anchors a solid line and Creamer will team up with fellow senior Nick Kirksey at
receiver.
Creamer, the 2014 RN-T Big School Co-Offensive Player of the Year, had 71 receptions for
1,246 yards and 16 touchdowns last season.
Reid said he expects the quarterback position to be a revolving door, as sophomore Tyrish
Martin, freshman Knox Kadum and junior Evan Burger have stepped in to replace Josh Perkins.
"We expect them to do a lot. Run the football. Throw the football," Reid said. "It will give us a
lot of options and I think that any one of them could win the football game for you, so you have
that depth, which is nice."
Reid said he expects all three to see action on Friday nights this fall.
While Rome's backfield is young, they have provided some sparks in the preseason.
Freshman Jamious Griffin and sophomore Jalynn Sykes, who transferred from Alcoa High
School in Alabama during the offseason, are joined by junior ShiDell Milsap and sophomore
Marquez Kirby.
All-Area tackle Zach Kadum is back for just his junior season and will be the pivot point for the
Wolves on a defensive line that will include three sophomores.
"The other thing with the whole group is they have nothing to defend," Reid said. "You've got
places that went to the playoffs last year. We didn't do that. You've got places that won a state
championship last year. We didn't do that.
"So that is one of the biggest challenges coming into programs like this."
Rome opens the regular season Friday at Villa Rica and will have two weeks to prepare for its
home opener at Barron Stadium against Newton.
'The other thing with the whole group is they have nothing to defend. You've got places that at
went to the playoffs last year. We didn't do that. You've got places that won a state championship
last year. We didn't do that. So that is one of the biggest challenges coming into programs like
this.'
John Reid
Rome High head football coach
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'There is some talent there. Don't get me wrong. But it's still difficult to rein them in because
there is a number of sophomores that you're depending on. They didn't have a quality down on
tape as a freshman. Zero Experience. So that's a major concern.'
John Reid
Rome High head football coach
MORE PREP COVERAGE ONLINE
For prep coverage throughout the season, including scores, stories and photos, visit
prepcentralonline.com