Manatee kicking game is above average, against Oak Ridge Nick Null had 4 FG's the longest being 52 yards. Null puts 67% of his kickoffs into the endzone. Null also punts for Manatee and I believe he has a 36 yard average. Manatee struggled all night with Punt coverage against Oak Ridge Friday night.
Manatee runs a 3-4 and has above average over-all team speed on defense. I'd say they're vulnerable to a good passing attack, as well as an offense that kind line up and enforce a smash mouth style of offense. They'll try to present preasure from all its linebackers, but will often times backoff just before the snap. Its linebacking crew is a very active group, with what I would deem good over-all size and nice explosion to the point of attack. If the defense is swarning and using good sound tackling technique it can be a very good defense. I've seen the defense loose its intensity however from time to time. Ideally Manatee wants you to have to put together 10-14 play scoring drive.
Offensively Manatee runs the spread. No Johnnie Lang this year and the backup transfered to Palmetto, so Manatee went to one of its WR and converted him to the RB position. He's not a particularily big back, in fact I'd say he's small. He ran for over 1100 yards this year and is the type of back that typically finds a way to churn out position yardage, which you wouldn't expect for a small back. He's also a nice option coming out of the backfield to catch passes. QB for Manatee give Manatee some options it didnt have last year, in that he can run an effective read option play, and has a decent arm with normally above average accuracy. The WR group of Price,Carter, and Milton is pretty darn good. They all catch the ball well and can all turn a 4-5 yard passing play into a big play. The OL has good size, and play technically sound football but I wouldn't call them a particularily physical group.
Manatee wasn't able to finish drives against Oak Ridge, but was still able to salvage points off of Null's leg. Not sure how much you could directly attribute to Oak Ridge? I believe they put allot of pressure on the line of scrimage by bringing its LB's and/or DB's..............So Manatee never got the big play untrack against Oak Ridge. My feeling on the Dr Phillips game is if they come out in a wildcat and just take it to the Manatee Defense........you'll wear the Manatee defense out by halftime and second half you'll have your way. Offensively if Dr Phillips can bring preasure from all different angles to keep the Manatee QB guessing that will pretty much keep the Manatee offense bottled up......Manatee has big play potential so that's always there too.
My prediction: Dr Phillips 33 Manatee17
Go Canes Go!