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Game of the Week: Sickles at Tampa Bay Tech

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 14, 2007

Kickoff: 7:30 p.m., Titan Stadium, Tampa

WHAT SICKLES MUST DO TO WIN:

CONTROL THE BALL ON OFFENSE: So far this season, Coach Pat O'Brien said the offense has benefited from great field position provided by the defense and special teams. The drawback is time of possession. Given Tampa Bay Tech's speed on offense, O'Brien wants the Titans off the field as much as possible. So the Gryphons offense must produce long drives.

STAY ON TASK: The Gryphons run a high school version of the Buccaneers' Cover 2. They've allowed only 13 points so far, because their defenders stick to their assignments and gaps. But the Titans run an intricate offensive scheme that uses plenty of misdirection and can confuse defenses. The Gryphons have to stick to their assignments.

THE SECRET WEAPON: A punter? O'Brien will happily make a case. Corey Page is averaging 43.9 yards per punt, with a long of 60, and four of his 10 punts have finished inside the opponent's 20-yard line. O'Brien said Page has helped pin opponents deep in their own territory and allowed the Sickles defense to put more pressure on opponents.

WHAT TAMPA BAY TECH MUST DO TO WIN:

KEEP HITTING: In two games, the Titans defense hasn't allowed an offensive touchdown (Bloomingdale's only points came on special teams in Week 1) and allowed less than 100 yards in total offense combined against Bloomingdale and Leto. The Titans are a quick, swarming unit that excels at putting as many bodies on the football as quickly as possible.

GET TO THE OUTSIDE: Burly fullback Maurice Hagens has dominated the Titans' rushing attack, but TBT needs more production from its outside runners to complement Hagens, most specifically Antonio Wallace, Antonio Chow and quarterback Mario Tucker.

THE STRAGGLERS: Two facets the Titans have struggled with are penalties and extra points. The Titans have committed 20 penalties in two games, the majority of them false starts and offside calls. Meanwhile, the Titans are 2-for-11 on PATs, having struggled equally with extra points and 2-point conversions. Those areas must improve.

THE X-FACTOR:

Overconfidence. Tampa Bay Tech had lost 20 consecutive games before winning its first two this season. Sickles was 0-10 a year ago, and was 5-25 under O'Brien until winning its first two games this year. TBT coach C.C. Culpepper said his team was flat last week, and overconfidence may have been a factor. O'Brien had a discussion with his team after last week's victory.

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