"The Slot-T wont work at the 5A and 6A level"
I have heard more than I can count over the years that "The Slot-T wont work in 5A and above"...
I am guessing no one has informed the Players and Coaches from Liberty Hill or 6A Jack Hays for that matter so far this season.
The Slot-T is a unique Texas edition of the Wing-T, its special and has been apprenticed for Decades, you couldnt just go by the book and set it up. Jerry Vance and Bruce Bush are who I would call the Godfathers of what some have dubbed The Slot-T Mafia.
Liberty Hill has played an exclusively 5A schedule from the second scrimmage on and has had a massive point tally to say the least, a tally that includes 12 TDs in the second scrimmage and an average of 58 points per game this season. Jack Hays is 3-0 as a 6A, in their first season running the Slot-T. I know I know when Hays Plays Lake Travis or Westlake and they lose some will say, see! NOT SO FAST......
I then must pose this question, what system could Hays run that would change that scenario?
Spread ?
Been there and done that. I am curious how the Hays season plays out, being a 6A and really just learning the system. As with many from the Vance-Bush tree, Les Goad is a very good coach, Navarro can attest to what he did with their program down there.
I suspect Hays will be a better program than they have been in a while and maybe, just maybe throw LT and WL for a loop and pull off an upset, I know this is a long shot but Im betting they make the playoffs at a minimum from that district.
Edna, a 3A school is seeing some great times right now as well, they are in their second season with the Slot-T with Jerry Long as HC and long time LH-OC Robert Draper and LH-DC Jimmy Duncan, they are 4-0 right now, I know this is a smaller school, but the Slot-T Mafia produces winning coaches who run a proven system at all levels. 2A Thorndale with Scott Hawkins is off to a great start as well at 2-0, a small school but successful. I havent mentioned Charlie Drum at 4A Canyon Lake, the Hawks are 4-0 and a program that is a force to be reckoned with and Alan Haire at 4A Salado, probably the biggest turn around program over the past couple years.
Of course I couldnt finish up with out talking about the most prolific purveyor of the Slot-T out of the Vance-Bush Tree and thats Jeff Walker. Walker set the LH scoring record in 2006 with 84 points in a home coming game and topped it last Friday night again during the LH homecoming with 89 points vs a 5A-D1 team, the 5th 5A in a row since the second scrimmage. Walker was the OC during Liberty Hills most productive Offensive campaigns as well as both State Championships.
He is tough, straight forward, and relentlessly pushes the team to get better never accepts good as good enough. Its no surprise that he is the best of the best from this tree. No "offense" to the other very good and successful coaches whom I respect, Walker just takes it to another level, he takes this 4 yards and a cloud of dust ball control offense and turns it into a well oiled explosive play machine that will score with with the spreads. I have said he will take 2-8s and make them 9-3s, , take 8-4s and give them as shot at a title run. Good news is we have a special bunch in LH right now with a very strong senior class and some dang good Juniors and Sophomores to go with them, the sky is the limit this fall.
Yep and there are times a juggernaut offense meets its match with an extremely well prepared defense, but this happens to the best spreads, power I, Multi Formation, and Pro Style offenses ALL THE TIME. There is no system that is immune to stellar and well prepared defense.
I have to admit I do love the Slot-T, its not common place, it sets programs apart with some uniqueness and breeds toughness as its foundation. It really links 11 players and draws from everyone of their strengths rather than being a QB dependent system. Now a good QB will take the Slot-T to another level as do good backs, but the foundation of this system is the athletic offensive linemen. A secret to this Offense is you have to obsess over it to really take it to its potential. Lastly like with any system the better the athletes the better the Offense and the more a teams potential.
So to say the least the SLOT-T ABSOLUTELY WORKS at the 5A and 6A level, like any system, if its well run its very viable and creates several advantages.
