The lack of pads poppin’ and crackin’ doesn’t mean the 7-on-7 summer circuit is lacking its own thing in another way.  This past weekend provided folks from all over parts of the state, region, country and continent a chance to get a look at what the players in this area bring to the table and what they need to work on as well versus the outside.  Say what you want about the event itself, but there were some fundamental laws of football on display that go well-beyond the debate.

Everybody thinks they’re open – whether they are or not, so throw them the damn ball anyways.

WR’s from the bay area aren’t shy about expressing their talents and some rightfully so.  We know about the George Campbell’s, Auden Tate’s and Nate Craig’s of the world.  They can make the absurd look easy, but other ballers that made some simply look absurd were Lakewood’s Ryan Davis and Spoto’s Terence Williams.  Davis was scorching DB’s during the morning session on Sunday with combinations of speed on his go-routes and ankle-breaking movement in YAC situations.  Williams’ efforts were much of the same, and his ability to be the lightning to Deon Cain’s and Nate Craig’s thunder QB Chris Oladokun from Alonso all the tools he needed to get his squad to the finals.

Fall or summer, you still have to make plays.

Someone has to get the ball to these guys.  Doesn’t matter if the QB-WR combo are going to be teammates or not; the routes have to be run, the ball has to be there exactly where it should be and the representation from the bay was strong.  Oladokun looked completely comfortable having the keys to the Ferrari, putting some of his best passes together on his fades, and corners giving his WR’s time to run underneath in-stride.  His head-to-head vs. The River City Kings from Jacksonville with Deondre Johnson (First Coast QB/FSU Commit) was one of the best played games of the entire weekend.  Berkeley Prep’s Brad Mayes and Wiregrass Ranch’s Shane Bucenell looked especially accurate on touch passes and in tight spots showcasing their arm strength putting more and more pressure on schools to get down here and offer and you can’t deny the skill and talent on passes that came from the southpaw Caleb Lewis out of Victory Christian.

Speaking of playmakers…and leaders

Watching guys like Derwin James from Haines City and Sickles’ Ray Ray McCloud III is what these events are about.  All-purpose is what best describes the two, especially in times of needing to do the dirty work at DB, or be the glue on offense when their squads had to have first downs or plays that needed to be made.  These are things that will be asked of them this fall and beyond their field presence, they are seemingly fit to lead off the field as well when you get a chance to see them without their helmets on, facial expressions exposed and see their actions.  Add that to their abilities on the field (which are beyond freakish) and the goose-bumps start.

You can’t win ‘em all in spite of your talent.

The same mistakes that cost the area defending its title against arguably the best talent in the nation won’t exactly get exposed this fall every Friday, but the 7-on-7 circuit glory comes down to inches in some cases more so than when the pads come on.  Predictability on offense and getting caught ball-watching still come full circle during the excruciating heat and humidity of June and July.  You don’t run into all-star teams every single week (unless your address is located within Metro-Dade) during the season, but you still have to have the approach that every single snap regardless of time and place is going to matter.

– Doug Pugh