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Weekly Briefing Week Two: Early Edition

James Monroe (1-0) at Charlottesville (0-1), Thursday 7 p.m.

 

The basics: Charlottesville’s brutal out-of-district schedule to start 2019 continues with James Monroe, the Fredericksburg area’s traditional power who suffered a down year a season ago. The Jackets got 2019 off on the right foot with a 21-7 win over Stafford. The Black Knights, meanwhile, stumbled out of the gate against a powerful, loaded up E.C. Glass squad that looks primed for a huge season. The Black Knights didn’t get much going offensively, but Isaiah Washington and Tamarius Washington each registered runs of 15 or more yards, so the Black Knights do have the potential to move the ball in the triple option, their bread and butter. Can they move the ball against a James Monroe defense that held Stafford to just 162 yards of total offense? That could prove to be a serious challenge, especially with Jack Hardy’s emergence as a stopper at linebacker. If Charlottesville can get the ground game churning a little, that’ll help open things up for a passing attack that has the potential to be a potent second threat for the Black Knights.

 

Key matchup: Charlottesville’s linebackers contend with James Monroe quarterback Aidan Ryan. Ryan is a talented defensive back who already has a William and Mary offer, and this year he’s taking on the starting quarterback spot for the Jackets. He’s an elite athlete, so he’ll challenge the Black Knights’ linebackers in a big way. Lamont Bullard led the Black Knights with six tackles a week ago against E.C. Glass and he’ll need to step up in a big way if Charlottesville is going to contain Ryan.

 

Who to watch: Charlottesville’s Jaleom Adams-Mallory. Adams-Mallory had a sack a week ago and he’s going to have to be the genesis of a pass rush for the Black Knights. Against a mobile quarterback like Ryan, pressure is a double-edged sword. If Adams-Mallory forces the issue too much, Ryan could easily find some running lanes up front. 

 

The line: James Monroe by 10. Knights are all about improvement week to week right now and James Monroe is a tall task.

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