FLOWERY BRANCH -- Chris Griffin has seen plenty in his 13 years at Flowery Branch. In fact, the longtime-assistant-turned-head-coach has been the one constant for Falcons football since its inception -- at least the one human constant.<br />
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The other factors sustained at The Branch include things like fast-paced, wide-open offense, strong line play, aggressive defense and -- since 2005 -- winning.<br />
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Griffin hopes to show in 2014 that the more things change for the Falcons, the more they stay the same.<br />
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The change comes in the form of new assistant coaches and new staff responsibilities, and new players in key positions. But Griffin says not to expect that to mean big changes in the way the Branch conducts its business.<br />
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"There's going to be some things that are always Flowery Branch football," Griffin said. "But we also want create some new identities, and we've done some of that this offseason, and it's been fun to see some of the new quirks between coaches and players."<br />
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Those changes extend to Griffin himself, who has yielded control of the defense to new assistant and former Winder-Barrow head coach David Wagner while moving to take charge of the Falcons' offense.<br />
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Griffin takes over an attack that must replace its starting quarterback of the last two seasons in Jackson McDonald (who compiled over 2,400 total yards in 2013 in leading an offense that averaged 35.3 points per game) and its entire receiving corps. Yet Griffin said not to expect some wild switch to the wing-T or single-wing.<br />
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"We're still spread, still fast-paced," Griffin said. "We may add some more multiple formations and utilize things like the tight end -- but that goes to our personnel; we have tons of good running backs."<br />
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That group is led by sophomore Jeremiah Goss, who developed into a standout as a freshman, rushing for a team-high 656 yards to go along with eight touchdowns.<br />
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"He's bigger, stronger, and faster, and he's a leader," Griffin said of Goss.<br />
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He will also be aided by a sizable and experienced offensive line -- though senior center Joel Ryder, who was to anchor the group has been lost for the season through injury.<br />
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Veterans Benoy Scroggs, Clay Hamilton and Jesus Alvarado will help make up for Ryder's absence.<br />
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Those factors should prove a big help to Jasen Johnson, the athletic sophomore preparing to step in and take over at quarterback for the Falcons.<br />
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"He just needs game experience," Griffin said of Johnson. "He's a great athlete, and he's coachable; he just needs reps."<br />
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The same goes for the receiving corps, which was decimated by graduation (the top three statistical leaders from a year ago are gone). Yet players like Cortez Davis are ready to step into the breach.<br />
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"He won't come off the field much," Griffin said of Davis, who will also feature on defense for the Falcons, mixing at safety and corner.<br />
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Like the Falcons' offense, its defense should be stout at the point of attack, featuring three experienced linemen in Dezmond Osborne, Jonah Matthes and TJ Jackson. The group should be able to keep blockers off a talented pair of linebackers in Cole Ford (All-Region in 2013) and Zack Smith.<br />
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The biggest question comes in the secondary, where Davis and Cooper Harrison will look to bolster a unit that allowed just 46.4 completion rate to opposing quarterbacks last season but graduated a number of starters.<br />
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Look for some slight changes in that defensive unit this season as Wagner moves in to take the helm. Wagner will look to disguise some of his coverages in an effort to confuse opposing offenses.<br />
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Playing in Region 8-AAAAA, Griffin knows his team won't have much leeway for learning on the fly -- especially with a talented Lanier squad representing the first league match-up of the season on Sept. 12 in Sugar Hill.<br />
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With that in mind, Griffin and his staff have put their charges through a stiff preseason and offseason -- and the Falcons like what they have seen.<br />
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"This group is not the most athletic we've ever had, but the kids show up to work and don't complain, and they're excited," Griffin said. "We've put them through some adversity to see how they will respond to tough times; our motto this year has been that we're going to be excellent in everything we do."<br />
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Griffin hopes that will pay off should Flowery Branch get back to state for a 10th straight campaign.<br />
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"If we can stick to that the kids we'll see that there's no reason to get tense and worried come playoff time, because everything will take care of itself," Griffin said.
