FLOWERY BRANCH -- Most first-year head coaches would have been thrilled with the type of campaign Chris Griffin experienced in his first season in charge of Flowery Branch.<br />
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Instead, Griffin has spent the offseason letting his Falcons know that he wants more -- even after coaching Flowery Branch to its first solo region championship, a feat that was upended by a first-round playoff loss the next week.<br />
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"It was a fun year; we played well and we made a good run. But it was disappointing losing in the first round," Griffin said. "It was nice to get that region championship, but we have much higher goals and expectations this year."<br />
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<iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/72421283?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" width="500" height="375" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe> <p><a href="http://vimeo.com/72421283">2013 Flowery Branch Preview</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/wduntv">WDUN TV</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p><br />
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Like Griffin, the Falcons' players have used last season's finish as a motivating factor -- not that the 2013 Flowery Branch squad needs much motivating.<br />
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"This group just wants to work and play the game. We don't have to beg and pull on them to work," Griffin said. "That first day we went in pads we figured out real quick what kind of team this is. This is not going to be the loud-mouthed crew; they're what I call blue-collar. They're fun to coach."<br />
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Making things even more fun is the fact that the Falcons return a number of standout players -- including a starting quarterback for the first time since Connor Shaw played for Flowery Branch 2008-09.<br />
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Senior Jackson McDonald (1,627 yards passing, 819 yards rushing, 32 total TDs in 2012) is a year more experienced and a year bigger, having added both height and weight in the offseason. And Griffin is excited about the signal-caller's potential.<br />
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"He's much more comfortable," Griffin said of McDonald. "A year ago he was just trying to learn the offense. This year he's more comfortable and a leader, and we're building offense around him." <br />
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That construction will be protected by a massive and experienced front line, including three returning offensive linemen -- Andrew Miles, Rashaan Doleman and Joel Ryder. <br />
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McDonald will also have some talented and versatile receiving options in Cameron Davis (leading returning receiver with 34 catches for 349 yards and 3 TDs in 2012), Davante King, Justin Thompson and A'lencio Graham.<br />
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The biggest question is at running back, however, where several players are vying to replace standout Justin Curry (1,267 yards, 13 TDs in 2012), who moved, along with his father and assistant coach Felix, to Arkansas (to be closer to his older brothers, who both play for Oklahoma St.).<br />
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Freshman Jeremiah Goss has impressed early in camp, while Cameron Davis could also see time at the position, along with Jamond Randolph.<br />
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With Felix Curry gone, Griffin found the perfect replacement for the team's defensive coordinator position: himself.<br />
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Griffin filled the role successfully for much of the past decade and was glad to slide back into the day-to-day X's and O's aspect of the job.<br />
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"I feel back at home; it's been fun," Griffin said. "We're going to be doing a lot of same things we did a couple years back. And the guys that played when I was coordinator have picked it up quickly."<br />
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That includes standouts like defensive end Thor Smith, who is the team's leading returning tackler, including 19 tackles for loss in 2012. He is part of what should be a strong front, along with senior defensive end Gabe Argueta and tackle Grant Simonds -- who has moved from offensive line and impressed.<br />
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Beyond that, however, the Falcons must replace their entire linebacker corps, as well their top five leading tacklers. <br />
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Kellen Clark and King were back-ups at linebacker last season and will be looked to for big things in 2013.<br />
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Similarly, the secondary was hit by graduation, returning just four-year starter Jeremy James at cornerback. Cortez David, Isaac Mize, Cooper Harrison and Cameron Davis will all have chances to make themselves starters in the backfield.<br />
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"We're having to rebound a little on defense," Griffin said. "But I'm ready to get out there and hit somebody else and see what truly is the potential of this team."<br />
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If the Falcons can improve on 2012, that potential is high indeed.
