Chamblee experienced its best football season in school history last season, compiling a record of 12-2 and getting to the Georgia Dome. But shortly after losing a 26-24 heartbreaker to Carver-Columbus in the state semifinals, the team then lost head coach Jim Showfety in the offseason when he left for Northview. That made Michael Collins the third head coach in three years at CHS, and he wasn’t sure what to expect. Still, he was happy to immediately find out that the players were very receptive to their new coach.
“Their coach left, and when I came in they were ready to go to work,” Collins said. “It was pretty simple.”
With schemes similar to that of Showfety, an insistence on hard work on and off the football field, and a 3-1 start to the season, Collins is making it look “simple.” Chamblee football still thinks its program is in good hands.
Collins’s personality starts on the defensive side of the football. That much is apparent at any practice.
“We always start out practice with special teams and defense,” Collins said. “We want our defense to be as strong as they can possibly be.”
That work has apparently paid off, as the Bulldogs are giving up just seven points per game so far through four games. That success has been sustained by bringing an aggressive style to the table that Collins says his team loves. Experienced players like senior linebacker Matt Mills lead the way. It’s the new players, however, that Collins sees as the key.
“We’ve got some good, young players but they’re not experienced,” Collins said. “The biggest challenge has been getting them to step it up and play with some confidence.”
Running back Warren Norman, a Vanderbilt commit with a “unique blend of speed and power” according to Scout.com, leads the way on offense.
“When we get him in a crease he’s got the ability to go anywhere at any time,” Collins said. Yet Collins still sees his star running back as a player with room to improve, stating, “He’s starting to understand that sometimes [a gain of] four yards is a good play. He’s starting to understand what the defense is giving him.”
RESPONDING TO ADVERSITY
The Bulldogs suffered a devastating setback to Marist on Sept. 12, as a late missed point-after attempt cost them in a 14-13 loss, their 13th straight to the War Eagles. Collins was understandably upset, but the coach tried to keep his team upbeat.
“It was just disappointing to give that effort and to lose the way [we] lost,” he said. “At the end of the day I just had to emphasize how proud I was.”
The Bulldogs got back to work soon after and came back with a 34-0 victory over Lithonia last Saturday, raising their Region 6-AAAA record to 1-1. But in one of the toughest regions in the state, there is little time to revel in a victory.
“This league is so tough, any given Friday we could win or lose,” Collins said. “But if we play to the best our of our ability, I like our chances of getting to the playoffs.”
Bagriansky can be reached at jbagriansky@scoreatl.com.
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