Three words sum up what the Flowery Branch football team wants to do this season: Sharpen the blade.

Being satisfied with having had the program’s best season in history in 2009 isn’t allowed. In fact, other than a few references to the type of work it takes to get back to the Georgia Dome and a state championship game, last season’s accomplishments aren’t mentioned.

"Making a state championship game didn’t change us," Flowery Branch coach Lee Shaw said. "It didn’t change our message, it didn’t change the way we prepare. It just means that now we know the full of what it takes."

Offense

What the Falcons lost on offense is little compared to what they have coming back.

For starters there’s senior quarterback Connor Shaw, who in his first year at the helm of coach Shaw’s multiple spread offense threw for 2,146 yards and rushed for 941 yards in leading the school to the Class AAA state title game.

"Having Connor back is key," said coach Shaw, Connor’s father. "He’s so much more comfortable in the role of quarterback and so willing to provide the leadership that comes with that role."

Flowery Branch has lost fullback and 2008 Times Player of the Year Daniel Drummond. He finished 2008 with 1,102 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns and at times seemed to single-handedly thunder the team to a win. But according to coach Shaw, both thunder and lightning are returning to the Falcons backfield.

First, there’s senior running back Darius Kimbrough who is back at full strength after battling a high ankle sprain for most of the 2008 season. Then there’s sophomore Imani Cross.

"Darius is back on a mission," coach Shaw said. "And Imani has had a fantastic start to the summer and is bigger, faster and stronger than he was at the end of last year. He’s got a chance to be special."

Clearing the path for Kimbrough, Cross and Shaw will be three-year starter at center, Austin Todd, sophomore Brandon Keller, and juniors Chris Rhodes, Hayden Waddell and Deron Lear.

"Austin’s our bell cow," Shaw said. "If we get everyone to follow his lead we’ll be alright."

The Falcons boasted a receiving corps that went nine deep at the start of last year, and while they lost key producer Chris Lipscomb, they have eight guys waiting in the wings to step up.

Tight end Byron Keith along with Rodney Young, Rodriquez Frazier, Robby Boudreau, Logan Conley, Javonte Meddow, Destin Tipton and Matt Tiller will all share in the wealth of an offense determined to spread it around.

"Rodney is a playmaker plain and simple," coach Shaw said. "He’s as good an athlete as there is around here and is just dangerous. Rod (Frazier) is smooth and a Division-I caliber skill player and Boudreau is fundamental. He does a great job finding space and has great hands."

Defense

It isn’t a secret and coach Shaw makes no bones about it: "When you lose two Division-I defensive ends, you’re going to suffer," he said referring to former Flowery Branch and current Georgia Tech players Drummond and Izaan Cross.

Chris Anderson and Jeremiah Words will attempt to pick up where Cross and Drummond left off at defensive end.

Danny Nagy and Jonathan Frick will fill the defensive line’s middle slots.

"Anderson and Words give us more speed and quickness on the ends," coach Shaw said. "And Danny (Nagy) and Frick have done a great job inside this preaseason. Those guys are battling to make sure we’re good up front."

Senior Cory Sanderson, the defense’s glue according to coach Shaw, returns as a linebacker and will be flanked by Matt Bell, Brandon Tewksbury and freshman Jacob Allen.

Leading tackler and 2008 Flowery Branch MVP Greg Palmer is gone from the secondary as is Lipscomb, another defensive standout. The Falcons, however, are just as deep in the secondary as they are at receiver mainly because the receivers are also the defensive backs.

Special teams

Senior Billy Thompson and junior Will Monday will return to handle the punting and kicking duties for the Falcons.

Monday, a 2008 Times All-Area first-team pick, had a 38-yard punting average in 2008 and placed nine inside the 20.

"Our kickers are two of the best in the region bar none," coach Shaw said. "They get us out of some jams and can be counted on to put points on the board."

Outlook

It’s hard to replace two Division-I athletes, then again, it was thought Flowery Branch would have a hard time replacing departed quarterback Jaybo Shaw.

Now would be a good time to mention that his replacement, brother Connor, threw for more than 2,000 yards last year.

Coach Shaw has brought the program to the point where it doesn’t need to rebuild, and 2009 is no different.

Granted, they’ve never won a state title or a region title, but they have been formidable competition for a few years now, and that won’t stop this year.