ADDISON – He’s heard the talk.

Addison football coach David Smothers hears it from his team in the locker room, the community and the media.

“It’s scared me to death,” he said.

You see, after spending the past two seasons as one of the smallest Class 2A schools in the state, the Bulldogs moved back down to 1A in the offseason during realignment. That has a lot of people talking about a deep playoff run, especially considering Addison reached the postseason the past two years.

Nothing is a given, though.

“That’s the No. 1 thing you hear, ‘Oh, Addison is back in 1A,’” said Smothers, who’s entering his fifth season at the helm of the Bulldogs. “We’re not guaranteed anything. There’s teams in 1A that’ll spank your tail just like there’s teams in 2A. We’ve got to go out there and perform, because nobody owes us anything.”

It’s not that Smothers doesn’t think his squad is capable of making some noise in 1A this season. He has several returning starters, including all his skill positions. There’s a little more depth, too, than in years past. But he also knows there are big challenges ahead if the Bulldogs want to bring home their first state title since 2005.

“Addison has been 1A many, many, many, many, many, many years and hasn’t won a state championship every time,” Smothers said. “We’ve got to go out there and got to execute, be sharp, polished, everybody know their job, be a team, be a unit – all of those things are important whether you’re 1A or 7A.”

But can Addison be that team?

“I think there’s 10-15 1As that’s got a shot at winning it,” Smothers said. “And I think we’re one of them.”

Zeb Maze, one of eight seniors, is up to the challenge of leading the Dawgs to where they want to be.

“I definitely think they look up to me,” he said. “I try to set an example for them. And I think we’ve got a pretty good team. We should make the playoffs and take it from there.”

Addison will compete in Region 7 with the likes of Decatur Heritage, which made semifinals last year.

“Decatur Heritage, I’ve kept up with them and I know the coach up there real well and think a lot of him,” Smothers said. “They got their skill (players) back, and I know they’ve had some move-ins, so they will be to deal with.

“And I think Addison will be to deal with.”

Also competing for a playoff spot out of Region 7 are Lynn, Meek, R.A. Hubbard, Southeastern and Sumiton Christian.

The Bulldogs open the season with non-region games at home against Elkmont on Friday night and on the road at Hanceville next week. The region slate begins Week 3 at home against Southeastern.

Addison also will play county-rival Vinemont Sept. 23 at home.

Fans can expect a run-heavy offense from the Bulldogs with at least two quarterbacks and a lot of rotation in the backfield.

Junior Bryant Ridgeway and senior Noah Rice will take the snaps, just like last season. Smothers said he’d “feel good about” a third quarterback – sophomore Zayne Guthrie.

“The Rice kid by far is our most athletic kid,” Smothers said. “As a coach, you try to figure out ways to get the ball in his hands. He needs the ball in his hands 12 to 20 times a game. I’m not sure we can get it there from any other position unless he’s quarterback.”

Whoever’s behind center will have a bevy of talent in which to hand the ball. Ben Robinson and Chandler Cookenmaster are the smash and gash in the backfield. Robinson could get as many as 30 touches per game and, according to Smothers, would be just as strong in the fourth quarter as the beginning of the game. Cookenmaster is “extremely athletic,” according to Smothers, and can slice up the defense with quick cuts.

“They balance each other out,” Smothers said. “We plan to have both of them back there at times.”

Maze will return at fullback and could see action at tight end, too. Smothers said there’s several others who could see playing time in the backfield.

“They’re a twisted ankle away,” he said.

Ridgeway likes what he sees.

“We’ve got a lot of speed on the team this year,” he said. “We got a lot of skill guys that can run the ball. We’re very fast, as fast as we’ve been since I’ve been here.”

While Ridgeway enjoys being under center, he understands he might be called upon to fill a different role within the team. That’s fine with him.

“Wherever the coaches put me, I just want to perform to the best of my ability and try to be a leader and positive influence,” he said.

Perhaps the biggest concern for the Bulldogs this season in on the offensive line. While Matthew Mann and Arron Pratt will likely lock down the tackle spots, the interior is a question mark.

“Center is up in the air,” Smothers said. “That’s our nemesis. We’re struggling with our shotgun snaps. If Rice is at quarterback, we want him to be in shotgun because that gives him the ability to do a lot of reading and get him the ball in different ways. Our goal for him is to get him in the gun, and without a doubt our biggest concern is our snaps.”

Because center is a concern, guard is up in the air a bit, too. Three players appear to be vying for the interior spots – including Hayden Ray, Trace Thompson and Andrew Trussell. But Smothers hasn’t ruled out moving a freshman to one of those spots.

At tight end, Smothers is working a senior, Collin Bentley, and eighth-grader Logan Wilkins. Both are first-year players.

“We have a lot of learning to do there,” Smothers said. “Athletically we’re in good shape, but we’re behind on the mental side of things.”

The main target on the outside when the Bulldogs go to the air is sophomore Gage Gilliland. While Gilliland was more of a force on defense last year, he’s looking to make a bigger impact on offense in 2016.

“I feel like we’ve got a pretty good team,” Gilliland said. “We’ve been pushing all summer.”

Added Smothers, “He’s just a hard-nosed kid, not scared of anything. He’s going to get better and better and better, and he was already pretty good. Offensively, that joker catches the ball better than anybody we’ve got.”

On the defensive side of the ball, the Bulldogs must find a way to replace the production of three-year starter and 2015 All-State defensive lineman Levi Hammack. They’ll lean heavily on Maze, which Smothers said “causes havoc” for offensive lines. But like the O-line, Smothers is looking for someone else to step up.

“We’re still looking for the other guy that wants to play,” he said. “We’ve got kids that’ll make the tackle if the ball’s run at them. Matthew Mann, for example. I need him to turn loose and go make a play. Levi went and made plays. Zeb goes and makes plays. We need some other kids to go make plays.”

At linebacker, Robinson will be a force for the Bulldogs. Maze could rotate back there at times, too. There should be a few freshmen in the linebacker corps, too.

In the secondary, expect to see Gilliland and Rice as the two safeties. Smothers hasn’t named starters at the defensive back position. In the mix are Braxton Preuitt, Guthrie, Oakley Gilbreath, Ridgeway, Luke Chambers and Grant Rice.

➤ Aug. 19 vs. Elkmont

➤ Aug. 26 at Hanceville

➤ Sept. 2 vs. Southeastern*

➤ Sept. 9 at Sumiton Christian*

➤ Sept. 16 vs. Lynn*

➤ Sept. 23 vs. Vinemont

➤ Sept. 30 at Decatur Heritage*

➤ Oct. 7 vs. Meek*

➤ Oct. 14 at R.A. Hubbard*

➤ Oct. 21 BYE

➤ Oct. 28 at Winston County

* Class 1A, Region 7 game

➤ Coach: David Smothers (fifth year)

➤ Record at school: 28-15

➤ Last year: 5-6, 3-3 (Class 2A, Region 6)

➤ Key departure(s): Levi Hammack

➤ Key returners: Ben Robinson, Noah Rice, Zeb Maze, Bryant Ridgeway

➤ Last playoff berth: 2015

➤ Last playoff win: 2013 (48-6 Phillips-Bear Creek)

➤ Stadium: A.G. Hicks Stadium