Page 17 - 2016 Football

Parkers Chapel to use new scheme on defense
By Jason Avery
News-Times Staff
There will be a new look for Parkers Chapel’s defense this season.
After allowing 348 points last year, the Trojans will be switching to the 3-4.
“Our personnel fits where we can use our quickness and speed and strength that we’ve got to try and create more havoc,” said Parkers Chapel coach James Housdan.
The defense has been an issue for the Trojans, who allowed 371 points in 2014.
However, the Trojans have some potential building blocks for the future in place.
Junior Ethan Cousins is slat- ed to start at nose guard, while juniors Ty Couch and Josh Milam will get the nod at the defensive end spots.
“With Ethan Cousins at the nose, we feel with his strength and quickness, he’s going to be able to put pressure on the cen- ter,” Housdan said. “Obviously, we want him to create some havoc back there and create some double teams, which will allow our linebackers to make some plays for us. Josh and Ty are going to have to contain
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things that play to their strengths and can help this team move the football.”
Should Harris not play at quarterback, he will slide into the backfield, as could Simpson.
“He’s going to have to contribute more this year than last year,” Housdan said. “He contributed more last year as a slot receiver, but this year, he’s going to have to do it running the ball. He’s definitely going to get his touches.”
Over the last three years, Dezmon Jackson has been a fixture in the Trojans’ offense.
In each of the last two years, Jackson has rushed for over 1,500 yards, and the senior had 24 rushing touchdowns last year.
Jackson will once again be a key focal point for opposing defenses, and Housdan said others need to step up and take some of the pressure off the senior.
“We’ve got to take some pressure off Dez,” Housdan said. “Teams will load up in the box and try to contain him.
that will be able to keep the ball inside.”
The Trojans also have some depth at linebacker with soph- omores E.P. Glidewell and Lane Harbour working at inside line- backer, while junior Amari Bell could get playing time at out- side linebacker. Fellow junior Brendan Winchester also can move to linebacker when he isn’t playing at strong safety.
“We feel like we’ve got some depth there, which we haven’t had a lot of the last few years, so we’re excited about that,” Housdan said.
Although the defense lacks in size up front, Housdan believes the front seven can be very disruptive.
“They’re going to have to bring it every play,” Housdan said. “We’re probably going to be undersized against 80 to 90 percent of the teams we play, but if they use their quickness, strength and technique, I feel like we’re going to be in really good shape there.”
After an outstanding summer, Housdan has high hopes for the secondary.
“That was the strength of our 7-on-7 this year,” Housdan said. “As a unit, they probably
played the best of any unit on offense or defense. They were lights out.”
Junior Amonta Harris and sophomore Hunter Palculict are set to start at cornerback with junior Canon Morgan and Winchester at free safety and strong safety respectively.
Morgan returns after a superb sophomore campaign where he racked up five interceptions in the first five games of the season, including one that he returned for a touchdown that secured the Trojans’ win over Magnet Cove. Morgan also sealed the Trojans’ overtime win at Bearden with an inter- ception.
“He’s probably the leader of the secondary,” Housdan said of Morgan. “We’re expecting him to pick up where he left off last year.”
Housdan has also been pleased with the progress Harris has made.
“I would say Amonta’s weak- ness last year was being able to play man, but he’s really come a long way,” Housdan said. “He really understands the role and embraces it. He’s going to do really well back there.”
Palculict has also made good
strides.
“He’s coachable and wants
to do well,” Housdan said. “He knows what he needs to do, and he’s always around the ball. He puts himself in a place to make a play.”
The Trojans could also have some depth in sophomore Grayson Hurst, who played some at free safety.
SPECIAL TEAMS
If there has been one area of strength the Trojans have had through the years, it’s at kicker.
Senior Kade Cushing is back to handle field goals and extra points for the Trojans.
Burns and Hurst are slated to handle snaps, while Harbour and Morgan will be the hold- ers. As far as punting is con- cerned, Housdan doesn’t have a starter in place, but Harbour and Harris are two potential candidates.
Given his explosiveness, Jackson will be a part of the Trojans’ punt and kick return brigade.
“The kicking game is an important phase of the game,” Housdan said. “Punting has been our Achilles heel the last couple of years, and hopefully we can get that corrected.”
gaps and plug some holes to allow our linebackers to be free and flow to the ball.”
Parkers Chapel’s core of line- backers stands to be a solid unit.
Senior Wyatt Darden, who had 92 tackles with three sacks and three fumble recoveries, returns to play at inside line- backer.
Joining Darden is junior Justin Burns, who had three sacks and forced three fumbles while making 78 tackles.
“We really like Wyatt Darden,” Housdan said. “He was our leading tackler last year, and we feel like what we’re doing is really suited for him. Justin Burns has a nose for the ball, and we feel like those guys can have a really good year.”
Senior Dezmon Jackson and sophomore Ryan Simpson will be expected to bring pressure at outside linebacker.
“Our outside guys have great speed,” Housdan said. “Ryan did really well in the defense last year, and both of them will be able to bring some pressure off the edge. They also tackle well, and that’s going to be a key for us. We have some guys
Everybody knows Dez has been our go-to guy for the last three years, and that’s not going to change this year, but we’ve got some weapons teams are going to have to key on. We’re going to do some different things to get him the ball in different scenarios.”
Junior Brendan Winchester is also in the mix to get playing time in the backfield.
“He’s got some speed,” Housdan said. “I think he’s going to have the ability to make some plays for us.”
Senior Wyatt Darden and sophomore E.P. Glidewell are competing for playing time at fullback.
“Those two guys can block, and they have a little speed,” Housdan said. “They can get some tough yards between the tackles.”
When the Trojans throw the ball, they have two big-play candidates in junior Canon Morgan and sophomore Grayson Hurst at wide receiver.
“He’s got some good speed and great hands,” Housdan said of Morgan. “Grayson had a great year in junior
high as a freshman. He made some big catches.”
Although the Trojans haven’t utilized the tight end much over the years, Housdan said that will change this year thanks to seniors Justin Burns and Ethan Harvey, as well as junior Amari Bell providing solid depth.
“We’ve touched on it over the last few years, but we’re going to do it more this year than we ever have, and that’s have one tight end, maybe even two tight- end sets,” Housdan said.
“We feel like we’ve got three guys that can fill that tight end position and give us an extra guy on the line that can help block, but also be a pass threat with their size.”
Perhaps the biggest key for the Trojans will be how their young offensive line develops.
With junior Josh Milam back at center serving as the Trojans’ lone returning starter, the line will be an area to keep an eye on, particularly early in the sea- son.
“We’ve been scheming and doing
some things that I think will help these young guys,” Housdan said. “Until they get that first game under their belt, it’s hard to say. It’s going to be a work in progress until we can see what’s going on.”
Sophomore Owen Honeycutt is set to start at left tackle with junior Ethan Cousins slated to play at left guard. Junior Ty Couch will be at right guard with sophomore Shawn Barnes set to star at right tackle.
The Trojans also have some depth with sophomore Tyler Brady and juniors Matthew Kelly and Joseph Robinson, and Housdan said the coaching staff is working diligently to help ease their transition.
“We want to be able to throw enough to keep you honest,” Housdan said. “Right now with our line, I don’t think we can ask them to buy us five or six seconds to give the quarterback time to step back and throw.
“We’re doing some things to help them out and be successful. It’s defi-
nitely a work in progress.”
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El Dorado NEWS-TIMES – Thursday, September 1, 2016 – 17