Seymour High School defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Jim Moore is all about keeping up with the trends.
Not exactly the trends of popular culture like reality shows, MySpace and boy bands, but more along the lines with the sometimes subtle, sometimes glaring trends that identify the tendencies of a football team.
The Seymour Eagles’ defense has allowed its opponents fewer points per game during each season since the current scheme—the 35-defense that incorporates three down linemen and five linebackers—was installed by Moore three years ago.
The 2004 Eagles allowed its opponents an average of 20 points per contest. The 2005 Seymour defense gave up an average of 18 points per game and last year’s 2006 Eagles’ defense allowed its opponents an average of 15 points per game.
The 2007 Seymour defense appears to have all the necessary pieces in place to improve on the trend. The Eagles bring back their starting defensive line—Todd Fink, Brandon Dockery and Chris Beard—along with a veteran linebacker corps led by All-Region possibility Bobby King in the middle.
Moore does face the challenge this fall of replacing Ryan Williamson and Ethan Kegley, last year’s two starting cornerbacks, who were lost to graduation.
There does seem to be some quality choices, however, to split out wide on the defense’s edges. He mentions speedster Seth Stoffle, athletic senior Carlos Lopez, and two possible stars of the future in Blake Overton and Jacob Kirby, as possible candidates to fill the open cornerback positions.
Drew Fox, a senior bone-crusher, will return at one of the pivotal ‘dog’ positions in the defensive backfield and the other will be open for competition, according to Moore.
“We have a lot of experience coming back,” said Moore. “We’ll be bigger, stronger, and hopefully quicker.
“The last two years we’ve been really young but this should be the year. This year they’ll be no excuses.”
Moore said the most important thing his defense must accomplish from the get-go this fall is to get off to a better start and not wait until week-five or week-six to start getting after people.
Another trend that Moore is aware of, but not at all happy about, is his squad’s inclination to start the season slow only to get cranked up after the mid-season point.
Last year’s Seymour defense allowed over 17 points per contest during a 2-4 start after the first six games, but allowed just over five points per outing while finishing the regular season on a four-game winning streak.
The 2005 Eagles gave up an average of 19 points per game while starting 3-3 in their first six games, but closed the ranks and allowed just over 10 points per contest while winning out over the final four regular season tilts.
“Our number one goal entering the season is to start out faster than we have during the last couple of years,” Moore stated. “We’ve been starting the season slow and then getting hot near the end and finishing out the season on a high note, but we have to start fast and finish fast to be as successful as we think we can be.”
Moore said he’s not as concerned about maintaining a preconceived numerical figure of how many points his defense allows or how many yards it give up.
“I’m not really big on those things. I just want our defense to get on the field and back off the field in three plays or less as often as possible,” he explained.
“I want us to be a defense that forces turnovers, doesn’t allow many sustained drives and does not give up many big plays.”
The biggest factor that could make the ’07 Seymour defense one that stands out though, is the wealth of quality leaders at seemingly every position.
“We’ve got some seniors coming back who have to step up and be leaders for us…guys who have played a lot of football for us and who understand what it takes to be successful,” Moore continued.
“Bobby King, Michael Kennedy, Todd Fink, Drew Fox, Seth Stoffle and Todd Ogle, all of those guys have to step up and be leaders on this football team.”
The Eagles will open the 2007 season with a home game against Heritage on Friday, August 24.