After giving up an average of 425 yards per game in 2013, the Siloam Springs defense hopes to be more stingy in 2014. First-year defensive coordinator Marc Jones has brought in a 3-4-4 defense and a more simple approach that the Panthers have responded to.
"I think it allows us to do more things in giving teams different looks yet keeping it simple for our kids," said head coach Bryan Ross. "We're going to base out of a 3-4, but on any given snap, we're probably going to have four people at the line of scrimmage with a blitz of some kind. Defense always goes back to take care of your gap, reading your keys, and being where you're supposed to be. That's not really going to change."
One reason for the adjustment from the 4-2-5 defense run the past two years was a lack of big bodies up front. The 3-4-4 will better suit the Panthers' personnel, Ross said.
"You essentially get a bigger kid that would have a hand on the ground, you move them and get a smaller kid that moves a little better," Ross said. "I thought that and Coach Jones thinks that fits us this year. We don't have a lot of big size this year, but we do have a lot of kids that are going to be able to move pretty well and play hard. As a coach you're going to try and do what fits your ability set. That fits what kind of players we have."
Here is a position-by-position defensive breakdown of the 2014 Panthers.
Defensive line
As sophomores last season, Aric Sislo (6-foot-1, 233 pounds) and Kris Green (5-10, 207) emerged into the playing rotation up front and got rave reviews.
Both are expected to anchor the line at defensive tackle in 2014.
Sislo, who also starts on offense, is penciled in at left defensive tackle, while juniors Colby Brown (5-10, 207) and Chris Boyster (6-2, 184) and sophomore Caleb Miller (5-11, 190) provide depth to the position.
"Obviously Aric's going to be playing a lot of offense," Ross said. "He'll be rotated on defense. He's had a really good offseason. We got a good player there."
Sislo had 16 tackles and nine assisted tackles, one tackle for loss and a sack a year ago.
Green will man the tackle position on the right side. Last season he had 11 tackles, 14 assisted tackles and one sack.
"Green plays really hard," Ross said. "He plays with a motor that's revved all the time. He's going to play hard from start to finish.
"He's not real big either. But if they play with good leverage and be where they're supposed to be in our defensive scheme they're going to be successful."
Backing up Green at the other tackle position are junior Samuel Uptegrove (5-10, 203), sophomore James Boyd (6-2, 189) and sophomore Connor Broyles (6-1, 197).
Senior Colin Dolezal (5-9, 204) is penciled in as the starter at nose guard in the middle of the defensive line. Dolezal is also a starter on offense so he will be spelled often by several different players.
"I don't know you can say any of these guys are starters," Ross said.
The Panthers are counting on senior Jackson Kelly (5-11, 286) to play big in the middle as well.
"I hope Jackson Kelly has turned a corner and understands what he needs to do to get on the field," Ross said. "He is a big body. He can help us there in the middle."
Senior Jacob Uptegrove (5-9, 314) is another big body in the middle for the Panthers. Senior Kevin Castaneda (5-6, 244) and newcomer Terry Phillips from Kansas, Okla., also get reps at nose guard.
The defensive line is coached by Dwain Pippin
Linebackers
The heart of the Panthers' defense may lie in its two senior inside linebackers David Goodman (6-2, 239) and Dylan Land (6-0, 193).
"Those two, we're counting on them to really be the anchor of our defense," Ross said.
Goodman was second on the team last season with 79 tackles, including 26 assisted tackles. He had two tackles for loss, one interception, one pass breakup and scored a defensive touchdown.
"What can you say about Dave?" Ross said with a grin. "We can probably put him everywhere out there except safety and he'd be a really good player. He might even be able to play safety, I don't know.
"Wherever Dave is, we're going to be in really, really good shape."
Land had 57 tackles, 48 assisted tackles and four tackles for loss. He also had one interception, one sack and three pass breakups.
"I thought he really improved as the year went on last year," Ross said. "He runs well, plays really, really hard. I think we're in good shape there in the middle with those two guys."
Sophomore Zach Ramsey (5-10, 182) had a really good spring, Ross said, and the coaches hope that will carry over into the fall.
"I think he can give us some depth there," Ross said of Ramsey. "I think he has a chance to be a good player for us."
Junior Ben Hutto (5-11, 164) also will play hard and be where he's supposed to be, Ross said. He'll provide depth at inside linebacker with Ramsey.
"He's not the biggest or the strongest, but you don't necessarily have to be if you're going to play with good technique and play hard," Ross said. "Those guys give us some depth there."
Senior Misael Urena (5-10, 188) also can play inside linebacker. Senior Tate Hickman (5-8, 159) will play a lot at outside linebacker but can also play inside linebacker if needed.
Juniors Rickey Hughes (5-10, 154) and Gus Wright (6-0, 184) are slated to start at the outside linebacker positions for Siloam Springs.
Hughes, who also starts at running back, has been "outstanding so far" on defense, Ross said.
"We would like to get him off defense as much as possible because he is going to be carrying the football a lot," Ross said.
Hickman will spell Hughes quite a bit at outside linebacker. He had 24 tackles, 15 assisted and two tackles for loss a year ago. Junior Nate Free (5-9, 168) also will play some at outside linebacker.
Wright, meanwhile, has had a really strong summer and fall camp at the other outside linebacker position, Ross said.
"We feel like we've got some kids out there that can play on the edge," Ross said. "We feel good about that group."
Senior Keetun Pierce, a basketball player who joined the team this summer, has been impressive at outside linebacker, Ross said.
"We're trying not to throw too much at him," Ross said. "Coach (Marc) Jones and Coach (Zach) Pruitt have been excited about having him."
Sophomore Luke Lampton (5-9, 170) moved from safety to outside linebacker to give the Panthers more depth at that position.
The linebackers are coached by Zach Pruitt.
Cornerback
The Panthers don't have a lot of depth at cornerback, according to Ross.
"But," he said, "the guys we do have are really experienced, so we feel good about them."
Senior Tyler Burke (5-9, 185) started at safety as a sophomore and junior but moves to left cornerback in the Panthers' 2014 defensive scheme.
"Tyler actually went to corner at the end of last year," Ross said. "With the type of coverage we want to play, we feel like having tough, physical corners is what we really want."
Burke finished the 2013 season with 41 tackles, 25 assisted and two tackles for loss. He also had one interception, one sack and five pass breakups.
Senior Zach Davis (6-1, 177) also fits that bill at cornerback, Ross said. Davis will play on both offense and defense.
"For a corner we think he's a pretty good-sized kid," Ross said. "We think he can do a lot of good things for us."
Davis had 18 tackles, three assisted, one interception and three pass breakups.
Junior Lance Slaton (5-9, 143) will play some corner as will sophomore J.D. Horn (5-9, 138). When sophomore Paul Warder (5-7, 142) fully recovers from a broken collar bone, he may be able to help as well.
"He runs well and plays hard," Ross said of Warder.
Josue Urena (5-6, 145) is listed at cornerback for Siloam Springs.
"At some point we think they'll be able to help us," Ross said.
The cornerbacks are coached by defensive coordinator Marc Jones.
Safeties
The Panthers want their safeties to cover a lot of ground and be able to play the ball in the air, Ross said.
Senior Parker Baldwin (6-2, 198) can do all those things.
Baldwin -- who was the 6A state champion in the 200-meter dash -- led the Panthers with 82 tackles, 35 assisted tackles and one tackle for loss. Baldwin also had three interceptions and three pass breakups.
Perhaps Baldwin's most significant play of the season came in Week 1 against Shiloh Christian when he caught a blocked punt in the final minutes of the game and raced to the end zone for the game-tying score in a 35-35 tie against the Saints.
Those are the kind of plays Ross expects Baldwin to make in 2014 as well.
"Parker we're expecting big things from him," Ross said. "He improved a lot from his sophomore year to his junior year. We expect him to be a leader for us, make plays that need to be made. Of course he's big, strong and fast."
At the other safety position, juniors Matt Downing (5-9, 169) and Coby Roach (5-10, 172) will both see time on the field.
"With Matt and Coby Roach, along with Baldwin, we feel like we have three really, really good safeties," Ross said.
Downing recorded 12 tackles and three assisted tackles a year ago. He also had one forced fumble and one pass breakup.
"He's really looked good so far," Ross said of Downing. "I'm expecting him to have a really good year for us."
Roach had 28 tackles and 15 assisted tackles.
Senior Brendon Hyde (6-0, 157) also could see time at safety, Ross said.
All four -- Baldwin, Roach, Downing and Hyde -- play offense as well.
"I'm sure we'll have a rotation going," Ross said. "I told Coach Jones if we're going to rest somebody we're going to do it on offense. If we've got to get somebody out of the game, we can do it on offense."
Marc Jones also coaches the safeties.
Sports on 08/27/2014