In his first season as defensive coordinator at Siloam Springs, Marc Jones brought in a new 3-4 defense, a simple scheme and a super aggressive mindset that allowed the Panthers to play at a high level at times.
Panthers head coach Bryan Ross thinks that will be the case in Siloam Springs' second year under this defensive system.
"Coach Jones and coach (Zach) Pruitt and last year's coach (Dwain) Pippin and this year's coach (Jeff) Bowerman, you've got some good football coaches there," Ross said. "Their whole goal is to keep it simple, be aggressive and allow your kids to play really, really fast.
"Knowing that we're not big up front, we have to be -- in my opinion and in theirs as well -- pretty aggressive and try to force the issue, so we move a lot up front. We've got kids who will play low and play fast. Then it's all about running to the football and being relentless. That's the mindset that our kids developed. They've looked good this summer in team camps and so far in preseason."
Defensive line
Similar to the bodies on the offensive line, the Panthers aren't big, but they do have experience.
The Panthers will play three down linemen in their scheme and senior nose guard Kris Green (5-11, 233) is a key cog in the middle for Siloam Springs.
Green is a three-year starter for Siloam Springs, starting with his sophomore season when he earned a spot. He finished with six tackles, 16 assisted tackles and four tackles for loss in 2014.
"Green's been hard to block for us so far in the preseason," Ross said. "We hope that's the case for a lot of our opponents. He's quick but he plays with such intensity. He doesn't hardly ever say a word. He's relentless. He's added some weight this year. He's up to about 230. For what we do, he's almost a perfect fit for that nose (guard position)."
Alongside Green at the defensive tackles are senior Chris Boyster (6-2, 191) and senior Aric Sislo, who plays both ways on the offensive and defensive line.
Sislo finished last year with 13 tackles, 38 assisted tackles and four tackles for loss, including a sack.
"Aric's a really smart football player," Ross said. "You only have to tell him once. He's very coachable and sometimes he plays so hard he's not going to tell you he's tired. It's one of those where he gets gassed, but he's going to keep going as long as he can. We've got to keep an eye on him."
Boyster, who had 11 tackles and 58 assisted tackles and nine tackles for loss last year, may have one of the greatest nicknames ever for a high school player.
"Coach Jones nicknamed him "the eel" because somehow he slithers off blocks and makes plays," Ross said of Boyster. "He's like a lot of our kids. He's going to play with passion and play relentless. He might get beat on a play because he gets physically beaten, but the next play he comes back and makes a play. He's an enjoyable kid to coach as well."
Junior James Boyd (6-3, 205) and senior Samuel Uptegrove (5-10, 213) have come on strong during the offseason and give the Panthers depth at the defensive end positions.
"James has really come on," Ross said. "He's a rangy type kid. He's 6-3 and 205 now. He's come on. I think he's got a tremendous upside. If we can keep getting some weight on him, I think he's got a chance to be a real force. He's taller than the others so he has to work hard at playing low. He's definitely going to be a player for us.
Ross said because Uptegrove moves so well, it made sense to turn him into a defense-only lineman.
"We tried to get as many of our linemen to one side of the ball as possible," Ross said. "Sislo is only two-way lineman, and we would love to be able to spell him on defense. A lot of that will be determined by how well those two (Boyd and Uptegrove) come on."
Seniors Jackson Stickels, Rafael Martinez (5-6, 186); juniors Tristen Sullins (5-11, 205), Caleb Miller, Jonathan Hernandez; and sophomores Danny Fernandez (6-0, 207), Caleb Farine, Isaac Knudsen, Sam Espinal, Kameron Greenlee, Jeremy Mote, Wyatt Washington (5-7, 201), Jacob Eason (6-2, 230) are getting looks on the defensive line as well.
Outside linebackers
Siloam Springs got strong production out of its outside linebackers in 2014, and they hope to do the same in 2015.
All-Conference linebacker Ricky Hughes returns after totaling 26 tackles and 67 assisted tackles in 2014.
"He just plays so fast and so fiery," Ross said. "He does a great job of not getting blocked. You'll watch him. He'll get knocked down and then get up and chase the play from behind. That's the kind of kid we want playing defense."
The outside linebacker requires a special-type player because of the heavy run responsibility but also being able to play pass coverage as well.
"We need two guys that will play physical but also run well," Ross said.
Hughes is likely to man one position and have double duty at running back on offense.
Junior Luke Lampton is slated to start at the other spot along with his offensive duties.
"You've got two guys right there that need the ball in their hand," Ross said. "But once again, we're not going to cheat ourselves defensively because I don't think you can be a good football team unless you're strong defensively."
Because Lampton and Hughes are playing offense as well, it's important to have depth at outside linebacker.
Senior Nick Herring will see action at one spot while junior Ty Trimble (5-10, 169) will play at the other spot.
"Every kid out there is one play away from having to go," Ross said. "Ty can do it physically. He's just got to get more consistent. So we've got him strictly on the defensive side of the ball. I have no doubt physically that he can do it. We've just got to get him consistent."
Junior Chase Curry (6-0, 178) is battling an injury but has worked at outside linebacker as has sophomores Dawson Armstrong (5-10, 172), Seth Hufford (5-9, 145), Payton Norberg (6-0, 168) and Jacob Rowe also have gotten reps at outside linebacker.
Inside linebackers
The Panthers graduated both of their inside linebackers from 2014, and they filled part of the void by moving senior Gus Wright (6-0, 193) from outside linebacker, where he had 19 tackles and 36 assisted tackles and an interception last year.
"Gus is a good-looking athlete," Ross said. "If something happened and we had to move him back outside he could do that as well. He's going to be right in the middle of everything we do defensively."
Senior Nate Free (5-9, 173) is slated to take over the other inside linebacker spot.
"Nate has worked hard and done everything to give himself a chance to play," Ross said.
Junior Kalen Seftner (5-10, 210) had a good spring at inside linebacker and the Panthers need him to keep developing.
Junior Carlos Gonzales (5-9, 189) had been moved to strictly offense, but he was moved back to linebacker at the beginning of fall camp. Sophomore Braden Smartt (5-8, 153) also has gotten looks at linebacker.
Last year the Panthers would drop a free safety into the box and could do the same this season with senior Coby Roach.
"Coach Jones has talked about being able to do the same thing with Coby," Ross said. "So there may be times we drop him down into the box a little bit more. We're still a ways away from that. That is probably something we could do."
Juniors Zach Ramsey (5-10, 215) and Robert Eubanks (5-7, 141), and sophomore D.J. Gallegos also are getting reps at linebacker.
Safeties
The Panthers have plenty of experience returning at safety.
Seniors Matt Downing and Coby Roach have played quite a bit for the Panthers the last two seasons.
"It's nice to be able to have a lot of experience there at the safety position," Ross said.
Roach finished 2014 with 27 tackles, 45 assisted tackles and two interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown in the Panthers' playoff win against Texarkana.
Downing had 17 tackles and 47 assisted tackles with two interceptions.
Because both Roach and Downing play on offense, it's important for the Panthers to find some depth there.
"We've got to have some kids come on that can play behind them," Ross said.
Juniors Cade Miller and J.D. Horn have played well in fall practices.
Junior Jonatan Magley and sophomore Jose Trujillo also have gotten reps at safety.
Cornerback
Ross remembers when senior Lance Slaton was in the offseason as a ninth-grader and contemplating quitting the football team.
"He hadn't really grown a whole lot," Ross said. "He was fairly small."
Ross convinced Slaton not to quit the team.
"I told him you don't know what's going to happen," Ross said.
Things turned out all right for Slaton, who started at cornerback as a junior for the Panthers and had seven tackles and 27 assisted tackles.
"Last year he's out there starting and I said 'I bet you're glad I talked you out of quitting.'" Ross said of Slaton, who will start at one cornerback spot. "He's a good one."
Senior Matt Parker (5-9, 152) is penciled in at the other corner spot
"On the other side Matt Parker has come on and shown that we can count on him at corner too," Ross said.
Sophomore Marquan Sorrells will play some cornerback along with sophomore Kevin Canales.
Senior Eric Gamez, juniors Kormah Dorko and sophomores Nolan Wallis, Luke Gumm and Fabian Gonzales also have been getting looks at cornerback.
Special teams
The Panthers devote a lot of time in practice to special teams and it shows in the success they have had over the years. The Panthers have routinely returned punts and kickoffs for touchdowns, been sharp on field goals and extra points and solid in the punting game.
"We devote quite a bit of time to special teams," Ross said. "I don't believe that's an area we can be deficient on if we want to be a good football team. It gets easy to focus on offense and defense, but you can certainly lose the game quickly on special teams."
Parker Hall will likely be the deep snapper for punts and extra points and field goals.
Senior Jackson Noll (6-0, 191) has battled concussions the last few years but has been cleared by the doctor to punt for Siloam Springs.
"Jackson's a pretty good athlete," Ross said. "He can run. Fairly strong, quick and jump. It's good to have a fairly athletic kid out there. He's hopefully going to do a lot of different things that can help us."
Gus Wright will be the backup punter, while Luke Lampton has also punted for the Panthers. Wright will also be the Panthers' place-kicker and kicker for extra points and field goals.
Coby Roach handled most of the punt returning duties a year ago and is likely to man those duties again this year.
Kickoff return duties had not been decided as of press time.
Sports on 08/26/2015