Siloam Springs' defense gave up an average of 410 yards and 43.3 points per game in 2016.
Heading into 2017, the Panthers have had several changes on the defensive side of the ball, mainly on the coaching staff. Marc Jones, who was defensive coordinator the last three seasons, suffered a stroke in March and is currently out on medical leave while he recovers. Defensive line coach Jeff Bowerman took over as defensive coordinator in the spring, but he left after spring ball to join Billy Dawson's staff at Fayetteville, and secondary coach Houston Pruitt is no longer in the district.
The Panthers' administration was quick to address the coaching situation and made several hires in June.
Siloam Springs hired former Green Forest assistant coach Tony Coffey to coach linebackers and be co-defensive coordinator along with Dwain Pippin, who is moving back to the defensive side of the ball to coach the defensive line. Pippin was defensive line coach for several years before moving to the offensive backs when Bowerman was hired in 2015. He's also been defensive coordinator before, too.
Cole Harriman, the son of former Siloam Springs head coach Ken Harriman (1998, 1999) was hired to coach the secondary.
With the change in personnel happening so late in the spring, the Panthers have tried to keep Jones' defensive system in place for the most part.
"Obviously we've had to make some changes, but we've tried to keep as much of it as possible," Ross said. "We want to make it as simple for the kids as possible. So much on defense is being able to react to what the offense is doing. If you're having to think too much, it can be difficult. Hopefully that will allow us to play fast."
The Panthers will operate out of a three-man defensive front, which is what they've done the last several years.
"This year we've really committed to going all out to the odd front," Ross said. "We think it will help us with our personnel. Plus teams that see a lot of spread (offense), more and more of them are going to an odd front because it's easier to adjust to a spread. It takes a lineman off the field and gets another skill player on there. Obviously that helps. We think it's in our best interest with the new coaches, they've got a background in it. I think it's a good fit for us."
Defensive line
Adversity struck the Panthers' defensive line before the season's even begun.
Senior captain Kameron Greenlee, who is penciled in to start at nose guard, was injured in a fireworks accident early in August. The injury required the amputation of his pinkie finger on his right hand and a rod to be placed in his ring finger.
Ross said Greenlee (5-foot-10, 265) is expected to miss about six weeks from the time of the accident.
"He had worked really hard and looked good so far," Ross said. "Hopefully when he gets back he'll be ready to go."
Junior Corbin Collins (6-2, 273) and senior Isaac Knudsen (6-2, 237) will both rotate in and out on the defensive line at the outside tackle positions.
Both start on the offensive line and their priority will be on offense.
"The biggest thing with Collins and Knudsen playing offense is that we're going to have to get them some rest," Ross said. "Coach Pipp does a good job of rotating those guys in and out."
Collins recorded 69 assisted tackles and 13 solo tackles and five tackles for loss last season.
"Collins is a huge kid that moves well," Ross said. "That's what you want on either side of the ball. I just wish we had a few more like him.
"Same thing with Isaac Knudsen. He played quite a bit last year and really dedicated himself to being a good football player. He plays hard. He's relentless. He's looking forward to having a good senior season."
Sophomore Mariano Dominguez (5-11, 236) has shown some flashes of good play at a defensive tackle spot. Senior Jeremy Mote (5-11, 241) is a player that the Panthers "need to step up and play," Ross said.
"Mote didn't play as a sophomore," Ross said. "He came back last year and played a lot on Monday nights (in junior varsity). He's a strong kid that moves pretty well. We need him to step up and show what he's capable of doing."
Senior Rueben Nino (6-1, 285) will see some reps on the defensive line as well.
"We're going to get our best in there," Ross said. "We'll have to rotate some more people. I think any of the three front D-line positions are interchangeable."
Linebackers
The Panthers will play four linebackers in their defensive scheme, two on the inside and two on the outside.
Of particular importance in recent football trends is that of the outside linebacker.
"That's a position where you have to be able to take on a (offensive) guard or a tackle in the run game and also be able to drop and cover (a receiver or tight end)," Ross said. "To me those are very important positions. You put a lot on those guys' plates. They need to be able to do several things well, and if they can do those things it will help you defensively."
Manning the outside linebacker positions are a pair of seniors in Jacob Rowe (5-9, 178) and Braden Smartt (5-9, 198).
Smartt played outside linebacker last season and recorded 32 assisted tackles and eight solo tackles, including six tackles for loss.
"Smartt moves pretty well," Ross said. "He has a little size to him. We just need him to step his game up a little bit more and play like the senior he's going to be. If he does that then we've got a chance to do some things defensively. You're asking a lot out of a guy to set the edge. Then you've got to be able to cover somebody. It's a tough position, but we think he can do it."
Rowe started last season at linebacker but moved to safety when injuries depleted the Panthers' secondary. He recorded 69 assisted tackles and 14 solos, three tackles for loss and recovered two fumbles.
"Now we've got him back at linebacker," Ross said. "I think that's where he needs to be. He'll prosper in that position."
Junior Spenser Pippin (5-10, 186) can play both outside and inside linebacker positions as can junior Dalton Ferguson (5-9, 192).
"Dalton, physically can do it," Ross said. "We've just got to find where he fits best and be the kind of player we think he can be."
Senior Kevin Canales (5-7, 194) and junior Chase Chandler (5-9, 199) will get the first crack at the inside linebacker positions.
Canales is coming off a MCL injury that sidelined him for half of last season.
"He hasn't had any issues with (the injury)," Ross said. "We talked about making him an outside backer, but in the spring coach Bowerman moved him inside and he took a liking to it. When you move positions there's a learning curve there, but Kevin's a smart kid and we think he'll pick up the intricacies of playing inside linebacker. He runs well for that position. You need guys that can run in a 3-4 (defense). I think he'll prosper."
Chandler wound up playing quite a bit of safety last season as well. He recorded 31 assisted tackles and 14 solo tackles and recovered two fumbles. He moved back to linebacker in the offseason.
"That's his best fit," Ross said of Chandler. "He likes to be physical. He's the emotional leader of the defense. You've got to have somebody that's hard-nosed and loves contact, and I think he'll do a good job back there."
Sophomore Thad Wright (6-0, 213) is also getting some reps at inside linebacker.
"He's just a sophomore, but I think that physically he looks a lot like his brother (Gus)," said Ross, referencing Gus Wright, a former standout who is now playing college ball at the University of Arkansas-Monticello. "Once he figures things out and learns how to play downhill, he's going to be a good player for us. He has good size and runs well."
Secondary
The Panthers suffered their biggest casualties in the secondary last year, losing both safeties in Cade Miller and Dawson Armstrong at different points of the season.
Siloam Springs is hoping the young players that saw action at safety and cornerback last year will be more seasoned for the grind in 2017.
Senior Luke Gumm (5-6, 136) and junior Primo Agbehi are penciled in to start at cornerback for the Panthers, and they'll also see double action at wide receiver on offense.
"Luke has really come on," Ross said of Gumm, who had 20 assisted tackles, six solo tackles and one interception last year. He also started for the Panthers' Class 6A state champion boys soccer team. "He's a guy that we're definitely counting on heavily for sure."
Agbehi (5-9, 159) joined the program as an eighth-grader, but he missed most of his ninth-grade year with a broken collar bone. Last year was his first full year in the program on the JV team, and he ran track in the offseason.
"Primo's matured and we like him at corner. He's made a lot of improvements," Ross said of Agbehi. "He's bigger and stronger, and he's definitely a guy that can play well at that position."
Junior Dillon Ferguson (5-8, 147) backs up at a cornerback position as will senior Nolan Wallis, who is slated to start at safety.
Wallis (5-7, 137) is not real big or real fast, Ross said, but he is a sure tackler.
"He's not afraid of anything," Ross said. "He's real scrappy. You like having those guys out there. ... He can play safety and corner. That gives us some flexibility with him."
Marquan Sorrells is slated to start at the other safety. He was on track to start at safety last year when he moved out of the district just before the start of the season.
"He's done what he needs to do to show us that he's going to be here," Ross said.
Junior Kaiden Thrailkill (5-10, 186) will see some action at safety, but his priority will at running back on offense.
"Kaiden's just a good athlete and a good football player," Ross said. "We'll have him on offense. He needs to have the ball in his hands. We'll spot him on defense and try and rest him there as much as possible. Kaiden can play anywhere."
Sophomore Gage Weaver (5-10, 149) is a good athlete with great hands and moves well, Ross said.
"He's not super fast but he's going to have to play some for us," Ross said. "He'll play some on the offensive side as well. I've been pleased with his attitude and effort."
Senior Tristan Moose (6-1, 169) could also play some safety in certain situations.
"We'll get him reps back there," Ross said.
Special teams
Gumm kicked a game-winning field goal with no time left as Siloam Springs rallied to beat Sheridan 24-21 in Week 4 last year.
Gumm will be among the candidates to kick for the Panthers on special teams.
Last year's place kicker Irvin Rios did not come out to play this year after successfully converting 15 of 17 extra points and one field goal last year.
Gumm and senior Jorge Perez have been working at extra points and field goals.
Sophomore Harrison Losh (5-9, 129) may kick for the Panthers at some point as could sophomore Elder Mancia.
"We've got several kids there that want to kick and get the job done," Ross said. "In the end we've got to have our points."
Perez has a strong leg and will likely handle the kickoff duties and he'll get a look at some long field goals.
Thrailkill is penciled in as the primary punter.
Gumm had 33 punts for an average of 35.2 yards last year and can punt if needed. Sophomore Miguel Paz also punts.
Gumm will be a prime candidate to receive punts.
"Luke's got great hands," Ross said. "He can make people miss."
Thrailkill and Agbehi are among the early candidates to return kickoffs.
Sophomore Marco Salcedo is the long snapper on extra points, while sophomore Tanner Broyles is the deep snapper for punts.
Sports on 08/23/2017