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10-12-2007, 11:19 AM
Connally-Robinson battle of mirror-image defenses
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Thursday, October 11, 2007
By Chad Conine
Tribune-Herald staff writer
Match the defense with the description.
At its best, it has shut down and shut out nondistrict opponents, though in weaker moments it has hemorrhaged points.
Its five-man front makes up for a lack of size with plenty of speed and strength. More specifically, the defensive tackles plug up the middle, while the ends are really hybrid linebackers with the ability to rush the passer or cover receivers.
Its playmaking linebackers cause extreme duress for opposing backs and receivers, piling up impressive stats along the way.
It wears blue and white and, beginning this week, will try to disrupt its District 17-3A foes.
Correct answers: the Connally Cadets, the Robinson Rockets.
Connally and Robinson open district play against each other Friday in Robinson. The Cadets and Rockets come into 17-3A action with matching 3-2 records and matching objectives — a district title.
Only four students separated these two schools in the 2006 enrollment figures. They look the same from many angles, perhaps nowhere more so than on defense.
Coming into district play, Connally is yielding 19 points per game, Robinson a shade less at 17.8. Each has one shutout to its credit.
Both defensive coordinators find a way to stop people despite a lack of giants on the roster.
“We probaby use smaller defensive linemen than a lot of 3A teams,” Robinson defensive coordinator Rick McGee said. “But we’re quicker, faster. Our whole defense is 4.9 (in the 40-yard dash) or faster.”
That sounds awfully familiar to Connally defensive coordinator Shane Martin. He’s able to use players like Dexter Fulbright and T.J. Johnson to flank the line of scrimmage at defensive end/outside linebacker.
Two weeks ago against University, Fulbright rushed for 77 yards and a touchdown and intercepted a pass, which he returned for another score.
“We’ve got skill people who will put their hands in the grass, smaller guys that we will use up front for their quickness,” Martin said.
The defensive lines get the same job done, too — they set the stage for the inside linebackers.
Robinson’s two ILBs — Levi Kirkland and Colt Sanders — have combined to make 116 stops.
“On the defenses I’ve coached, we always seem to have one linebacker that’s got the wheels and the other is more of a plugger type,” McGee said. “Levi is the speed guy and Colt is more of the traditional middle linebacker mentality.”
It appears fewer offensive players have leaked through to the linebackers against the Cadets, as their defense has seven players with 24 or more tackles.
Still, Connally inside linebackers Royce Shell and Justin Crow have totaled 79 tackles. While Shell leads the Cadets in stops, Connally defensive back Chance Hinojosa is close behind. The Cadets’ secondary is full of guys that are active on both sides of the ball.
Hinojosa, Jerry Johnson and Reginale Barrett are among the Cadets’ leading receivers, while manning the secondary on defense. Johnson had two touchdown catches and an interception against University.
Robinson’s got a big hitter in its secondary with Austin Cleere at safety. Cleere has 45 tackles on the season, with a pair of sacks and two fumble recoveries. He had three tackles for losses and a sack in the Rockets’ 28-7 win over Kennedale.
“Austin’s position is our ‘Chuck’ player,” McGee said. “We’ve got to have a player that’s just as bad as Chuck Norris. He’s taken on that nickname around school, and it’s even on the back of his letter jacket.”
Robinson and Connally each have several “Chuck” types on defense. On Friday night, however, it’s likely fans will leave Rocket Field, whichever team wins, with names of offensive players on their lips — Connally’s Chris Cobb or Robinson’s Keenan Alford, perhaps.
Who will it be? It’s up to the defenses to decide.
“The game is going to be won up front,” Martin said. “Whoever’s defense can pile up people at the line of scrimmage, there’s a good chance that team is going to win.”
cconine@wacotrib.com
Click-2-Listen
Thursday, October 11, 2007
By Chad Conine
Tribune-Herald staff writer
Match the defense with the description.
At its best, it has shut down and shut out nondistrict opponents, though in weaker moments it has hemorrhaged points.
Its five-man front makes up for a lack of size with plenty of speed and strength. More specifically, the defensive tackles plug up the middle, while the ends are really hybrid linebackers with the ability to rush the passer or cover receivers.
Its playmaking linebackers cause extreme duress for opposing backs and receivers, piling up impressive stats along the way.
It wears blue and white and, beginning this week, will try to disrupt its District 17-3A foes.
Correct answers: the Connally Cadets, the Robinson Rockets.
Connally and Robinson open district play against each other Friday in Robinson. The Cadets and Rockets come into 17-3A action with matching 3-2 records and matching objectives — a district title.
Only four students separated these two schools in the 2006 enrollment figures. They look the same from many angles, perhaps nowhere more so than on defense.
Coming into district play, Connally is yielding 19 points per game, Robinson a shade less at 17.8. Each has one shutout to its credit.
Both defensive coordinators find a way to stop people despite a lack of giants on the roster.
“We probaby use smaller defensive linemen than a lot of 3A teams,” Robinson defensive coordinator Rick McGee said. “But we’re quicker, faster. Our whole defense is 4.9 (in the 40-yard dash) or faster.”
That sounds awfully familiar to Connally defensive coordinator Shane Martin. He’s able to use players like Dexter Fulbright and T.J. Johnson to flank the line of scrimmage at defensive end/outside linebacker.
Two weeks ago against University, Fulbright rushed for 77 yards and a touchdown and intercepted a pass, which he returned for another score.
“We’ve got skill people who will put their hands in the grass, smaller guys that we will use up front for their quickness,” Martin said.
The defensive lines get the same job done, too — they set the stage for the inside linebackers.
Robinson’s two ILBs — Levi Kirkland and Colt Sanders — have combined to make 116 stops.
“On the defenses I’ve coached, we always seem to have one linebacker that’s got the wheels and the other is more of a plugger type,” McGee said. “Levi is the speed guy and Colt is more of the traditional middle linebacker mentality.”
It appears fewer offensive players have leaked through to the linebackers against the Cadets, as their defense has seven players with 24 or more tackles.
Still, Connally inside linebackers Royce Shell and Justin Crow have totaled 79 tackles. While Shell leads the Cadets in stops, Connally defensive back Chance Hinojosa is close behind. The Cadets’ secondary is full of guys that are active on both sides of the ball.
Hinojosa, Jerry Johnson and Reginale Barrett are among the Cadets’ leading receivers, while manning the secondary on defense. Johnson had two touchdown catches and an interception against University.
Robinson’s got a big hitter in its secondary with Austin Cleere at safety. Cleere has 45 tackles on the season, with a pair of sacks and two fumble recoveries. He had three tackles for losses and a sack in the Rockets’ 28-7 win over Kennedale.
“Austin’s position is our ‘Chuck’ player,” McGee said. “We’ve got to have a player that’s just as bad as Chuck Norris. He’s taken on that nickname around school, and it’s even on the back of his letter jacket.”
Robinson and Connally each have several “Chuck” types on defense. On Friday night, however, it’s likely fans will leave Rocket Field, whichever team wins, with names of offensive players on their lips — Connally’s Chris Cobb or Robinson’s Keenan Alford, perhaps.
Who will it be? It’s up to the defenses to decide.
“The game is going to be won up front,” Martin said. “Whoever’s defense can pile up people at the line of scrimmage, there’s a good chance that team is going to win.”
cconine@wacotrib.com