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Ryan to rotate Rockets’ defensive front

By Adam Brewer for The 3 min read
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For the Jefferson-Morgan football team to be successful this year, it starts up front with the defensive line and a multi-talented group of players that anchors the Rockets’ defensive unit.

After an up-and-down year full of injuries and inexperience last season, J-M and third-year coach Liam Ryan are excited about a steady group up front on defense.

“I think we are deepest on the defensive line this year,” Ryan said. “We have a lot of experience and a lot those guys know what to do on the line. They have size and quickness and they have worked on their footwork. Conditioning is always key for those big guys.”

Ryan states that a lot of the kids on the line are also wrestlers for the Rockets in the winter and noted that the skill set for a defensive lineman and wrestler are virtually the same.

“Those two sports and positions are very similar,” Ryan said. “You have to use your hands and be able to fight around guys. I always think its fantastic when kids can play multiple sports because sometimes you work on the same skill sets. Wrestling and football are very similar and can work hand-in-hand with each other.

“You have to be physical and be able to control your body. Mike Lesko (J-M’s wrestling coach) runs a phenomenal practice and he keeps those guys in shape and focus. Both sports ask a lot from you and you have to be willing to get stronger and go lifting every chance you get.”

This year, the Rockets will have a physical, strong unit at defensive tackle, headlined by senior Ian Wolf, senior Anthony Patterson, senior Jeff Rice and junior Zach Shaffer.

At the defensive end position, J-M will line-up with some agile and quick players such as senior Kailan Foster, junior Will Fath, junior Mike Metz and junior Jake Bissett.

Keeping the big guys fresh up front and rotating new guys into the trenches will be important for the Rockets this season.

“A lot of those guys play both ways and its going to be key to get those guys some rest,” Ryan said. “We are really happy with our depth and we are going to rotate in a lot of guys. I think it’s a growing trend for most schools to get that depth on the line and use a lot of subs.”

J-M, which went 4-5 in 2013, gave up 19.3 points per game a year ago, good for fourth best in the Tri-County South Conference.

“If you have a strong D-line that opens up a lot for the rest of the defense,” Ryan said. “The secondary can just focus on pass coverage and it frees up your linebackers so that they can run from sideline to sideline. We have a chip on our shoulders from the last couple of seasons and we have to bring that intensity on the trenches every play.”

Changing the results of last year, staying healthy and relying on a strong front four on defense will be critical for the Rockets in 2014. J-M starts the season at West Greene on Aug. 29.

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