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Defending the Front Lines
Carroll Football’s D-Line, Linebackers Providing Strength, Stability
By Zach Warner
The Southlake Journal
Last season, halting power backs or teams with dual running threats was at times a thorn in the Carroll football team’s side.
Coppell running back Evan Okotcha, as well as the running back-rushing quarterback tandems at Hebron and Cedar Hill are prime examples. Those were the three games the Dragons lost last season, as Carroll surrendered an average of 331 yards on the ground in them.
However, with more experience and leadership returning to the defensive front seven – the defensive line and linebackers – coach Hal Wasson feels more confident that his team can work to face the challenges that strong running games will attempt to pose this fall.
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"I’ve been very impressed with the front seven," said Wasson, whose team is gearing up to complete spring ball with the annual Spring Game scrimmage at 6 p.m. Thursday at Dragon Stadium. "They’ve been very physical and very aggressive.
"One of the real strengths of this team is the defensive front, and they’ve shown great improvement there this spring," he said. "That’s an area of our team that has a lot of experience. … The front seven has a chance to be a real special unit."
Wasson said that the Dragons have five returning players among the defensive line and linebacking corps with a lot of playing experience on varsity. Some of the high profile names returning include Mitchell Osborne and Cade Foster at linebacker and Jackson Richards at defensive end, among others.
Wasson said he expects the defensive front seven to set the tone for the defense this season with their knowledge, size, strength and speed.
"Their experience is definitely a strength, and the intensity they bring to practice every day," he said. "Their motor runs, so to speak.
"They have good pass-rushing skills and they’re usually in the right spot," he said. "They’re improving as tacklers and they’re flying around toward the ball."
Wasson said that there’s always room for improvement in halting the running game. The Dragons know how much of a challenge that is going to be again this coming fall.
"We have to work hard to improve on our run defense, because it’s hard to simulate that," he said. "We don’t have that 200-pound running back to practice against. We have a district that’s going to feature a lot of good running games and solid running backs, and [this fall’s non-district opponent Galena Park] North Shore will feature that as well.
"We have to make sure we’re ready for the talent we’ll see in the running game this year."
Spring Coming to a Close
With Carroll’s final scrimmage of the season set for Thursday, the Dragons are preparing to put the wraps on the 2009 spring football season.
Through three weeks, Wasson said he’s seen improvement each week. Carroll’s scrimmage May 21 was yet another strong showing, with all phases of the game grabbing the coach’s attention.
"We made a nice step forward this week," Wasson said. "I’m very impressed with their progress. We’re heading in the right direction.
"Our defense made improvements, our offense made steps forward, as did the kicking game," he said. "That’s one of the things about spring ball – if we’re good up front defensively, it’s going to make our offensive line better. It works both ways."
The Spring Game is set for 4 p.m. Thursday for the freshmen, 5 p.m. for JV and 6 p.m. Friday for varsity at Dragon Stadium.
Get the full version of this article at The Southlake Journal and full Southlake news at www.southlakejournal.com.
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