Stiff defense: Titans’ defense most staunch in district
Published 7:37 pm Friday, October 6, 2017
Seeing Port Arthur Memorial play defense is one thing. The Titans clearly excel at it.
Seeing the results of their defense is another. The numbers are that staggering.
“Our defensive scheme is set up to stop the run,” senior defensive lineman Braydon Williams said. The secondary, we love them, so we try to make life as easy on them.”
Through three games, Memorial (3-0, 3-0 in 22-5A) has allowed a net of minus-8 yards combined and allowed 75.3 yards per game. Defensive coordinator Cody Haug’s unit is on pace to obliterate its 2016 average of 187 ypg given up.
“We play the run first all the time,” Williams said. “We pride ourselves on our front seven
The Titan defense is making a quick turnaround from its biggest test to date at Nederland five days earlier to host Lumberton (3-1, 2-1) on Saturday. Nederland (3-1, 2-1) did not score in the second half after leading 7-3 and was held to 139 total yards — including 17 on 20 carries — in a 13-7 defeat Monday.
“I told my team, ‘If y’all can give me everything you got these next 24 minutes, I’ll give you everything back and then some,” Williams said. “As much as I can, I will do whatever it takes to not leave this place without the win. I got out there, I watched my offense, I watched my defense and I said they really want it.”
Haug said the main focus of halftime was to keep his players focused on the prize — a crucial district victory.
“Simply because we were in an adverse situation,” he said. “We were playing on a muddy field. We played against a very good opponent. We put together a pretty good package that was being executed very well, so we expected them to come out the second half and shoulder things, but then also expect more with Nederland’s passing game.”
Nederland covered 63 yards on its final drive, but Memorial stopped the Bulldogs at its own 16 to win.
Memorial’s defense can be tough to figure out because Haug runs multiple schemes, which he said is necessary in today’s game.
“You have to if you’re going to be a good defensive scheme,” he said. “You have to be able to adjust to anything. Especially in high school ball, with the way high school offenses are, we’re back on our heels defensively. We try to stay ahead of the curve, and in doing so, you have to stay ahead of the curve.
“What we do is in the process of how we teach our kids implementing on defense,” Haug continued, emphasizing how blessed he is to have coaches who work with players on techniques. “It can sometimes look as if we are doing a lot of things, but really it is kind of simple so our kids can play on the fly. We try to keep them as fast as we can.”
As Haug added, “speed kills.”
The Titans also utilize their speed to cover ground and make up for a bad defensive call, missed tackle or any other miscue.
As if that’s not scary enough, the Titan defense is young. Seven underclassmen start on that side of the ball.
“I watch them work and they really go about their business,” Williams said. “They pride themselves on their defense, and I can really tell they love the game.”
Junior Jacob Washington, a first-year varsity player, already has two interceptions, both from the Sept. 26 win against Ozen. He moved into the varsity roster for the 2016 5A Division I playoffs.
“It feels kind of good knowing that I have my family in the stands happy and having a good time, and it’s good that I can help the team.”
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I.C. Murrell: 549-8541. Twitter: @ICMurrellPANews