Friday, Jul. 18, 2008

Defensive Posture

Texans Say Stout 'D’ Helped by 7-on-7 Football Season

By John English

Contributing Writer

Northwest High School football coach Leonard McAngus said he expects the strength of his team this season to be in his defense, which means linebacker Jacob Knickerbocker and safety Larz Huizenga will have to rise to the challenge.

Two of the leaders on the Texans defensive unit, McAngus said he can always expect to get 100 percent from the Northwest seniors.

"Both of them bring leadership and experience," McAngus said. "Both of them will be three-year starters for us. They are both good examples of student athletes, because they do very well academically.

"They are both at everything we ask them to come to, like summer workouts and that kind of stuff. They’re the guys that I think a lot of our younger guys look up to for leadership."

McAngus said he may use both boys on offense next year as well.

"On defense, we have a lot people returning," Knickerbocker said. "We are feeling pretty confident there ... I think my role is about the same as it was last year, except it may be the time for me and Larz to be a little more vocal. Last year, we led more by example, but now that we’re seniors, if something needs to be said, he or I need to be the one that say it."

Knickerbocker said he feels that his year’s defense is pretty good.

"I think it’s really solid," Knickerbocker said. "We went from the 3-3 stack to the 4-2, and I think that fits us better personnel-wise. We have a lot of guys that have game experience and have proven themselves."

Huizenga said the Northwest secondary benefited from the 7-on-7 season because it showed the unit where they were.

"I think it really helped us get a feel for everybody," Huizenga said. "We’re not just getting thrown out there not knowing what everybody’s strengths and weaknesses are. It really helped us to learn to communicate."

Huizenga said he thinks things are shaping up very well for the upcoming football season and feels pretty good about the depth the Texans will have on the defensive side of the ball.

"I think things are looking really good," Huizenga said. "A lot of kids are filling empty positions really well and fitting in real nice. We have a lot of kids that really want to play football, and it has been really good for Jacob and I because we have not had to start from scratch ... a lot of the kids have been able to jump right in there and run with it."