As the second installment of regular season grades, we’re going to take a look at the units from the Darkside Defense. As always, these are only my thoughts, so feel free to leave your comments. Anyways, here goes:
Defensive Line – A
- Dominance starts at the point of attack, and the Defensive line did their best to demolish every offensive play that was run against them. A large rotation of strong, talented players contributed to the success of this unit on the year.
- Big Willie Paisley has made his presence known on many an occasion this year. The 6’3’’ 325lb defensive tackle was close to unblockable in 1-on-1 situations, and was routinely in the backfield, pressuring quarterbacks and taking down running backs. His size in the middle of the line allowed for his fellow players to make plays.
- Trevon Coley showed why he’s a highly rated prospect as well. He leads the team in sacks, and has also applied pressure to the opposing offenses. His motor doesn’t stop, and he is relentless in pursuit of the ball-carrier.
- An unsung player who has made great contributions this year is Levan Porter. He has played with steady consistency, and surprising burst. Stepping into a role larger than what the coaches originally planned for him, Porter has been arguably the most consistent playmaker up front all year.
- D’Quan Williams, Mike Fleurinvil, D.J. Wallace have all added quality depth to the rotation. While they have made plays, they have also been known to jump offsides, often in key 3rd-and-short situations. Their aggressiveness needs to be controlled a bit more to limit the negative impact they have had at times
Linebackers – A
- This unit has been remarkable in its varied impact it has had on games. From tackles for loss, pass breakups, interceptions, fumbles forced and recovered, this unit has pretty much done it all.
- Headlining this group is Junior Jermaine Grace. A lithe, fast, strong and intelligent player, Grace has been the key to this unit, and the defense as a whole, all year long. He’s been arguably the best overall player on the defense, which, on a defense that includes Tracy Howard, is incredible. His 2 blocked field goals (at St. Thomas to force OT, and vs. Flanagan to maintain a tight lead in the 4th quarter) are 2 of the biggest plays that anyone has made all year. He has, at times, been overlooked since he’s a new starter and only a Junior. I don’t think that’s goin to happen anymore. Jermaine Grace is a name to known and learn. He’s a STAR, and, like Tracy said in his interview, “all you have to do is go to the games to see it, and know that he’s the next Miramar All-American.”
- Mark Rucker is a 4 year varsity player, and he has been very steady this year. His knowledge of the game is incredible, and he seems to always be in the right place. Every game that I’m announcing, I call his name many, many times, which is proof of how frequently he ends up by the ball. His play has finally caught the attention of some college programs, and they would do well to have Rucker on their team. I know, here at Miramar, we have been for the past 4 years.
- Kameron Capers and Brian Williams have also played key roles on the defense as well. Capers, the starting middle linebacker, has been a steady performer. His instincts, and familiarity with Grace and Rucker on the outside, has enabled all 3 to make plays freely. Williams, a 6’4, 210lb. athlete, has filled in at all 3 linebacker spots, and made big plays (like his fumble return against Northeast). Filling in at MLB for an injured Capers the last few games of the regular season, Williams has been slightly less effective than he was rotating at OLB, his natural position. But his play has steadied, and I believe the dip in performance from this group in the Everglades, Western, and Flanagan games is a thing of the past.
- Brian Dorsett, Sanka Harris and Ryan Samuels also contributed this year.
Defensive Backs – A+
· Tracy Howard is ranked the #1 cornerback prospect in the country for a reason. He has consistently locked down whatever receiver is lined up across from him, and even made opposing offenses completely stay away from his side of the field. When they did try to throw on him, the results were usually not what they desired. Howard is second on the team with 5 interceptions, including HUGE picks against Cypress Bay, St. Thomas, and the undefeated-season-saving highlight-reel diving interception against Flanagan. He also contributed to the pressure that helped Jermaine Grace block the winning FG attempt at St. Thomas. Simply put, whenever the defense needed a play, Howard was there to make it happen. He’s an All-American for a reason. I’m just glad he’s on OUR team, and I got to watch him his whole career, and this season particularily.
· Senior Safety Marrell Jackson came into the season as an unknown, but quickly made a name for himself. Starting with the Ely game (2 interceptions, including a 90 yd int-TD), Jackson has blanketed the middle of the field beautifully. His 9 interceptions lead all of South Florida, and have to be close to a school record (I’ll research that later). Also good tackler, Jackson has come up in run support when needed. Overall, his steady play has been at a phenomenal level. Some college will get a steal when he signs. This is an All-State level player. Absolutely fantastic season.
· Anthony Hamilton, Terrence Hill, and Denzel Trowers have all played very well this year in the secondary as well. Each has their strengths, and the coaches have done well to find them, and utilize them throughout the year. Hill and Trowers are slightly undersized, and can be taken advantage of by taller receivers. Hamilton is very tough nosed, but can be overly aggressive at times. That being said, the production from this trio, in addition to the remarkable play from Howard and Jackson, have added up to a phenomenal season by the secondary as a whole.
Overall Grade – A
· The defense has only surrendered 8 touchdowns on the year (with the other 4 coming on special teams or turnovers), but have themselves scored 3 times. They have limited teams to just under 9 points per game. They have blocked 2 field goals (in the biggest moments of the season), allowed under 150 yards per game, and disrupted every offense they have encountered. If there’s another defense in the entire state that’s as good as this one, I haven’t seen it. Kudos to you all, gentlemen
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