King Lions Defense Is Coming Together

As the summer wears on, the position battles become a bit more clear. Players are starting to emerge on the team as leaders at their positions.

On the defensive front, the Lions lost two studs off last year’s team in Darrel Baker and Tavis Campbell. Baker and Campbell combined for 181 total tackles and 13 sacks in 2010. Where, oh, where is that production going to come from this year?

Some candidates are making a case for themselves.

In the middle at defensive tackle, Robert Harris is a converted linebacker who has “good size,” according to defensive coordinator, Bass Dillard. Harris “came out of nowhere” during the spring game in a 19-8 win over , Dillard said.

Next to him, rising junior Reggie Butler should get the start inside. He’s a big dude, at 6-feet-3-inches and more than 260 pounds, and he will move back and play middle linebacker at times as well.

“He’s a guy we expect to come up with some sacks this year,” said Dillard.

At end, Zerric Coleman returns for his junior year. Coleman is very suited to the position as is junior Kim Jackson. Jackson will also play tight end on offense, so there will have to be a third end to emerge to keep Jackson fresh.

The Lions are small at linebacker, but whatever they give up in size they make up in tenacity. Seniors and Austin Cox are both undersized, but are pit bulls when it comes to bringing down ball-carriers.

Cox will start on the outside and has for the last two years. Dillard led the team in tackles in 2010 and plays the rangy outside linebacker position you could see in coverage way up field. He will step back into a role as strong safety, too. If Dillard plays the pass as well as he can play the run, it will make it very difficult to move the ball against King.

In the middle, junior Austin Long should get the start. He’ll get a hand from Reggie Bulter, but Long will probably get most of the reps at MLB. According to Dillard, Long really stepped up his game in the spring and is a beast in the weight room.

The Lions look pretty strong along the back four this year.

Senior Chris Murray will be used as a lock-down cover corner, and the rest of the group will cover around him. Murray is a highly recruited corner with great hands. He’s very dangerous as a wide receiver and the Lions hope to get all they can out of him on both sides of the ball.

Opposite Murray will be sophomore Darnell Taylor, who also prevailed himself in the spring game against Wharton.

The free safety spot will be manned by juniors Dominick Kelly and Curt Solomon. If Solomon keeps getting bigger, he’ll have to move up to linebacker, but until then, he and Kelly should spilt time.

At strong safety, Ricky Pyron will play most of the reps, but remember Demetrius Dillard will flex between outside linebacker and strong safety so expect to see both of them back there.

The schedule is a meat-grinder but if the defense can keep games close, King quarterback and company are going to get theirs.