Published: August 29, 2006 11:53 am            

Millsap defense plays without fear

The Millsap Bulldogs defense is bringing a new attitude to the field during the 2006 season and opposing offenses are going to know they just finished playing the Bulldogs when they leave the field.

“Defensively, for the last couple of years we weren’t real strong,” said Millsap head coach Ronnie Shelby. “Our goal this year is to hit people. I know that sounds simple, but our goal was to make sure that they knew somebody from Millsap was going to run through them. Our goal is to hit people and be better and tougher against the run.

“Last year, we weren’t very good against the run as a ranked defense. This year we expect our kids to be a force and we expect our kids to take a chance and come make a play. There will be some times we get burnt, but we want to be on the side of aggression on defense versus the side of caution. We’re going to take a chance and we’re going to run to the ball. We expect to see a party at the ball. That’s as simple as I can put it.”

Shelby said the only way to get kids to buy into this defensive mindset is to assure them that mistakes are going to happen, but as long as they happen at 100 percent, they can be forgiven.

“Sometimes you’ve got to just tell kids that its okay to make mistakes,” Shelby said. “I think sometimes they are so worried about making a mistake and the coach getting on them that they may hold back and they are not quite as aggressive and they are not as good of an athlete because they are worried about making a mistake.

“You have to take the fear out of the equation. It doesn’t mean that it’s always going top happen that way, but you have to take the fear out of it and you have let the kids know, ‘You know what? This is football. It’s supposed to be fun, and hey, lets do what your coached to do. You are going to make a mistake or two during the ball game, but the one thing you’re not going to do is, you’re not going to loaf. You’re not going to go half speed. You are going to bust your hump to get to where you need to be.’ As long as you tell them that, that’s over with. Now they can play football.

“That’s how we are trying to approach it,” Shelby said. “I don’t know how good we are going to be ranked on defense this year. I don’t know how it’s going to work out. The only thing I know is that the kids are trying to do what we are asking them to do.”

It has been evident during Millsap’s two scrimmages that the players on defense have bought into the defensive philosophy. One of the players leading the charge is senior Michael Cooper, who is eager to make up for last year’s 0-10 season.

“It’s contagious,” Shelby said of the defensive mind set. “If Michael Cooper plays that [leadership] role, which I think he can, and I believe that he will, if he does that, there are going to be some other teammates that are going to fall right in there beside him. A lot of times it only takes one person to ignite two or three others. I see that happening with him. I see that happening with Race Hartnagle on defense.

“We’ve got a couple others in their like Jordan Anderson, who is probably one our most improved players since his sophomore year. He’s playing defensive tackle for us. He does a great job of reading things and being where he is supposed to be. He is one that can do that and Brady Tanner is one that can do that also.”

Shelby said his team’s ability to play without hesitation is the strength this season. As long as his players can take the field knowing their coaches will support them as long as they give all of their effort, the Bulldogs can play their game.

“Our strength on defense is getting rid of the fear,” Shelby said. “We’re not going to be afraid to run to the football. I don’t know how that compares to years past because I am not comparing anything to years past. I’m just going to say that one of our strengths is running to the football.”

        

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