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Girard defense thrives on TOs
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Girard’s Branden Byrd heads for the end zone after hauling in a pass from quarterback Dan Graziano during a regular-season game against Warren JFK. Byrd says the Indians defense has discovered a simple way to stop the opposition from scoring: “If you wrap them up, they’ll go down.”
The Indians own a plus-22 turnover ratio this season
By matthew peaslee
girard
Football has been played for over 130 years and the goal has always remained the same — put up more points than the opponent.
On the defensive side, different styles, philosophies and tactics have all been used to accomplish one simple idea of stopping the opposition from scoring.
Girard’s Branden Byrd may have discovered the simplest way to do that — and it works.
“If you wrap them up,” Byrd says, “they’ll go down.”
It’s safe to say Jack Tatum, Dick Butkus and Mean Joe Greene can attest to that.
But for the 2011 Indians defense, a unit that may be overshadowed by its high-powered offense, just doing the job and “wrapping them up” the best they can has led to some headline-making plays.
“The biggest thing our defense does is create turnovers,” said Girard coach Nick Cochran. “That’s a plus for us; we have to keep that up.”
The Indians own a plus-22 turnover ratio and it has aided their 10-1 record. In games against Hubbard, Niles and LaBrae, they’ve saved the offense a step by scoring right away off a turnover.
“It’s helped us get on track,” Cochran said. “Stopping good teams like that is one thing, making a turnover and scoring on defense in another. If we’re able to punch one in that’s a bonus.”
Jake Carpenter owns two of those scores.
“It could be a great accomplishment but you can’t do it without your other teammates,” he said. “Somebody has to force a bad throw or create a fumble then, it’s up to somebody else to scoop it up.”
Getting that feeling of putting one in the end zone hasn’t come often for the senior. Since he was in the fifth grade, he’s played linebacker or defensive end. The chance to play running back or fullback never came.
“I’ve never gotten the chance to play on offense,” Carpenter said. “Ever since I was young, they never gave me a shot. They just threw me on defense.”
Playing at receiver and defensive back has been what Byrd’s been used to, all along. But as a dynamic player on both sides of the ball, it doesn’t matter if he catches a touchdown pass from Dan Graziano or if he intercepts a pass for a pick-6, the thrill is equal.
“Just making plays is the best feeling,” Byrd says.
Getting the pleasure of being a wideout has come into play when he is on defense. Diving into the mind of a receiver, being one himself, is a luxury to Byrd.
“I can read them and get an idea of what route their running,” he said. “If they’re running soft, I can come up and figure them out and work the ball out. Covering deep, I’m confident I can stay with anybody.”
And, Cochran has the utmost trust in his defense.
“Everybody on our defensive unit plays pretty well,” he said. “They’re fundamental.”
With Byrd holding the treasured defensive strategy, it’s Carpenter — after years of practice at the position — that has created the best formula for total defensive success.
“Teamwork and sticking with your friends is always the biggest thing,” he says. “[Defense] is what holds a team together.”