Jackson focuses on speed

MILL CREEK — Jackson football fans will detect a subtle but noticeable difference when the defense steps out onto the field for the first time in 2002.

What they’ll see is a little more speed and a little less size.

The revamping of the unit was by design.

“We’ve kind of changed our philosophy a little bit on defense,” said Wolf Pack coach Joel Vincent. “We really want to emphasize kids being athletic, so people may notice that maybe we’re a little bit smaller on defense. But we’re a lot faster and a lot quicker … We have many kids who can really run, so that’s the approach we’re going to take.

“We want them to rally to the football. We want guys to pursue and get there in bunches.”

The Timberwolves closed out the 2001 season strong, winning two out of their last three games, including a victory over league champion Kamiak. Jackson allowed a combined 54 points in those three final contests.

What took Jackson out of the playoffs, however, was a string of three midseason losses in which the defense allowed 34, 35 and 35 points.

“Last year our defense struggled,” said Jackson running back/strong safety C.J. Marsh. “We had some weak spots.”

But those weaknesses have been addressed with the increased speed and by shuffling some personnel around, according to Marsh.

“Our defense is the fastest defense I’ve ever played on,” Marsh said. “Everyone’s adapting real well … we’re in spots where we should be at.”

Craig Chambers, a 6-foot-5, 193-pound split end who already has verbally committed to the University of Washington, will return to the defense as a free safety after not playing defense last season.

Senior quarterback Jason Morris, who also will see time at cornerback, is impressed by his team’s defense.

“I have no worries that when we put it in the end zone that the defense will go four-and-out,” Morris said. “I have full confidence in our defense this year.”

Morris, along with Chambers, Marsh, lineman Richy Mulcahy and tight end/cornerback Brandon Roberts, have been playing varsity ball since their sophomore seasons.

Jackson returns eight starters on each side of the ball.

“It’s definitely the most experienced team we’ve ever had coming back here,” Vincent said.

Morris will be starting his 19th straight game at quarterback.

“We had a dominant junior class last year and we’ve all moved up to seniors,” Morris said. “We’ve gotten bigger and faster. People are just hitting harder. It’s a lot different pace.”

The Timberwolves’ offensive philosophy of spreading the ball out and making the defense defend the entire field remains the same.

The opposition won’t be able to key on any one particular player or players, according to Chambers.

“We can distribute the ball to a lot of guys on our team,” he said. “They’ll get positive yards. So we just trust a lot of people. It’s nice to have a lot of threats out there. It kind of takes the pressure off of me, C.J. and Jason.”

Chambers admits he isn’t 100 percent recovered from an ankle injury he suffered last spring but is about 80 to 90 percent back to where he wants to be.

“He looks great,” Vincent said of Chambers. “I’m pretty happy with his progress. I think he is.”

The senior leadership has made the first two weeks of practice easier for Vincent and his coaching staff.

Many of the seniors were asked to do a lot as juniors and they remember the triumphs and struggles of last season and know what it will take to advance to the playoffs.

“They kind of understand what it takes to get over the hump,” Vincent said. “It’s been a real breath of fresh air how hard these kids have worked.”

Team unity, which shouldn’t be a problem with so many returners, will play a critical role in the Wolf Pack’s playoff run, as will staying injury free.

The upside of having so many returning starters is the experience. But the downside is that when a team has five or six players who have started for three years, their reserves haven’t played much varsity ball.

With a healthy turnout of 80 players, Jackson is deeper than its ever been and Vincent is confident that his backups have the tools to be successful. But he also acknowledged that some of them are a little short on game experience.

“We understand that making the playoffs is a process. I think the kids are committed to getting better each week … and I think we understand that the talent is there,” Vincent said. “Obviously to make that push to go to the playoffs and make a push deep into the playoffs, you’ve got to have your big guns healthy. That’s important to us.”