The Tyrone Golden Eagles got themselves a top-class defensive coordinator during the offseason, a coach who has worked with talent at every level, including the NFL.
John Shelton has had stops at Division I Kansas and New Hampshire, as well as several Division II and II programs. He has also done internships with the Houston Texans and Philadelphia Eagles.
But it wouldn’t take someone of Shelton’s caliber to recognize Tyrone’s woes from a season ago. In fact, most of their issues could be summed up in a single statement: the Eagles couldn’t stop the run.
Recognizing that is the easy part. Tyrone was gouged for 1,925 yards on the ground a year ago, and in the games that meant the most, the Eagles’ run defense was often at its worst. Starting in Week 5 against Bellwood-Antis, they went on a run of three out of four games where they allowed more than 200 rushing yards, and it wasn’t pretty: 255 the Blue Devils, 238 against Bishop Guilfoyle, and 338 against Penn Cambria.
Those are the teams you’ve got to put up a fight against if you’re serious about competing in the LHAC, and when push came to shove, Tyrone couldn’t do it.
The Eagles’ inability to stop was never more disheartening than in their District 6 3A semifinal game game against Huntingdon – a team they had nearly mercy-ruled just a few weeks before – when the Bearcats bullied Tyrone and won in a rout by simply running the ball to the tune of 221 yards.
Anyone sitting in the stands at War Vets Field that night could see the problem. Remedying it will be a much taller task, but it’s one Tyrone coach Jason Jones believes is doable this season.
It begins by toughening up on the defensive line.
Like Tyrone’s offensive line, which was decimated by graduation, the defensive line will be a work in progress. Junior Zach Silva will be stepping into a starting role for the first time, as will Liam Turchetta and John Eaken, who are battling for the other spot at defensive tackle.
It’s a group with some noticeable size and strength that will be learning on the fly each week, but Jones has been impressed with the group’s progress.
“Our defensive line right now is looking like it’s going to be a strength for us,” he said. “We’ve been thrilled with that through the first part of camp.”
The one lock among the group is senior Kyler Suhoney, who started at defensive end last season after getting plenty of reps there as a sophomore. He had 11 tackles for loss and 2 sacks as a junior and is primed to have a monster year as an edge rusher.
Landon Finocchio is set to hold down the other defensive end spot and will be starting for the first time.
Senior Dylan Robinson is back at linebacker after starting there last year, but aside from him the Eagles will be replacing their entire linebacking corps. One young player expected to play a big role in that area is sophomore Reed Starr, who will be the Eagles’ Mike linebacker, and he’s an athlete Jones expects to have a big year.
“We’re looking at him, as a sophomore, to really take control of that position,” said Jones. “He’s the signal-caller. He’s the guy who sets the front. He’s grown into that role. The nice thing is after this season he’s back for two more years. He will be a great fit at the Mike linebacker.”
Tyrone’s biggest strength is a few yards back from the line of scrimmage in the secondary, where Jon Stroup at safety and Mason Emigh on the corner will be two formidable players in pass coverage. Emigh had 5 interceptions and a fumble recovery last season, so there’s no denying he has a nose for the football, and his skills as a man-on-man defender are as good as they come.
Senior Caleb Whitby also returns in the secondary, but while he played mostly cornerback last season, Jones sees him this year filling the strong safety role, with the ability to bump down and even play linebacker. He said Whitby’s skills as a tackler make it difficult to pigeon-hole him into one specific role, and that’s the way Jones and Shelton view their defenders in general.
(Coach) John (Shelton) has done a really good job of using our playmakers, especially our secondary, and putting them in different spots to be effective on the field. How can we get creative enough to just play fast and play with a bunch of energy?
The Eagles could employ multiple defensive schemes depending on the situation, but all of them play to the strengths of the players.
“There’s a bunch of different looks all based on the strength of the opposing team’s offense and how we want to counteract that,” Jones said. “John has done a really good job of using our playmakers, especially our secondary, and putting them in different spots to be effective on the field. How can we get creative enough to just play fast and play with a bunch of energy?”
Senior Jesse Parks, who saw time in the secondary late last season, and first-year player Caleb Gwinn will help to round out the secondary.
Things are bound to be different defensively for Tyrone. After all, since 1994, the Eagles’ defense has been directed by John Franco, one of his protege’s, or his former players. That was a formula for undeniable success for literal generations.
But at the end of the day, no matter the schemes or defensive looks, Tyrone’s season will be determined by its ability to stop the ball, particularly when it’s being run straight at them.
ORANGE AND BLACK 