Defensive Standouts: Menomonee Falls vs Brookfield Central

The week one matchup between Menomonee Falls and Brookfield Central was a defensive battle for the majority of the game. Both defensive front sevens completely shut down running lanes, created a ton of pressure on the QBs, and dominated the line of scrimmage. It took both teams three quarters to figure out a way to get any sort of rhythm going on offense. The defensive dominance was led by nine players that I want to bring attention to. Let’s take a look at what they did and the skill sets they showed off! [player_tooltip player_id="30768" first="Colin" last="Heckman"], Senior LB- Menomonee Falls Colin had an impressive week one. He looks the part with his huge frame and his strength and burst were on full display Friday night. On defense, Heckman held the edge against the run perfectly. He didn't allow runners to get outside of him and he collapsed down to make plays on runs that went inside. Against the pass he demonstrated the burst he has off the edge. He collected one sack on the night, along with several other pressures. His burst is next level ready. It was almost impossible for offensive linemen to touch him coming off the edge and he closed so fast on the QB that they barely had any time to react. Impressive week one for Colin. He has a ton of tools to work with. <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/9682509/5f6ec471d45e470bb471f9ea">Heckman's Week One</a> [player_tooltip player_id="30828" first="Billy" last="Howard"], Senior LB- Menomonee Falls Billy was all over the field on Friday! He proved what he can do snap after snap until he left with an injury in the third quarter. Howard was a such a playmaker. In his shortened time on the field he still had a handful of tackles, a sack, and a forced fumble that was scooped up and scored with. My favorite part of Howard's game is ability to match the RB in the run game. He picks through the trash so easily and goes step for step with the ball carrier until he meets them in the hole. At the point of contact Billy proved just how violent of a tackler he is too. He even showed off a very quick and effective swim move on the way to getting a sack. I hope his injury isn't too serious and he can return to the field quickly because he is an impact player for sure. <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/9913754/5f6fc08cdfd7e50b4829be7d">Howard's Week One</a> JJ Seidl, Senior LB- Menomonee Falls Seidl burst onto the scene here in week one. It seemed like every time a big play was needed he was there to make it. He was a major force behind the dominance of the Menomonee Falls front seven as he posted 9 tackles, 3 TFLs, and 2 sacks. Some of his best plays came late in the 4th quarter to help secure a victory. JJ is a gamer for sure. He reads what is happening in front of him really well and can pick through all the mess to make plays. He has a nose for the ball carrier and the QB. He is going to be one to track throughout the season and I expect to see his name start gathering more interest from the next level if he continues to play how he did in week one. [player_tooltip player_id="31376" first="Ahman" last="Brewah"], Junior LB- Menomonee Falls Menomonee Falls might have the best LB group this season based off this game because we have our fourth member of the group here in Brewah. I'm a big fan of Ahman's tenacity. He isn't the biggest athlete on the field, but he plays bigger than he looks as he does a great job of holding the edge against the run game. In the open field he can fly. He showed that off really well in one of his sacks. He was shot out of a cannon and chased the QB down in no time. His second sack came from his nonstop motor. He showed some good hand fighting to get off the lineman and then got to the QB. His pursuit and range is also impressive. Ahman can go sideline to sideline in no time and catch a lot of QBs and RBs from behind. <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/11387915/5f6f65c3dfd7e50b48296238">Brewah's Week One</a> [player_tooltip player_id="31239" first="Evan" last="Redding"], Junior DB- Menomonee Falls Evan dominated on the offensive side of the ball, but that wasn't it. He translated his off the charts burst and speed into some big time plays on defense. Redding's speed made it so he can always be around the ball. That shined through when their was a fumble in the middle of the defense, and he flew in and scooped and scored with it. When he gets the ball with any sort of space he is gone. Evan also proved that his ability to close on a receiver is second to none. If he identified a player catching a ball in front of him he was on them in no time to make the tackle. That was my biggest question coming in. Will someone who relies on twitch and speed be willing to hit. He left no doubts for me. He is a baller and ready to hit. <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/11132436/5f6ec3d532dc620138653da8">Evan's Week One</a> [player_tooltip player_id="30731" first="Hayden" last="Nelson"], Senior DL- Brookfield Central Star players make big time plays. That is exactly what Hayden did week one! During week one Nelson collected a strip sack, interception, fumble recovery, and a blocked field goal. You can't make much more of an impact than that on a defense. There are no surprises here. Nelson is a special prospect. He has an elite size, speed, and strength combination. His first step is untouchable when he times in perfectly with the snap. Add in his really good hand usage and you get tape that a lot of defensive linemen in the state should use to study. I'm looking forward to tracking what Hayden does this season. <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/9530497/5f6ffa20a676e10924d081c3">Hayden's Week One</a> Corey Calkins, Senior LB- Brookfield Central Calkins was another surprise prospect. He was a tackling machine and a playmaker. There was a stretch where it seemed like Calkins was making every tackle. He was everywhere. Corey has the size you want to see at the position and the range to cover ground and make plays. If he can continue to make this level of impact he is going to start to see his recruitment interest pick up. Corey was a major key in the dominance of the Brookfield Central front seven. He made an impact against the run and the pass. From here on out I will be following his season. Hopefully college programs will start to take notice. [player_tooltip player_id="31117" first="Clyde" last="Tinnen"], Senior LB- Brookfield Central Clyde lived up my expectations for him as he started his senior season. I wanted to see him take that next step and start making plays all over the box. He did that. My favorite part of what I saw from him on Friday night was his closing burst. There were plays where it looked like he was playing faster than everyone else as he would fly through his gap and make a tackle at the line or in the backfield. He has a great frame to offer a college strength and conditioning coach and a nose for the ball carrier. That burst, frame, and innate ability to be around the ball to make the tackle is impressive and it will continue this season. I expect him to be a leading tackler on this team all year as he holds down the front seven of this defense. [player_tooltip player_id="31077" first="Anthony" last="Whitlow"], Senior DL- Brookfield Central Anthony didn't have eye- popping stats on Friday night, but he was a major piece of a defensive line that controlled most of the game. His ability to hold his ground against single and double teams was a key part. The way that he could eat up blocks consistently opened up opportunities for the linebackers behind him. Anthony is a force along the defensive line. His play directly impacts the play of his teammates in a positive way. That is exactly what you want from a interior defensive lineman. His stats might not be crazy, but his impact is going to be consistent.