West Linn Lions look like title contenders: Defense

West Linn Lions head coach Anthony Newman has been promoted from his position as defensive coordinator, so he no longer gets to be quite as “hands on” with his favorite side of the ball.   But there's no doubt West Linn remains in very capable hands - and is loaded with the athletes to be a problem every Friday night.   The Lions run a 3-4 front and expect all 11 players to fly around.   Speed is the name of the game, and the ability to go sideline-to-sideline to create havoc is far more important than any number on a scale.   West Linn comes at you wave after wave, athlete after athlete.    Here's a look at West Linn's defense.    Defensive line   West Linn lacks a true monster in the middle, preferring to load its front with strong, athletic linemen who can pursue the football.   Drew Gettel is a 6-foot-2, 245 pound defensive tackle who brings versatility to the group.   “He's a stud,” Newman said. “He can play defensive tackle, he can play nose, he can do quite a bit. We're going to rely on him quite a bit. He plays bigger than he is. He's tough.”    Isaiah McMurray, who has emerged this offseason as a potential late breakout candidate, will play some defense up front along with his offensive line responsibilities.    Junior-to-be Ethan Normoyle typifies West Linn's preference for athleticism, as he has some size but his true weapon in his relentless pursuit of the football.    “He's a big body and he's athletic,” Newman said. “For us, it's not about the size. It's ‘Are you athletic?' In this defense I want guys that can go sideline to sideline.”    Versatile offensive lineman Xander Mishkin and hulking interior lineman Kevin Diallo (6-foot-5, 320) will also get some reps up front defensively depending on the match-up, but the goal is to keep athletes focused primarily on one side of the football, because it keeps the linemen fresh.    A future player to watch is sophomore-to-be [player_tooltip player_id='1705963' first='Ronan' last='Crawford'], the son of a former NFL'er.    “He's going to be a man-child in there, but he's still young,” Newman said.    Expectations are sky-high for Crawford, but the strength adjustment to the varsity level can be an adjustment for an emerging linemen.   Expect the youngster to make splash plays this fall - with potential to become a stalwart by year's end as the game slows down for him.    Linebackers   West Linn is loaded at the linebacker position with more “right answers” than there are “questions” - even with four spots in the 3-4 look.   The standout of the group is class of 2028 linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1609761' first='Tyler' last='Holmes'], who will play both inside and outside linebacker depending on the situation.   He's a player who won't come off the field much.   Last year, Holmes played primarily in the box in run support, but is also a gifted athlete and covers well in space.   That makes him a true chess piece in the heart of the Lions' D.    “He is a dog,” Newman said. “[player_tooltip player_id='1609761' first='Tyler' last='Holmes'] is one of the best football players we have. He's going to play somewhere in college. He's a playmaker and knows nothing but hustle.”    [player_tooltip player_id='1609760' first='Luke' last='Cutting'], a receiver, is a soon-to-be-junior who can line up at outside linebacker along with [player_tooltip player_id='2112019' first='Paul' last='Johnstone'].   “Those are our stud outside linebackers,” Newman said. “They'll both play significant snaps depending on the situation.    Gabe DeMarco isn't the biggest inside ‘backer, but he provides a ton of pop.    “He's undersized, but he's a rock,” Newman said. “His dad is a bodybuilder and he is a rock. He's a straight downhill guy.”    Jay Puni, a player with a rugby background, will man the other inside linebacker spot and is an intriguing player to watch this fall.   He could make a big jump in production.    “He's a beast,” Newman said. “He came from Australia. He played rugby and knows how to tackle. We're looking forward to seeing him do some big things as an inside linebacker.”    A young player to keep an eye on Owen Woodward.   “He's a sophomore linebacker next year and he's a good one,” Newman said. “He's a good-sized kid that loves to hit and play downhill. He's not afraid of contact and he's got great football instincts.”    Defensive backs   Everyone knows the star of the West Linn defensive backfield.   It's senior-to-be cornerback [player_tooltip player_id='632957' first='Josiah' last='Molden'], a multi-time All-American honoree who is among the best cornerbacks in state history.   The 6-foot, 175-pound athlete is a player, Newman said, comes around “once every 15 years or so,” highlighting just how truly special he is.   Molden committed to the Oregon Ducks over offers from Miami, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Texas, USC and many others.   On Friday nights, he's practically a blank spot  on the field - a void of “do not come here.”    “People are scared to throw the ball his directions and it's nice to have a guy that we can say, ‘That's their best receiver, let's take him out (of the game).' A lot of guys don't have multiple star receivers. We put our best player on their best guy,” Newman said.    [player_tooltip player_id='1121755' first='Tyson' last='Donnerberg'] lines up on the opposite side and is an all-state-caliber defensive back in his own right.    “He's 6-foot-2, he can run with anybody and he knows how to play the ball,” Newman said. “He's on the other side.”   Ali Nour, a track athlete, “can run with the best of them” and Kenny Ritchie, a physical corner, will also be in the rotation.    At safety, [player_tooltip player_id='937113' first='Shane' last='Peters'] returns after suffering a season-ending injury midway through last fall.   He was playing at a multi-purpose all-state level and has already hit his stride.    “We're loaded at safety,” Newman said. “[player_tooltip player_id='937113' first='Shane' last='Peters'] knows the defense. He was the only freshman besides Josiah that played varsity as a freshman. Shane has great instincts and knows the offense, so he communicates that's going on to the other guys.”    [player_tooltip player_id='2054698' first='Caden' last='Seymour']  is a very aggressive safety who can play in the box and mix it up.   “We've got to calm him down,” Newman said.    Seymour wants to attack, but as he plays under more control he's got a chance to be a special player in his own right.    [player_tooltip player_id='1609758' first='Jake' last='Hamper'] also returns and has the potential to put together a better season, defensively, than his older brother, Mark Hamper, did a few years ago.   It's notable because Hamper, a two-way star, is now a wide receiver at Cal.    “Jake is a better, as a defensive guy, than his brother,” Newman said. “He had four picks last year and didn't even start. Are you kidding me?”   [player_tooltip player_id='652600' first='Carson' last='Smiley'], a former quarterback, is an intriguing player to watch.   The 6-foot, 180-pound athlete can play outside backer or safety this year as a physical tone-setting player who is hungry to play.    After battling to be the quarterback, the team-first Smiley is ready to make a splash on the other side of the ball.   His willingness to get on the field, and his hunger to contribute adds welcomed depth to the defense.

West Linn Lions head coach Anthony Newman has been promoted from his position as defensive coordinator, so he no longer gets to be quite as “hands on” with his favorite side of the ball.