Chiefs D-line ready to terrorize

MOSES LAKE — Many people would say that the most important aspect of defense is the ability to pressure the quarterback.

Even the best secondary can’t cover receivers and tight ends forever. It’s the pressure caused by the defensive line that creates mistakes that lead to turnovers and sacks.

Through the first two games of the season, Moses Lake’s defensive front four has been exemplary.

The contingent of seniors Derek Crum, Colton Rose and Jordan Simmons — as well as junior Masaih DeLeon — has terrorized opposing offenses.

The quartet attributes much of their success this season to the APX strength workouts they did throughout the off-season and head coach Todd Griffith can see a change in their conditioning.

“We don’t sub much rightnow and I think that we can keep our good guys on the field and we don’t have to sub as much as we’ve had in the past,” he said. “So we can definitely see it and in practice too. We practice pretty good no matter how long we go and we practice pretty hard.

"I can definitely see the strength, the power and explosiveness. We're fast too. We move around pretty good. I can definitely tell it's making a difference in what we're doing."

The difference, Griffith mentioned, has led to a 2-0 start for the Chiefs. With the offense sputtering, Moses Lake's defense was able to stymie the spread attack of the Southridge Suns in the season opener and win 20-14.

The Chiefs followed that performance with an overtime win on the road against Lewis and Clark - 19-16 - which included some heroics by the defense.

Against the Tigers, the defense was called upon to make one final stand in overtime to hold L.C. to a field goal.

The team delivered and running back Nathan Ball was able to punch in a touchdown on the Chiefs' next possession to secure the victory.

Once again, the team's ability to perform in the late stages of the game circled back to APX.

"That other team, whoever we play, is always bending over on their knees and can barely stand up because they're so tired ... We're always standing tall," Crum said.

Rose echoed Crum's sentiments about the newfound vigor on the defensive line.

"By the time fourth down comes over the offensive line is just done for while we're still going," he said.

Simmons explained that the intensity of the workouts really brought the unit together and forged a type of sweat equity within the group.

Each person knew the others were willing to sacrifice to reach a common goal.

"They really helped us come together because the work outs were really hard and tiring," he said. "It helped us focus mentally and come together as a team."

The improved play on the defensive line - and the defense as a whole - has translated to the stat sheet.

In 2013, Moses Lake was ranked second worst in team defense in the Columbia Basin Big 9. The Chiefs allowed 3,772 total yards last year - 377.2 yards per game.

Now, Moses Lake ranks second best in the Big 9 and has allowed the fewest points in the conference - 30. "We think that we've played tougher opponents than everybody else," Griffith said. "Wenatchee's had some tough games, tough opponents and they're down below us defensively. They played Chiawana which kind of lopsides things, but we've played two good opponents in Southridge and L.C.

"We didn't play any of the smaller schools ... Southridge is a smaller school, but they're good. We thought that coming in we were going to be good defensively coming out of camp and we're pretty fast, we run around, we rally really well to the ball."

Crum and Simmons are the edge rushers while Rose and DeLeon bull rush from the inside. The pressure Rose and DeLeon creates from their inside rush prevents opposing quarterbacks from stepping up in the pocket.

In turn, allowing more time for Crum or Simmons to beat offensive tackles for a sack or hit on the quarterback.

"Overall I think our biggest strength as a defensive line is our speed," Crum said. "We're a lot faster than most of the offensive lines we go against. That's helped us out a lot and we've got a lot more size than a lot of offensive linemen compared to the defensive lines they see on a regular basis."

Griffith says that this particular group of linemen stick out as one of the best he's coached.

"I can look back on my career in 20 years and there's been three defensive lines that stick out pretty much: '02, '07 and this group," he said. "We've had some good players throughout the years, but as far as a whole four ... Really we've got five or six. This is just as good as what we've had."

Today, the Chiefs face Coeur d'Alene - the reigning Class SA Idaho state champions.

The Vikings are known for testing defenses through the air so it will be up to the guys up front to make things difficult for the Coeur d'Alene signal caller.

Griffith thinks he has the perfect group for the job.

"Coeur d' Alene's good," he said. "They're a good defensive team, but they don't have the four guys we've got. I know that."