“If it helps us win, I’ll do it.”
That’s what Noah Carter said when asked about possibly playing defense this season.
If things go as planned, though, whatever contribution he makes on defense will probably be overshadowed by his play on offense.
For the fourth consecutive season, Carter will start at quarterback for the Brown County Eagles. “(Carter) can spin it,” said Offensive Coordinator Colton Sample “He’s got arm talent.”
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The Eagles hope to soar to new heights this season on the wings of a potent spread offense. “(The offense) has got an opportunity to go places, mainly because of the kids we have on the field,” Sample said. “They have been running the same system for three years. They absolutely love what we do offensively.”
Head Coach Randy Minniear, entering his fourth season at the helm, said it’s important for an offensive game plan to fit the personnel available. “I’ve seen too many coaches who come in and put ‘their’ system in, whether they have the horses to actually run it or not.”
When Minniear first took over as head coach, the team had been running the run-heavy wishbone offense for years. That team was senior laden, and rather than start from scratch with a new offense, Minniear elected to start the season in the wishbone and gradually open the offense to incorporate more passing.
The starting quarterback nearly all that season: then-freshman Noah Carter.
In addition to Carter’s throwing ability and experience, the coaching staff is excited about a group of five senior wide receivers: Brandon Fleischman, Jordan Oswald, Nick Huls, Javan Oliphant and Alex Baker. “All have very good hands when their focus is right,” says Kevin Greve, the passing game coordinator. “They all have had monster Friday nights receiving.”
The Eagles will primarily run out of a shotgun formation with up to four of those wide receivers on the field at a time. The coaches stressed that while Carter will have lots of opportunities through the air, the point is to take whatever the defense is giving.
That includes by running the ball. “Kody Walsh (sophomore) is a guy we’ll use extensively. He’s the kind of guy you find a way to get the ball. We’ll also feature a senior, Kaleb Popp, and junior Hunter Funkhouser. Both of them add an extra dynamic to compliment a player like Kody.”
On defense, the Eagles will run a 3-3-5 scheme, meaning three down linemen, three linebackers and five defensive backs. Defensive coordinator Jay Meyers explains that this may sound misleading. “I love having five defensive backs on the field, but there are coverages that we can call that bring two of those DBs up like linebackers.” Minniear added that to fans, the defensive formation may often look more like a 3-5-3.
“Our pass coverage is pretty strong,” said Baker, who in addition to wide receiver also is a starting cornerback. “Run defense has been weaker in the past, but I feel like we’ve improved on it.”
According to wide receivers and defensive backs coach Don Hamrick, Baker improves the players around him. “Alex Baker really pumps the other guys up.”
While Popp will spend time at running back and Baker at wide receiver, both identify more with their defensive positions. Popp is the starting middle linebacker. Speaking of his evolution as a linebacker, Popp said, “Being a sophomore I was probably a little more timid. Now I’m one of the bigger guys on the team.”
After losing 13 seniors to graduation from the 2017 squad, last year’s team finished 2-8. But coaches and players alike feel confident the culture of the program is improving. “I feel like our energy and our bonding are way, way better than in previous years,” Carter said.
Minniear, who played in the NFL for both the New York Giants and Cleveland Browns before embarking on a 40-year career on Wall Street, said the team has consciously worked to shed negative attitudes.
Baker agreed. “I think there’s been more of a buy-in. That’s crucial to our success. It’s not just the team and players that need to buy in; we need the community support and everything. That all combines to help achieve success.”
One undeniable area of improvement is numbers. About 40 players are currently suiting up. “I’ve got a few people to come out and play,” Popp said. Asked his sales pitch for joining the team, he said, “Why sit at home and do nothing when you could help make us better?”
Brown County scrimmages at Eastern Greene on Friday, Aug. 16, then officially kicks off the season Friday, Aug. 23 at home against Pike Central at 7 p.m.
