The Guthrie BlueJay football program sets lofty goals every single season and the 2010 season will be no different.
Taking a look at the Jays in the past 9 seasons, the offense’s have been fan friendly with 50-plus point games, but the defense has been fun to watch as well. Defense fun? To watch?
The Guthrie defense has been one of the best in the state and a lot of that has to do with the tremendous pipe line of athlete’s, but it also has a lot to do with defensive coordinator Kelly Beeby and the defensive coaches.
Beeby, who is about to begin his 7th season with the defensive minded Jays, has taken advantage of the athlete’s that he has been given, but when it comes to game strategy and halftime adjustments (when needed) there are a few that do it better.
“Play hard, play physical” is the common phrase you will hear often from Beeby whether it comes on a practice field, a playing field, a story article, or a pep speech.
Like many D-coordinators, he can be loud, he can be intimidating, but the players, who show great respect toward Beeby, knows there is a reason behind it all.
When you look at the last four seasons, the defense has held opponents to an average of less than 10 points a game (9.53) and allow an average of 179 yards of total offense. Those numbers allow you to win a lot of games and indeed the Jays have done that with a 42-10 record and a state championship during the Beeby tenure.
Kelly Beeby returns a solid core on defense, but will have some fresh faces to work with.
In many of those game, the offense has totalled ridiculous amounts of points before halftime, in which, one would think the defense may let up late in the game, but that has not been the case.
In 2006, Beeby’s defense did not allow a score of any kind in 18 straight quarters to only be out done the following year with 19 straight scoreless quarters.
Yes, that amount of scoreless quarters happens in high school football, but rarely in 5A football.
“I am not a big talk about shutting people out. What I tell those guys is play fast, play physical, and play one play at a time and make the play. The shut out is not the ultimate goal, but it is to play hard on every play,” Beeby said who also serves as linebackers coach.
This season Beeby will have a solid nucleus to work with in Kentrell Brothers, Landry Chappell, and Luke Davis and when you add in players like Felix Scott, John Clark, and Marcus Ware with game experience it is a great starting point.
However, the defense will have to fill some voids left on the defensive line, in the secondary, and the linebacker position. First and foremost the coaches will have to give attention to the defensive line at the two tackle positions with the mind-set of stopping the run first and the pass second.
Landry Chappell finished with 177 tackles last season that ranked him seventh in the entire state.
Next in line will be replacing Jaden Chappell at one of the linebacker spot. Yes, Landry Chappell returns, but he will need some help. Clark will help and Brothers may help as well, but Brothers may be needed more up front. But if the Jays can fill the defensive line without Brothers then the linebacker corp could be special. Brothers gives you options and that can be dangerous for Beeby and the defensive coaches.
Davis give’s Guthrie plenty of big game experience as well as Ware, but after that the Jays get young and young quick in the secondary. Sophomore JT McFadden and freshmen Kai Callins, Donathan Jordan, and Jacob Chappell will compete for snaps at the two cornerback positions.
Those young “pups” will be tested early in the year with Duncan, a team that very well may be the favorites to win 5A-2 as well as compete for state, and two 6A teams (Ponca City and Enid) that play in a pass happy Class 6A.
The good news is that there are no Brayle Brown’s or Kevin Lamb’s on the schedule that can test you and frustrate you with the pass. With that said, you can expect teams to try to exploit the position because it may give them the best option of succeeding.
A year ago the secondary allowed an average of 120 passing yards after allowing only 83, 76, and 82 the prior three seasons. Callins, Chappell, Jordan, and McFadden can be special by the time they leave the BlueJay program, but many should expect a learning curve.
The Jays will continue with their lofty goals this season, but they will have questions on the defensive side of the ball. Something tells us, Beeby and the defensive coaches will accept the challenge.
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