"Fast-Twitch" Ooltewah Defense A Speed Bump For Foes

Freeman, Jackson, Putman, Reid Headline Rugged Unit

  • Tuesday, August 18, 2015
  • Larry Fleming
Linebacker Tyler Reid (23) has a reputation as a tenacious tackler and an integral part of Oolewah's stout-hearted defense that has the Owls predicted as the Region 4-5A championship.
Linebacker Tyler Reid (23) has a reputation as a tenacious tackler and an integral part of Oolewah's stout-hearted defense that has the Owls predicted as the Region 4-5A championship.
photo by Dennis Norwood

Last Thursday, Ooltewah blasted Ringgold, 49-10, in a four-quarter scrimmage. The Owls’ tenacious, experienced defensive unit yielded a field goal through three periods and the visiting Tigers’ lone touchdown came late in the final period with time running down and reserves on the field.

Two days later in the jamboree at Finley Stadium, where teams squared off in 20-minute “quarters” with a running clock and possessions were hard to come by.

Yet, Ooltewah scored three touchdowns, grabbed as many interceptions in the limited-time action against Franklin County and won 20-0.

The real testing begins Friday when the Owls, second-round playoff victims in each of the past two seasons, entertain Class 6A Riverdale, a four-time state champion at 8 p.m.

“They’re a lethal team,” outside linebacker Tyler Reid said, “but I think we can get them.”

So, all that’s left is to find out on Jim Jarvis Field.

The Owls could have one of the area’s best, if not the best, defense.

It appears they have wiped away much of the disappointment of the 2014 season finale loss against Rhea County and have worked hard to fortify the unit.

For one thing, Nick Putman, last season’s District 5-AAA Defensive Lineman of the Year, has been moved from end to tackle to help clog up the gut of Ooltewah’s defense, which the Eagles exploited in a 47-14 playoff quarterfinal blowout.

“That (move) wasn’t made because of Rhea County,” Owls coach Mac Bryan said. “His body took off in the offseason.”

Putman, a Murphy Fair Preseason All-State defensive lineman, spent endless winter hours in the weight room and put on 20 pounds, pushing his fall playing weight to a “lean 265 pounds.”

“Why not play him inside,” Bryan said. “He’s got enough bulk to be a force in there, while still having an end’s speed. It bolsters our inside for sure. We can still bring him off the end at times and speed rush in passing situations.”

Despite quality success defensively Bryan acknowledges that keeping players healthy is paramount to on-field success. Bryan hasn’t had a player miss as many as four games in his two previous years with the Owls, but outside linebacker Taylor Stutz could miss three to four weeks early this season due to a broken hand.

The injury bug did crop up at a bad time against Rhea County when Putman was hurt on the third play and was on the sideline for the rest of the game.

“And that made a difference, too,” Bryan said.

Obviously, Ooltewah’s defensive success does not hinge on one player. There is plenty of future college talent on hand.

Rashun Freeman was the district’s defensive back of the year in 2014 and Jeremiah Jackson the linebacker of the year.

And no opposing team can overlook linebacker Tyler Reid.

Greene, who rejoined the Owls’ staff when Bryan came aboard in 2013 after having served as Rhea County’s head coach, assessed the four players who are clearly the nucleus of the defense:

** OLB Tyler Reid – “Tyler may be our best football player, period. As an outside linebacker he’s physical with the ability to do a variety of things. He can cover; he’s a really good blitzer and he’s a great tackler. He’s a DB that plays like a linebacker and we’re confident when he’s around the point of attack he can make the play. He probably doesn’t get all the recognition he deserves.”

** MLB Jeremiah Jackson – “It’s a nice luxury to have such a big middle linebacker. He’s got a great nose for the ball and when you get hit you’re going backwards. He allows us to play some undersized linemen who are quicker because he’s big enough to take on blockers that get by the up-front guys.”

** DT Nick Putman – “Nick is going to win single blocks and he’s so strong that he can anchor the middle for us. Teams will have to game plan for him. He’s a fast, athletic tackle and we want as much speed on the field as possible. William Whitson has come along well at the end position and that enabled Nick to move to tackle.”

** SS Rashun Freeman – “He’s probably a cornerback at the next level, but if I put him at corner the whole game will be played on the other side of the field. At strong safety, he can do anything. He’s a deep-cover guy, I can bring him down in the box to play the run and he’s a man-to-man cover guy. Plus, I can blitz with him.”

It doesn’t happen every day that a high school team has four super-talented players – all of which are seniors – on the same high school defense. However, Greene could see it coming when these guys were sophomores.

“We recognized they were going to be very good,” he said. “That year they grew up fast; they responded to coaching, they were physical and had very good football IQs. They’re smart and the main thing is they all have speed and speed is the name of the game.

“We use guys with fast-twitch muscles to make plays.”

The foursome were a combined force a year ago, registering 149 tackles, 124 of which were solos, six sacks, 36.5 tackles for loss and two interceptions.

Jackson led the way with 61 tackles and Reid had 53. Jackson had 41 solo stops and Reid 40. Jackson and Putman each had three sacks. Putman and Jackson had 14 and 13 tackles for loss, respectively. Freeman had both interceptions.

Freeman did not dress for Saturday’s jamboree and was in a walking boot, nursing an ankle injury. His understudy, Kendell Robinson, who played sparingly in 2014, grabbed two of the Owls’ three interceptions while Jackson got the third.

Jackson and Reid have more than just football in common

“We’re actually cousins,” Jackson said. “We have a lot of chemistry on the field. I’m going to spill most plays back to Tyler and he’s going to clean it up.”

While Reid hasn’t gotten the acclaim as his partners in football havoc have enjoyed, they all recognize what Reid brings to the table.

Freeman said it best: “He’s a hitter. I call him the “Silent Killer.” He doesn’t talk much, but he makes the pads pop.”

Bryan added, “Tyler is as disruptive as anybody in that group. When he comes off the edge something is going to happen.”

The 2014 season was almost a perfect blend of offense and defense, coming together to overwhelm opponents for 11 weeks before the crash-and-burn loss at Rhea County.

In going 11-0 with a statewide No. 3 ranking, the Owls outscored the opposition by an average of 37.6 to 10.1 and the defense posted four shutouts against Soddy-Daisy and Tyner (back-to-back), Bradley Central and finally Stone Memorial in a first-round playoff game that Ooltewah won by 31 points.

Don’t forget, the Golden Eagles were 11-0 and ranked sixth when it played Ooltewah and played flawless football.

But, as the curtain rises on the 2015 campaign, the Owls are hoping to field another rock-wall defense that won’t crack.

“We want it to be the best we’ve had,” Bryan said. “This group has every opportunity to do that.”

(Wednesday: Fighting Irish back for an another run at title)

(E-mail Larry Fleming at larryfleming44@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @larryfleming44)

Three other important pieces of the Ooltewah defense are, left to right, Jeremiah Jackson, Rashun Freeman and Nick Putman.
Three other important pieces of the Ooltewah defense are, left to right, Jeremiah Jackson, Rashun Freeman and Nick Putman.
photo by Dennis Norwood
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