Bulldogs go to no-huddle

SMYRNA – Plenty of new faces will be make up the bulk of the starting lineup for Smyrna this season, and along with the new faces comes a new style of offense.

Gone are the team’s leading passer, rusher, receiver, and tackler. Also gone is the I-formation as the base offense, replaced by a spread no-huddle offense.

“That’s part of the game,” said senior D.J. Williams, one of the returners on both sides of the ball. You lose some and you get some.”

OFFENSE

Sophomore John Turner takes over for Matt Rodell at quarterback. Turner can throw well. Williams will also see time at quarterback, giving the Bulldogs more of a running threat to pressure opposing defenses.

It’s the running game altogether that needs to produce in order to keep the pressure off of Turner.

Kyle Smith, who spent his first two years at Smyrna, is back after transferring from Mt. Juliet. He and Devin Smith will serve as the team’s main ball carriers. They will run behind a relatively inexperienced offensive line.

Josh Baker (LT) and Tyler Dillon (RT) are back, but the interior is new with Victor Mendoza (LG), Noah Crips (C), and Emmanuel Masyan (RG). Martin Avila and Gary Murphy are also in the mix at tackle when Dillon rotates over to the defensive side of the ball.

“I’ve told our guys our season will go as they go. That’s on our O-line and D-line,” Smyrna coach Matt Williams said. “I’ve made no bones about it. It will depend on how much better they get week to week.”

The tight end position has become more of an H-back (B-back in Smyrna terms) in the new style of offense. Dallas Padgett and Larry Cothran will line up in that role.

Outside of Ikenna Okeke and D.J. Williams not a lot of experience returns to the receiving corps. Jordan Ligon, Jackson Simpson, Ian Cleveland, and Percy Whitaker will all be called upon.

DEFENSE/SPECIAL TEAMS

Antonio Robinson (NG), Rico Burns (DE), Ian McGuire (DE) anchor the Bulldogs’ 3-4 base defense along with Tavarres Woodard, Logan Lawrence and Dillon.

“We hope we can pressure with four and give the back seven time to do their thing,” Matt Williams said.

It is the back seven where most of the five returning starters reside.

Dallas Padgett (rush linebacker) and Dagan Fultz (weakside linebacker) handle the outside linebacking duties, while Austin Brown moves inside to the weak inside spot with Deylon Williams at the Mike inside.

D.J Williams and Cleveland line up at corner with Jordan Jones in rotation, while Okeke (FS) and Casey Perkins (SS) handle the safety spots.

Helman Garcia returns to punt with Adrian Baeza kicking, while Kyle Smith and D.J. Williams will be the return men.

Coaching Staff

Matt Williams

Head coach/offensive line

Billy Coleman

Defensive coordinator/defensive line

Mike Hicks

B-backs/freshman head coach

Andrew Holcomb

Defensive backs

Justin Morton

Running backs

Ryan Tillman

Wide receivers

Gabe Villiareal

Linebackers

Steve Williams

Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks