More dynamic Dinos defense expected in 2018

Entering the 2018 season, the Carbon Dinos are looking to snap a 27-game losing streak and compete for playoff positioning.
Part of the reason that streak exists is the Dinos giving up on average 41 points per game on defense over the past three years.
This year’s squad is optimistic about their defensive scheme and the personnel coming back to get on the other side of the loss column, starting with week one against Manti.
“We have all been doing good and working really hard every day and getting at in practice, I think we are ready for Manti,” said Carbon defensive back Jaylon Dennis.
The Dinos will run a 3-5 defense which means they will use three down linemen and five linebackers with three defensive backs.
“The nice thing about it that we can rush eight or drop eight so we can cover pretty much everywhere on the field,” said Carbon Head Coach Joshua Huntsman.
Up front the Dinos will have Makade Bradley, Collin Lewis, and Chance LeCheminant to bring pressure up the middle to allow the linebackers to find the ball.
Along with those three, Huntsman said that he has more guys that can rotate in and do a great job at the line of scrimmage.
“All these guys that we rotate in, every one of them do a great job. Its not a step down when those three are out. We got quite a few defensive linemen and I am excited to see what they bring to the table,” said Hunstman.
In the middle of the defense, Huntsman will be counting on middle linebacker Isaac Quintana to be a leader and spark plug of the unit.
Dennis believes Quintana will take on that role perfectly and has already shown the defense what he is capable of doing.
“With him putting in all that work that he has over the offseason so he can get stronger and be in better the position to help us more as a team, I think he has been doing great. He will have a great year and he is really important to the defense,” said Dennis.
Also in the linebacker group, Dennis and the Dinos are expecting big things out of junior Ridic Migliori.
Migliori missed last season with a torn ACL, which occurred in the first game of the season last year.
“He is a really strong help. He has made a strong return and will be amazing. He is a hard hitter, he knows his position and he is someone who we can trust on the field,” said Dennis.
So far into Fall camp, Huntsman says he likes what he has seen from both his coaching staff and his players as far as the defensive side of the ball.
Huntsman believes that is all about execution and to simply “do your job,” if they can do both on defense then the Dinos will be better than last season.
“If we trust each other and trust that you are going to your job and I am going to do my job then that’s where we are going to be. It is going to be about trust and execution. It is going to be about being in the right spot and doing the right thing even when you are tired. If we can continue to teach them the right things then I think we will be okay,” said Huntsman.
Dennis says that if the Dinos do their jobs, then it will help the Carbon offense get on the field and score touchdowns and make his head coach happy.
“As long as we do our jobs, he will be happy with the defense. That is really all it is, just do our jobs,” said Dennis.
Carbon kicks off their season Friday against Manti at home at 7 p.m.
Last season Manti defeated the Dinos 21-14, one of only four games where the Dino defense gave up less than 28 points.