Football: Har-Ber Adds Size, Toughness To Secondary

FILE PHOTO DAVID GOTTSCHALK Chase Anderson will move from linebacker to safety this season for Springdale Har-Ber. Anderson’s appearance in the secondary will add size and physicality to the back line of the defense.
FILE PHOTO DAVID GOTTSCHALK Chase Anderson will move from linebacker to safety this season for Springdale Har-Ber. Anderson’s appearance in the secondary will add size and physicality to the back line of the defense.

SPRINGDALE -- Tall receivers jumping over small defenders was a frequent sight for the Springdale Har-Ber secondary last season.

Har-Ber hopes to help change that by moving Chase Anderson (6-foot-4, 205 pounds) from linebacker to safety. His appearance in the back line should add size and physicality to a defense that allowed nearly 36 points per game last season.

The Skinny

Position Battles: Secondary

Biggest Strength: Justin Setser is a veteran defender and smart player who could surpass the three interceptions he had last year. Austin Henderson is already seasoned after receiving extended playing time as a sophomore.

Biggest Weakness: Har-Ber is still small in the secondary, but moving 6-4 Chase Anderson should help. He’s a thumper who’ll let receivers know he’s back there. The question is whether the former linebacker can chase them down.

Watch Out For: Nathan Williams can play the cornerback and safety positions. He showed good coverage skills and intercepted a pass in Thursday’s scrimmage with Owasso.

The only question is whether Anderson has the speed and quickness to help with coverage in the secondary.

"Chase has the height we want and the mental frame of mind to play back there," Har-Ber safeties coach Mark Taylor said. "He may not be top end as far as foot speed, but he understands the game and he can use that to his advantage. He uses his reads and his eyes to get himself to where he's supposed to be."

Har-Ber will return six starters on defense from a team that finished 8-4 last year. Anderson got on the field frequently the second half of his sophomore season, when he played in five games and made 25 tackles. He also had a late interception at linebacker to preserve a playoff victory over Little Rock Catholic.

He'll be paired at safety with Austin Henderson (6-1, 185), who played in 12 games as a sophomore and made 68 tackles with one interception.

"Austin has worked hard during the off-season and his footwork has gotten better," Taylor said of Henderson, who also runs track for Har-Ber. "He's going to be a force to be reckoned with this year."

Nathan Williams (5-9, 155), Kegan Anderson (5-10, 156) and Brock Brames (5-11, 170), a former quarterback, will also help in the secondary. Williams intercepted a pass that bounced off an Owasso receiver in Thursday's scrimmage at Tulsa Union.

Har-Ber is set at one cornerback position with senior Justin Setser (5-10, 155), who made 54 tackles and led the Wildcats with three interceptions. Setser is a veteran who started all 12 games last season.

"Setser is a leader and a guy who'll help the younger ones out," said Wayne Hall, who coaches cornerbacks for Har-Ber. "He'll both the one who'll cover the other team's best receivers."

Jovani Gonzales (5-6, 132), Noah Hayward (5-7, 140) and Williams will also compete for playing time.

"Technique and discipline goes a long way in playing the corner position," Hall said. "You've got to treat your position like you're on an island. In order to succeed, you're going to have to show a lot of technique and discipline. That's the key."

Sports on 08/30/2014

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