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May 16, 2007

Chandler faces big challenge

Wayne Grandy

MOULTRIE — Scott Chandler is well aware of the job he faces.

The new Colquitt County High defensive coordinator takes over a unit that was last in both rushing defense and total defense last year when the Packers finished 6-4 and missed the state playoffs.

Only three defensive starters return and, as Chandler noted on Wednesday following the Packers eighth spring practice session, “We’ve got a lot of guys who weren’t even backups last year.”

But Chandler sounds as if the situation is not as dire as it may appear.

“We’ve got a lot of kids who like to run around and hit, want to play and do the right things,” he said. “If you’ve got that, you’ve got half the battle won.”

Chandler, who was the head coach of the Rome Renegades of the American Indoor Football League the last two seasons, has been at Colquitt County High since February and has become familiar with his players.

He has watched them in the weight room and now on the field and is helping them learn a different defense.

The team will play what is known as either a 3-3 stack or a 3-5.

“It’s different,” Chandler said. “But it fits our personnel. We’ve got more safety/linebacker types who can run and hit.

“We want to utilize that strength.”

Chandler should know his defense, an area of the game he first learned as a player at Lakeview High in Fort Oglethorpe and then honed at coaching stints at high schools in Georgia, Florida and Texas and at Kansas State, Emporia State and Valdosta State.

While a graduate assistant at Kansas State, he worked with current Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops and current South Florida coach Jim Leavitt, who were the team’s co-defensive coordinators.

From 2002-2004, he was the head coach at Coosa High in Rome, leading the Eagles to a combined record of 20-14. His 2004 team went 10-3 and won the school’s first playoff game since 1969.

When the Renegades folded after last season, he decided to get back to high school coaching. The Packers job came open when Bill Ragans, who had been the coordinator the last two season, left to go Leon High in Tallahassee, where he has been named head coach.

Packers head coach Tim Cokely calls Chandler “a teacher,” and Chandler says instruction never stops.

“You always have to teach,” he said. “No matter how experienced your players are.”

Right now, Chandler is trying to get his players as many repetitions as possible.

“We want them to see as many plays as possible and get comfortable with their teammates,” he said.

Chandler said the two things he hoped to accomplish during the 10 days of spring practice is get his players both mentally and physically tougher.

And?

“We’re getting there,” he said. “We had a good first week. This week isn’t over yet. But we’re making strides.”

Chandler himself is coacing the interior linemen; Courtney Davenport has the inside linebackers; Tony Long, the outside linebackers; and Dextra Polite, the defensive backs.

The Packers will practice as usual today and Friday. There will be no end-of-spring practice scrimmage.

Following the end of spring drills, the Packers will go through summer work until it meets again as a team on Aug. 1.

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