Washington County Enterprise-Leader
Adams Scraps Spur
FARMINGTON RETURNS TO 4-3 DEFENSE
FARMINGTON — Evaluation of a 3-7 season with no playoffs prompted Farmington football coach Mike Adams to kick the “Spur” to the can, shaking a cumbersome defensive alignment into the dust.
During the offseason, Adams shelved a 4-2-5 defense that employed a hybrid linebacker/ defensive back called a “Spur” in favor of a traditional 4-3, which has been a hallmark of his career.
“I’ve just never been comfortable with that, we’re going back to it (4-3) now,” Adams said.
Over the years, Adams successfully employed the 4-3 with variations designed to disrupt offenses. During a 2011 run to the 4A state semifinals, Adams instructed defensive tackle Brennan Warren to play half-a-yard off the line of scrimmage imitating Tom Landry’s flex defense of the 1970s with All-Pro Randy White. The 4-3 flex circumvented Heber Springs’ ground game in the second-round of the playoffs. Farmington won big, 28-12.
“Going to Heber Springs, they were ranked No. 1 in the state, and we had just lost our starting quarterback,” Adams said. “To go down there and beat them, that was a real satisfying win.”
“The whole key is you’ve got to have two technique people at defensive tackle,” Adams said. “Brennan’s strength was he was able to read people and get across their face. I think we’ve got two good people, who can do that. That’s the reason we’re going back to it now.”
The change has defensive back Javan Jowers optimistic. Defensively, Jowers has played all over the field. He started at strong safety during Farmington’s disappointing 3-7 campaign in 2016, but will move to cornerback as the senior class prepares to charge into playoff contention. Jowers thinks the change Adams has made in getting away from a 4-2-5 defense and going back to a 4-3 look will help the team.
As a strong safety, Jowers found himself lining up with the “Spur,” a hybrid linebacker/defensive back last season. The problem was the assignments weren’t the same and that caused confusion.
“The Spur was basically our third linebacker,” Jowers said. “The linebackers could have one call and the Spur could have a different call.”
Jowers anticipates the 4-3 alignment will present clearly-defined responsibilities for each position.
“If we stay in our cover-3, which is where we like to go, it fits more,” Jowers said. “Now, it makes communication a little bit easier.”
Jowers is thrilled to have opportunity for the team to help Adams
(193-132-2) reach 200 career wins as a head football coach.
“It would mean a lot because he’s always been assisting and coaching ever since we were in the seventh grade,” Jowers said. “Seeing how passionate he is about the players and the game, getting to 200 would be a small service for all the years he’s put into us.”
Asked if hanging out with teenagers all the time keeps him younger, Adams said he hopes so, acknowledging the way technology is going coaches better keep up.
“I’m still behind socialmedia-wise with these guys, I’m not at their level yet, but I’m trying.”
The 5-feet-11, 175 pound, Jowers bench-presses 240 pounds and carries a 4.1 grade-point average. Jowers initiated a slogan, ‘Today is a good day,” to pump up his teammates during spring football last year.
“I know it sounds kind of silly,” Jowers said. “When we were all sweaty and tired, just having that positive mindset pushes us to do better. People were kind of annoyed with it at first, but I think everyone realized having that positive mindset will push you to do better and get you to where you want to be.”
The goal for 2017 is simple. The Cardinals desire to become the first Farmington football team to reach the 5A State playoffs since the school moved up in classification following the 2013-14 school year.
Getting their head coach 200 career wins is extra incentive. As they diligently work out in the weight room over the summer, mixing desire with an earnest expectation, something is stirring in the locker room.