El Dorado's defense hopes to take advantage of opponents' mistakes

El Dorado will use a 4-2-5 base defensive alignment going into the 2023 football season. Wes Ables returns for his second year as defensive coordinator, this time for new head coach Chris Hill.

Just like the offense, the Wildcats' defense graduated a host of starters and will introduce new faces this season.

Coach Hill said one of the keys will be not giving away anything defensively.

“We don't want to do things to beat ourselves. We have to control the controllable. Win the no-talent things. Get lined up right. We can't get ourselves beat by alignment. We have to get our eyes right,” said Hill. “And once the ball is snapped, we've got to play like our hair is on fire. Those are the main things. We've got to have guys who are willing to run to the football. Those are the fundamental things we have to conquer. Basically every team will say the same things, especially this time of the year.

“We can't beat ourselves with penalties, busted coverages or missed tackles.”

The defensive front could be the key to the defense. Hill said the plan is to not take a lot of chances with blitzes.

“We'll pick our shots,” he said. “But we want the offense to snap the ball again. Every time the offense snaps the ball, there's a chance of a penalty. There's a chance of a bad snap, a quarterback-center exchange. There's a chance they'll turn the ball over or do something to hurt themselves.

“We really have to limit the big plays, make the offense snap the ball again and then be real smart and picky when we do decide to bring pressure and put heat on them.”