Hard to beat NC defense 
By Kevin Schmit Daily Herald Sports Writer

      September 15, 2000

They're not the biggest defensive unit in the land.

Probably not the meanest, either.

They won't land their entire lineup at Division I colleges, and
they won't turn heads with an abundance of superstars.

All Naperville Central's defense does is keep teams off the scoreboard,
again and again.

The Redhawks are one of just four teams in the state that hasn't
allowed a point through the first three games of the season. None
of the other three teams are in the Chicagoland area, and none have
faced as tough a schedule.

The Redhawks opened the DuPage Valley last week against a struggling
West Chicago team. But in the first two weeks, they faced perennial
playoff contenders Lockport and Stevenson. Both won their other two
games.

The top-ranked Redhawks (3-0) face their stiffest test tonight in
Naperville when they take on unbeaten WW South, which is ranked eighth
in Class 6A.

The pressure on the defense becomes even greater now that Redhawks
senior quarterback Owen Daniels, who verbally committed to Wisconsin
this week, is likely out for the year with a torn ACL in his left
knee.

They expect to play well against a vaunted WW South passing attack
led by junior quarterback Dan Brauer (40 of 59, 583 yards, 5 touchdowns),
sophomore Brett Adamson (13 catches, 171 yards) and senior Joe O'Brien
(10-142).

Shutout, however, is not on the tip of anyone's tongue.

"It's kind of like a pitcher in baseball when he's got a no-hitter
going," said Naperville Central senior linebacker Drew Kocsis. "You
don't talk about it."

There's plenty else to talk about with this defense. Like why is
it so good, and how good can it get?

Senior lineman Joe Alvarez has thoughts on those questions, views
shared by his coaches and teammates.

"There's three things that make us so good," Alvarez said. "Experience,
talent and unity."

<span class="roundup">Experience</span>

When Naperville Central rolled to the 6A state title last season,
the offense was spectacular.

The defense, laden with juniors, was good and got better. Last year's
experience, 14 games in all, laid the groundwork for this season's
dominance.

By the time the state title game came along, eight juniors were
in the starting lineup. They played five playoff teams in the regular
season, and then rolled through five playoff games. 

Experience is the main reason why the Redhawks, more than any defense
in the state, have been able to pick up from where they left off.

Through three games, they've allowed just 113 yards of offense per
game, they have 7 sacks and have forced 8 turnovers.

"We had real high expectations," linebacker Ryan Amberson said.
"With all the experience coming back, we knew we'd be good."

Not only did eight senior starters return, a ninth moved in from
Ohio. Chris Hill was plugged right into the defensive line.

That allowed Luke Summers, a lineman last year, to move to the inside
linebacker spot he's more accustomed to playing.

Linemen Ken Kottke and Alvarez are back, Kocsis, Amberson, Summers
and Pat Spaeth returned at linebacker, and Brian Uhlir and Mitch Nowicki
returned to the secondary.

"They know what to expect," said defensive coordinator John Urban,
in his 13th year with the Redhawks. "They pick up things faster because
it's review work. That's why we're playing so well this early."

<span class="roundup">Talent</span>

Experience made the defense better, but they've always been good.
As sophomores, they had six shutouts in an unbeaten season. 

And the juniors weren't just given those starting spots last year,
they earned them. Alvarez and Amberson had standout seasons, while
three other junior defensive players received DVC honors.

Speed is the main element of the defense. It starts with a line
that averages 240 pounds a man, but is quick enough to blow by bigger
offensive lines.

The real quickness comes at linebacker, where Amberson and Summers,
the pluggers, fly to the ball. Kocsis and Spaeth use their speed on
the outside. 

As with any good secondary, the Redhawks are speedy there, too.

"You need speed to play defense nowadays," Urban said. "The way
teams spread you out, you've got to be quick and get to the ball."

The Redhawks' speed allows them to compensate for any mistakes made
along the way. The execution has been good overall, but the athleticism
has made the defense perfect on the scoreboard.

"When you look at the film and see 10, 11 helmets on the ball-carrier,
that's always nice to see," Kocsis said. "We just have everyone flying
to the ball."

<span class="roundup">Unity</span>

The defense that stays together, plays together - until deep in
the playoffs.

The Redhawks have built a bond through four years, spending a ton
of time together during the season and then choosing to spend free
time together as well.

"We're all really good friends," Amberson said. "We all have the
same goals in mind."

There's team chemistry, chemistry within the defense, and then even
more of a bond within the different defensive groups.

There's a bond in the secondary, for example, where Uhlir, Nowicki,
Brett Anderson, Doug Brashler and junior Bob Siciliano will need to
be at their best tonight against WW South's passing game.

"The whole group has chemistry, but we've got a little four-man
family back there," Uhlir said. "When we're in a zone, everyone's
playing together."

They also keep the egos in check. They see the mistakes on film,
small as they may be, and take each week's challenge seriously.

"We still see a lot of room for improvement," Alvarez said. "And
that's scary."

Not nearly as scary as facing these guys.

Urban believes this could be the best defense in program history.
But if it is, it won't just be because of the shutouts.

"It's nice, but it's a stat I really don't care about," Urban said.
"As long as we improve, everything else will work out."