Clover improvement starts with defensive ends

It makes sense that Elijah Plummer and A.J. Pennington are Clover’s playmakers on the defensive side of the ball when you consider their parents.

Plummer’s dad, Homoer, played football at Nebraska-Omaha. Pennington’s parents run the Anytime Fitness gym in Lake Wylie.

“They’re guys that are definitely good athletes but the great thing about both of them is they practice and work so hard, whether it’s in the weight room or running sprints,” said Chris Bunting, Clover’s defensive coordinator. “Those guys are always at the front of their group pushing.”

Bunting said the defensive ends are the strength of the Blue Eagles defense. They’ll be critical in helping Clover – 3-8 last season – to its goal of returning to playoff contention for the first time since 2010.

“We pride ourselves on defense and running the football,” Clover coach Chad Smith said earlier this month. “The better you can get at either one of those things, the better off you’ll be.”

Creating turnovers is an area of focus that Clover coaches think can take the Blue Eagles defense up a notch. A 10-minute turnover circuit is part of the daily practice routine, and it helps that Smith added Sheldon Brown as a defensive backs coach. The former Lewisville Lions legend, South Carolina Gamecock standout and pro cornerback forced 35 turnovers in 11 NFL seasons.

If the preseason is any indicator, those things are working. Clover fell behind Hunter Huss (N.C.) through an early touchdown during the teams’ scrimmage Friday, but the Blue Eagles came back to win 27-7 thanks in large part to Plummer’s two fumble recoveries, including one for a touchdown. Plummer and Pennington both are quicker off the ball than the tackles blocking them, and each had a sack in the scrimmage against Hunter Huss.

Clover uses different defensive end technique from most teams. Plummer and Pennington line up facing inward toward their defensive tackle, instead of forward toward the offensive linemen.

“We tilt those guys because we want those guys to wreak havoc down the line of scrimmage and spill the ball on runs, to make the ball go east and west instead of north and south,” said Bunting.

Plummer and Pennington don’t register many tackles. Their job in the run game is to cave in the line, leaving the free safeties untouched to make tackles in the Blue Eagles’ 4-2-5 scheme.

“If we get to where we’re supposed to be and what we’re taught, it’s a kill-shot on the running back the majority of the time,” said Pennington. “If we follow our assignment, our scheme, it works very well for us.”

Plummer, who is 6-foot-2 and 195 pounds, is a senior captain, the oldest of four boys, and very humble “That’s just the way he was raised,” said Bunting. “There’s not a whole lot of ego there.”

With his parents operating a gym, it’s no surprise that Pennington stands out because of his 6-foot-1, 220-pound frame.

“He’s continued to develop his body and he’s actually a phenomenal athlete with his height, size and speed,” said Bunting. “He’s a kid that’s really put together well.”

Plummer has heavy interest from the FCS and Division II college football levels, and Bunting thinks both of his defensive ends are college material. Pennington just needs more defensive end film after switching positions midway through last season.

Finding athletes like Plummer and Pennington isn’t a problem at a school like Clover, the 13th biggest in the state. But being athletic doesn’t matter when the system isn’t second nature.

Bunting knew “it would be a process to get us back to the point where we can compete week-in, week-out with everybody.” Headed into the third year, Clover players know the defensive scheme better and are playing faster, the two defensive ends especially. Bunting has also been able to add more nuances and wrinkles to the scheme thanks to the players’ understanding.

The biggest requisite for Clover’s defense is getting stops and turnovers, especially in region play against some of the best offenses in the state.

“We can’t stay on the field all night,” Bunting said. “We need to get the ball back in the hands of our offense and let them eat the clock up. I’m not gonna say that the season hinges on us, but the reality is we need to play well and get the turnovers that we need to get the ball back in our offense’s hands.”

This story was originally published August 19, 2015 at 4:33 PM with the headline "Clover improvement starts with defensive ends."