Develon Isom
For Hurricane Valley Neighborhoods
• Published: November 03. 2010 4:55AM
| HURRICANE - Taylor, Eric and Taylor may sound like a law firm, but their days are spent on the gridiron - not in the courtroom.
Nevertheless they have raised the bar for defensive play this season.
Taylor, Eric and Taylor are three integral members of the Hurricane Tigers' defensive unit that has helped the team add nine wins in the 2010 regular season to the 32-6 three-year record by the program.
Taylor Frost, Eric Canfield, both senior co-captains, are joined by junior Taylor Parker as part of a tough defensive group. The three players have recorded more than 40 tackles apiece.
Frost patrols the field as middle linebacker. Canfield puts three fingers in the dirt as a defensive end and Parker provides back-line support as a safety.
Defensive backs coach Chris Hurst described them as playmakers that have a sense of timeliness.
"The heart and soul of our defense," Hurst said. "All three of those kids seem to make plays in tight moments.
"... Frost is a great middle backer. He does not try to do anything that he is unable to do. He just plays his assignments.
"Canfield is smart, he has a nose for the ball.
"And Parker is a good enough athlete that he can go up and get the pitchman or he can cover a quick receiver. He is very versatile."
Head coach Chris Homer said the kids learn early how Hurricane's program operates.
"I know there's tons of guys out there that get more tackles, more sacks and more individual accolades but that's not our brand of football," Homer said. "We don't have stars on that side of the ball. We run a system where everyone shares the load; everybody has to do their job."
Homer said Canfield learned the role last season as a back-up player and has flourished this year as a starter.
"He knows his job is to take on double teams, to keep 'em off Taylor Frost," Homer said. "We told him from day one the responsibility that D-lineman have. His willingness to do that speaks volume about his character."
Defensive line coach David Cullimore has helped many players during more than 20 years of coaching at Hurricane. He said Canfield plays with a motor that prevents coaches from removing him from the game.
"Kids develop in different manners," Cullimore said. "Because of his dedication and being a hard-nosed kid, he has put everything together to become the player that he is."
Frost has unique characteristics that distinguish his style from the antics of many football players of today.
"Frost doesn't big-time people," Homer said. "He doesn't go to the sideline making a show after a positive play."
Canfield said his co-captain is superbly committed to his off-the-field habits too.
"Taylor Frost is dedicated to being the best athlete he can be," Canfield said. "He eats so well. He won't eat anything bad at all. We dared him to eat a Snickers candy bar one time. He wouldn't do it."
Frost acts with a quick reaction to questions and has a clear vision of where he is going and what he is doing. He also has the most basic characteristic needed for playing defense and he openly admits what he enjoys.
"I love to hit people," Frost said.
The senior backer said he observed a great player from last year's 11-3 squad and wanted to emulate him.
"I looked up to Ian Gates ('09 All-Region linebacker) and I just wanted to fill his shoes," Frost said.
Parker will be around for another season. Parker has been groomed for next year's starting quarterback job, but he still has some work to put in on this year's team. Homer said talk about 2010 should be reserved for the senior players.
"Taylor Parker, I wouldn't give him too much love, he's a junior," Homer said. "He does his job and he keeps working. He's a great kid."
Captains Frost and Canfield wanted to talk about their younger teammate.
"He's always flying around making big plays for us," Frost said.
"He's been helping out the team ever since he was a sophomore," Canfield said. "Whenever we need him, he's pulls through."
Parker maturely answered the question of describing his view of the defense.
"We always try to be physical, execute and be disciplined," Parker said.
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