Column: Shanahan to lean on ‘Fearsome Foursome’

Ask any long time football person and they will tell you that games are won up front. Sure, it is great to have a talented quarterback, receivers and running backs, but without an offensive line, the skill guys are usually ineffective.

On defense, if the front wall cannot stop the run or get some pressure on the quarterback, a team will be shredded and surely go down to defeat.

This season, Bishop Shanahan had high expectations. And with 28 seniors on the roster and quarterback Cooper Jordan, a three-year starter, one could see that the Eagles’ prospects were very bright in the 4A bracket.

But when Bishop Shanahan head coach Paul Meyers was asked what he thought the strength of his team was, he immediately said his defensive line.

And Meyers was right, The front four of Charles Adams, Liam Blakely, Kenny Daniels and Dylan Jones have done the job all season for the Eagles as they approach tonight’s Eastern Final against Bishop McDevitt.

Jones and Blakely play with a fiery passion that most opponents find hard to match while Daniels uses his guile and quickness, and Adams is just too big and strong to move.

The Eagles’ defense came up with big goal line stands in two playoff victories so far. The unit is talented, tough and they inspire the other seven players on the Eagles’ defense,

Tonight, Shanahan’s Fearsome Foursome will face a huge challenge against a Bishop McDevitt team that is averaging 61 points per game and has a huge and talented offensive line.

So far the Eagles’ front wall has not disappointed Meyers as they have been rock-solid all season.

Tonight, with a trip to Hershey on the line, the Eagles’ front four will have to bring the passion and grit one more time to get the Eagles over a very big hurdle.

One thing is sure, the Fearsome Foursome will give it everything it has on every play. And you really cannot ask for any more than that.

Pete DiGiovanni can be contacted at pdigiovanni07@gmail.com. Follow him @PeteDLN on Twitter.