By Rex Kirts
As a 6-2, 185-pounder playing defensive tackle, Joey Todd isn't going to overwhelm anyone.
As a matter of fact, he takes on much bigger opponents by trying to underwhelm them.
"I stay low," Todd said. "And, he added mischievously, "I play in the 'gray' area, a little dirty. I might head throw a guy when the ref isn't looking."
It's tough down there in the pit, and a guy has to do what he can to
As a 6-2, 185-pounder playing defensive tackle, Joey Todd isn't going to overwhelm anyone.
As a matter of fact, he takes on much bigger opponents by trying to underwhelm them.
"I stay low," Todd said. "And, he added mischievously, "I play in the 'gray' area, a little dirty. I might head throw a guy when the ref isn't looking."
It's tough down there in the pit, and a guy has to do what he can to
Joey Todd
survive. That's doubly true if he's giving up a 100 pounds or more to a very large offensive guard or tackle.
Last week, Lawrence Central had two 300-pound tackles and a 295-pound guard. That's scary opposition for a guy only 185 pounds.
How can the South senior throw a 6-5, 330 pounder? No, he isn't a rodeo bulldogger, but he's close. He's a wrestler when he isn't playing football.
Wrestlers learn all sorts of tricks to gain advantages, and they can be transferred to the combat on the line of scrimmage. Bloomington resident and IU grad Carl Barzilauskas played defensive tackle in the NFL with the Jets and Packers, and he said all the players on the Jets offensive line had been wrestlers.
PROBABLY NONE of them had competed at 185 pounds in high school, however.
There is a vast carryover benefit from wrestling to football.
"Wrestlng gives you the mindset of not quitting," Todd said. "Kids who have quit the team this year don't know how to focus on the task. If you think about how it feels (to withstand the rigors of football) you're going to want to quit.
"Also, wrestling makes you more aware of where your body's at. And I feel I'm more aggressive (from being a wrestler)."
Todd hopes for a better ending to the football season than the 1-5 start. And he hopes for a better ending to the wrestling season than last year. He got sick right before the sectional and missed the tournament last year. He will cut to 171 pounds for wrestling.
On a squad slim in numbers and in size, Todd accepted the role of a lineman. He plays both tackle and end on defense, and he plays tight end in certain situations. He had never played tight end before the first week of two-a-day practices this season.
"JOEY IS A SENIOR we count on to lead," coach Kirk Kennedy said. "He is a two-way player who stepped up at tight end for us.
"He's on the special teams. He fills a lot of important roles for us. He works hard, and he has a great attitude."
Todd began the year at end on defense but switched places with Cameron Hogue at tackle after a few games. Hogue is another "giant" on the defensive line at 5-7, 186.
"I like tackle because you've got to stop all the inside runs," Todd said. "If you stop those runs it helps you drastically."
He would like to improve his play as the season heads the back half of the schedule.
"Compared to last year I've improved," Todd said. "I'm faster and stronger, so I've improved overall.
" I NEED TO LEARN my plays better. There's a lot of blitzes where you go the opposite of the linebacker, and we have a lot of different alignment packages."
Todd likes Kennedy's demanding style of coaching. "It's a lot like coach (Royce) Deckard's approach (in wrestling). Old-school mentality, a lot of hard work that will pay off. I'm in better shape than last year."
Starting 1-5 hasn't been fun, but Todd feels the Panthers haven't thrown in the towel.
"We're learning a lot about life, how to overcome adversity," he said. "The ones who are still here are sticking together, staying positive, picking each other up."
When not playing football or wrestling Todd likes to fish and camp. "Pretty much anything outdoors," he said. Next year he plans to attend an in-state college, maybe IUPUI or Butler, and study engineering.
Last week, Lawrence Central had two 300-pound tackles and a 295-pound guard. That's scary opposition for a guy only 185 pounds.
How can the South senior throw a 6-5, 330 pounder? No, he isn't a rodeo bulldogger, but he's close. He's a wrestler when he isn't playing football.
Wrestlers learn all sorts of tricks to gain advantages, and they can be transferred to the combat on the line of scrimmage. Bloomington resident and IU grad Carl Barzilauskas played defensive tackle in the NFL with the Jets and Packers, and he said all the players on the Jets offensive line had been wrestlers.
PROBABLY NONE of them had competed at 185 pounds in high school, however.
There is a vast carryover benefit from wrestling to football.
"Wrestlng gives you the mindset of not quitting," Todd said. "Kids who have quit the team this year don't know how to focus on the task. If you think about how it feels (to withstand the rigors of football) you're going to want to quit.
"Also, wrestling makes you more aware of where your body's at. And I feel I'm more aggressive (from being a wrestler)."
Todd hopes for a better ending to the football season than the 1-5 start. And he hopes for a better ending to the wrestling season than last year. He got sick right before the sectional and missed the tournament last year. He will cut to 171 pounds for wrestling.
On a squad slim in numbers and in size, Todd accepted the role of a lineman. He plays both tackle and end on defense, and he plays tight end in certain situations. He had never played tight end before the first week of two-a-day practices this season.
"JOEY IS A SENIOR we count on to lead," coach Kirk Kennedy said. "He is a two-way player who stepped up at tight end for us.
"He's on the special teams. He fills a lot of important roles for us. He works hard, and he has a great attitude."
Todd began the year at end on defense but switched places with Cameron Hogue at tackle after a few games. Hogue is another "giant" on the defensive line at 5-7, 186.
"I like tackle because you've got to stop all the inside runs," Todd said. "If you stop those runs it helps you drastically."
He would like to improve his play as the season heads the back half of the schedule.
"Compared to last year I've improved," Todd said. "I'm faster and stronger, so I've improved overall.
" I NEED TO LEARN my plays better. There's a lot of blitzes where you go the opposite of the linebacker, and we have a lot of different alignment packages."
Todd likes Kennedy's demanding style of coaching. "It's a lot like coach (Royce) Deckard's approach (in wrestling). Old-school mentality, a lot of hard work that will pay off. I'm in better shape than last year."
Starting 1-5 hasn't been fun, but Todd feels the Panthers haven't thrown in the towel.
"We're learning a lot about life, how to overcome adversity," he said. "The ones who are still here are sticking together, staying positive, picking each other up."
When not playing football or wrestling Todd likes to fish and camp. "Pretty much anything outdoors," he said. Next year he plans to attend an in-state college, maybe IUPUI or Butler, and study engineering.
