Riverview Sharks Summer Preview: Part 3 – Defense.

If the Riverview High School Sharks are able to find success with their offense this year, they will need their defense to keep them in games. Wing offenses are not known for their scoring. The Sharks were shut out in six of their games last season and averaged just more than five points per game.

Riverview should improve on those numbers this year. It must improve on those numbers this year.

The defense did not help the offense too much last season, surrendering an average of 38 points per game, a number the team hopes to reduce this season. The Sharks could have a tough time against Plant City, Newsome, Spoto, Durant and Brandon, but if the Sharks but can focus in on teams like Steinbrenner, Leto, and East Bay, they could find a way to get some victories.

That is, if the defense holds up.

They have plenty of size up front. Senior Jeffrey Williams returns for his senior year at defensive tackle. Williams was a starter last year and has the size and strength to chew up some blocks and put pressure on the backfield. His presence on the team as a veteran is very important as well.

“I keep telling the young guys to push it,” Williams said.

Williams is taking his senior year seriously and realistically.

“I think we can get five games this year,” he said. “I’m 150 to 200 percent more focused this year. I want to make it to college.”

Despite the woeful record the last three years, the Sharks have placed 18 kids in college.

Senior Ryan O’Hara returns to his defensive tackle position, next to Williams. Thus, there’s a bit of stability and experience inside.

The outside is another story. No one has really emerged as the bonafide defensive ends. The Sharks have some kids that play offensive line who can switch over, like Kyle Lancaster, but they will need a couple guys that can hold the ends down before fall.

Captaining the middle of the defense is senior Sean Shapiro. He is a three-year starter and was a Second Team Hillsborough County All-Western Conference in his junior year, when he compiled 83 total tackles, 57 solo.

“I’m proud to be one of the team leaders, picking up where past ones left off,” Shapiro said.

Seniors Antwan Neal and LaDarian Stevenson will man the outside linebacker spots. Neal also plays fullback on offense, so he will need some help at linebacker.

In the defensive secondary, junior Chase McCoy will play strong safety. He has good speed and showed well at the spring game against Lennard.

At free safety, senior Ricardo Dorval is coming behind his older brother in the program. Dorval is very athletic, according to coach Bruce Gifford, and also had a very good spring game.

At corner, junior Greg Williams is a “big, rangy kid,' Gifford said.

“The other corner spot we’re trying out,” Gifford said.

They hope that junior Aaron Speak can come back from a broken leg suffered in the spring game. It’s very early to consider Speak coming back from a clean tibia and fibula break, but perhaps later in the season he could contribute as a sub. Still, the Sharks will have to find someone else at least to start the year.

“We have guys we’ll stick in there and play,” Gifford.