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Simmons, Pugh Eye Winning Season

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By CHRIS ERRINGTON

Tribune correspondent

Published: September 4, 2008

TAMPA - For King's Travis Simmons and Rodney Pugh, the time has come. For new head coach Alvin Davis, there couldn't be a better pair leading the way.

Simmons, a senior outside linebacker, and Pugh, a senior defensive end, will anchor the left side of what both believes will be a rejuvenated defense and the key to a resurgent Lions program that's fallen on tough times.

"These two have never had a winning season and they see the light now with a new coaching staff," Davis said. "They think it's time for them to win, so they've been working together on and off the field.

"They want to win so badly and know they've only got one more shot at it. That determination is what makes them so good."

A season removed from a 2-8 campaign in which the Lions scored 121 points, including six or fewer five times, King will look to its 3-4 defense to set the tone - not just by holding its opponents in check, but also by providing its offense with favorable field position.

So far, King's first-team defense is so far ahead of its first-team offense, Davis said he doesn't often match the pair during practice. "I don't want to hurt our offense's confidence," he said, "because our defense just dominates."

For Davis to bring some of the success he enjoyed during his 17 seasons at Gibbs High to his new program, he will need the Lions defense to continue its ways. Simmons (6-foot-2, 194 pounds), who is being recruited by several Division I programs, and Pugh will play enormous roles. So key is the duo defensively, that they'll only be used sparingly on offense in order to keep them fresh late in games.

"I'm not surprised how well we're playing already," Simmons said. "We're ready for the season. It's just a matter of transferring what we do in practice to the field. We're planning on winning our district games and going to the playoffs."

Added Pugh, "I envision me holding my hands up winning district and going off to playoffs. That's what we've wanted since we got here."

While individually Simmons and Pugh can dominate, together Davis is hoping they can become game-changers. The pair, who've played together since their freshman season and often spend time together off the field, will key off one another on it. Pugh's assignment in the 3-4 alignment will be to contain plays to the inside and force backs to take a wider angle. Conversely, Simmons' task is keeping opponents from breaking containment and forcing them back inside.

Ideally, one or the other will make the tackle on any play to their side.

"We can get a lot of twists and speed rushes from these two guys and put pressure on the quarterback or stop the running game," Davis said. "I tell them every day that they're going to make the difference defensively. Some people don't want to play defense, but they have the right attitude to play it well.

"In 36 years of coaching football, this is the best combination I've ever had."

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