Ian Weber relied on to lead new-look Scott City defense

Everyone knows about the kind of power the Scott City Rams have on offense.

The defense is another story.

The Rams' offense scored an average of 49.2 points per game while allowing 16.5 last season. While much of the star firepower is back for another year, the defensive unit has gone through a lot of changes.

"We're still a work in progress, especially defensively," Scott City head coach Jim May said. "We lost everybody and we're replacing them with guys who don't have a lot of varsity experience."

With Trent Lathum now an SEMO Redhawk, someone else needs to step up to lead the Rams on the defensive front.

That someone is senior Ian Weber.

"There's a lot of people who have been in the shadows of the guys one year ahead of us," Weber said, "and this is really the year for a lot of people on defense to step up and show what they can do as a leader, me included."

The role of defensive leader was thrust upon Weber, who was originally someone who preferred working from the shadows. May emphasized his leaders being loud and vocal, something that required Weber and Lawson Graff to 'come out of our shells."

"We had to work on being loud and yelling because from a linebacker's perspective, especially, we are the voice of the defense," Weber said. "We have to be telling everyone else what's going on."

By playing the leadership role of linebacker, Weber had to grow not only on the gridiron but also as a person.

"It has definitely helped me become a more vocal person," Weber said. "I notice myself stepping up a lot more in practice, trying to motivate other people. Usually, I was the quieter one. Now I'm trying to step up, help other people out, and get them motivated to go to work. I feel like I'm more aggressive than I was last year. I feel like I'm playing a lot more forward, attacking as opposed to sitting back."

It's natural for Weber to assume the role of leader. The linebacker is similar to the quarterback of the defense. They can see the entire offensive setup and have a role against the pass and run. However, for Weber, his job once the ball is snapped, is to chase it at full speed.

"My favorite part is playing the runs up the middle," Weber said. "That's our time to shine. I've been told I have no pass responsibility. Pretty much runs, playing the run up the middle, playing forward, getting to go hit somebody — actually playing in the Jamboree last Friday was a really good time to step up and show what we can actually do."