Matching philosophies, outlook are why Wolfe is Marble Falls coordinator
CAPTION: New defensive coordinator Taylor Wolfe reps tackling drills with the Mustangs during skills work after they finish Forge, the athletic department’s summer strength and conditioning. Staff photos by Jennifer Fierro
Before Taylor Wolfe became the Marble Falls Independent School District football program’s defensive coordinator, he indicated he had some in-depth conversations with football head coach Keri Timmerman in March where the two shared their philosophies, beliefs and other intangibles to see if there was a fit.
“(That was) when we decided this thing was going to take place,” Wolfe said. “So I had a couple trips down to watch the kids and kind of evaluate them a little bit and then spend time in strength and conditioning or summer Forge. It’s been great. Numbers are great and not just football numbers – girl athletes are working out, you have other sports showing up, you have junior high kids showing up. I’m real pleased with what I’m seeing, always work to do and we’re in the process of teaching the scheme and seeing what fits us best, getting the coaches comfortable with everything but as of right now, everything is going great.”
When the Marble Falls Independent School District Board of Trustees were approving Wolfe’s hire in May, he was already watching the 7-on-7 varsity team with numerous new faces. Some of the program’s best known players and leaders, including Kaleb Bielfeldt, Brody Graham, Gregory Lemon and Doak Timmerman, were graduating. So Wolfe is inheriting a unit seeking new leaders and new playmakers.
Timmerman has said that he and Wolfe share many of the same defensive beliefs and philosophies. The coordinator said he first developed those beliefs from men he worked for – Crowley head coach Carlos Lynn when the two worked at Cedar Hill, Shawn Bell when they were at Magnolia West, and Sam Robinson when the two were at Round Rock Cedar Ridge.
“I think, especially when you get to the (Class) 4A level, you really have to look at your kids and see what they can do best, and then you have layers or different ways to present a front or different ways to present a coverage that can match what our kids can do,” Wolfe said. “So we’re evaluating whether we’re going to be a four-down (4-3 defensive front) or a three-down (3-4 defensive front), what kind of coverage that we’re going to run. But it all ties into each other. So what I’m teaching right now is — call it the base of it — and how we fit the run and how we fit the pass. And then I can present a different looking defense week to week. But all the rules tie together. Now are we going to be a four-down a three-down? I’m not exactly sure, but I do know that no matter what they’re learning the system. So no matter what look we present an offense, it all fits together. So it can be complicated on a coach’s end but for the kids, they know how to lineup, they know, ‘hey, here’s my eyes, here’s my fit.’ What I take pride is has always been stopping the run. I think whether it’s fourth grade football or up to the NFL, if you can stop the run, you have a really good shot to win the football game.”
Wolfe said he is “in the process of evaluating last year’s film and years prior and kind of seeing what the run average was” and indicated he sees plenty that’s encouraging.
“We want to fit, and we want to play fast and aggressive and keep it simple for the kids,” the coordinator said. “The only thing I take pride in is tackling in different ways. Several years ago I listened to (Georgia head coach) Kirby Smart speak at a clinic and how he broke down some stuff, and I’ve kind of taken his philosophy with that and worked with some great coaches at previous schools. We’ve sat down and really try to track tackling, I guess probably over the last six or seven years. It’s something we’ll take seriously. We’ll rep it every day, and then I hope on Friday nights we show everybody that we are a well-tackling team. Because if you can stop the run and tackle well, you’re going to be in good shape.”
CAPTION: New defensive coordinator Taylor Wolfe reps tackling drills with the Mustangs during skills work after they finish Forge, the athletic department’s summer strength and conditioning.
