Why Jack Miller and the Wyo defense have the edge on their opponents

You might not want to sit across a poker table from Wyomissing linebacker Jack Miller. Your slightest movement — the twitch of eye, the tap of a finger — could offer a tell about your hand.

Guys in Las Vegas get rich off that stuff. Wyomissing’s defense is cashing in on it, too.

Miller has a unique ability to pick up signals from an opposing offense — alignments, motions, hand placements by linemen — and know what play is coming. Often before the snap he’s yelling out play calls.

“He’s amazing,” says Tommy Grabowski, who lines up at inside linebacker next to Miller.

Miller watches hours and hours of film of the opposing offense. He spends his lunch period every day huddling with Wyomissing linebackers coach Dave Outland and a couple teammates. They go over formations, motions, play tendencies — anything that can help give them an edge.

Those little things show up on a Saturday afternoon. The Spartans are ranked No. 1 in Berks in total defense, No. 1 in rushing defense, No. 1 in pass defense and No. 1 in scoring defense. They’re unbeaten, ranked No. 2 in the state in Class 3A and the top seed in the District 3 Class 3A Tournament.

They go for their third straight district title Saturday at 1 at the A-Field against second-seeded Boiling Springs (11-1).

The Bubblers run out of the Wing-T — same as Wyomissing — and are averaging 43.5 points. They’ll be at a disadvantage because Miller — the Linebacker of the Year in Section 2 of the Berks Football League — will often know exactly what play they’re running before they run it.

“I don’t know if we’ve ever had anyone smarter or more committed to learning the X’s and O’s than Jack,” said Wyomissing coach Bob Wolfrum. “He’s out there telling everybody where to line up. Against Southern Columbia our defense knew exactly what was coming and they were ready to defend everything they threw at us that night. That’s the way it is every week.”

Wyomissing won at Southern Columbia 41-21 at midseason, ending the longest winning streak in the nation.

The offense is generally considered to have the advantage because it knows the play and the snap count; the defense must react to those. Miller’s savant-like instincts help negate those advantages.

Against one opponent Outland’s lunch bunch noticed that the tackles were giving away the play. The right tackle was in a three-point stance, with his hand on the ground; the left tackle was in a two-point stance. That indicated the play was going to the right side.

Miller picked it up and yelled “Rover” — a signal to his guys it was going to the right. Pre-snap knowledge such as that is invaluable.

“It’s a huge advantage that we know what’s coming at us,” Miller said. “That’s going to give us an extra step. I feel like we’re really prepared.”

One thing opposing coaches always note about this Wyomissing defense is that players always seem to be in the right position. There’s talent there, for sure. End Aiden Mack has a scholarship to play at Richmond. Nevin Carter and Amory Thompson are three-year starters at cornerback. Miller, Mack, Carter, Thompson, Grabowski and nose guard Julian DiMaio each received all-league recognition.

“Talent’s great to have,” Wolfrum said, “but if it’s a choice between talent and smarts, I’ll take the smarts.”

The Spartans are coming off a shutout in which Middletown had just 48 total yards and didn’t complete a pass. In their playoff opener Northern Lebanon didn’t score until the final minutes when — trailing by 65 points — it settled for a field goal.

In two playoff games Wyomissing has allowed five first downs and 80 total yards — and that’s with Miller, Mack and the other starters on the bench for nearly half of the win over Northern Lebanon.

“Our defense is pretty damned good,” Wolfrum said after the 14-0 win over Middletown.

The Spartans will run into teams with bigger and faster players if they continue to advance in the PIAA Tournament. Knowing what plays their opponents are about to run will give them a better chance to compete.

“When those guys are insane athletes, really quick, really agile, if we can get any advantage it helps us so much,” said Miller.

“Everyone on our defense, they know what they’re doing,” said Grabowski.”Everybody’s dedicated, and that’s going to help us in the long run.”