FERRIDAY — They know they aren’t the biggest or the strongest, but that doesn’t dishearten the Delta Charter linemen, because they know, they are the anchors of the team.

Delta Charter, which is entering their first competitive season in the LHSAA, will rely heavily upon their big men next year.

“They are really important because the skilled guys we have can make plays when they get out in space,” Delta Charter head coach Dwayne Taylor said. “Those offensive linemen hold their blocks really well and take care of the skill guys. By them doing that, it helps get our elusive guys into space.”

A major issue the Storm face, however, is the inexperience and lack of size up front.

“We have three guys that didn’t play last year and one of them had never played before,” Taylor said. “But I saw growth from them this spring. They can only go up and only get better. They had a couple of hiccups in the spring game, but that is expected when you have an eighth grade center and three ninth-graders starting on the line. But I think they are going to pull through for us in the end.”

The linemen themselves even know the pressure is on, and that most people will be gunning for them simply because of that.

“There is no doubt about it, we are the smallest people around,” rising junior Tyler Heard said. “Everybody thinks they are going to come down here and kick our butts because they think they can run over us because we are the smallest.”

In the Storm’s spring game, though, the line showed opponents it wasn’t going to be as easy as just showing up and running them over.

Delta Charter was able to throw for 104 yards in the spring game thanks to the time the line gave quarterback Trey Poole to sling the ball around.

“Our guy is back there and we have to keep him safe,” Heard said. “If we mess up this or one little thing goes wrong, he is out of the game and we are in trouble. So yeah, it is a lot of pressure.”

Another pressure packed situation the linemen face is keeping up with Taylor’s up-tempo offense, which rarely huddles and runs to the ball and lines up after every play.

“The linemen always run extra and I always give them some extra things to do,” Taylor said. “They have to be more in shape than the skill guys because they are heavier and they have to be able to carry that up and down the field. They take on the challenge really well and it is appreciated by everyone.”

Not only are the linemen improving on an individual basis, they are also becoming one functional unit, something Taylor said is key for success.

“It is like they are trying to bond and get to know each other,” he said. “That makes me happy because when they are busting their butt and are together, it is easy for us as a coaching staff and as a team.”

Now, the Storm turn their attention to summer workouts, which could be make or break for the upcoming season, especially on the line.

“They are really big,” said Taylor of the workouts. “No questions asked and take no prisoners. They’ve got to be there. If they aren’t, they can’t play.”