A baby has to walk before it learns how to run - the Ohio football team's defense is no different.
"It's like driving a car," defensive coordinator Tim DeRuyter said. "First you are always tense and always wondering where the driver's manual is at. Football is the same way and you have to get beyond that to play well."
Packaged in DeRuyter's trademark 3-4 formation, the Bobcat defense returns eight starters who are ready to start running this spring. The defense was a key factor in Ohio's improvement from a disastrous 1-10 season two years ago to a 4-8 record last season.
After the departure of defensive coordinator Tim Kish and his 4-3 set two years ago, DeRuyter retook the helm that he left in 1998 and improved the defense in every statistical category last season except average points allowed per game.
Now, with the majority of his defense familiar with the 3-4 scheme, DeRuyter will try to return his defense to the level he had it at in 1997, when it ranked among the top in the Mid-American Conference statistically and helped Ohio to an 8-3 finish.
"One of our top goals is to strive to be the best - there is no second-best for this team," linebacker Spencer Tatum said. "Our emphasis is on whipping guys for four straight quarters and no more playing around."
One area DeRuyter said he wanted the team to improve on is red-zone defense, especially when the opponent ends up with good field position.
"I think our mental psyche to not stand up (when the other team has good field position) is indicative of a young defense," he said. "I want my defense to look at it as an opportunity to cause a turnover, stone the offense and just get the job done."
For his defense to continue to improve, DeRuyter will have to fill vacancies in the secondary left by graduation of Bop White - a second team Mid-American Conference performer that finished third in the MAC in interceptions with six - and strong safety Joe Sellers.
Dion Byrum, who was moved from running back to cornerback in preseason practice last year, finished tied with strong safety Rob Stover with two interceptions and is slated to replace White.
Stover, a former linebacker, will move with former cornerback Chip Cox to fill the strong and free safety positions, respectively, DeRuyter said.
"I think (the secondary is) still pretty inexperienced," Cox said. "I've never played (free) safety and Stover has never played strong safety. We have experience playing in the defense, but we have about four guys that have a lot of talent and depth and not lot of experience."
Offensive linemen Eli Kiener and Andre Parker will help replace the graduation of noseguard Lamar Martin on the line with Keith Adamson and Kevin Carberry pushing them, DeRuyter said.
The linebacking core also will be flipped around this spring to help find the best four to put on the field, DeRuyter said. Linebackers Demetri Taylor, Dennis Chukwuemeka and Tatum are expected to play inside, and Hugh Grant and Rich Constantine look like the outside linebackers.
Despite all the internal changes to this year's defense, Ohio coach Brian Knorr said he expects them to flourish after facing last season's tough competition.
"These guys know what is like to play against the major competition like against Florida and Pitt," he said. "They learned how to compete in environments like the Swamp and Heinz Field and that is going to help their performance."
17 Archives
Paul Shugar
200304112665midsize.jpg
Noseguard Eli Kiener (bottom right) tries to bully past the offensive line. Kiener will look to replace his counterpart Lamar Martin this season.
