Less-heralded unit key to turnaround

With the ability to force as many turnovers as the Cougars have — 36 this season, topping the nation — the big boys up front have had plenty do with that.

Although they may not get the most notoriety or praise, the Cougars’ defensive line has helped turn around one of the country’s worst defenses a year ago — 118th in the nation — into one of the most tenacious.

“In my six seasons here, I think it’s the best defensive line we had, and the most consistent as well,” said head coach Tony Levine. “I’ve seen improvement in these young men transferring from what I see on the practice field into the game.”

The Cougars have allowed only a little more than 149 rushing yards per game, the fewest since 2007. They have traditionally never been a defense that will hold teams down to 14 points or less than 250 yards, as they are more of a under-sized group with finesse that has used its speed to compensate against opponents of larger size. The Cougars’ top five tacklers have the shortest average height in the American Athletic Conference at 5’ 11”, but that hasn’t stopped them from creating an impact.

Against Louisville on Nov. 16, the defensive line held Louisville’s offense, which scores more than 35 points per game, in check, which included four sacks on Heisman candidate Teddy Bridgewater.

“Our coaches have been saying we’ve done a real good job of dominating the line of scrimmage and just making our presence felt,” said junior defensive tackle Jeremiah Farley. “We might not statistically have the best games whether it comes to sacks or tackles for losses, but against bigger opponents, whatever their main goal is, we’ve done a really good job of shutting it down.”

Farley played in only five games last season, but even though he doesn’t start now, he has served as valuable asset to the nine-man rotation, as he is third on the team in sacks, with three.

“I’ve become more of a student to the game. I try to tweak how I play toward which will benefit me more in the game and just how I take on blocks and the presence with the rest of the defensive linemen. We’ve gotten better at running to the ball on every play and people not loafing around.”

Levine said one of the biggest improvements he has seen from his defensive line has been the ability to apply pressure with a four-man rush — not blitzing. Doing that reduces the stress on the linebacker and secondary, allowing sophomore safeties Trevon Stewart and Adrian McDonald to lead the team in interceptions, with four each.

Stewart said the coaches’ preaching to play until the whistle has helped shape the defense into one of the most opportunistic.

“(The defensive coaches) tell us that every single play, every single person, all 11 players need to get to the ball; somebody holding and somebody stripping the ball,” Stewart said. “We pride ourselves on turnovers and helping the offense out. It’s just all 11 players to the ball, and we hustle every single play. We do this every day in practice and during walkthroughs, so we are used to it now.”

[email protected]