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Is this the year we hang our hat on our Defense? An attacking, offensive Defense? Averaging 7 points/game?

I feel like it's shaping up that way. Last year, we were the kings of bend don't break, and then we'd really clamp down in the 2nd half of games.

Do we build upon that this year?

I feel like Darius Phillips is progressing to the point that in man-2-man, nobody's going to test him.

Our linebackers and safeties are experienced. Our D Line has athleticism.

I'd love to have that Defensive bent like scUM had in '97. Shutouts. Safeties. TOUCHDOWNS. Absolutely agressive and confident.

Anyone have any juicy insights here?

Potential to be the best WMU defense since 2000.

Should be very interesting on how many teams will actually punt / kick to Darius giving him a chance to make a return LOL

I agree, our defense should be VERY VERY strong, and with our running attack, we should be able to keep our opposing offense off the field with our solid defense and long offensive drives.

This should be a defense that is better than most of us have seen in a while. While there is some young guys, they've all been on the field quite a bit. And you have 3 senior linebackers who can really play.

I love our corners. I think Beal and Obbie Jackson are extremely capable on the other side of the ball from Phillips. Tranquill is just going to continue to get better. We will miss Ferguson though. Ginwright showed some good flashes, but not sure he is going to be the fourth guy back there. Rucker, Boyd, Claiborne and Tanner provide really good depth.

I'm really hoping to find some depth on the D-line. We always seem to get some injuries along the line.

(06-23-2017 07:08 PM)broncofan1 Wrote:  I'm really hoping to find some depth on the D-line. We always seem to get some injuries along the line.

I think we have more than we think. At least at DT. DE might be a little thin, but it seems the DL is a big priority in recruiting now.

I haven't been this excited about the potential of Western's defense in a while. And I thought we were pretty good last year.

The running game and defense should be a terrific tandem this year. Run time off the clock, keep the defense fresh....and this is a defense that will wreak havoc while fresh. Tim Daoust and Lou Esposito will bring an attacking defense that aims for disruption behind the line. I'm interested to see what they do with this group.

DL has a lot of talent, but lacking experience. Starting 4 might be Turner, Matich, Finley, Assoua. But the 4 behind them could just as easily step into a starting role: Guillory, Jackson, Aguirre, Balabani. We will also have JC transfer Jamal Williams. A lot of unknowns here, but exciting unknowns. Lots of potential.

Starting LBs are all-MAC material. Brown, Spillane and Bailey will be rock solid. Behind them is where I'm worried. It's a position that has suffered attrition over the years, so depth is an issue. Grace and Spears are exciting younger guys, but after them?....a bunch of true frosh. Granted, I really like the group of linebackers in the 2017 class, but relying on so many freshmen is worrisome.

DBs are as deep as ever. Phillips, Beal/O. Jackson, Tranquill, Ginwright are a solid starting group. Behind them is a host of talent: Boyd, E. Jackson, Claiborne, Tanner, Rucker. Any one of those guys could push for a starting spot. Very excited about this group!

I think overall this is a very talented and decently experienced group, and they will win the team a lot of games this year.

Phil Steele says we return guys who made 76% of our tackles from last season which is 18th in the country. This is usually a good indicator of defensive improvement. EMU, Buffalo and Miami OH were ahead of WMU in this category.

Miami returns a bunch on both sides of the ball. They're going to be tough this year and I'm glad we don't have to face them....except maybe in the MACC!

(06-24-2017 04:03 PM)ColinApocalypse Wrote:  Miami returns a bunch on both sides of the ball. They're going to be tough this year and I'm glad we don't have to face them....except maybe in the MACC!

Wouldn't be surprised to see that happen.

I did like whooping their ass for two years straight since Chuck Martin is their coach.

Defense and offense need to be good at the same time. If offense doesn't move the ball and leaves the defense in bad spots the "defense" will give up lots of points, but as much the offense fault as the defense.

I would feel better about our D if we had same guys running the show. I am skeptical about the new crew. Let's say a prayer, cross fingers, and expect the same quality of football we had the past few years. It is more than doable.

(06-25-2017 06:40 AM)brovol Wrote:  I would feel better about our D if we had same guys running the show. I am skeptical about the new crew. Let's say a prayer, cross fingers, and expect the same quality of football we had the past few years. It is more than doable.

I don't know why you would make this comment. Both Daoust and Esposito have some pretty solid achievements in their respective resumes. On the other hand, Pinkham's D almost lost the MACC for WMU. It was Spillane who made the final stop. The D was pushed from one end of the field to the other for the entire 2nd half.

I'm looking forward to watching the Defense this fall and fully expect them to be improved from last years squad.

(06-25-2017 06:28 PM)Potro Wrote:  

(06-25-2017 06:40 AM)brovol Wrote:  I would feel better about our D if we had same guys running the show. I am skeptical about the new crew. Let's say a prayer, cross fingers, and expect the same quality of football we had the past few years. It is more than doable.

I don't know why you would make this comment. Both Daoust and Esposito have some pretty solid achievements in their respective resumes. On the other hand, Pinkham's D almost lost the MACC for WMU. It was Spillane who made the final stop. The D was pushed from one end of the field to the other for the entire 2nd half.

I'm looking forward to watching the Defense this fall and fully expect them to be improved from last years squad.

Wow. You're a tough cookie. If I remember correctly I thought the Bobcats got a jolt from a new QB. Taking the season in totality though, the Bronco defense was quite tough. Two shutouts I believe. Defense consistently shut teams down in the second half. Including doing so after the first 10 minutes of the Cotton Bowl against Wisconsin.

You want to be excited about the new guys? That's fine. But our defense was coordinated quite well last season.

(06-25-2017 07:48 PM)Stampede your face!! Wrote:  

(06-25-2017 06:28 PM)Potro Wrote:  

(06-25-2017 06:40 AM)brovol Wrote:  I would feel better about our D if we had same guys running the show. I am skeptical about the new crew. Let's say a prayer, cross fingers, and expect the same quality of football we had the past few years. It is more than doable.

I don't know why you would make this comment. Both Daoust and Esposito have some pretty solid achievements in their respective resumes. On the other hand, Pinkham's D almost lost the MACC for WMU. It was Spillane who made the final stop. The D was pushed from one end of the field to the other for the entire 2nd half.

I'm looking forward to watching the Defense this fall and fully expect them to be improved from last years squad.

Wow. You're a tough cookie. If I remember correctly I thought the Bobcats got a jolt from a new QB. Taking the season in totality though, the Bronco defense was quite tough. Two shutouts I believe. Defense consistently shut teams down in the second half. Including doing so after the first 10 minutes of the Cotton Bowl against Wisconsin.

You want to be excited about the new guys? That's fine. But our defense was coordinated quite well last season.

Our best defense last year was our ball control/clock consuming offense. I agree that the D was very good at making half-time adjustments. That said, I was startled how they were often pushed around at the start of a game. Most weeks it took a couple of series for the D to come into its own.

Some weeks the defense was dominate (Ill, CMU, Akron, Buffalo) and others they were stymied to start the game (think EMU) or OU (in the 2nd half)

Yes, the Bobcats changed QBs--- and we had no answer.

(06-25-2017 08:04 PM)Potro Wrote:  Our best defense last year was our ball control/clock consuming offense. I agree that the D was very good at making half-time adjustments. That said, I was startled how they were often pushed around at the start of a game. Most weeks it took a couple of series for the D to come into its own.

Some weeks the defense was dominate (Ill, CMU, Akron, Buffalo) and others they were stymied to start the game (think EMU) or OU (in the 2nd half)

Perfect post. Kent St and Ball St come to mind last year, too, in which the defense came out flat.

MAN I wish I could've watched that illinois game live!

(06-25-2017 08:07 PM)Bronco14 Wrote:  

(06-25-2017 08:04 PM)Potro Wrote:  Our best defense last year was our ball control/clock consuming offense. I agree that the D was very good at making half-time adjustments. That said, I was startled how they were often pushed around at the start of a game. Most weeks it took a couple of series for the D to come into its own.

Some weeks the defense was dominate (Ill, CMU, Akron, Buffalo) and others they were stymied to start the game (think EMU) or OU (in the 2nd half)

Perfect post. Kent St and Ball St come to mind last year, too, in which the defense came out flat.

The Ball State game... really?

(06-25-2017 08:34 PM)Hoekjeness Wrote:  

(06-25-2017 08:07 PM)Bronco14 Wrote:  

(06-25-2017 08:04 PM)Potro Wrote:  Our best defense last year was our ball control/clock consuming offense. I agree that the D was very good at making half-time adjustments. That said, I was startled how they were often pushed around at the start of a game. Most weeks it took a couple of series for the D to come into its own.

Some weeks the defense was dominate (Ill, CMU, Akron, Buffalo) and others they were stymied to start the game (think EMU) or OU (in the 2nd half)

Perfect post. Kent St and Ball St come to mind last year, too, in which the defense came out flat.

The Ball State game... really?

Yes, don't you recall their running back running at will against us in the first half?? He had like 150 yards and busted a long one for TD the drive after the Darius pick six. Then of course we adjusted in the 2nd half and shut him down big time.

Looking back at the cotton bowl, if ZT doesn't throw that pick after that huge 3 and out stop for our defense in the third quarter and we had someone big enough to cover fumagali, I think we win the game, we contained their running game in the 2nd half and we were wearing them down big time with our running game. For the life of me though, I will never understand why we throw the ball on first down from our own end zone when our running game was awesome in the 2nd half. Well now I know, it was peejays last game and he didn't give a sh@@