SEMO football preview: Redhawks secondary focused on 'vision and break'

This story is part of the Southeast Missouri State football preview series. Click here to read about how the team's staff analyzed the injuries that plagued the Redhawks last year to strengthen and protect players.

The Southeast Missouri State secondary has a goal to "lead the country in vision and break."

No, there's no statistic to measure that specifically, but for the safeties and cornerbacks, aiming to be the best at seeing the quarterback and reacting should lead to the forced turnovers, big stops and overall defensive success the Redhawks strive for.

"If we can get really, really good at vision and break meaning, see the quarterback, see what he's looking at and break on time that will lead to picks and big hits and limit big plays," safeties coach Eric Burrow said.

Burrow returns both junior Eriq Moore and senior David Coley, who will start at safety. He's also been impressed with the improvements of Poplar Bluff graduate and senior Josh Freeman and said that he and sophomore Omar Pierre-Louis, a transfer from Independence Community College, will contribute in the secondary.

"They're the guys making the checks and the adjustments and all that, and the guys we've got, now that we're in the second year of it, they're getting really comfortable with it so they're getting a lot better at that," Burrow said. "The defense just functions better as a whole because our safeties are more comfortable."

Moore had 65 tackles, three interceptions, four pass breakups and forced a fumble last season while Coley, whose strength is his man coverage according to Burrow, had 33 tackles and a pass breakup.

Moore, a member of the team's leadership council, is expected to direct the secondary on the field.

"He never stops talking, which is a good thing on defense, and his instincts are outstanding," Burrow said of Moore.

The cornerbacks are relatively new with first-year cornerbacks coach Melvin Rice leading several newcomers and a handful of players who saw limited action a year ago.

Jamarl Holloway, a transfer from Pearl River Community College and junior Ryan Moore are listed as the No. 1s at the position.

Ryan Moore played in six games with six tackles last season. He broke his leg while on special teams in the Redhawks' loss to Eastern Illinois on Oct. 18.

Sophomore Michael Ford moved to corner from receiver and Pearl River junior transfer Taron Divens joins the cornerback contingent.

"You know, I played the position, I was a corner, and to me it's the hardest position on the field other than quarterback because you're basically a reactor," Rice said. "You don't know what's coming your way. You never know when a quarterback's throwing your way. So you've got to be ready every day, every play, to compete and just as far as having swag, you've got to have that mentality about yourself that you're the best player on the field because there'll be times where receivers catch the ball but you've got to be coming to the line of scrimmage knowing that if it's coming your way you're going to make a play."

Cornerback JJ Flye remained sidelined through the Redhawks preseason He had surgery to repair his hand, which he injured in a firecracker accident on July 4.

"This summer I emphasized just being tough," Rice said. "Just being physical with receivers, being physical with your tackles and just being a tough athlete."