Southeast Missouri State football team's defense seeks element of surprise with three linemen

When opponents of the Southeast Missouri State football team line up against the Redhawks' defense this season and stare into the eyes of three defensive linemen they shouldn't feel too comfortable.

The unease that Southeast's opponents may feel will come from the uncertainty of what the Redhawks 3-4 defense could bring.

"The 3-4, there's the illusion of that fourth or that fifth blitzer coming at anytime, so just basing out of it makes an offense uneasy," Southeast defensive coordinator Bryce Saia said. "Then it's so multiple. You can do multiple fronts, multiple coverages, multiple blitzes out of it."

Southeast ran a 4-3 defense before this season, and Saia said the change came about for recruiting purposes.

"It's easier at this level, and in this country, to find linebackers than it is to find big people," Saia said. "So I try to recruit more linebackers and just a handful of big people. It's easier to recruit to a 3-4."

The defense will be anchored by the front line of 6-foot-2, 314-pound sophomore Marlon Hampton at nose tackle, 6-1, 281-pound junior Jon Slania at defensive tackle and 6-3, 262-pound junior Travis Sanders at defensive end.

"We're asking some guys to do some things that they haven't done before, just from a body-type [standpoint]," defensive line coach Ricky Coon said. "Going from a four-man front to a three-man front, now some of those guys that were edge guys now have to move and play inside a little bit. It's just different. They've done a really good job with that. We've had some guys that have bought in and have gained weight like we've asked them to do, and we've put them on a plan to do that, and again, it's been really smooth."

Hampton, who played in all 12 games as a true freshman and had 14 tackles last year, lost more than 20 pounds according to Coon, while Sanders, who had 39 tackles in 11 games last season, gained about 20 pounds of "good weight," to better suit them in their positions.

But before the scheme change, and the subsequent physical changes of members on the line, the defense experienced what the coaches consider to be the most important change.

"We needed to change the culture. We had to do that," Coon said. "We had to change the culture, we had to change the mentality. From Day 1, we didn't talk about scheme, we didn't talk about opponents -- we talked about ourselves. We talked about, 'What do we need to do to be a great defense?' and that's running to the football, being physical, creating takeaways and just executing and doing your job."

Slania believes that the new defensive scheme fits the personnel of the team better than the previous 4-3.

"We've got a lot of fast guys," Slania said. "We might not be the biggest guys out there, but we move pretty good, so the 3-4 is definitely an advantage for us."

Slania said the 4-3 is faster.

"We've got more blitzers, guys coming from all different places, so it's harder for the offense to pick it up," Slania said. "I really like it, personally. I played the other defense for two years and this one I've caught on well, everyone has, and I'm excited about our athleticism on defense."

Southeast will play with four linebackers. Senior Wisler Ymonice, Southeast's top returning tackler with 66, and sophomore Roper Garrett, who had 65 tackles, will start.

"It definitely makes my job easier," Garrett said about the new defense. "We've got those three big guys in front of me. It doesn't let the linemen get up to me and it makes my job a lot easier."

True freshman Hunter Bledsoe and sophomore Terrance Hill are competing for another starting linebacker spot. Sophomores Lloyd Laufili-Time and Chad Meredith will share time as outside linebackers.

Head coach Tom Matukewicz believes that the secondary is the strength of the defense heading into the season.

"Well, they're skilled, but it's their passion to compete," Matukewicz said about the secondary. "You know, you can just tell when the ball's in the air: are we just trying to get an incomplete or is that our ball? You know what I mean? I really feel like that passion, that competitiveness back there is really good and I think coach Fisher and coach Eric Burrows have done a great job with those guys."

Senior cornerbacks Reggie Jennings and Tim Hamm-Bey return following seasons of 39 and 34 tackles, respectively. Jennings had two interceptions.

"You need pass rushers, you need people to stop the run like the linebackers, and then there's that 'No Fly Zone' back there," Jennings said indicating the secondary's job to limit receptions. "I think from top to bottom we're pretty good."

Sophomore Eriq Moore is expected to start at strong safety and junior David Coley at free safety. Moore had 17 tackles and one interception that he returned 72 yards last season.

"When you play back behind it you've got to have a short memory," Saia said. "We have good receivers in this program, so that's been kind of a back-and-forth battle everyday. But how you tell about a secondary is when something bad happens. How do they answer that? They've been answering it. They're resilient. They're athletic. And they love playing the game and they play fast. It's a good group."

According to Saia, Southeast's defensive players understand the game, and have a high football IQ that allowed them to grasp the new scheme rather efficiently.

"Coach Tuke and I, we were at Toledo, and usually you have kind of a standard install that you go through," Saia said. "We really had to back off of that install at Toledo because the kids just could not get it. These kids get it. Like we've pushed them, obviously physically, but we've pushed them mentally, too, and mentally they usually learn it if not the first time, the second time. That goes a long way when it's a new system and you're trying to install a package."

Southeast is not going to redshirt any of the freshmen defenders from this staff's first recruiting class.

"We've become a stronger unit over preseason," Garrett said. "I feel like we're all getting the plays and stuff that we need down. We're becoming more like a team and I feel like we're really strong right now as a defensive unit."

For now, as they prepare to face a Missouri Baptist team that's playing its first game in program history, there's not much that the Redhawks' defense can worry about other than themselves.

"Our kids, their mentality is good, they're playing tough, they're playing hard, they're flying around and our execution is good, so when you do those things I don't think it matters who you play," Coon said. "And that's what we talk about: It doesn't matter who you play, it doesn't matter what you run schematically; what matters is running to the football, creating turnovers and being physical, and doing your job. Those are four things that we're doing really well right now, and I'm comfortable with that. Just a little uneasy not knowing much about your opponent, but they don't matter -- we matter. That's the most important thing."

Saia noted that fundamentally sound play is what his player's need to focus on.

"Missouri Baptist is in their first year as a program, so we don't know what we're going to get from them," Saia said. "Second game, Kansas University, new offensive coordinator, we're not too for sure what we're going to get on them. So we've just got to believe in fundamentals. Just a good stance, keeping it likable and learnable, and running to the ball."

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Coaches perspective on defensive players

Safeties coach Eric Burrow on Eriq Moore:

Eriq Moore

He's like a coach on the field, which is surprising for a sophomore. He's my best communicator, he's my best leader of my group. He's definitely the most vocal and the guy I trust the most. We run a very multiple defense, especially in the secondary and it takes a lot to play safety, and he's the most prepared.

Safeties coach Eric Burrow on David Coley:

David Coley

Coley is your prototypical Division I safety. He's got all the size and the speed and the talent and cover skills. He's my most talented guy. Big, strong, fast (and has) great cover skills.

Cornerbacks coach Travis Fisher on Tim Hamm-Bey:

Tim Hamm-Bey

He's a senior, you know, a guy that has been on the path. He's worked his behind off ever since he was young and he's worked his way up into a solid, solid starter. He can play anywhere on the field. He has a very high IQ, he's very tough. He has quickness and he plays the ball very good in the air. Looking forward to a lot out of Tim.

Cornerbacks coach Travis Fisher on Reggie Jennings:

Reggie Jennings

Reggie is probably the smartest guy, one of the smartest guys, on the secondary. He's the captain, he's the leader, he floats the boat, so to say, in the secondary. Very tough guy. He's not very fast, but he plays to his ability, so he plays smart. He has very good instincts, very smart. He knows how to bait you into a route. He knows the defense. He knows his surroundings. Reggie should have a very good senior year.

Defensive line coach Ricky Coon on Jon Slania:

Jon Slania

He's had a lot of playing experience on the field, so he's a veteran. He's a bigger guy, one of our bigger guys that we have, which is always a plus in our three-man front. Those guys have to be a little bit bigger than your traditional four-man front guys do. He's tough, you know, he plays hard. He's smart and he has a great motor. And he's mean -- he's a good and hard-nosed player. He's an old school guy and I like that a lot.

Defensive line coach Ricky Coon on Marlon Hampton:

Marlon Hampton

He has the body type we need for the nose guard position. He's a big kid and his best football's ahead of him. He's come along nicely since the spring and we're just continuing to work on his demeanor. He's getting a lot better. Really athletic for a big person -- runs well, changes directions well, and I'm expecting big things out of Marlon.

Defensive line coach Ricky Coon on Travis Sanders:

Travis Sanders

He and Jon are kind of alike -- and I wish I had more of them -- but they're just tough guys. You know, Travis is an extremely tough person, he plays really hard and he has a chip on his shoulder, and he has a little bit of an edge. He's tough and mean and just plays so hard and gets after people, and that's what you have to have up front.

Defensive coordinator Bryce Saia on Wisler Ymonice:

Wisler Ymonice

He's a smart player, he's crafty. He's just like a vet, like he's a grown man. He plays like a vet.

Defensive coordinator Bryce Saia on Roper Garrett:

Roper Garrett

You know, I've coached (Division) IA football before and he reminds me of a Division IA player. He's just got it.

Defensive coordinator Bryce Saia on Terrance Hill:

Terrance Hill

He's really consistent right now and he's really good to work with. His football IQ is high and he's a really consistent guy.

Defensive coordinator Bryce Saia on Lloyd Laufili-Time and Chad Meredith:

Lloyd Laufili Time

They'll kind of rotate in and out. Both of them have big-time motors, like they play hard.

Chad Meredith

Defensive coordinator Bryce Saia on Hunter Bledsoe:

Hunter Bledsoe

Hunter's got talent. Like the sky's the limit for that kid. He's got a lot of talent that he brings to the table.