The 2015 Memphis defense will have an unfamiliar look to most Tiger fans. Eight starters and three backups from last season’s 10-3 team have graduated, leaving the remaining Tigers to try and pick up where they left off.
Former defensive coordinator Barry Odom departed for the same position at his alma mater, the University of Missouri. Linebackers coach Galen Scott was promoted to defensive coordinator, and already being involved with Tiger success should help him fill the void Odom left.
Memphis coach Justin Fuente said he hopes his defense is anxious to live up to the example shown by last year’s defense, which finished 11th in the country in scoring defense, giving up 19.5 points per game, but admits it will be challenging.
“We executed at a high level time and time again,” Fuente said. “We had guys that through the ups and downs of a game and a season could maintain their focus and execute at a high level. That’s a difficult thing to do for younger and more inexperienced guys.”
Finding new leaders
Apart from their talent, Tank Jakes, Bobby McCain, Martin Ifedi and the rest of the seniors on the defense last season brought valuable leadership for a team and program that desperately needed it. This season, the 2015 Tiger defense will have a chance to show everyone what they’ve learned.
“They should us how it’s done,” said junior linebacker Jackson Dillon. “How to work. You go to Martin Ifedi, Charles Harris and Bobby McCain and all those guys the way all those guys worked and took care of their bodies and how accountable they were. They didn’t have to say anything we just saw that and looked at that and saw the results.”
Fuente said to be a leader you have to a certain comfort level within yourself to achieve and put yourself out there.
“I think you can facilitate it, but there’s got to be something in there that people can’t give you,” Fuente said. “There’s got to be something in there that I can’t teach that came from somewhere. My only hope is we can find those guys and foster that.”
Dillon, who led all returning players in tackles, tackles for loss and sacks last season, is one of the few expected to grow into a leadership role this season. Linebacker Wynton McManis and safety Reggis Ball will also be looked upon to provide the leadership in the linebacker and defensive backfields.
“When you’re on the field with Reggis (Ball) you don’t want to be caught not focusing, because Reggis is 100 percent man on everything he does,” Dillon said.
Belief to be better
If the defense has feared the loss of so many crucial pieces to last season’s success, they’ve yet to show it. The confidence from 2014 has been fully instilled in this year’s Tiger defense.
Redshirt junior Latarius Brady said the defense only plans on being better in 2015.
“Not trying to take away from last year’s defense, but we’re trying to be better,” Brady said.
Dillon said he believes the team is more talented and deeper this season.
“Everyone is talking about the defense losing all of their starters, but we got guys that have playing behind those starters for two years that have been getting beefed up and a lot of playing time,” Dillon said. “Now it’s there time and they will rise to the challenge. I think we will be a more grittier defense, we will be more hungry and selfish. And we’re going to go out there and shut people down.”
Though Dillon admitted at their worst they can be the worst defense in the nation if they don’t do essentials i.e. preparing and staying hungry.
“It all comes down to focus, doing your job and discipline and staying together as a unit and going 1-0 and not looking forward to anyone else it’s Missouri State,” Dillon said.
