Can Chuck Martin Win With the Miami (Ohio) Redhawks?

 Defense

We have to get it out of the way and say the defense was awful last year too. But it wasn’t as bad as the offense, so often times it looked like it was carrying the unit. Or I guess you would say the offense was simply carrying the defense to an 0-12 season, but the defense helped out. It ranked 106th in the country in points allowed at 35.7 per game, and it was 113th in yards allowed per game at 484.3. The good news is there is some returning talent, especially on the back end, and the unit as a whole has some pieces to improve.

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Up front, the loss of Wes Williams and Austin Brown hurts, and to make matters worse, there is hardly any size returning. But there is some skill. Defensive ends Bryson Albright and J’Terius Brown each weight less than 240 pounds, but they managed to combine for 17.5 tackles for a loss and 7 sacks last year. They’ll have to be supported by defensive tackle Mwanza Wamulumba, as he’ll step into the role as a senior standing at 6’3″ 281 pounds. That’s a little bit of size, and tackles Jimmy Rousher and Mitchell Winters each stand heavier than 270 pounds, which isn’t great, but it’s some size to help out the ends. Ben Krieger and Albert Phillips provide depth at the end, but they’re also undersized. Tim Johnson is a junior this year who had the most potential coming out of high school, so there’s still a chance for him to make an impact, and freshmen Mack Duffin and Zach Swartz weigh 260 and 270 pounds respectively and could compete for a role in the rotation.

The linebacker unit will probably be the strongest, or least pathetic unit on the defense this year. Leading tacklers Kent Kern and Josh Dooley return as juniors and should be better this year with more experience. Tyler Tucker and Nate Gerbus combined for 60 tackles last year in limited action and should also see larger roles, and TJ Williams, Tre Clifton, and Joe Donlan all have experience. Redshirt freshman Zach Smierciak was the most highly recruited player in the unit and could push for a major role, and incoming freshmen Sam Connolly and Trey Knes each have a chance to make an early impact.

The secondary returns almost everybody except its best player from last year, cornerback Dayonne Nunley, who broke up 13 passes and

Sep 21, 2013; Oxford, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bearcats wide receiver Shaq Washington (19) runs against Miami (Oh) Redhawks linebacker Josh Dooley (51) at Fred Yager Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports

recorded an interception last year. The cornerback positions will be filled by senior Chrishawn Dupuy, who had 2 interceptions last year as the third cornerback in the rotation, and sophomore Heath Harding, who managed 3 interceptions and 4 passes broken up as a freshman last year and should have a breakout year this year. The safety position is deep with senior Brison Burris and sophomore Jay Mastin. Mastin is another player who could break out after starting as a freshman last year. Together, the two safeties each had an interception and combined for 7 passes broken up. Also, junior safety Marshall Taylor is back after playing in 2012, and he should provide depth and be very useful in the rotation. Randy Anderson, Jarrell Jones, Buchi Okafor, and Orne Bay all have experience as well. But perhaps the biggest prize in this secondary is Notre Dame transfer Lo Wood, who also will be entering his senior season and eligible to play this year. Martin was his position coach for two years at Notre Dame, so there’s a strong chance the most gifted player in this unit becomes an immediate starter.

As a unit, the defense has enough returning talent to move from not as terrible as last year’s offense to simply not that bad. Like the offense, there aren’t a lot of saving graces here, but Martin has something to work with and has talented players. The unit should be much more experienced this year, and that might be enough for it to improve significantly, especially with the new guys that have potential to start immediately.