Middle Tennessee football looking to return to bowl after injury-plagued 2019
After disastrous 2019, defense needs major improvement
As good as the offense could be for the Blue Raiders, this defense might be holding them back yet again, as only four starters return. Now, you may say that losing starters off of a defense that was so bad may be a good thing, but it is hard to expect a team to improve as much as MTSU needs to on defense with so many new starters.
The defensive line is experiencing a lot of turnover, as three of the top five linemen from last season are gone, and the big key will be getting pressure on the quarterback. MTSU ranked dead last in sack rate, finishing with 11 all season and anytime a defense struggles like this, a bad pass rush is usually one of the culprits.
Rakavian Paydras is the only returning starter on the line and he had an OK 2019 with 28 tackles, five tackles for loss and a sack. This group must be better this season, but they are relying on inexperienced players to make immediate contribution.
Linebacker is another area in which there is not much experience is returning as two of last year’s starters are gone. The Blue Raiders’ best player on defense this season might be DQ Thomas, who was the second-leading tackler last year with 74 total tackles, 12 tackles for loss and two sacks. Wayne Parks and Brett Shepherd will be the other two starters and they combined for 42 tackles last season in part-time duty.
The secondary will get a big boost with safety Reed Blankenship back for his senior season. He missed the last five games of the season due to an ankle injury, but he has all-conference type potential and this defense needs him to stay healthy if they have any hope of improving. Gregory Gate Jr is the other returning starter in the secondary and he and Blankenship will have to lead a secondary that is bringing in two new starting corners in Raheme Fuller and Teldrick Ross as both players don’t have much experience.
The defense can’t get much worse, but with so much inexperience at every level of the defense, it will be a challenge to make big improvements on that side of the ball.