Leading the charge Bigger line leads defense in 2010 Posted on 09/01/2010 by PonyFans.com In one year, SMU defensive coordinator Tom Mason became a genius. OK, that's an exaggeration, but from his first year on the Hilltop to his second, Mason’s defense showed massive improvement. In 2009, the Mustangs allowed more than 10 points per game less than in 2008. They allowed 41 fewer first downs, nearly 59 fewer rushing yards per game and more than 23 fewer passing yards per game. SMU coaches expect a bigger year from senior Youri Yenga, who is entering his second season at outside linebacker after starting his college career at defensive end (photo by Webmaster). There were several reasons. Mason and his staff were more familiar with their players, and vice versa. SMU got excellent performances and vital leadership from senior leaders like linebacker Chase Kennemer, cornerback Bryan McCann and safety Rock Dennis. Newcomers like cornerback Sterling Moore and defensive end Marquis Frazier made major impacts in their first seasons at SMU. The percentage of third downs the Ponies allowed their opponents to convert dropped by 14 percent. Perhaps most importantly, the defense stayed pretty healthy all year. Whether that improvement can continue in 2010 depends in large part on how several players fare while stepping in for the outgoing seniors. In addition to Kennemer, McCann and Dennis, the Ponies also lose nose tackle Chris Parham, safety Bryce Hudman, and cornerback Derrius Bell, who was forced to retire for medical reasons. The Mustangs will have the biggest defensive line in recent memory, and one of the biggest in the nation. Frazier is expected to get significant playing time at nose tackle, and when he is in the middle of the line between defensive ends Taylor Thompson and Margus Hunt, the Mustangs’ front three averages almost 6-foot-6 and more than 290 pounds per man. Thompson led the Mustangs with 5.5 sacks in 2009, and he and Frazier accounted for 9.5 of SMU’s 23 a year ago. Sliding Frazier inside allows the Ponies to get their three best pass-rushing defensive linemen on the field at the same time. Mason said that while Frazier likely will start out at nose tackle, he will split his time between nose and defensive end, depending on the offensive strength and philosophy of each opponent. When Frazier slides back outside to end, the Ponies are expected to employ a rotation at nose tackle that includes undersized-but-relentless Aaron Davis, true freshman Mike O’Guin and converted offensive lineman Jordan Favreau. At defensive end, Thompson, Hunt and Frazier will be backed up by a rotation that includes junior Kevin Grenier, converted linebacker Brandon Henderson and walk-on freshman Beau Barnes. Most position coaches would be thrilled to learn they have to replace just one graduated senior. Such is the case for linebackers coach Joe Haering, but the player he must replace is Chase Kennemer, whose 135 tackles in 2009 were the third-highest total in Conference USA and tied for the 13th-highest total in the nation. Junior Taylor Thompson led the Mustangs with 5.5 sacks in 2009 (photo by Webmaster). Replacing Kennemer in the starting lineup will be sophomore Taylor Reed, who played a considerable amount as a freshman. But the biggest change might be in the performance of two seniors: Pete Fleps has added about 10 pounds of muscle and takes over the unofficial “coach on the field” role Kennemer filled so ably last season, and Youri Yenga, now a year removed from his move from defensive end, has looked far more comfortable in preseason camp, both rushing the passer from the stand-up position and when dropping into coverage. The fourth starter in the group is Ja’Gared Davis, who has come a long way since the start of his freshman year, when he was basically a skinny guy who can run. As his freshman season progressed, Davis proved to be an able pass rusher with exceptional closing speed. Now substantially bigger and stronger, Davis is expected to pair with Yenga to give the Ponies a pair of fleet outside pass rushers. One defender who has caught the eye of some teammates and coaches is senior Justin Smart. Something of a nomad in his first three seasons, moving to a new position every year, Smart has settled in at the SAM linebacker spot and has looked good in camp. Other backups include sophomore Cameron Rogers and freshmen Uchenna Nwabuike and John Bordano. The secondary has undergone the biggest change, as six players are gone from last year’s group, including three — McCann, Dennis and Bell — who started last year. Senior cornerback Sterling Moore and junior free safety Chris Banjo return to their starting roles. The coaches found a JUCO prize last year in California in Moore, and hope to have uncovered another in junior Richard Crawford, who will start across the field from Moore. Sophomore Ryan Smith is expected to start at strong safety, but the Mustangs have a lot of safety depth: in addition to Banjo and Smith, Jay Scott, Randy McKinnon and Justin Sorrell all are expected to play.