Scouting Northwestern State defense

[PonyPride]

Just like its offense, it's a little difficult to get a read on the Northwestern State defense after just two games. After a narrow win over (Div. II) Delta State and a blowout loss against LSU, the Demons are giving up 36.0 points and 410.5 yards of total offense per game. Yes, those numbers are skewed a little after having played one of the nation's elite teams in Baton Rouge last Saturday, but they're not hugely different from last season, when the Demons gave up 27.5 points and 400.4 yards of total offense per game.

The SMU offense will be facing a NSU defense that operates out of a 4-3 alignment as its base formation. The NSU defensive line is small, averaging a little over 6-foot-3 and just 252 pounds per man among the starting foursome. SMU tackles Kelvin Beachum, Jr., and J.T. Brooks, in particular, will enjoy a considerable size advantage — Beachum will line up across from junior DE Wade Williams, who is listed at 6-4 and 231 pounds, while Brooks will have to stay in front of senior DE Ricky Isaac, who carries just 214 pounds on his 6-4 frame.

The NSU line is smaller, but SMU coaches and players alike have talked extensively this week about the Demons' quickness on the defensive line, and said they also won't make the same mistake they made the last time they faced a defensive line over which they had a considerable size advantage.

"Army had a small defensive line, too," right guard Kelly Turner said, "and they played great against us. We'll never underestimate a small defensive line again. These guys are small, but they're quick. It should be a good matchup on the line."

The linebackers are led by junior middle linebacker Derek Rose (5-11, 225), whose 4.5 tackles for loss this season lead the NSU defense (nobody else has more than 1.5). He also has 14 tackles through two games, tying him for second among the Demons' defense.

"They go with four down linemen, but they'll show some looks with two linebackers (instead of three)," SMU quarterback J.J. McDermott said. "They're fast and athletic."

The strength of the Northwestern State defense is in the secondary, which McDermott said boasts exceptional speed.

"They definitely have a fast secondary," he said. "No. 1 (senior cornerback Jeremy Lane) can really go, but they all can run. They're dangerous."

McDermott said the key to beating NSU's defense will not be countering the Demons' speed so much as it will be in the Mustangs operating their own offense efficiently.

"With our offense, when we run it right, we spread defenses out," McDermott said, "at least the front seven. If we can do that, there's more running room, and their DBs come up to help against the run. If that happens, we should have more room to throw. So if we can spread out their defense, it should help our offense — running and passing."

"Their linebackers and secondary are fast guys," Turner said. "Their linebackers are really disciplined — kind of like Army — but they don't do anything too tricky. We have to be able to run the ball, so if we can open lanes and get downfield to block a second guy, hopefully we'll have a good day running the ball."

[SMU 86]

We will break them (Drago accent).