Photo: FAMU Head Football Coach Rubin CarterBy Heath A. Smith, DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER
Florida A&M's problems against the run in 2006 have been well documented.
Head coach Rubin Carter would be the first to tell you, however, that stopping the run wasn't the only area where improvement was needed by the defense.
The defense also sacked the quarterback only 11 times in 2006 and forced just 15 turnovers, which both ranked near the bottom in the MEAC.
Defensive coordinator Charles Huff has made getting to the quarterback and turnovers a priority in preseason camp as well as stopping the run. Carter said that so far, the results have been promising.
"Our defensive linemen are more mobile," Carter said. "They have primary moves and then they have secondary moves. They are able to get off their blockers and keep their feet moving, which means they are playing with good leverage."
Carter and his staff brought in a lot of promising freshmen defensive linemen, but it has been the returning players that have led the defense's new attack.
Senior defensive end Tyrone McGriff has been close to unblockable during camp despite battling a stomach virus. Redshirt junior middle linebacker Vernon Wilder has been a tackling machine, while senior strongside linebacker Dannel Shepard continues to have a nose for the ball behind the line of scrimmage.
Opponents converted on third down just 36 percent of the time in 2006. That percentage could drop even further this season. Carter also is banking on seeing the number of takeaways go up in 2007 as well.
"I see our defense being able to make an impact in that area," Carter said. ". . . It is critical for us to be able to stop the run so that we can get them into third-and-long situations.
"We're getting better. I'm seeing better communication between the linebackers and defensive backs. The defensive backs are much improved on route-reading and reacting. If we continue to get that, we should have more turnovers."
Florida A&M's problems against the run in 2006 have been well documented.
Head coach Rubin Carter would be the first to tell you, however, that stopping the run wasn't the only area where improvement was needed by the defense.
The defense also sacked the quarterback only 11 times in 2006 and forced just 15 turnovers, which both ranked near the bottom in the MEAC.
Defensive coordinator Charles Huff has made getting to the quarterback and turnovers a priority in preseason camp as well as stopping the run. Carter said that so far, the results have been promising.
"Our defensive linemen are more mobile," Carter said. "They have primary moves and then they have secondary moves. They are able to get off their blockers and keep their feet moving, which means they are playing with good leverage."
Carter and his staff brought in a lot of promising freshmen defensive linemen, but it has been the returning players that have led the defense's new attack.
Senior defensive end Tyrone McGriff has been close to unblockable during camp despite battling a stomach virus. Redshirt junior middle linebacker Vernon Wilder has been a tackling machine, while senior strongside linebacker Dannel Shepard continues to have a nose for the ball behind the line of scrimmage.
Opponents converted on third down just 36 percent of the time in 2006. That percentage could drop even further this season. Carter also is banking on seeing the number of takeaways go up in 2007 as well.
"I see our defense being able to make an impact in that area," Carter said. ". . . It is critical for us to be able to stop the run so that we can get them into third-and-long situations.
"We're getting better. I'm seeing better communication between the linebackers and defensive backs. The defensive backs are much improved on route-reading and reacting. If we continue to get that, we should have more turnovers."
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