Sweet Victory: The Defense

Yes, the defense.

I mean, we're talking a wow here.  Let's understand...since Babers left BG the best BG has been ranked on defense is 118th in the country...out of 128.  It went down every year and coming into this game BG was 127th out of 130.

Also, our defense is coached by an Internet punch line.

Everyone involved got the chance to clean the record up yesterday.  I honestly don't think Van Gorder needs to...remember, the internet thought Clawson was a joke, too.  But the players certainly made a statement about who they are.  They rose to the occasion and they won the game for the Falcons on Saturday.

The occasion was all the preamble I just gave you, plus the nation's 9th best rushing offense on the other side of the field.  BG's d-line is a patchwork effort right now, without great depth and with walk ons and transfers.  Meanwhile, Toledo has the 3rd best OL in the MAC, according to Phil Steele.  Bryant Koback was averaging like 7 yards a carry.

Wait, also, one of the defense's few seniors--Jerry McBride III--was announced as injured for the season prior to the game.

That's the occasion.  And the defense more than did their job.

• The Rockets came in at 6.7 yards per play and BG held them to 5.3
• They came in averaging 5.8 yards per carry and BG held them to 3.4.
• They came in at 41% on 3rd down and left at 31%
• They came in at 14.6 per reception and had 11.3
• Oh...and they came in scoring 34 per game and got 7

You get the idea.  Also, their longest run of the game by a RB was 14.

BG had contributors all over the place, but you start most prominently with the d-line.

Nico Lautenan had 8 tackles, 3 for loss, 2 sacks, a fumble recovery and a hurry...if that's something that interests you.

David Konowalski had 7 tackles, a sack and blocked a FG

Beyond that, BG really controlled the line of scrimmage for much of the day.  They held the UT running game in check and got consistent pressure on the QB, with 5 sacks.  Success starts up front and BG got it done.

BG also got excellent play out of the LBs.  Kholbe Abrams-Coleman had 14 tackles, Perce had 10 and Roberts had 8 and a TFL.

Moving to the backfield, how would you feel about true freshman Jordan Anderson with 8 tackles, a sack and two breakups.

Or Jamari Bozeman, senior, with an INT, 2 pass breakups and a blocked punt.

Or Caleb Biggers and JaJuan Hudson, who were charged with defending Bryce Mitchall on outside balls...he came in averaging 24 per reception and caught 2 for 10 yards in this one, with a long of 6.

It was a true team effort on defense.  Clearly, they were well prepared and they executed as well as anyone can.  In the recap, I also noted that they made two key stops on 3rd/4th and short in the second half.

It's the best defensive game we have played since the 2013 MAC Championship game.  And in the most unlikely of settings.  Had the UT Offense/BG defense played out as expected, it would have been 52-20.  Instead, the defense did everything well and made some plays at key times.  Van Gorder's blitzes were timely and effective, as opposed to staying in base and getting picked apart.

And it brought victory over the rival.