It’s
been said time and time again that defense wins championships. I somewhat
believe that after following football for the time that I have.
What
I have noticed is that it’s going to take strong, sizeable and developed
players on the defensive line in the Sun Belt Conference to win games,
championships and bowl games with seasoned minded coaches on the defensive line.
The
SBC is becoming known for a strong and contend able offense that can move the
ball on the field. However the offense is not going to carry the game just by
itself.
I
look at the non-conference schedules of the SBC teams and I wonder who can we
beat and why we can’t beat certain teams, whether we are in our house or
theirs. Over the past several years the SBC has been playing several SEC
schools year after year. Some SBC schools have managed to put up some sustainable
points. Such as when Troy played Arkansas and only lost by 10 points last year.
If Troy would have had the defensive line of size, strength and better play calls
that game could have been called in favor of the Trojans.
Troy
has shown a lot of progress over these seven years. In 2001, Troy surprised the
SEC by beating the Mississippi State Bulldogs at their homecoming. Granted, MSU
was not exactly a powerhouse at that time—but regardless, getting a win over an
SEC team is a big deal.
Then
came the 2007 season when Troy hosted Oklahoma State—and won!
Is
it really the size and strength of the players, maybe-may not. Maybe it’s that the coaches need to find a
more adequate way of developing the players for defense. I don’t think it would
hurt to spend a few more dollars and go out and get a defensive coordinator and
defensive line coaches from a SEC, Big 12, Big 10 or Pac 12 school to help
develop the players into where they need to be on the defensive line. Bringing
in a quality DC coordinator wouldn’t hurt if you want to move to the top. They
are willing to come; many would come if the money was right.
However
some look at the SBC as small contenders that get run over year in and year out
by the big schools. They often say the SBC want never be a conference to contend
with. But I believe the time is changing and changing fast and the SBC
conference is about to change that story in the near future.
FIU
is a departing member this fall; they too have made improvements to be
contenders. Last year they manage to hold off and get a win over Louisville
Cardinals from the Big East.
Coaches
in the SBC and all ten are great, but setting the agenda year in and year out
to secure and recruit quality defensive line players whether they are from high
school or junior colleges, needs to be the center focus of having a winning
team. Some teams have began to do that, such as the new coach at Arkansas State
Gus Malzhan, he had the best recruiting class in 2012 with most JC’s coming in
are on the defensive line. He also brought in John Thompson as Defensive
Coordinator of the Red Wolves.
But
it cannot stop there. Players have to continue to work out and grow in size and
strength all over the SBC. They have to want to learn and be consistent that they
can win and will win.
South
Alabama Jaguars is the newest football program to the Sun Belt Conference this
fall. They to have a great defense under coach Joey Jones and Defensive
Coordinator Bill Clark. Their defense is ranked 12th in the nation by SI.com
for this upcoming season.
The
Sun Belt Conference would be an awesome contender to a conference like the SEC,
Big 12, Big 10, Pac 12, Big East and ACC in the future if we invest in what is
really needed and recruiting the players that have the mind of winning and
willing to be developed to win games.
