Is Appalachian State's Transition to the 3-4 Defense a Good Thing?

ASU's Defense is the Talk of the Preseason Heading into 2011 Campaign

When you think of Appalachian State football over the past eight years, defense isn't normally the first thing that comes to mind. The transition to the 3-4 defense obviously has fans on opposites sides of the argument.

For some, it's only a logical move for the Apps personnel-wise, while others think it's a disaster waiting to happen. The one point that both sides will agree on is the fact that the Mountaineers defense will go a long way in deciding whether the Mountaineers can win an unprecedented seventh consecutive league crown or relinquish that title for the first time since 2004.

The key to a strong defense on the mountain this fall will be how quickly the defense is able to get the hang of playing the new formation. ASU returns seven starters on the defensive side of the football, looking to change the overall stereotype that has followed Appalachian State since 2005, which has been an offensive juggernaut with a mediocre defense.

Since winning the first of its six-straight Southern Conference titles in 2005, the Black and Gold haven't exactly set the world on fire defensively.

In ASU's first two SoCon and national title seasons of 2005 and '06, the Mountaineers fielded among the best defensive units in FCS football, as the Mountaineers finished as the league's statistical champions in scoring defense in both the 2005 and '06 campaigns.

The Mountaineers held their foes to just 18.8 PPG to top the league and rank 17th nationally in that particular category. The 2005 season also saw the Mountaineers rank second in the league in total defense (330.7 YPG) and 31st in the FCS.

A year later would see the Black and Gold field one of the best defenses in school history, as the Apps were the statistical champions in total defense (276.9 YPG), scoring defense (14.9 PPG), sacks (37 sacks), passing defense (168.6 YPG) and rushing defense (108.3 YPG).

The Mountaineers also ranked high nationally in every major statistical category in the '06 title run. The Apps posted the nation's 17th ranked total defense, while ranking 11th in rushing defense, ninth in scoring defense and 35th in passing defense.

After the 2006 season, the Mountaineers began to see some drop-off on the defensive side of the football. It could of course be argued that during the first two championship seasons, players like Jason Hunter, Marques Murrell, Jeremy Wiggins and Corey Lynch gave the Mountaineers more of a different dynamic.

Players like Murrell and Hunter were the last of a dying breed in Boone, as a new type of recruit was favored on the defensive side of the ball, as leaner, faster defensive linemen were brought in replacing the bigger, bull-rushing defensive ends of the past.

The 3-4 defensive scheme is one that now fits ASU's current personnel, and will be a defensive scheme that should help the Mountaineers see some success against the SoCon's option-oriented offenses. ASU's defensive success will depend largely on the play of nose tackle Dan Wylie. It will be incumbent upon Wylie to get a strong push up front, allowing the 3-4 defense work and the Mountaineers to apply pressure.

Wylie is coming off a pretty successful first season donning the Black and Gold, as he recorded 39 tackles, 5.5 TFLs and 1.5 sacks. Though he weighs in at better than 300 pounds, Wylie moves extremely well for his extreme size.

It's obvious that the coaching staff has the confidence in Wylie to take the risk of making the transition to the 3-4 defense, as it would not be something a coaching staff would do with just an average player at the nose tackle position.

One needs to look no further than Wofford when looking for evidence of this fact, as the Terriers, who also employ the 3-4, seemingly have an all-league nose tackle every season. Two of the best nose tackles in the SoCon in recent history have been Nathan Fuqua and Katon Bethay.

Two other major factors for the ASU 3-4 defense this fall will be the play of rush defensive end John Rizor and outside linebacker Lanston Tanyi. Rizor is a player that many feel could be a breakthrough player on the defensive side of the football this fall. Rizor came out of relative obscurity to have a big 2010 season for the ASU defense.

In his first season as a full-time starter, Rizor recorded 47 tackles, 8.0 TFLs and 5.5 sacks. With his quickness and ability to rush the passer, it will be up to Rizor to fill the role of Jabari Fletcher as ASU's top pass-rusher this fall.

The good news is that Rizor will have some help in the form of the return of Tanyi. The 6'2", 250-pound junior missed the entire 2010 season as a result of a severe injury to his left toe, which he suffered in fall camp and had to undergo season-ending surgery. A starter in nine games for the Mountaineers two years ago, Tanyi garnered second-team All-SoCon accolades by recording 75 tackles, 11.0 TFLs, 7.5 sacks and forced fumble.

If Tanyi is back to the form he was prior to his two severe injuries, Rizor will have a solid pass-rushing partner this fall, which means the Mountaineers have a great chance to lead the league in sacks in back-to-back seasons for the first time since joining the SoCon in 1972.

Since 2007, ASU has fielded the top linebackers in the league annually. Players like Pierre Banks, D.J. Smith and Jacque Roman helped the Mountaineers ascend back to their "Linebacker U" days of the school enjoyed from the mid 1980s and throughout the 1990s. However, there was a period in the early 2000s which the Mountaineers saw a bit of a drop-off at all three linebacker positions.

The talent returned in 2005, and the Mountaineers have had arguably the best starting trio of LBs in each season since '05. However, with the graduation of D.J. Smith (525 career tackles), ASU does not have a "big name" linebacker returning.

Adding to the concern heading into 2011 is an offseason injury suffered by Justin Wray, who moved to linebacker from defensive back last season, and was expected to be a major part of the ASU linebacking corps this fall, however, will be forced to miss the entire campaign with his injury.

The Mountaineers will look to Jeremy Kimbrough and Brandon Grier as the interior of the Mountaineer defense this fall. Kimbrough and Grier aren't some of the household names the Mountaineers have had at linebacker in the recent past, but both have the potential of making names for themselves this fall.

Kimbrough, a 5'11", 238-pound junior from Decatur, GA saw his first action as a full-time starter as a part of the ASU defense last fall, but unfortunately for him, couldn't make the impact he desired to make as a result of injuries. Despite the nagging injuries, Kimbrough managed to record 45 tackles and half-a-tackle-for-loss in eight games last fall, which included six starts.

Playing alongside Kimbrough at linebacker for the Mountaineers and rounding out the quartet will be Grier. The 6'2", 230-pound junior is ASU's top returning tackler as a result of Wray having to sit out the entire season with a shoulder injury.

Grier is a player that is one of the more underrated linebackers in the SoCon and should show that he is one of the premier linebackers in the league this fall. An extremely physical performer, Grier completed the 2010 season with 64 tackles, 6.5 TFLs, 1.5 sacks and forced a couple of fumbles.

The bigger concern than transitioning to the 3-4 defense this fall might be the secondary. The good news is there are a couple of starters returning, in senior Ed Gainey and junior strong safety Troy Sanders.

Gainey is the most experienced member of the ASU defense entering the 2011 season, as he started 36 of 37 games since taking over at cornerback five games into his freshman campaign back in 2008.

Gainey has seen his share of ups and downs in his ASU career, however, he is a two-time All-SoCon selection and will be expected to be one of the vocal leaders of the ASU defense this fall. Last season, Gainey was solid, recording 48 tackles, 4.0 TFLs, 9 PBUs and had one INT.

Gainey garnered second-team All-SoCon honors and enters his senior season as one of the league's top cornerbacks. He enjoyed his top season as a sophomore, picking off four passes to go along with 61 tackles, 10 PBUs and a couple of TFLs.

At strong safety, the Mountaineers should be in great shape with the return of Troy Sanders. Sanders really emerged last season as a playmaker and big hitter on the ASU defense. The 205-pound junior from Chester, S.C., started all 13 games for the Apps, with 12 of those starts logged at cornerback.

Sanders now finds himself in a position where he will have some huge shoes to fill, as he shifts from cornerback to strong safety, where he will replace three-time All-American Mark LeGree. In many ways, Sanders is a comparable player to LeGree in terms of his athleticism and physical nature. Sanders finished his sophomore season with 60 tackles, 4.5 TFLs, broke up seven passes, caused a fumble and recorded a sack.

The two new starters in the ASU secondary this fall will be junior DeMetrius McCray at right cornerback and Patrick Blalock at free safety. McCray is an interesting story and enters the season as one of the most athletic players on the ASU defense.

McCray moves into the spot occupied by Sanders last season. The 6'0", 185-pound junior originally came to ASU as a quarterback, but was quickly moved to defensive back with ASU having so much depth and talent at the position. McCray saw action in 11 games last season, drawing three starts. He finished the season with 19 tackles and an interception.

Rounding out the starters on the defensive side of the ball for the Mountaineers this fall will be Patrick Blalock, who beat out D.J. McDuffie for the starting job at the free safety position during spring drills.

Blalock was one of the top freshmen defenders in the Southern Conference last season, making his presence known as a playmaker on the defensive side of the ball for the Apps last fall. The Asheville, N.C., native has a nose for the football and blocked a couple of punts on special teams last fall, with one being called back as a result of a penalty.

He is another physical player on the ASU defense, who loves to come up and make the big hit. He finished the campaign with 30 tackles, a fumble recovery and broke up three passes.

With ASU's transition to the 3-4 scheme, it will be interesting to see how quickly there might be noticeable changes. The odds are it probably won't be the first week against Virginia Tech and it might be hard to pick up in games against North Carolina A&T and Savannah State.

The first game where we might know a little more about this ASU defense is week four, when the Chattanooga Mocs pay a visit to Kidd Brewer Stadium. One thing is for sure: the 3-4 scheme is a scheme that either works or it doesn't.

It's my belief that this is a good move by the ASU coaching staff and will be one of the reasons Mountaineer fans will see the Black and Gold field an elite defense in the SoCon this fall.