UCLA Football Preview: Coastal Carolina's Defense Brings Experience to the Rose Bowl
The Chanticleer defense will start seven upperclassmen who are looking to improve from last season.
Before I dive in to the Coastal Carolina defense, I want to strongly recommend that, if you’re a Spectrum customer that you check out our article on the current dispute between Disney and your cable company because it’s very likely that you will not be able to watch tomorrow night’s game on your TV at home.
Last night, I looked at CCU’s high-powered offense. You might think that it’s kind of telling that the school’s game notes for tomorrow’s game has three pages devoted to the team’s offense, but only one which discusses the Chants’ defense. You’d be wrong.
The Coastal Carolina defense returns seven of their top tacklers from 2022. When a defense returns that many guys it can spell trouble for opposing offenses.
The Chanticleers will run a “multiple” defense. What seems interesting is that while the team’s roster lists six players who play the Bandit position, the team’s depth chart doesn’t list the Bandit spot on the depth chart. Instead, they are listed as one of the defensive ends.
So, while the depth chart makes the defense look like a more traditional 4-3 lineup, it really isn’t as the second defensive end is the hybrid DE/LB which really makes it more like a 3-4. The Bandit is typically a hybrid outside linebacker who can rush off the edge and drop and play coverage when needed. In that respect, it’s intended to give a team a little more flexibility rather than always having him crashing the line of scrimmage.
The depth chart also doesn’t like any of the team’s nickel backs either. Of course, the question becomes whether the Chants will pull the Bandit or one of the three guys listed as linebackers.
Let’s look at the Coastal Carolina defensive personnel.
Defensive Line
The Chants’ defensive line is anchored by three experienced guys. The defensive tackles are super senior Kennedy Roberts and redshirt senior Allen Henry. Roberts recorded 26 tackles a year ago including six for a loss. He also had 2.5 sacks. Henry had 21 tackles including 1.5 for a loss.
The other super senior on the line is defensive end Ja’Quon Griffin. Last season, Griffin was second on the team in sacks with 5.5. He also had a total of 23 tackles including eight for a loss.
The fourth defensive lineman is listed as a defensive end on the depth chart, but as the Bandit on the roster. That’s redshirt sophomore Joah Cash. Last season, Cash made 17 tackles including 1.5 for a loss. He didn’t have any sacks or any QB hurries, though. So, it appears that new head coach Tim Beck and new DC Craig Naivar are expecting big things from Cash this season.
Linebacker
Linebacker is another area where the Chants have a lot of experience. Middle linebacker Shane Bruce was second on the team in tackles last season with 57 including 4.5 for a loss. Redshirt senior Tré Pinkney will back him up. Pinkney was fifth on the team last season with 50 tackles including 2.5 for a loss. You know a team is stacked when their fifth best tackler cannot break into the starting lineup.
Redshirt senior JT Killen looks to be lined up on the outside. Killen was the top tackler for the team last season, having made 96 tackles with 6.5 for a loss and 2.5 sacks.
Mason Shelton will line up on the other side of Bruce. The redshirt sophomore made 14 tackles last season as a freshman.
Secondary
The CCU secondary may be the most talented group on the defense. Three of the best guys are the team’s safeties where Tobias Fletcher gets the start at strong safety and Joshua Madison will start at free safety. Charles Arnold, Jr. will backup Madison. Arnold led this group with 54 tackles last season. Meanwhile, Fletcher made 49 tackles last season while Madison had 43.
At the corners, the Chants will have senior Jacob Proche, who made 31 tackles a year ago, and sophomore Matthew McDoom. While McDoom may have one of the best names in college football, he may be the best guy to target in the Coastal Carolina secondary considering that he only made 17 tackles last season along with just one pass breakup.
It’s not clear who the starting nickel will be, but all four of CCU’s nickels are transfers. Redshirt senior Juan Powell comes from East Carolina. Graduate transfer Tavyn Jackson joins the team from South Carolina while redshirt freshman Avyonne Jones comes from Wisconsin and former safety Chase Atkinson played at Syracuse.
Outlook
Much is being said about the Coastal Carolina offense, and rightfully so, but the Chanticleers will bring an experienced group of defenders to the Rose Bowl tomorrow who cannot be overlooked.
The biggest question with respect to the Coastal Carolina defense would seem to be how the players will take to Naivar’s new defense. Then again, given that the Chants’ defense struggled last season, the new system may show signs of an immediate improvement.
If the re-tooled Bruin offense struggles, it could be a long day for UCLA.
Go Bruins!!!
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