Marshall University Athletics
MCGILL: Takeaways become team achievement for Marshall football
11/29/2018 11:32:00 AM | Football, Word on the Herd
The Thundering Herd ranks No. 16 nationally in turnovers created
By Chuck McGill
HerdZone.com
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – It's not just that Mission Takeaway – the Marshall football program's quest to create as many turnovers as possible – has been so successful this season. It's that the mindset has permeated every aspect of one of college football's best defenses.
The Thundering Herd has 23 takeaways on defense and special teams – No. 16 among FBS programs – and is one of 19 FBS programs with double-digit fumble recoveries and interceptions. The number of Marshall players who have been given statistical credit for those takeaways is a lengthy one: 21.
Adam Fuller's defense has embraced a team-oriented approach, so any turnover created is a credit to the 11 players working on the field together. But when looking at the 23 takeaways this season, 21 different players have recorded an interception;Â a hurry or deflection on those interceptions; or forced fumble or fumble recovery. There have been tipped passes that ended in interceptions and sacks that resulted in fumbles. A takeaway is credited to one individual. Fuller's defense has made it about much more.
No wonder the Marshall defense is one of three in all of major college football that ranks in the top 25 in total defense, rush defense, pass defense, scoring defense, sacks and turnovers gained. The defensive ranks – total, pass and rush – are from yards per play allowed. The Herd ranks No. 6 in sacks per game, which Fuller said shows how all defensive metrics are intertwined. Â
"We've played a little bit more zone coverage, so it has helped get bodies to the ball," Fuller said. "You play defense by chasing the ball, that's No. 1. I'm a big proponent of man coverage; I think it's really important. Let's say you run four vertical routes, well, you have four guys who won't chase the ball because they have to go cover the guy and they will have their backs to the ball. That limits the amount of pursuit angles you can get when you play man coverage.
"We've played more zone coverage, which allows you to have more eyes around the ball, which means you're around the ball more."
The goal, Fuller said, is two takeaways per game. Marshall is 11-1 the past two seasons when achieving that goal. The one loss, at Southern Miss on Nov. 3, came in a game where the offense turned it over four times, including a scoop-and-score touchdown by the Golden Eagles.
The Herd has at least two takeaways in five of the last six games. Not coincidentally, Marshall has five wins in six games, and carries a three-game winning streak into Saturday's non-conference regular season finale at Virginia Tech.
"You have to have guys who are ball aggressive," Fuller said. "We've had sacks, so our sack numbers are good which usually means you're affecting the pass, which means (the quarterback is) going to put the ball on the ground. We've had some sack-fumbles. We've had some tipped passes that we've picked off. Anytime you can hit the quarterback he's a little bit early and late with throws, which affects the interceptions.
"If you can play zone coverage and you can chase the ball well and you're around the ball, then you get chances to rip the ball out. If you can rush the passer, it's got a trickle-down effect. You're going tip passes, you're going to hit a guy who is throwing the ball so he's more susceptible to putting the ball on the ground and then it's going to rush his delivery and he's going to force more throws.
"It becomes a habit, just like tackling, just like taking good angles, just like taking a good first step by a 3-technique."
The players have gained confidence as the season has progressed under their first-year defensive coordinator. It helps, they said, that so many players have been involved in creating turnovers and putting points on the board. Against FIU last Saturday, special teams scored on a blocked punt and the defense scored when junior linebacker Omari Cobb returned an interception for a touchdown.
"It's mostly preparation," senior defensive lineman Malik Thompson said. "You have to run to the ball. (Cobb) was there to get that interception because he knew what to do and break on the ball by knowing his assignment. Our defense is buying into the effort plays. Each week it's a new player making the play, it's a new turnover, it's somebody trying their best to make that effort play. You can see that people are buying in because it's a new player every week."
The players who have received statistical credit for their part in a takeaway on defense or special teams: Ty Tyler, Artis Johnson, Chase Hancock, Justin Rohrwasser, Jaquan Yulee, Donyae Moody, Frankie Hernandez, Juwon Young, Ryan Bee, Malik Thompson, Kereon Merrell, Obi Obialo, Brenden Knox, Malik Gant, Chris Jackson, Nazeeh Johnson, Omari Cobb, Brandon Drayton, Jaylon McClain-Sapp, Tyler Brown and Koby Cumberlander.
"We always try to get the ball back and get our offense back on the field," Cobb said. "It's our mindset."
Added Gant: "Our goal every week as a whole defense is to get two-plus turnovers. It doesn't matter who gets the turnover, that's our goal. We have that mindset that it's going to help our team, our offense and our special teams."
Chuck McGill is the Assistant Athletic Director for Fan/Donor Engagement and Communications at Marshall University and a six-time winner of the National Sports Media Association West Virginia Sportswriter of the Year award. In addition to HerdZone.com's Word on the Herd, McGill is the editor of Thundering Herd Illustrated, Marshall's official athletics publication. Follow him on Twitter (@chuckmcgill) and Instagram (wordontheherd).
