Marshall University Athletics
MCGILL: Defense has new faces, but plenty of promise for 2019
8/31/2019 1:03:00 AM | Football, Word on the Herd
Marshall had one of Conference USA's top defenses last season
By Chuck McGill
HerdZone.com
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – When the Marshall offense lines up against VMI on Saturday at 6:30 p.m., continuity will be on display. The Thundering Herd returns its offensive coordinator, a pair of quarterbacks with starting experience, its two leading rushers from a year ago, its top three tight end returnees and 112 career starts along the offensive line.
The defense, though, will break in the new.
Brad Lambert, who last season stood on the opposite sideline as Charlotte's head coach, is the new defensive coordinator. Depending on the first personnel grouping of the game, the Marshall defense could have as many as eight new starters on that side of the ball.
"The (coaches) here are great," Lambert said this week. "They've made it easy for me to come in and use what we had and put some new things in and new ideas and the way that I do things. It's been a real easy transition; it's been a lot of fun.
"They've established a good way to play defense here over the years. That goes back to when Mickey Matthews was here when I first came here. That's always been something that's important here – to play good defense."
It's important to Lambert, too. While the Herd ranked fourth in Conference USA last season in total defense, Lambert's Charlotte team ranked third. Marshall's stout run defense ranked second in C-USA – and first in average yards per carry allowed – and Charlotte ranked third.
And while the Herd will replace departed players like Ryan Bee and Juwon Young up front, Chase Hancock and Frankie Hernandez at linebacker and Malik Gant in the secondary, Lambert is optimistic.
"Really comfortable up front," Lambert said. "That's been a fun part of coming in here and getting to know and watch our defense. I really like those guys up front, the depth up front."
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There are a couple of team streaks that merit watching as the 2019 season gets underway.
First, the Herd has won 18 consecutive games when scoring first. That streak was extended in the Gasparilla Bowl when then-freshman quarterback Isaiah Green ran the ball in from 10 yards out to give MU a 7-0 lead en route to the 18-point bowl victory.
That streak dates to Nov. 7, 2015, when Marshall lost on the road, 27-24, in triple overtime against Middle Tennessee. Emanuel Byrd caught a 1-yard touchdown pass from Chase Litton to open scoring with 4:23 left of the first quarter, but the Herd had a field goal attempt blocked in the third overtime and lost after the early lead.
Lambert inherits a defense that did not allow an individual 100-yard rusher last season – one of four teams to accomplish the feat. The Herd has not allowed a 100-yard rusher since Southern Miss running back Ito Smith gained 150 yards on 29 carries on Nov. 29, 2017, a 14-game streak. Clemson owns the nation's longest streak at 21 games. Northern Illinois is second on the list at 15 games, and Southern Miss has not allowed a 100-yard rusher in 14 games.
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Every program assigns coaches who are on the field, and others who are in the press box watching the game from above. Lambert will go upstairs along with defensive assistants Chip West and Cornell Brown. Defensive assistant Mike Treier will be on the sidelines with co-defensive coordinator J.C. Price.
The offense will send two coaches upstairs – first-year tight ends coach Kyle Segler and running backs coach Pepe Pearson. Joining offensive coordinator Tim Cramsey on the sidelines will be offensive line coach Greg Adkins and receivers coach Dallas Baker.
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Can't make the game? Use this link for information on how to watch Marshall-VMI: https://herdzone.com/sports/2019/8/28/how-to-watch-marshall-vs-vmi.aspx
Whether you're at home or at Joan C. Edwards Stadium, receive in-game updates and notes from Marshall football's primary account -- @HerdFB on Twitter – and my account -- @chuckmcgill. On Instagram: @herd_fb and @wordontheherd will have content throughout gameday.
Questions: Email me at mcgillc@marshall.edu
Go Herd!
Chuck McGill is the Assistant Athletic Director for Fan/Donor Engagement and Communications at Marshall University and a seven-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).
