The 2023 College football season is in full gear and after 3 weeks Norfolk State University is 1-2 on the season. The Spartan’s lone win comes against Hampton in the Battle of the Bay but issues in run defense are the story in Norfolk, Virginia so far. “It certainly hasn’t gone the way we hoped it would,” NSU Defensive Coordinator Steve Adams said. “That’s always our focus every game priority number one stop the run.”
In just three games the Spartans have given up 276.7 rushing yards per game with 7.1 yards per carry. This is recorded as the worst in the MEAC (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) so far this season. In those three games, each team (Virginia State, Hampton, and Temple) ran the ball an average of 39 times per game. It is noted that there are three main problems with Norfolk State’s run defense which are big run plays, alignment or scheme issues, and young players.
Eliminating Big Run Plays
Big run plays are a killer for stats and momentum shifters. In all of Norfolk State games, they have given up big run plays. In the Virginia State game, NSU gave up an 80-yard rushing touchdown and a 30-yard rush. In the Hampton game, NSU gave up a 53-yard rushing touchdown, and in the Temple game, NSU gave up a 51-yard rushing touchdown. Eliminating big rushing plays like these will lead to improvement in stats and rush defense. However, to eliminate big run plays you must fix the defensive alignment.
Fixing Alignment Issues
Alignment issues will cause gaps in your defense and will lead to a busted coverage on any play. Norfolk State often ops to run man coverage defensively and if not lined up correctly it causes a disadvantage in stopping the run. On Upton Bailey’s (Redshirt Junior Running Back for Virginia State University) 80-yard touchdown Norfolk State was in man coverage 1 high safety (Cover 1). On this specific play, Bailey didn’t get touched until after he already run 10 yards. Getting passed the defensive line on a run play can happen, but getting to the second level of a defense on a run play consistently will cause problems for the defense all game long. Alignment issues will cause long-run plays. To eliminate long-run play defensive lineman need to get off their blocks, and linebackers need to fill the gaps so defensive backs can clean up the play. For young players getting off blocks and filling gaps at the college level will translate but it will take time.
Young Players Experience
Norfolk State has 4 freshmen who have played in every game. “Structurally the defense is sound. We are playing a lot of freshman and redshirt guys who have seen from game 1 that these running backs are very good so if you don’t fit, it will get out of hand,” Adams said. The discipline of the Spartan-run defense is lacking but is something that will get better over time. Seeing 3 different types of schools from different conferences is eye-opening for young defenders, it can prepare them for MEAC conference play. “Getting guys comfortable, communicating, and working on the same page is the key,” Coach Adams said. The Spartans know their problems when it comes to stopping the run, now it is executing on the defensive side of the ball to take this defense from being “structurally sound” to a “good” defense.
Spartan Echo 