After thunderstorms delayed Practice No. 6, defense had another strong day

After thunderstorms delayed Practice No. 6, defense had another strong day

08/07/2018 | 4:40:00 | Football

By: By Tom Weber, SIUSalukis.com

CARBONDALE, Ill. — Heavy thunderstorms swept through Saluki Stadium at the start of practice this morning, and after a one-hour delay, the team returned to the field and the Saluki defense had one of its best days so far.

"We got out here for about 10 minutes and then they called us back off the field," head coach Nick Hill explained. "A little bit of adversity, schedules change, that's how football is. You never know when you're going to have a game like that where you get called into the locker room and then get about 20 minutes to get back on the field and warmed up. It was good for us."

With uncertainty about another possible line of storms, Hill changed the order of practice and did the 11-on-11 work first, running through a lengthy list of pre-scripted plays and personnel packages.

SIU's linebacking corps had a solid day, starting with the first series when MLB Bryce Notree and OLB Cody Crider stuffed RB Jonathan Mixon for no gain on consecutive plays. On 3rd-and-10, Notree had deep coverage responsibility with S Jeremy Chinn and broke up a Sam Straub pass intended for WR Landon Lenoir.

"The defense came out of the locker room and had the most energy and was more on the attack mode," Hill said. "I think our defense has played well the entire camp."

Starting OLB Airan Reed made some flashy plays, sacking Straub and then dropping RB D.J. Davis for a short gain on the next play. He was also effective in coverage and wasn't fooled on a misdirection play in which Straub tried to isolate him on TE Jacob Varble.

"Airan's got size, good speed, and is a veteran player with reps under his belt," said defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Kraig Paulson. "We expect him to be a huge contributor for us this year. He's been in our system for three years now. I like what he does physically."

Redshirt freshman LB Luke Giegling had an impressive day working with the second team. He was frequently around the ball in run defense and also picked up a sack and several quarterback hurries.

"He's just an efficient player — the smarter players take good angles," said Paulson. "He's a smart kid, and for his size, he has good flexibility, good bend."

All three levels of SIU's defense were solid today. Defensive tackles Keenan Agnew and Malik Haynes were tough to run against up the middle. DT Blake Parzych blew up a screen pass. True freshman CB Chance Bush ran with the second team and was involved in several pass breakups. The entire secondary had a good day, allowing little separation from receivers and forcing quarterbacks to throw into tight windows or throw it away.

The Salukis need to replace safety Ryan Neal, who was the team's leading tackler a year ago and was recently in the Philadelphia Eagles training camp. S Qua Brown impressed today in that role. He forced a fumble on a completed swing pass to WR Landon Lenoir and showed good range in coverage when he nearly picked off a pass intended for WR Raphael Leonard.

"Qua has been here two years and has a great concept of the whole defense," said safeties coach Marty Rodgers. "He's a really good box tackler. I think he could be even better than Ryan Neal at tackling. He's very instinctual. Two years ago he led the defense in interceptions in the spring."

Known more for his running ability, backup QB Matt DeSomer made some nice downfield throws today. He hit freshman WR Je'Quan Burton on a deep post for 30 yards and showed pinpoint accuracy on a timing route to WR Sam Thompson in the end zone, though CB Chance Bush made an outstanding recovery to break it up. DeSomer's most creative throw came on a play when he was flushed from the pocket and shoveled the ball through defenders to FB Cole Steward for a big gainer.

"He's throwing the ball as well as he ever has," said quarterbacks coach Michael Williamson. "Getting DeSomer out there and having a play package that he's comfortable with, that he can throw or run, will really help us. He can get out there and do some normal QB stuff. We definitely don't consider him just a backup."

The Salukis will have their first full-contact live scrimmage Wednesday at 9:45 a.m.