Emporia State defensive coordinator Ken Gordon knows his unit has been getting off to bad starts.
The reason for it, though, is still somewhat of a mystery.
“We’re trying to figure that out too,” Gordon said. “We don’t know why we start out so slow.
“We can’t put our finger on it right now.”
Through five games, ESU has given up 75 points in the first two quarters. In the final two, the Hornets have allowed just 31.
It’s a trend that has often left ESU facing a deficit just a few minutes into the game.
Gordon, searching for the solution himself, had his defensive players practice only as a team this week. Usually, the Hornets are broken up into position groups before gathering as a unit, but the coach wanted to see if everyone working together might get the chemistry going a little earlier in games.
“If that’s the case, we’ll keep doing it,” Gordon said. “If not, we’ll keep searching.”
One thing the Hornets will have to be successful at Saturday against Central Missouri is defending the run.
ESU had troubles containing Missouri Southern’s Alley Broussard and Renard Johnson last week, allowing a combined 234 yards on 25 carries to the two backs.
The Hornets defense will get a similar challenge this week, as UCM running back Glenn Milner enters as the second-leading rusher in the MIAA with 585 yards.
He also has the highest single-game rushing total in the conference this season, compiling 218 rushing yards last week against Pittsburg State.
“He looks like he’s a real hard runner,” ESU defensive end Lance Claibourn said, “He’s not a good jukey back, but he runs hard downhill. He finds a gap and runs right through.”
Jeremy Braden also gives UCM a speedy option, as he has 53 carries for 237 yards.
Gordon said many of the Hornets’ defensive woes last week stemmed from a single problem.
“We’ve gotta tackle, man,” Gordon said. “We’re not tackling very good as a team, and we’re not doing our assignments very well right now.”
The ESU coaches have not only worked on tackling this week — having the defensive players wrap up a tackling sled and also each other — they also have made some adjustments in their scheme.
Many of the plays and formations have been cut out, with the hope that keeping things simple will allow players to focus more on execution.
The Hornets were burnt a couple times last week when players lined up in the wrong spots, as Southern’s backs were able to get to the outside where no ESU player was there to stop them.
“That’s why we’ve been working on assignments,” Gordon said. “We had a corner on the wrong side when he should have been on the left side.
“When that happens, and they run it right there, we’re a man short. Hopefully this week, we’ve got everything situated, because we’re playing another two-headed monster.”
Gordon was still optimistic about his team’s chances even with last week’s difficulties. ESU is ranked fourth in the MIAA in rushing defense, allowing 152.6 yards per game.
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