MSU-N Football 2013: Lights Aim to be stingy on defense

Having a top-rated defense is almost a must if teams are going to be successful in the Frontier Conference. That’s because it seems like almost everybody has a high-powered offense these days.

Though the Montana State University-Northern Lights finished the 2012 season ranked right in the middle of the Frontier in most defensive categories, the Lights know, and want, to be better in 2013.

In order for Northern to be an improved defense, several things need to happen. The Lights have to mesh a young front line with an experienced secondary and group of linebackers. They also have to be much better than they were a year ago against the run, and they have to get more takeaways. In 2012, the Lights were fourth in the Frontier in scoring defense, total defense and pass defense, but MSU-N gave up nearly 200 yards a game rushing, which was second only to Dickinson State. And they were -9 in turnover margin. MSU-N’s offense turned the ball over 24 times, while the Lights got just 15 takeaways, including just five interceptions in 10 games.

But as the 2013 season draws near, MSU-N head coach Mark Samson knows his defense has plenty of potential, but also plenty of work to do.

“We’ve had to make some adjustments there in camp,” Samson said. “We have lost so many kids the last couple of years on that side of the ball. We’ve had to re-work some things, move some kids around. I think we have a lot of talent defensively, but we don’t have a lot of experience at some positions, and we don’t have the depth we’d like to have in certain spots either. I think our defense has a chance to be good this season, but we’ve got to keep working hard to get there.”

Northern’s experience on defense comes in the secondary. The Lights return three full-time starters to a unit which lost safety Matt Reyant to graduation. Back is All-Conference safety Josh Baum (6-1, 205) to anchor the unit, while junior Hunter Chandler (5-9, 188) steps in to replace Reyant in the starting lineup. MSU-N returns both starting corners, including senior Tanner Varner (5-11, 195). Varner had five picks and was an All-Conference performer two years ago, and he’s starting for the fourth straight season. Junior Trevor Baum (6-1, 195) also returns at the other corner. He had a strong sophomore campaign, and gives the Lights a ton of stability in the back row. Northern also has good depth in the secondary with corner Mike McCrary (5-9, 170) having started several games a season ago, as well as safety Butch Hyder (6-0, 190), who also saw extensive playing time in 2012.

“The secondary is where we have our most experience,” Samson said. “It’s the best unit we have on defense. We have a group of guys who played a lot of games last year and beyond. They are athletic, they have speed and they are all good football players. We’re going to really lean on that group this season.”

MSU-N also returns three experienced players at linebacker. Senior, and former Havre Blue Pony Jordan Van Voast (6-1, 220) returns for his fourth season at linebacker. Van Voast has racked up over 70 tackles in each of the last three seasons for the Lights, and is the leading returning tackler from 2012. His experience will be huge for Northern’s front seven, as many of the rest of the guys up front haven’t seen a ton of game action. Senior David Arteaga (5-11, 230) will start on the outside as well for MSU-N, while Kaima Kanehailua (6-1, 235) moves in to take James Chandless’ spot in the middle. Chandless had a monster season for the Lights a year ago, racking up 91 total tackles for defensive coordinator Jake Eldridge’s defense. Depth is a concern for MSU-N at linebacker is freshmen Jordan Brusio, Jesse Morales and Austin Schroeder are all listed as backups.

“That’s the big concern, we’re pretty thin at that position,” Samson said of the linebackers. “Jordan Van Voast has played a ton, and David (Arteaga) started some games there last year. But after that, we just don’t have much experience. I think those guys are all athletic, and the young guys we have are going to be good football players in this program.”

Northern returns just one player with starting experience on the defensive line in senior defensive tackle Logan Nathe (6-1, 230). Alongside Nathe will be newcomer Weston Mudge (6-1, 310). Mudge is a monster nose guard and could learn to be a run-stopping force, but he’s been out of football for a while, and is really working hard to transition his way back into the level he wants to be at. Senior Tyler Phillips (6-2, 230) and redshirt-freshman Tyler Craig (6-1, 240) have the makings of a great pair of bookend defensive ends, as they both possess speed and strength, and Northern will look to those two to create a solid pass rush this season. Junior Will DeVos (6-1, 250), freshman Patrick Barnett (6-3, 245) and sophomore Marc Evans (6-1, 245) will also see plenty of action on the line this season.

“Again, we don’t have a lot of game experience on the line,” Samson said. “But I really like what that group has done in pre-fall. They’ve worked hard and they’ve gotten better every day. I think we have some really good football players in that group. Some of those young guys have really stepped up so far this fall, and have done a great job in practice.”

Indeed, Northern’s defense, which really returns just five full-time starters from a year ago, has made big strides in training camp. But now, with the regular season upon them, the test will come when the Lights line up against opposing Frontier Conference offenses.

But one thing is certain, the MSU-N defense has been practicing against Derek Lear and an explosive Northern offense since the beginning of August, so nothing the Lights see from here on out will come as a surprise.

“The big thing for this defense is just playing hard, and sticking to fundamentals,” Samson said. “They’ve seen everything they’re going to face this season. They will be very well-prepared for what they’re going to see every week in this league. So what we’ve got to do is make sure we play hard every snap, play fast and physical and cut down on the mental mistakes that hurt us last season.

“And to be a good defense, you have to be fortunate too,” he continued. “You have to stay relatively healthy, and you have to get some breaks. That’s another thing we have to do better this year, we have to get more turnovers. We can’t sit back and wait for them, we have to create them. That’s how your defense helps win football games for you. I really like the players we have on defense. I think they are capable of being a very good unit this season. Now, they just have to go out and do it.”