Wednesday, November 25, 2009 10:02 PM CST
SIU linebackers 'good as we'll see,' says Wittke
BY BRIAN NIELSEN, Sports Editor
bnielsen@jg-tc.com
CHARLESTON -- Inheriting players who had been to two straight postseason playoffs, Southern Illinois football coach Dale Lennon messed with success.
“We’re running a complete different system,” said Lennon, who became the Salukis head coach last year. “With (former) coach (Jerry) Kill they were a 4-3 (defense). Now we’re a 3-4.”
If Lennon needs approval from any opponent, Eastern Illinois offensive coordinator Roy Wittke provides that endorsement heading into a 1 p.m. Saturday NCAA Football Championship Subdivision first-round playoff game at Carbondale.
“They’re a 3-4 defense and they play it very well,” Wittke said. “They are very athletic. They play fast and they do a great job of taking advantage of the skills. They have put their guys in a position to be successful. They have the right mix to play that scheme. Their linebacker group is as good of a group as we’ll see.”
Only among that group is Brandin Jordan, a candidate for the Buck Buchanan that goes to the FCS’s defensive player of the year.
“(Chauncey) Mixon and (Fred) Wright are guys that do a great job of pressuring you from the outside. They remind me a lot of the Northern Iowa teams back when we were in the Gateway (Conference) with William Freeney and Andre Allen, the great speed rushers.
“There’s no question that the heart of their defense is the inside ‘backer Brandin Jordan. There’s no question he’s deserving of that (Buchanan nomination). He runs well. He really is a complete player and does a great job.”
Lennon said: “With Brandin Jordan, he’s an instinctive player, that’s what you want with your linebackers running a 3-4 scheme. They just go to the ball. He’s a fun player to watch. When we bring him on the rush he’s difficult to block.”
Accordingly, Jenkins, a 5-foot-11, 230-pound senior from Kenner, La., has five quarterback sacks, seven hurries and a tackle for loss.
His total tackles of 69 in 10 games are matched by that of Eastern’s leader Nick Nasti, who has his 69 in nine games missing two because of injury.
In posting a 10-1 record and the 10th best scoring defensive average in the FCS allowing just 16.0 points per game, Southern has a balanced but impressive defensive stat sheet that includes safety Mike McElroy’s 65 tackles, seven for loss and six interceptions.
Mattoon’s Connor James, a sophomore linebacker, ranks sixth on the Salukis with 38 tackles, some of those compiled as a special teams player but also getting into the defensive rotation.
“You see enough of him,” Wittke said. “They aren’t afraid to play (Stephen) Franklin and James.
“They go two-deep easy. There’s very little drop-off. I’m sure we’ll see all of them.”
Eastern quarterback Jake Christensen and his receivers also have to deal with an SIU secondary that has intercepted 21 passes returning four of them for touchdowns.
Both McElroy and cornerback Korey Lindsey have six interceptions each so that their combined total are two more than the 10 interceptions by Eastern’s entire team.
“Their corners are extremely good,” Wittke said. “They aren’t afraid to play those guys out on an island.
“There’s no question defensively they try to put them in a position to make plays. They make things happen. They do a great job of forcing turnovers. Obviously, that’s a battle for us we have to take care of. Ball security is always important and it is especially in this game.”
The Panthers, 8-3 overall with and an Ohio Valley Conference regular season championship, at least appear to have all their offensive weapons for this upset attempt against the Missouri Valley Football Conference champion Salukis, who are ranked No. 1 in the country by Sports Network.
Backup running back Chevon Walker is back after missing last week’s 21-10 loss to Tennessee State because of a pulled hamstring.
But Walker’s injury was far from the Panthers’ only problem in that stinker of a loss that was the opposite end of the spectrum from the previous Saturday’s 44-13 win over UT Martin.
“We’ve taken the attitude that it’s a brand new season,” Wittke said. “All that matters now is one game. We focus on one play at a time. Our kids are in a good frame of mind. The preparation has gone well. We are expecting a great effort out of our guys and we’re going to need a great effort.”
Contact Brian Nielsen at bnielsen@jg-tc.com or 238-6856.
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