Coyotes' Defense Ahead of Schedule; Practice to be Held at McEneaney Field in Sioux Falls April 16

VERMILLION, S.D. -- As South Dakota football enters week two of spring practice, head football coach Ed Meierkort has his troops focused on "finishing."

For him, the answer to future success is both  easy and difficult. "It really comes down to this - winning teams make plays and losing teams do not," said Meierkort, the seventh year coach with a 48-30 overall record at USD.

Four times in 2010, South Dakota led in the fourth quarter, only to end up on the wrong side of the final score. The result was a 4-7 campaign, which was the first at South Dakota since 2003, a year before Meierkort arrived on campus.

According to Meierkort, "real games" not "blowouts," are contests decided in the fourth quarter and generally come down to four or five plays during the encounter. "I can handpick those plays against Minnesota and I can do the same against North Dakota State," he said. "Against the Bison, when they came up with a 50-yard play action pass, it changed things. Earlier we were pounding their running game and after that we became tentative, didn't get that extra hat in the box and they whipped us in the second half," he said. "From that we began to have problems."

To correct the "finishing" efforts, Meierkort and his staff are testing his team's staying power and resilience.

"We are doing things to make them (players) as tired as possible and then giving them tedious tasks to do and complete before they finish that drill. Then we also focus on small details," he said.

Everything about winning revolves around the aggressiveness, be it offense or defense. "You have to be aggressive," said Meierkort.

Meierkort Moves Practice to McEneaney Field in Sioux Falls
Coach Meierkort said the April 16 practice, originally scheduled for Bob Young Field in Sioux Falls now has been moved to newly renovated 3,000-seat McEneaney Field on the O'Gorman High School campus on 41st street. Check http://www.usdcoyotes.com/ for time and the entire practice schedule. McEneaney Field was upgraded as part of a 2008 renovation project at O'Gorman. Its $2.8 million face lift, which began in the fall of 2009, included addition of field turf, installation of an eight-lane track and a new Daktronics scoreboard. The spring game is set for Thursday, April 21 at 7 p.m. in the DakotaDome.

Assessment - Meierkort on the Defense
(This blog will focus on defense with offense, special teams and overall spring assessment following in later posts.)

As Meierkort reviewed the overall work of his team, he said the practices have been "physical" but that the team is "improving every day."

He believes that his defense is ahead of the curve at this point, although he expects that from a veteran group that returns nearly everyone.

Defensive Line -- "They are really panning out incredibly. We have tremendous depth in the line, and they are bigger and stronger than a year ago. They are really a good looking group that I think will be a real strength of the team. It was that way two years ago and they have matured into another solid looking group."

Linebackers -- "We are trying to find our numbers twos. We know that Andrew Meier, Shea Williams and Adam Broders will be solid. The backup positions are where we are focused. Darius Hogens looks very good; as does Zack Wilson, a transfer from Snow College; and Tim Marlette. All the people we have at that spot act like they should be there and they are pushing guys. A former Nebraska player of the year, Kyle Wheeler, is our third backer as a fifth year senior. He is a very vital player to this program because he is also good on special teams. When we get into certain situations where it warrants more of a plunker, he is going to be on the field. I am very impressed with this squad right now...but it is spring."

Cornerbacks -- "All of our corners return from a year ago and three of them are sophomores with one senior. I think they are all good players and have played in big games. One of them, Chris Frierson, is out this spring. However he may have the most upside because he is the tallest and fastest. He is rangy and fast and reminds me of Tony Beckham, who played seven years in the NFL. We are excited about that area."

Safety -- "One of our concerns this spring is who is going to be our fourth safety. We know that we have quality players with Aaron Swift, Jimmy Thompson and Shane Potter.

Overall -- "We are a year older, stronger and faster. These players have been put in situations before and you can't substitute experience and you can't get experience until you are out there. These guys fought through an 11-game monster schedule a year ago. Our schedule is tough again but not as tough as last year. We have some games on the schedule that you can eyeball, but you can say we are going to do this and this and figure out the rest. I would say we are a little ahead of schedule right now because of all the guys who are back."

Spring Standouts -- "Aaron Swift looks really good. He is an 11-game starter as a true freshman. Everyone wants to talk about  Tyler Starr's athletic ability but until he gets on the field and proves it. He is a very likable young man and tremendous gift. We have to get him from point A to point B and onto the field against Air Force. If we do, he is one of the better players we have."

Defense - by the Numbers

A year ago, USD was outscored by opponents, 25-5 to 23.4 or 280 points to 257 points.  South Dakota permitted 219 first downs, including 121 by pass and 84 by rushing. Opponents averaged 4.7 yards per carry with 1,863 yards on 398 attempts for 169.4 per game with 19 rushing TDs. Through the air, opponents completed 198-of-294 passes for 2,503 yards or 227.5 yards per game. The Coyotes allowed 15 passing TDs while recording 10 interceptions.

In total offense opponents averaged 396.9 per game with a total of 4,366 yards. In the red zone, opponents had a high rate of success with 33 scores in 38 attempts for 87 percent. Of that opponents scored TDs 63 percent (24-of-38) on the red zone possessions. Good news for USD is that the team's four top tacklers return in Shea Williams (89), Shane Potter (76), Adam Broders (75) and Aaron Swift (61).

In scoring, USD was its best in the second quarter when it limited opponents to just 47 points. However, the Coyotes need to do better in the fourth quarter when it yielded 99 points, the most of any quarter. In the first quarter, USD allowed 61 points and they permitted 73 in the third quarter.

South Dakota needs to have more games like Northern Colorado, when USD dismantled the Bears, 34-6 at the DakotaDome. The Coyotes allowed just 2.3 yards per rush.

Historical Numbers - Defense
Here is a look at some of the great individual and career performances, again by the numbers.

Single Season Tackle Leaders
Doug VanderEsch is perhaps the U's best linebacker ever. A member of USD's 1986 team that advanced to the national title game, VanderEsch owns two of the top four seasons for total tackles in school history. VanderEsch, who had at least 10 tackles in the final 17 games of his career, put together two games with 17 tackles as a senior. He was a Harlon Hill nominee (DII Player of the Year) as a defensive player and the Hawarden, Iowa native, was a three-year starter who led USD to a 34-15 record during his career. He was inducted into the Coyote Sports Hall of Fame in 2007.
1. Doug VanderEsch, 1987, 153
2. Craig Austin, 1980, 145
3. Ben Long, 1978, 143
Single Season Tackles for Loss
A quick reflection - On Dakota Day (Oct. 14) in 2000, Rapid City native Bill Gassen had 17 tackles, including 10 unassisted stops and three tackles for loss in a 21-7 loss to Nebraska-Omaha in 2000 at the DakotaDome.  To have 10 unassisted stops at nose guard when he was double-teamed throughout the game, showed the toughness and talented of Gassen, who today is a Sioux Falls, S.D., attorney. 
1. A.J. Schable, 2005, 22.5
1. Bill Gassen, 2002, 22.5
3. Josh Stamer, 2000; Aaron Dietrich, 2001; Jim Glogowski, 1995, 21
Single Sack Leaders
In USD's 9-2 season in 2005 when the offense led the nation in  scoring, the defense also shined behind the play of future NFL player, A.J. Schable. He had a spectacular season with 19 sacks and 22.5 tackles for loss. It was a performance that ranks among the best in school history.
1. A.J. Schable, 2005, 19
2. Doug Nielsen, 1988, 11
3. Chad Burtch, 1993; Tim Schellhammer, 2004,  9.5
Interceptions
While Bob Gruber finished his career with just 12 interceptions, he had one of the great seasons by a defensive back in 1979 when he had 11 picks, including two for defensive scores. His most spectacular game was against rival South Dakota State in a late season encounter at the DakotaDome. While USD lost, 33-28, Gruber play was crucial in allowing USD a shot to win at the end in the U's opening season (5-6 under Dave Triplett) in the DakotaDome. My former college dorm mate returned a pick for a TD in which he crosscrossed the field, covering about the same yards as his number #95.
1. Bob Gruber, 1979, 11 (two defensive TDs)
2. Russel Burwell, 2000, 8
3. John Sanders, 1971
Career,  Tackles
South Dakota has had only three players in school history record 400 tackles in a season with Tim Seevers leading the way with 437. Ben Long, drafted in the 10th round in 1979 by Miami, is among the greatest linebackers in school history. He helped lead the Coyotes to an unlikely NCC title in 1978 after USD opened the season 1-3. His play led a resurgence under direction of coach Beanie Cooper.
1. Tim Seevers, 1988-91, 437
2. Doug VanderEsch, 1984-88, 430
3. Ben Long, 1976-79, 406
Career, Tackles for Loss
1. Bill Gassen, 1999-02, 50.5
2. Scott Larson, 1997-00, 48
3. A.J. Schable, 2002-05, 44.5
Career, Sacks
1. A.J. Schable, 2002-05, 27.5
2. Brent Peterson, 1994-97, 21.5
3. Tim Schellhammer, 2000-04, 18
Career, Interceptions
Considered by many as the school's best all-time defensive back, John "Deac" Sanders played six seasons in the NFL with New England and Philadelphia, recording 17 interceptions and returning two for scores (1974, 1978). Sanders was signed by New England as an undrafted free agent in 1974 after starring for Joe Salem's South Dakota teams. Originally from Chicago, he played 60 games in the NFL, including 51 in which he started. At USD he was All-NCC twice (1971, 1972), played a key role on the 1972 team that tied for the NCC league title with a 6-1 record and finishing 9-1 overall. The Coyotes finished the season with a seven-game winning streak and outscored its final two opponents, Minnesota State and North Dakota State, 70-27.
1. Todd Salat, 1984-86, 16
2. Bill Moats, 1976-78, 15
3. John Sanders, 1970-72, 15

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