GSU tough against pass
Tigers’ secondary causes headaches for opponents
, buddy@rustonleader.com
08-18-2009
GRAMBLING — Attention: all quarterbacks on teams opposing Grambling State University this season.Beware of the Tigers’ secondary lurking nearby, eager to pounce on your would-be receivers and anxious to add to their growing reputation as one of the top pass defense groups in the country.
If opponents are envisioning any possible dropoff in production by the G-Men from their 2008 season, it’s highly unlikely.
Last year, the Tigers led the Southwestern Athletic Conference and the Football Championship Series in pass interceptions with 29.
All four of the GSU players who finished in the Top 10 for that category in the league, including the overall leader, are back.
“It’s exciting to see what we’ve got coming back,” said Desmond Lenard, a senior cornerback who was tops on the team and in the SWAC for interceptions with his six. “We’ve got strength, depth and experience. We’ve got the potential to have another great year.”
Along with Leonard, the Tigers’ other players returning who finished in the SWAC’s Top 10 for interceptions are senior free safety T.J. McCord and senior cornerback Kenneth Anio with their five picks each and redshirt sophomore rover Bruna Foster with his four.
Also returning with two interceptions from the 2008 season is Nigel Copeland, a senior cornerback.
Save for Foster, who had an outstanding debut in the college ranks last year, six members of the three-deep depth chart for the D-backfield are seniors.
“We’ve got an experienced group of guys back there who don’t make a lot of mistakes,” said head coach Rod Broadway. “They were very productive for us last year and they’ve worked hard this summer and in fall training camp to be even better. The success that our football team has starts with defense and a lot of it has to do with the production that we get from the secondary.
“We are hopeful of having another good year from this group.”
Just as the secondary members plan on having a good year.
“We can’t rest on what we did last year,” said Lenard, a former star at Monroe Carroll High. “The 2008 season is over and now we have to be prepared to play well and have the same type of production that we did last year.”
The stinginess demonstrated by the secondary in 2008 helped the Tigers’ overall defense be one of the best in the SWAC and for the FCS.
In scoring defense, Grambling ranked No. 2 in the league and No. 3 for the FCS with a per-game allowance of 13.1.
For the statistical department of pass efficiency defense, the G-Men were No. 1 for the conference and FCS member schools.
“It’s no secret what we have built our team on and it’s clearly defense,” said Broadway. “Our philosophy on defense is, first, stop the run and then not give up the big plays. If you can prevent your opponent from scoring and making the big plays, then you are going to put your team in a good position to win. Plus, it helps take some of the pressure off of your offense.”
Of the 29 interceptions registered by Grambling last year, 22 were made by players who are back with the team this season.
“There’s a lot of good competition among all of us to try and lead the team in interceptions,” said Lenard, who had a long interception runback of 61 yards for a touchdown. “It’s friendly competition, but it ends up being good for the entire team. Any one of us has the potential and talent to lead the team, the SWAC or the nation in interceptions.”
Not only did the Tigers have a bunch of pickoffs last year, but they made a lot of them count in a big way.
Six of the interceptions were returned for touchdowns, including two by McCord. Anio and Foster had a return to the end zone each.
Two interceptions were also made by All-American defensive line candidate Christian Anthony.
“Really, it’s our defensive line that makes our job a lot easier,” Lenard said. “They get in the quarterback’s face and that forces them to make a bad pass. It’s almost like they are just handing the football over to us.”
All of which means that opposing quarterbacks need to be aware that Grambling’s secondary will be ready to accept such charitable ways again this season.
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Pass thieves
Four of the Top 10 ranked pass interceptors in the Southwestern Athletic Conference for 2008 hailed from Grambling State University.
The Tigers who made that exclusive group included:
• Desmond Lenard, No. 1, six
• T.J. McCord, tied for No. 6, five.
• Kenneth Anio, tied for No. 6, five
• Bruna Foster, tied for No. 8, four
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