The Ball State defense has improved from 11th in theMid-American Conference last year to sixth so far in 2003, and iteven made second before Saturday's 53-29 steam-rolling at BostonCollege.
But that isn't near the improvement first-year head coach BradyHoke is looking for.
"We're not satisfied at all," Hoke said, "because I don't thinkwe've scratched the surface of how you have to play teamdefense.
"If anything, I'm upset because we didn't play team defense lastweek. I don't think we tackled well, and some of that is we've gotto make sure we're doing our job first and not everyone else's job."
In 2002 the Cardinals' defense gave up 27.8 points and 405.8yards per game; the latter figure put the team 11th in the league.After Saturday's beating at Boston College, those figures stand at30.2 and 369.6, good for eighth and sixth best, respectively.
The biggest improvement comes in pass defense, where the Cardswere riddled for 236.2 yards per game last year. That number hasbeen slashed to 175.4 in 2003, thanks in part to new defensivepackages that have dialed up the pass rush.
Ball State's 11 sacks so far isn't exactly gaudy, but theCardinals recorded just 15 last season. Junior linebacker JustinRiley led with three, and seniors Lorenzo Scott and Paul Strabavyalready have four apiece.
Still, Scott reiterated the goal is to be the best.
"One of our defensive goals is to be the top defense in the MAC,and we know exactly what it takes to do that," he said. "What we'vedone these past couple games, it hasn't been enough to be in thatNo. 1 spot. We won't be satisfied until we're in that No. 1spot."
Hoke wants his defense to give the offense more series on thefield, which translates into making third-down stops and forcingturnovers. Opponents have converted nearly 45 percent (34 of 76) ofthird-down plays. The Cardinals have forced seven turnovers, butfive came in the first game.
"We've got to create more turnovers," Hoke said. "We started outwell, and we got one the other day, but there's two moreinterceptions we dropped, and we try to get three a game.
"The more possessions our offense can have, the better off we'regoing to be as a football team."
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
