If there was anything junior linebacker Tony Martin and coach Pete Lembo learned about the defensive unit after Saturday's 37-7 loss to No. 20 South Florida, it was that it needed to improve execution and tackling.
With the Mid-American Conference opener Saturday against Buffalo at Scheumann Stadium, Ball State knows it will have to improve those areas of defense if it wants to start 1-0 in conference play.
"We didn't execute like we needed to, to win that game," Martin said. "We didn't execute like we did against Indiana. That was a big thing that we need to confront cause that hurt us in that game."
Buffalo is lead by senior quarterback Chazz Anderson and sophomore running back Branden Oliver. Through two games this season, Anderson has thrown for 440 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. He also has a completion percentage of 66.2 percent. He also has 11 rushing attempts for 30 yards and a touchdown.
Oliver is averaging 120 yards-per-game and has scored four touchdowns including three last week against Football Championship Subdivision school Stony Brook.
Martin said Oliver's biggest strength could be his size.
"[Oliver] is a little compact guy, he gets vertical fast," he said. "He's kinda like a mini Maurice Jones-Drew. He's kinda hard to tackle, like a little bowling ball. He'll be a challenge but we're up for it."
Lembo was quick to give praise to both Anderson and Oliver, stating both of them were dangerous with the ball.
He said Anderson was very good at eluding the rush and was an accurate passer with a quick release. He also noted Oliver's power and size (5-foot-8-inch and 200 pounds) as well has his ability to make cuts, his vision in the open field and his ability to get extra yards at the end of his run.
Lembo said the plan for both of them was to contain them rather than trying to stop them completely.
"I don't think you stop those guys, you try to contain them," Lembo said. "You try not to give up big plays. You try not to let a run that should be a three or four-yard run turn into a 15 or 20-yard run. Playing good, solid team defense and obviously doing a good job of wrapping up is critical."
Martin said he his defense would need to tackle well in order to stop Oliver.
"We just have to tackle and play great football," he said. "We got to get our assignments down and execute like we know we can. We got to get pressure and hit those guys to shake them up a bit."
At practice Tuesday, sophomore tight end Zane Fakes was wearing a no-touch jersey but did participate. Sophomore wide receiver Phil Dudley did not practice and Lembo anticipates him to be unavailable for the MAC opener.
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