1 week Ago
A year ago, The Citadel’ s defense was ranked dead last in the Southern Conference in just about every major statistical category. Total defense. Scoring defense.
Fewest sacks and tackles for loss and fewest forced turnovers. The Bulldogs gave up more points (384) and more yards (4,656) than any other team in the SoCon during the 2023 season. Most first-year head coaches, especially ones that had suffered through an 0-11 season, might have made changes to the defensive staff after a season like the one the Bulldogs suffered through in 2023.
But The Citadel’s Maurice Drayton had faith in defensive coordinator Raleigh Jackson and knew the Bulldogs would be more competitive with another year in his system. Throwdown on the Yorktown a 'night to remember' despite early cancellation Drayton’s trust in Jackson and the Bulldogs defensive coaching staff proved to be well founded. With just about the same lineup, the Bulldogs have become one of the most disruptive defenses in the SoCon this season.
A year ago, the Bulldogs defense recorded just nine quarterback sacks, 36 tackles for loss and forced only 11 turnovers. With two games left in the regular season, the Bulldogs already have 25 sacks, good for third in the conference; 68 tackles for loss and have forced 12 turnovers. The Citadel is giving up two less touchdowns a game and almost 100 less yards to its opponents.
It has been a dramatic turnaround by anyone’s standards. “Raleigh Jackson is a defensive nerd,” Drayton said. “He thinks about defense, defensive schemes and dissecting offensive coordinator’s game plans all the time.
I’m not sure he has any hobbies outside of watching film and getting his players ready to play. Basketball season previews: How The Citadel landed one of college basketball's top scorers “He’s an old school coach, he grew up in a football family. His dad was a high school football coach (at Burke High School), so he’s been around the game his whole life.
” Jackson is quick to deflect the credit and give it to the players. “We haven’t done anything different this year as opposed to last season,” Jackson said. “We’ve tweaked some things schematically, but nothing major.
It has been about the players and the other defensive coaches. It has been around getting off the ball, playing with your hands and playing with good technique and getting off blocks and making plays.” The transformation for the defense began in the offseason as players devoted themselves to getting into better shape and getting the right nutrition.
Linebackers that weighed 225 pounds last fall, now tip the scales at 245 pounds. Defensive linemen that were 250 pounds are 25 to 30 pounds heavier. The Citadel's Tyler Cherry: 'I believe in this school, coaching staff' “It has made a big difference,” said Bulldogs defensive lineman Chris Iverson, who has added nearly 20 pounds to his now 280-pound frame.
“You don’t feel like you’re getting pushed around as much and we’re just as quick off the ball.” The Citadel has recorded more than 400 negative yards for the opposition without having to blitz very often. “We’re actually blitzing less than we did last year,” Jackson said.
“Our defensive front has done a great job of getting into the backfield and wreaking havoc and disrupting plays.” The Bulldogs have more depth, especially on the defensive front where they have rotate eight players throughout the game. The Citadel would like nothing more than to 'ruin' Wofford's shot at winning season “Most teams at the FBS level don’t have a lot of depth on the defensive line,” Drayton said.
“We’ve got that luxury. It’s almost like we’ve got eight starters on the defensive line.” Linebacker Thomas Wyatt, who leads the team with 85 tackles, including 11 stops behind the line of scrimmage, said getting another year in Jackson’s scheme is paying dividends.
“The drills that we’re doing in practice, the attention to detail has been a lot better this year,” said Wyatt, who has 41⁄2 sacks on the season. “We’re playing behind the ball and not allowing those chunk plays. We’re communicating so much better this season because guys are more comfortable in the system and can go out and just play.
”.
