Bearkat defense faces stern test in Nicholls option offense
10/9/2009 2:15:00 AM | Football
More information about Homecoming 2009
Purchase Homecoming Tickets on the web NOW
After playing several high powered air shows in their pre-Southland Conference contests, the Sam Houston State defense has to stop an "old school" attack as the Bearkats prepare for Nicholls State and their option offense.
Nicholls is currently 1-3 heading into Saturday's league opener against Sam Houston State at Bowers Stadium, a record that includes losses to NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision teams Air Force and Louisiana Tech. But there is always one thing to count on when Nicholls takes the field, the Colonels are going to run the ball, then run it some more.
That is why, regardless of their record, the Colonels are a tricky team to beat. The triple-option attack Nicholls runs takes a lot of discipline to stop and in the previous three meetings, the Bearkats have done a decent job, rolling to three straight wins against the scrappy bunch from Thibodaux, La.
"We need to chase that option down and we have to contain it," Sam Houston State head coach Todd Whitten said. "You have to be very disciplined with all your assignments, or it is going to be a long day when you play those guys."
The Colonels have six players on their roster who have carried the ball 14 or more times this season. Redshirt freshman quarterback Jacob Witt leads the way with 132 yards rushing on 39 carries and a touchdown.
Senior running back Marlin Meeks has 109 yards on 22 touches, while Trey Hopson, A.J. Williams, Justin McCreary Brandon Johnson and Earvin Moore have combined to rush for 279 yards.
But don't be fooled. The Colonels might decide to throw the ball more this time around, especially since the Bearkats rank sixth in the SLC in pass defense, giving up an average of 253.8 yards a game.
In last year's meeting, a 47-37 SHSU victory, Nicholls had two touchdown passes which went for 66 and 26 yards.
Witt's passing numbers aren't great (228 yards and five picks), but he has attempted 44 throws with 18 completions. Fellow redshirt freshman LaQuintin Caston has had a little more success percentage-wise, completing 5-of-11 attempts for 65 yards.
"They are throwing it more this year than ever," Whitten said. "They have already thrown the ball 50 times and in some years that is their max. I'm sure they are going to try and match up with us and expose us there with our young guys.
"That's just an area we have to improve at each week."
If the Colonels want to try and throw the ball more, maybe the Bearkats can do the opposite.
Nicholls has the worst rushing defense in the conference. The Colonels are giving up 262.2 yards a game on the ground, almost 70 yards more than next-to-last McNeese State (193.8).
Sam Houston is fourth in the league in rushing offense (154.2) thanks to running backs James Aston and Chris Poullard and quarterback Blake Joseph.
But one thing is for sure, the Bearkats better hold on to the ball because the Colonels always have a hard-hitting, physical defense.
"From a defensive standpoint, they always run well," Whitten added. "I think they are always pretty physical. They have always had multiple guys flying to the ball. They have always given us trouble. They play extremely hard and are always tough to beat.
"You have to pitch your best shot at those guys all the time."
The fact that Saturday's contest is the Southland Conference opener for the Bearkats throws even more importance into the game.
"It's a huge week for us," Whitten said. "Number one, it is conference play. The Southland Conference trophy is the most important thing we play for. Number two, it's homecoming. As a football coach and a football team that is a really important day for you. So many Bearkats will be back on campus and it is important for us to play well."
