Central Michigan defensive preview: Ranking position groups from steady to shaky
When Robb Akey walked into a conference room in the Indoor Athletic Complex for a meeting April 5, he threw open the door and shouted at the top of his lungs, "Hola, amigos!"
That's Akey for you, and he brings the same energy, if not more, to the field when coaching the Central Michigan football team.
Even though the defense might be ahead of the offense in terms of shown skill from a season ago, Akey's crew still has a lot to prove.
Sean Bunting and Xavier Crawford both departed a year early for the 2019 NFL Draft. Both players were selected. Top defensive end Mike Danna graduate transferred to Michigan. The top three linebackers – Malik Fountain, Alex Briones and Trevor Apsey – graduated, along with senior defensive end Mitch Stanitzek and defensive tackle Nathan Brisson-Fast.
The Chippewa defense from a season ago that paced the group and, on some occasions, outscored the offense, is expected to shine.
Hefty task for Akey, as he's in his first season as defensive coordinator for first-year coach Jim McElwain.
"If you don't approach the world with energy, the world's attacking you," Akey said. "I'd rather attack somebody than get attacked."
Below is analysis and a preview of Central Michigan’s defense with fall training camp set to open Saturday afternoon. The position groups are ranked from most steady to most shaky.
Here are other team previews:
1. Defensive tackle
Projected starters: D'Andre Dill (senior), LaQuan Johnson (redshirt freshman)
Backups: Robi Stuart (junior), Jonathan Berghorst (redshirt freshman)
Overview: When healthy a season ago, Dill was one of the most dominant defensive players on the field. Before going down with a knee injury, he recorded 20 tackles and one-half sack in eight games. The 6-foot-1, 310-pound returns from injury poised for a complete, successful season.
Lining up with him at the other defensive tackle spot is likely to be LaQuan Johnson, someone the coaching staff is high on.
"I'm really excited about his future," Akey said of Johnson. "He's a youngster who got his feet wet somewhat last year. He's got size, good quickness, and I think he's a great kid. It means a lot to him because he's working at it. I told him, 'I'm going to buy some stock in your future, big boy.'"
As a two-year starter in high school, Johnson logged 184 tackles, 21 sacks and five defensive touchdowns. He was a First Team All-State selection by the Detroit Free Press in 2017.
Johnson started down the stretch as a true freshman last season when Dill sustained an injury.
Akey praised Johnson for his quickness, strength and work ethic.
Johnson has one of the quickest first steps on the defensive line, while Dill has senior leadership. It's seemingly a recipe for success.
Best-case scenario: The quick growth of Johnson is the bread and butter of CMU's defensive line. He's the future, as a player that could even develop into a leader as soon as this season. Dill just has to stay healthy.
Even if one player goes down, Stuart has plenty of experience. He appeared in 12 games last season, making five starts. The 6-foot-2, 290-pound tackle logged 24 tackles and 1.5 sacks in 2018.
Worst-case scenario: Johnson doesn't end up being as promising as most people think he will be, including the coaching staff. He doesn't develop and Stuart isn't ready to step up as a full-time starter.
Why the position is ranked here: The Chippewas know what they are getting out of Dill, and everyone is pretty certain what Johnson will bring to the table as a redshirt freshman. Combining these two players, Akey shouldn't have a hard time seeing his linemen dominate.
2. Safety
Projected starters: Da'Quaun Jamison (senior), Devonni Reed (sophomore)
Backups: Alonzo McCoy (junior), Gage Kreski (junior)
Overview: Jamison wants to be the next defensive back drafted out of Central Michigan, following in the footsteps of Kavon Frazier (2016, Dallas Cowboys), Sean Bunting (2018, Tampa Bay Buccaneers) and Xavier Crawford (2018, Houston Texans).
Well, this is Jamison's year to prove himself, stand out and turn the heads of NFL scouts.
“This new era focuses on brotherhood,” Jamison said. “That’s part of our creative, part of what we stand for. We want to grow closer to one another, and hopefully, that’ll translate on the field.”
More than just Jamison, McElwain said he's been impressed with all the safeties. Of those safeties projected to be in the two-deep, none are younger than a sophomore.
They have experienced time on the field, and it's already paying off in the eyes of the coaching staff.
“I’m really happy with the safeties right now, the way that they’ve attacked it and have helped people get aligned throughout the defense,” McElwain said.
Even though Jamison has veteran leadership, Reed might have the most long-term potential of anyone in the room. He made 96 tackles, three passes defended, one fumble recovery and one defensive score in 2018.
McCoy isn't far behind, as he played in seven games and made 14 tackles and forced two fumbles last season. He has starter potential and should take over for Jamison in 2020.
Kreski is a reliable option off the bench. He played in 10 games last year.
Best-case scenario: It's not hard to predict Jamison is going to lead the crew, and, as long as he stays healthy, that's not going to change. But it is up to the 6-foot, 191-pound safety to step into a leadership role. If he's able to bring others along, the safeties should flourish in their first year under McElwain.
Worst-case scenario: Jamison isn't a natural leader and struggles to get players like Reed, McCoy and Kreski to perform to their full potential. While that's not likely to happen, it would be the worst-case scenario.
Why the position is ranked here: Everyone in the room has enough experience to deliver a full prediction of the position. Jamison and Reed are locked in as starters, which is a rarity for the Chippewas in 2019. They shouldn't have a problem stepping up and exceeding expectations.
3. Defensive end
Projected starters: Sean Adesanya (senior), Deron Irving-Bey (redshirt sophomore)
Backups: Amir Siddiq (sophomore), Leon Page (junior)
Overview: If it truly ends up being Adesanya and Irving-Bey leading the way, the defensive end positions could be the strongest on the field for the Chippewas.
But it remains questionable as to if Irving-Bey will even be able to play, as McElwain said everyone is waiting until the first day of classes (Aug. 26) to see if he will be enrolled at the university. Irving-Bey was academically dismissed from CMU before the winter semester, but he has spent time at a junior college in hopes of getting his grades back to the point of being eligible to play football.
Most recently, at Mid-American Conference Media Day on July 23, McElwain gave an update on Irving-Bey's status.
“Irving-Bey is still working on getting back into school," the first-year coach said. "He is doing everything he can, so we will know first day of classes.”
Even if Irving-Bey, a former transfer from Michigan, comes back by Aug. 26, the Chippewas open the season against Albany just three days later. He should be able to get in the mix as a starter within a few weeks of the campaign.
Adesanya is 25 years old, and he's finally reached his last season at the college level. He was a graduate transfer in 2018, but he received a medical redshirt from the NCAA for his injury-plagued 2017 season at Illinois, thus granting him an extra year to play in 2019.
His first college season was 2015.
Adesanya is likely locked in as a starter at defensive end and should help anchor the entire defense from a leadership standpoint.
Siddiq was the backup to Stanitzek at defensive tackle last year, so he might be penciled in as the potential starter if Irving-Bey isn't able to participate.
The Chippewas lost top defensive end Mike Danna as a graduate transfer to Michigan.
Best-case scenario: Everything at the defensive end position starts and ends with Irving-Bey's eligibility. If his grades are in check, the Chippewas could have the best defensive ends in the conference and maybe even one of the top rotations in the nation.
Worst-case scenario: Losing a First Team All-MAC defensive selection in Danna is difficult to overcome, and it'll be even worse if Irving-Bey is unable to take the field. The defensive ends could be dangerous, but the position could falter just as easily.
Why the position is ranked here: Adesanya has battled injuries throughout his career, so it's unclear if he will be able to maintain a full season of health in a No. 1 starting role. Irving-Bey's status is unclear and others in the room don't have much experience.
4. Cornerback
Projected starters: Brandon Brown (sophomore), Darius Bracy (sophomore)
Backups: Dishon McNary (sophomore), Norman Anderson (sophomore)
Overview: Goodbye, Bunting and Crawford. Hello, newbies.
There is nothing secure about the cornerback positions, even though Brown and Bracy have quickly emerged as options to fill the void left by two NFL players selected in the 2019 draft.
Brown appeared in all 12 games, making two starts, in 2018. He recorded 12 tackles, one pass defended and one interception. Bracy played in 11 games, which included time spent on kickoffs, kick returns, punt returns and only a few opportunities at cornerback. He logged one tackle.
It only makes sense that the Chippewas probably won't be able to evenly swap Brown and Bracy for Bunting and Crawford, but that's where a player like McNary comes into play as a transfer from Independence Community College.
Anderson could be another name that gets in the mix. It also wouldn't be far-fetched to see true freshman Demarcus Governor, an early enrollee who has been with the team since early January, get snaps.
Cornerback Randall Harris, who would've been a redshirt freshman for the Chippewas, transferred to New Hampshire after he said the coaching staff "didn't see me playing."
Best-case scenario: The rotation of Brown, Bracy and McNary fill the void left by Bunting and Crawford, leaving the cornerbacks without missing a beat. If Anderson can push one of the projected top three for starters reps, it will only make the unit stronger.
Worst-case scenario: Opponents take advantage of cornerbacks when they lack aggressiveness. For example, Bunting was one of the more tenacious cornerbacks in recent years. He seemingly always found a way to recover and make plays. If players like Brown and Bracy aren't ready for that, the cornerbacks position could fall apart.
Why the position is ranked here: With a handful of young, talented cornerbacks, the group could be solid in 2020 and beyond. But for now, there's just too much unknown when trying to replace two players drafted to the NFL.
5. Linebacker
Projected starters: Michael Oliver (senior), George Douglas (sophomore), Andrew Ward (sophomore)
Backups: Troy Brown (sophomore), Christian Mercer (senior), Chuck Jones (sophomore), Logan Guthrie (true freshman)
Overview: Three linebackers out; three new linebackers in.
Oliver started six of the 11 games he played in during the 2018 season. He made 31 tackles and two tackles for a loss. In 2017, as a redshirt sophomore, he had 68 tackles, two tackles for a loss and one pass defended.
The others in the linebackers room were barely on the field, and that's something new linebackers coach Mark DeBastiani is challenged with this year – lack of experience.
Ward originally went to Nebraska after a senior season at Muskegon High School where he racked up 122 tackles and earned first-team Division 3 All-State honors from the Associated Press.
The 6-foot-1, 220-pound linebacker took a redshirt at Nebraska in 2017, transferred back home to CMU, got a clearance waiver from the NCAA and played for former coach John Bonamego in 2018. He appeared in nine games (mostly special teams) and made one tackle.
Douglas: 12 games, seven tackles.
Brown: 10 games, 19 tackles, one interception
Jones: Six games, no tackles
Guthrie holds the Alpena High School record in career rushing with over 2,700 yards, and he tied the program title of 27 tackles in a game. He earned all-state honors from the Associated Press and Detroit News as a senior.
The point being is that there isn't much depth and a lot of room for improvement. While Ward might become a defensive standout, it's unclear what the others will do.
Best-case scenario: What the Chippewas are getting out of Oliver is well-known, but everything else is pretty uncertain. If Ward steps up as a reliable No. 2 linebacker and others fill in, CMU might have enough to clog the run game and defend the pass successfully through sending some out of the box.
Worst-case scenario: Oliver goes down with an injury and nobody manages to fill his role and the other spots. If that's the case, the linebacker position could be a complete disaster.
Why the position is ranked here: Not enough proven depth – plain and simple.
