Yesterday we started with looking at Chattanooga’s offense now we need to take a look at the unit that will try to stop one of the most prolific offenses in the country. Like the offense the tone of the defensive unit will be set by the line. The Mocs are using a four-man defensive front in 2008 and will be anchored by seniors Neil Brown and Rodney Beamon. Brown will be coming off the end and at 6-3, 320 pounds Beamon will be a boulder in the middle. Alongside him is JUCO transfer B.J. Taylor who won’t be a pushover either at 6-3, 298 pounds.
The defensive lines that have been able to give Oklahoma trouble have been smaller speedy lines. Chattanooga doesn’t bring that kind of front to the table. The Sooners won’t be able to take the day off because they will get a solid workout of size against size but if the o-line has any hope of living up to their pre-season hype they must dominate this match-up.
Like the Sooners Chattanooga returns only one starter at linebacker. Joseph Thornton recorded 47 tackles including 18 for loss. Lining up with Thornton will be Aaron Adams who struggled with injuries last season but still recorded 30 tackles and Jarvis Newson who had 20 tackles in `07.
The fact that the Mocs are replacing all four starters in their secondary has Manny Johnson and Juaquin Iglesias salivating at the opportunity to test the new guys. For Chattanooga Buster Skrine and Raeshon Ball will be on the corners. Skrine is a speedster who did start the final three games of `07. Ball is coming off a knee injury that cost him all of last season.
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