Photo by: Natalie Wright
Football Preview: Defense Overview
8/21/2023 11:09:00 AM | Football
Q&A with defensive coordinator Skyler Cassity
Now that you're in your second year as DC, what things did you see last season that you can build on?
Last year, compared to this year, I would say, we've become even more multiple. We have an older team than we did last year. Last year, we were extremely young. This year, we can build off of that. That allows us to become more complex in pressuring and coverage and fronts, whereas last year we were pretty simple. I think we'll be a little bit more multiple in what we do and what we ask our players to do. Specifically, I think these guys are comfortable with the basics. Now we can expand that and we can show offenses more looks and different looks than they've previously seen from us.
What have you seen in camp that is a positive, "wow!" moment?
We brought in quite a few transfers and things like that. And one absolutely great thing is our players have all come together. You know, they truly are a unit. They truly support each other. They want what's best for the unit. One thing that's great as a defense from a defensive perspective is, you know, we're going play a lot of different guys, and we're going to have to rely on a bunch of different people to do different things. They understand their role and are willing to be that part of a championship-level defense.
We built this system completely on big, long, athletic players. that's what we look for. And our guys are flying around and they're truly buying into that motto of relentless effort. They are doing whatever it takes for us to become a successful defense.
Before camp started, what was an area that needed to prove itself?
One thing that everyone knows, we graduated basically six defense linemen from last year, and that's one area we've brought in a good group of guys: a couple of transfers, a couple of new true freshmen, who are going to make an immediate impact.
We're never going to build a scheme and cram our personnel into our scheme, um. One thing that Coach P's done a great job of and ourselves as a defensive staff is we're going to build our scheme around our players and what they do best. And I think, with all the transfers; we brought in linebackers, defensive backs, and even the D linemen that have come in, we've been able to mold the scheme to what they do well. We have a bunch of young D linemen, transfers and older D linemen transfer that will make it immediate impact for us.
We return the majority of the people in the back seven and then we also added a bunch of transfers to truly strengthen that unit. So we're excited about that.
How have the defensive coaches been working out?
It's been awesome. We, we have an unbelievable defensive staff. We couldn't be more excited about the crew that we get to work with every day. It's funny. We're all connected in some way, shape or form. Obviously, last year was the first time we all worked together, but we have a connection with everybody. My dad and Coach Holt worked together a long time ago. Obviously, I worked with Coach Dubin and, and Coach Wilson last year. We all work for Coach Patterson at Texas Tech. And then it's funny, Coach Eldridge does a great job with us and I was his position coach at Texas Tech a ways back. We're all connected in some way, shape or form, and I think that brings us close and we're all on the same page.
And at the end of the day, we're all aligned in the common goal of what we want to accomplish and, and what this program stands for. It's been absolutely awesome working with these guys.
How does ACU's defense stack up in the UAC?
Oh, it's going to be great. One thing about this conference there's always been good defense play from these teams. You know, there's a history and a tradition of having some really good defenses in this league between SFA, Central Arkansas, Eastern Kentucky and Austin Peay. We're excited about being able to showcase our skill set against the rest of the conference.
At the end of the day, we know if you can win the United Athletic Conference, that means you can win in the playoffs. Our guys understand that every week, you're going to have to play to your best potential, and you understand that anybody in this conference can beat you.
Anything else we need to know about the defense?
We're really looking forward to it. We would love to have everybody come out there and support us. These guys put in much more work than everyone even realizes. Hopefully, that leads to results this year and we're excited about that. We've got an unbelievable group of kids and a great group of coaches and people on campus that support us in what we're trying to do. We really appreciate that.
UP NEXT: Coach Nick Holt on the defensive line.
Last year, compared to this year, I would say, we've become even more multiple. We have an older team than we did last year. Last year, we were extremely young. This year, we can build off of that. That allows us to become more complex in pressuring and coverage and fronts, whereas last year we were pretty simple. I think we'll be a little bit more multiple in what we do and what we ask our players to do. Specifically, I think these guys are comfortable with the basics. Now we can expand that and we can show offenses more looks and different looks than they've previously seen from us.
What have you seen in camp that is a positive, "wow!" moment?
We brought in quite a few transfers and things like that. And one absolutely great thing is our players have all come together. You know, they truly are a unit. They truly support each other. They want what's best for the unit. One thing that's great as a defense from a defensive perspective is, you know, we're going play a lot of different guys, and we're going to have to rely on a bunch of different people to do different things. They understand their role and are willing to be that part of a championship-level defense.
We built this system completely on big, long, athletic players. that's what we look for. And our guys are flying around and they're truly buying into that motto of relentless effort. They are doing whatever it takes for us to become a successful defense.
Before camp started, what was an area that needed to prove itself?
One thing that everyone knows, we graduated basically six defense linemen from last year, and that's one area we've brought in a good group of guys: a couple of transfers, a couple of new true freshmen, who are going to make an immediate impact.
We're never going to build a scheme and cram our personnel into our scheme, um. One thing that Coach P's done a great job of and ourselves as a defensive staff is we're going to build our scheme around our players and what they do best. And I think, with all the transfers; we brought in linebackers, defensive backs, and even the D linemen that have come in, we've been able to mold the scheme to what they do well. We have a bunch of young D linemen, transfers and older D linemen transfer that will make it immediate impact for us.
We return the majority of the people in the back seven and then we also added a bunch of transfers to truly strengthen that unit. So we're excited about that.
How have the defensive coaches been working out?
It's been awesome. We, we have an unbelievable defensive staff. We couldn't be more excited about the crew that we get to work with every day. It's funny. We're all connected in some way, shape or form. Obviously, last year was the first time we all worked together, but we have a connection with everybody. My dad and Coach Holt worked together a long time ago. Obviously, I worked with Coach Dubin and, and Coach Wilson last year. We all work for Coach Patterson at Texas Tech. And then it's funny, Coach Eldridge does a great job with us and I was his position coach at Texas Tech a ways back. We're all connected in some way, shape or form, and I think that brings us close and we're all on the same page.
And at the end of the day, we're all aligned in the common goal of what we want to accomplish and, and what this program stands for. It's been absolutely awesome working with these guys.
How does ACU's defense stack up in the UAC?
Oh, it's going to be great. One thing about this conference there's always been good defense play from these teams. You know, there's a history and a tradition of having some really good defenses in this league between SFA, Central Arkansas, Eastern Kentucky and Austin Peay. We're excited about being able to showcase our skill set against the rest of the conference.
At the end of the day, we know if you can win the United Athletic Conference, that means you can win in the playoffs. Our guys understand that every week, you're going to have to play to your best potential, and you understand that anybody in this conference can beat you.
Anything else we need to know about the defense?
We're really looking forward to it. We would love to have everybody come out there and support us. These guys put in much more work than everyone even realizes. Hopefully, that leads to results this year and we're excited about that. We've got an unbelievable group of kids and a great group of coaches and people on campus that support us in what we're trying to do. We really appreciate that.
UP NEXT: Coach Nick Holt on the defensive line.
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