Season Preview: Defense counting on experience
8/22/2017 1:24:00 PM | Football
Millersville, Pa. - Five years ago when Greg Breitbach accepted the head coaching position at Millersville University, he knew there was a long rebuild ahead. But now in 2017, the first players he recruited are now seniors and redshirt juniors, and there are 38 players on the roster who have been with the program for at least three seasons. While the 2016 record was 2-9, the Marauders lost five games decided by 17 points or fewer. Breitbach is hopeful that the youthful mistakes made in years will give way to experienced players making winning plays in 2017.
"You look at the returners and the level of experience," said Breitbach. On the defensive line alone you have six guys with 22-33 games of experience. That's irreplaceable. I think you saw a sophomore-junior team that made mistakes in close, critical situations. We need to do a better job coaching them to make sure that doesn't happen again but if that game experience can show through and they can make positive plays in those situations we will win more games."
In addition to the returners, the Marauders dipped into the transfer market for the first time and those players will make an already solid defense even better. Breitbach has spent the majority of his four recruiting classes building from the ground up, but with the graduation of key players like P.J. Santos and Kendall Marks, the staff saw an opportunity to infuse an emerging defense with some impact players. The staff landed local product and Oregon transfer Jhet Janis, Delaware transfer Trejon Dinkins and Lackawanna's Kendle Pitts to pair with last year's starters Jarrid Satterfield and Brendan Sherman in the secondary.
The strength of Millersville's team is undoubtedly the defense, which is led by alum Matt Sutjak for the second season in a row. The unit gave up 34 points per game, which ranked 10th in the PSAC, but that number is deceiving as offensive and special teams miscues added seven touchdowns to that average.
"I thought we were a pretty good defense at times last year," said Breitbach. "Returning almost everyone and adding the transfers that can help us, I feel like we can shave that down to 21-23 points per game and that's near the top of the league. Get some of those one and two score games on your side of the column. Our expectation this year is to win games that we should win. As I evaluate the talent on our team and the teams we are playing, there are a lot of Saturdays we will go on to the field with equal talent or maybe better in terms of depth."
The leader of the defense is linebacker Sean Dugan, who was named All-PSAC East last season after ranking second in the PSAC in tackles and recording 111 stops—the most by a Marauder since 1999. His 69 solo tackles were the most in the program since 1996.
"Physically he has developed," said Breitbach. "Sean takes care of his body. He's here every day during the summer workouts. He's a student of the game. He watches more film than most. He prepares in a way that gives him quicker reaction. He gets to the football an awful lot being second in the PSAC in tackles. As he develops more with his strength this year there are some missed tackles this year that won't happen. Leading the conference in tackles is not out of the question."
Starting alongside Dugan is Cameron Boykin, who started 11 games as a true freshman in 2016. Boykin ranked third on the team in tackles and showed playmaking ability with six tackles for loss. The Marauders also return Jaleel Robinson, an explosive player with a real nose for the ball. Robinson scored two defensive touchdowns in the season opener against Pace. Marcel Mingo has made the switch from wide receiver to the rover/outside linebacker position, bringing range and speed to cover slot wide receivers.
Adding depth behind Dugan and Boykin are veterans Nolan Kilpatrick and Brandon Lopez as well as converted safety Nate Hiligh, who has played in 20 games since his true freshman season.
In the secondary, Satterfield had an outstanding first six games of the season, breaking up eight passes before suffering a season-ending injury. Then-freshman Brendan Sherman stepped up in his absence and played in all 11 games, starting seven. The addition of Janis, Dinkins and Pitts makes the Marauders' secondary a real strength. Janis was a former Lancaster-Lebanon League Defensive Back of the Year. He went to Oregon as a javelin thrower, walked on to the football team and played in four games as a sophomore.
"He is an explosive player," said Breitbach. "In the spring game, the receiver had a step on him but he made a quick step, changed direction and got to the ball. We haven't seen that here in a while. He can make plays in the defensive backfield and in the return game that can change games. He's been in an environment where the preparation on the mental side of the game is extensive. He knows how to take care of business. That also challenges the other players in the room to step up their game in preparation."
The defensive front is deep and experienced. Tanner Dean, Drew Seaburg and Logan Kinser all enter their fourth seasons as full-time players or starters. Morgan Faughnan is a three-year starter at nose tackle. Tim Esham started all 11 games last season at defensive end. Tommy Holloway, Esham's back-up, ranked fifth on the team in tackles and second in tackles for loss in 2016. Transfer Tykeem Dixon transferred in from Valley Forge Military College and should ramp up the pass rush that totaled just 11 sacks last season.
"You look at the returners and the level of experience," said Breitbach. On the defensive line alone you have six guys with 22-33 games of experience. That's irreplaceable. I think you saw a sophomore-junior team that made mistakes in close, critical situations. We need to do a better job coaching them to make sure that doesn't happen again but if that game experience can show through and they can make positive plays in those situations we will win more games."
In addition to the returners, the Marauders dipped into the transfer market for the first time and those players will make an already solid defense even better. Breitbach has spent the majority of his four recruiting classes building from the ground up, but with the graduation of key players like P.J. Santos and Kendall Marks, the staff saw an opportunity to infuse an emerging defense with some impact players. The staff landed local product and Oregon transfer Jhet Janis, Delaware transfer Trejon Dinkins and Lackawanna's Kendle Pitts to pair with last year's starters Jarrid Satterfield and Brendan Sherman in the secondary.
The strength of Millersville's team is undoubtedly the defense, which is led by alum Matt Sutjak for the second season in a row. The unit gave up 34 points per game, which ranked 10th in the PSAC, but that number is deceiving as offensive and special teams miscues added seven touchdowns to that average.
"I thought we were a pretty good defense at times last year," said Breitbach. "Returning almost everyone and adding the transfers that can help us, I feel like we can shave that down to 21-23 points per game and that's near the top of the league. Get some of those one and two score games on your side of the column. Our expectation this year is to win games that we should win. As I evaluate the talent on our team and the teams we are playing, there are a lot of Saturdays we will go on to the field with equal talent or maybe better in terms of depth."
The leader of the defense is linebacker Sean Dugan, who was named All-PSAC East last season after ranking second in the PSAC in tackles and recording 111 stops—the most by a Marauder since 1999. His 69 solo tackles were the most in the program since 1996.
"Physically he has developed," said Breitbach. "Sean takes care of his body. He's here every day during the summer workouts. He's a student of the game. He watches more film than most. He prepares in a way that gives him quicker reaction. He gets to the football an awful lot being second in the PSAC in tackles. As he develops more with his strength this year there are some missed tackles this year that won't happen. Leading the conference in tackles is not out of the question."
Starting alongside Dugan is Cameron Boykin, who started 11 games as a true freshman in 2016. Boykin ranked third on the team in tackles and showed playmaking ability with six tackles for loss. The Marauders also return Jaleel Robinson, an explosive player with a real nose for the ball. Robinson scored two defensive touchdowns in the season opener against Pace. Marcel Mingo has made the switch from wide receiver to the rover/outside linebacker position, bringing range and speed to cover slot wide receivers.
Adding depth behind Dugan and Boykin are veterans Nolan Kilpatrick and Brandon Lopez as well as converted safety Nate Hiligh, who has played in 20 games since his true freshman season.
In the secondary, Satterfield had an outstanding first six games of the season, breaking up eight passes before suffering a season-ending injury. Then-freshman Brendan Sherman stepped up in his absence and played in all 11 games, starting seven. The addition of Janis, Dinkins and Pitts makes the Marauders' secondary a real strength. Janis was a former Lancaster-Lebanon League Defensive Back of the Year. He went to Oregon as a javelin thrower, walked on to the football team and played in four games as a sophomore.
"He is an explosive player," said Breitbach. "In the spring game, the receiver had a step on him but he made a quick step, changed direction and got to the ball. We haven't seen that here in a while. He can make plays in the defensive backfield and in the return game that can change games. He's been in an environment where the preparation on the mental side of the game is extensive. He knows how to take care of business. That also challenges the other players in the room to step up their game in preparation."
The defensive front is deep and experienced. Tanner Dean, Drew Seaburg and Logan Kinser all enter their fourth seasons as full-time players or starters. Morgan Faughnan is a three-year starter at nose tackle. Tim Esham started all 11 games last season at defensive end. Tommy Holloway, Esham's back-up, ranked fifth on the team in tackles and second in tackles for loss in 2016. Transfer Tykeem Dixon transferred in from Valley Forge Military College and should ramp up the pass rush that totaled just 11 sacks last season.
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