Ball State's pass rush, an area of want in 2003, has reachedfrighteningly low depths this season. Consequently a largely greensecondary has been shredded by opponents' passing attacks.
The Cardinals rank last in the Mid-American Conference in passdefense (481.6 yards per game), pass efficiency defense and totaldefense (306.3).
In six games, the Cards have produced just six sacks. As aresult head coach Brady Hoke and his staff have been forced toblitz more often than they would prefer, leaving the youngcornerbacks in man-to-man coverage.
"You'd love to be able to drop eight and rush three," Hoke said."That doesn't happen a lot, but you'd like to be in a situationwhere you can do that and play more zone coverage."
Though only a true sophomore, Randall Means is the team's mostexperienced cornerback (senior Tommy Schembra has not played thisyear due to a foot injury), and has often been picked on the mostby opponents. Means faced Taylor Stubblefield at Purdue, andagainst Eastern Michigan he often had Eric Deslauriers, whofinished with 10 catches for 209 yards. The sophomore has 28tackles this season, sixth-most on the team.
"Randall's been playing well, especially since the Purdue game,"Hoke said after Saturday's loss to Eastern. "He probably did somethings well tonight. When you're out there playing on that island,it's easy for everybody in the stands.
"I've got a lot of confidence in our corners, confidence in theguys we put on the field."
True freshman Ryan Patrick has started the last three gamesopposite Means, while junior college transfer Josh Taylor is thethird corner. The fourth corner, sophomore Ricky Rakestraw, did notplay last year.
Strong safety Justin Beriault, a four-year starter, says histeammates' youth and the lack of pass rush can't be used asexcuses.
"It's added pressure, but it's not an excuse," he said after theEastern game. "We can't give up the big plays we have. I don't wantto put any blame on the defensive line. It's not their fault; it'sa team thing.
"We're better than that. It might sound stupid for me to saythat (since) we got beat. But we really are, and I won't let theseguys quit."
Hoke feels that youth is also a reason the line hasn't producedas much pass rush. For the most part, players aren't as big andstrong as they will be in a couple years. Senior tackle ConradSlaughter and junior end Blair Kramer are the only upperclassmen inthe rotation up front.
"Inside, we're playing with a converted end," Hoke said. "RileyLarimore, who's 263 pounds, is working his tail off, but he'sfacing 300-pounders. When they lock on you, we've gotproblems."
To combat the size deficiency, Hoke says that perfectingtechnique and fundamentals are the best method.
"The work ethic in that group is phenomenal. They have a lot ofpride. They just have to keep going. We've got to generate somepass rush."
HIGH SCHOOL LINKS
Bowling Green freshman quarterback Anthony Turner graduated withPatrick from Chaminade-Julienne High School in Dayton, Ohio.Rakestraw and junior linebacker Travis Mikalauskas also graduatedfrom Chaminade-Julienne.
Taylor and Bowling Green's John Nicholson, also a juniorcornerback, both came from Bolingbrook High School near Chicago.Jenkins Reese, a redshirt freshman linebacker at BG, was a freshmanwhen Beriault was a senior at Indianapolis Warren Central.
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