For the second straight week, Ball State is preparing to play without All-Mid-American Conference safety Sean Baker. He missed last week's game with a sprained AC joint in his shoulder, an injury he suffered at Oklahoma on Oct. 1.
If Baker can't play Saturday at Ohio, Ball State knows it will have to replace more than just his on-field production. Twice in the past five days, coach Pete Lembo has challenged his defense to step up and fill the leadership void left by Baker.
First, after Ball State lost 42-0 to Temple on Homecoming, Lembo said the Cardinals needed someone to take charge of the team.
"Somebody has got to step up and say ‘Follow me. I'm going to be that guy today,'" Lembo said. "That's what we've got to develop. We've got to develop that kind of mentality and ownership and obviously we're not there right now."
Wednesday, Lembo said it wasn't just the responsibility of freshman Brian Jones, Baker's replacement in the starting lineup, to fill the void on the field. Lembo challenged Ball State's defensive playmakers to elevate their game in Baker's absence.
"It's about Travis Freeman playing better and Tony Martin playing better and [Jason] Pinkston playing better," Lembo said. "You know there are some guys out there that have played a lot of football. Whether it be under our staff or the previous staff, they've played a lot of football."
"At some point, you've got to become a guy. A guy that when opponents turn the film on they say ‘How are we going to block him?' or ‘How are we going to get open against him?' And that's each player's responsibility to challenge themselves to that point and to get a little bit upset when you don't quite play to that level."
Freeman has been considered a leader on the defense in the past, especially because of his role as middle linebacker. After the loss to Temple, he said there was still room for him to improve as a leader.
"Sean has always been our vocal leader," Freeman said. "There were some times on the sideline where I have to get after it myself, encourage my guys and things like that. I'm in the middle of the defense and a lot of guys look up to me. Hopefully I can perform to that level that they need me to perform at."
Of the five senior captains the Cardinals elected at the end of spring practice, Adam Morris, Andy Puthoff and Baker play on defense. Morris said while it is difficult to replace Baker, he has tried to become more of a vocal leader in the safety's absence.
"I think we have a lot of leaders on defense," Morris said. "But we can't talk about it anymore, we have to be about it and just play better."
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