With two weeks worth of spring practice for a defensive unit that is only returning five starters, Ball State coach Pete Lembo said there's a lot more work to get done.
The only returning starters from last season's defense are cornerbacks Jason Pinkston and Jeffrey Garrett, linebackers Travis Freeman and Tony Martin and defensive tackle Nathan Ollie. The rest of the personnel have seen limited playing time.
"Slowly but surely we're taking baby steps forward," Lembo said. "The effort has been solid throughout spring. Some guys are gradually getting better and more comfortable in their roles. I'd like to think the progress we've made in the weight room is showing on the field."
The defensive veterans have played as leaders in the spring, which is important for the development of the younger players on the team. But Lembo said players with other roles have showed they can be leaders.
He pointed out cornerbacks Andre Dawson and Armand Dehaney as two players who have stepped up.
"Without anybody standing out drastically, we've seen a handful of guys make some progress which is good," Lembo said.
As one of the veterans, Martin said he is trying to get himself and the other returning starters to lead by example.
"I'm a lead by an example guy," he said. "Us five really have to get people together in the right spot cause the expectation is on us. We have to mold this team."
Having two returning starters at the linebacker and cornerback position is helpful in terms of being able to read one another and building chemistry, Martin said.
The younger linebackers especially have been coming to the veterans in Martin, Freeman and Justin Cruz. In result, Martin said there have been younger players during practices that have been performing and making plays, which he said is a nice surprise.
Martin also said the safeties competing for the two starting safety positions have been performing well despite their inexperience.
"I have faith in those guys," Martin said. "So far they've been doing a great job of filling those shoes."
But the biggest struggle with the defense this spring season has been keeping the continuity. This spring is the first spring where the same defensive coordinator has returned from the previous season.
Lembo compared having different defensive coordinators every spring to having a different manager at a workplace every year that had a different philosophy on how things should be done.
"We have to keep in mind that this is the way you want it to be," Lembo said. "But still it's only the second spring that these guys have had the same message from the same voices."
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