Defense is the key

The Toledo Rockets finished the 2014 season with a respectable 9-4 record ending the season with a 63-44 win against Arkansas State in the GoDaddy Bowl on Jan. 4.

This season, the Rockets are off to a 6-0 start and ranked 19th in the country.

So what’s the big difference between this year and the previous one?

Last year, Toledo’s defense allowed 30.5 points per game ranking eighth the Mid-American Conference. This year, Toledo has allowed a shade over 13 points per game, good for best in the conference and seventh in the nation.

Let’s take a deeper look into why UT’s defense is playing so well.

A lot of it is due to an experienced group returning from last year.

The Rockets returned eight starters from the 2014 season including a defensive line that will most likely end the season with three All-MAC performers in tackles Orion Jones and Trevon Hester and defensive end Trent Voss.

Toledo’s defense has settled into their own under second-year defensive coordinator Jon Heacock philosophy.

In Heacock’s first year the Rockets allowed 407 yards per game which was good enough for seventh-best. This season, UT’s defense have held opponents to 363.7 yards per game which is fourth-best in the conference.

The Toledo defense has been extremely stout in the red zone.

So far this season, out of 15 tries, opposing offenses have only scored three touchdowns and three field goals in the red zone.

That 40 percent success is the second-lowest in the country.

The Rocket’s front seven has been a force all season and a nightmare for opposing quarterbacks.

Toledo is second in the MAC with 17 sacks throughout their first six games.

UT have also been turnover machines. Toledo holds a plus-5 in the takeaways category.

The Rockets have intercepted six passes this year, returning one for a touchdown and have come up with five fumble recoveries.

The front seven of the Rockets may be their strength but the secondary definitely isn’t a weakness.

The most important and missed player from last year’s team is senior cornerback Cheatham Norrils.

After missing all of last year with an unknown illness, Norrills has returned to full health and has been a key role in helping solidify the Toledo secondary.

Norrils generally locking down a third of the field is one of many reasons that UT currently ranks 18th in the country in passing defense efficiency.

Rolan Milligan and Chaz Whittaker also have a lot to say about the much-improved secondary as both safeties have two interceptions a piece.

The Rockets have been strong not only on offense and defensive but also special teams.

The special teams are credited with three blocked field goals and two blocked punts this season — a stat that may be overlooked but has huge impacts on changing the momentum of football games.

If the defense can keep up what it’s been doing, look for Toledo to continue this magical run.

Remember the old adage in football is, “Defense wins championships.”