4. College Football News Preview 2020: Central Michigan Chippewas Defense 3 Things To Know
– The defense might have struggled from time to time – allowing 43 points or more four times, all losses – but it was a killer at getting into the backfield and finished second overall in the MAC in total defense. With 19 of the top 22 tacklers expected back, the D should be even stronger.
– There’s decent size up front, and everyone can pop. 205-pound junior Troy Brown gets all over the field and gets in on everything – he led the way with 91 tackles – and 225-pound Chuck Jones brings a little bit of thump. Brown was great at getting behind the line, and so was LaQuan Johnson, a 260-pound pass rusher who finished second on the team in both sacks and tackles for loss. There are veterans at tackle, with a great rotation that should be able to hold up.
– The secondary that had to undergo a bit of an overhaul last year after losing some NFL talents now gets back three good starters who took their lumps last year as underclassmen.
The pass defense struggled to consistently come up with picks – six of the 13 came in two games – and allowed teams to hit 60% of their passes, but the corners are there with several good options, junior Devonni Reed was third on the team with 74 tackles, and Alonzo McCoy returns after tying for the team lead with three picks.