Photo by: Mike Baker - DavidsonPhotos.com
Dominant Defense Helped Drive Davidson in 2019
11/26/2019 3:30:00 PM | Football
It was difficult to get solo tackles on the Davidson defense this year, and that's exactly how the Wildcats wanted it.
An improved defense, which led the Pioneer Football League and ranked nationally in multiple categories, helped the Wildcats go 8-4 and produce the program's best season in almost two decades.
"Look at the results," said head coach Scott Abell, who has led Davidson to 14 wins in two seasons. "If there's a unit across the country that improved as much as our defensive unit did, I'd like to know who it is."
Last year's 6-5 team was led by its record-setting shotgun triple option offense, which hit the ground running — literally and figuratively — in Abell's first year and exceeded expectations on all fronts. Meanwhile, the defensive unit tackled a new 4-2-5 system and learned on the fly.
"The improvement from year one to year two is more about experience," said Abell. "Everything grows at its own rate, so defensively, it was a vastly different system that was being employed here before we arrived. That took time. Last year wasn't always easy, but they stuck to the plan."
Swarming, flying
The Davidson defense is built on speed, physicality and a word that comes up in conversations with multiple players: connectivity. This year, defensive coordinator Jon Berlin has seen his unit play with a better understanding of the concepts, like it's natural.
"We want them to be able to play fast," he said. "When we feel like everybody understands their jobs and where they fit and they can play at that high level of speed, then really good things are going to happen."
Swarming to the football is the goal; aggressiveness is the mentality. Everyone, it seems, wants to get in on every stop, and often, it's difficult to tell who arrived at the ballcarrier first — there are multiple Davidson uniforms in the scrum, and everyone reacts with the same excitement.
"We're all just flying to the football," said senior cornerback Ray McCall. "If someone misses a tackle, we have three or four guys there. That limits big plays."
Motivation has not been a problem. Members of the defense enjoyed winning last year, but they wanted to improve and went to work to do it.
"We knew we were going to be better, and we had to be better," said senior defensive lineman Bryce Perry-Martin.
One key to the success has been the willingness of players to change positions for the betterment of the team.
Players like Harrison Hill, a starting linebacker, who shifted to defensive end, and Jake Alexander moved from safety to linebacker. Tyler Solomon and Jaylon Bolden moved over from the offense, with Solomon taking a spot on the defensive line after playing tight end and Bolden changing from slot to corner.
"Each of them, which was really neat, was with not a moment's hesitation," said Berlin. "It was, 'Whatever I've got to do Coach.'"
The stand
Was there a time when the tide began to turn for the defense? Yes, yes there was.
The 2018 season of offense ended with the defense making the play of the year — a goal line stop of Butler as time expired in the season finale. In all, the Wildcats stopped Butler on four plays inside the Davidson 3-yard line in the final 53 seconds, including on a fourth down from the 3 as time expired.
"It was a defining moment in the history of the program," said George Hatalowich, now a senior linebacker.
The Bulldogs trailed 41-38 and had no interest in kicking a game-tying field goal. On fourth down, they lined up, ironically, in the Wildcat formation, with running back Brad Sznajder taking the snap from center. He faked a handoff to his left, then sprinted for the right pylon. But he was met by a wall of Wildcats, including linebacker Tony Collins, who denied his entry into the end zone.
"Defensive-wise, it just set the foundation and a barrier that we can't go back now," said Collins, now a senior. "We did that. We can't go back to just depending on the offense."
Rare is it that so much comes down to one play, but based on the result, the Wildcats were either going to be 5-6 or 6-5. For a program trying to break through, it meant a lot.
As time expired, the celebration began. Davidson had its first winning season since 2007.
"To send our whole team and that side of the football into the offseason with that confidence," said Abell, "you can't measure how important that was. You really can't. That really springboarded our defense into what they've become today."
Moving forward
The 2020 seniors wanted to be "pioneers of change," as Collins puts it.
They became just that.
"Our senior leadership was so key in the way that our entire defensive unit, regardless of their role, just embraced it," said Berlin.
Now, with their playing careers done, they exit having raised the program's trajectory. It's satisfying to say the least.
"This is what we wanted to be a part of," said Perry-Martin. "It's going to be good for years to come."
"You can't write it up any better," added Hatalowich. "You can't ask for anything more."
Where they rank in the FCS
DavidsonPhotos.com
An improved defense, which led the Pioneer Football League and ranked nationally in multiple categories, helped the Wildcats go 8-4 and produce the program's best season in almost two decades.
"Look at the results," said head coach Scott Abell, who has led Davidson to 14 wins in two seasons. "If there's a unit across the country that improved as much as our defensive unit did, I'd like to know who it is."
Last year's 6-5 team was led by its record-setting shotgun triple option offense, which hit the ground running — literally and figuratively — in Abell's first year and exceeded expectations on all fronts. Meanwhile, the defensive unit tackled a new 4-2-5 system and learned on the fly.
"The improvement from year one to year two is more about experience," said Abell. "Everything grows at its own rate, so defensively, it was a vastly different system that was being employed here before we arrived. That took time. Last year wasn't always easy, but they stuck to the plan."
Swarming, flying
The Davidson defense is built on speed, physicality and a word that comes up in conversations with multiple players: connectivity. This year, defensive coordinator Jon Berlin has seen his unit play with a better understanding of the concepts, like it's natural.
"We want them to be able to play fast," he said. "When we feel like everybody understands their jobs and where they fit and they can play at that high level of speed, then really good things are going to happen."
Swarming to the football is the goal; aggressiveness is the mentality. Everyone, it seems, wants to get in on every stop, and often, it's difficult to tell who arrived at the ballcarrier first — there are multiple Davidson uniforms in the scrum, and everyone reacts with the same excitement.
"We're all just flying to the football," said senior cornerback Ray McCall. "If someone misses a tackle, we have three or four guys there. That limits big plays."
Motivation has not been a problem. Members of the defense enjoyed winning last year, but they wanted to improve and went to work to do it.
"We knew we were going to be better, and we had to be better," said senior defensive lineman Bryce Perry-Martin.
One key to the success has been the willingness of players to change positions for the betterment of the team.
Players like Harrison Hill, a starting linebacker, who shifted to defensive end, and Jake Alexander moved from safety to linebacker. Tyler Solomon and Jaylon Bolden moved over from the offense, with Solomon taking a spot on the defensive line after playing tight end and Bolden changing from slot to corner.
"Each of them, which was really neat, was with not a moment's hesitation," said Berlin. "It was, 'Whatever I've got to do Coach.'"
The stand
Was there a time when the tide began to turn for the defense? Yes, yes there was.
The 2018 season of offense ended with the defense making the play of the year — a goal line stop of Butler as time expired in the season finale. In all, the Wildcats stopped Butler on four plays inside the Davidson 3-yard line in the final 53 seconds, including on a fourth down from the 3 as time expired.
"It was a defining moment in the history of the program," said George Hatalowich, now a senior linebacker.
The Bulldogs trailed 41-38 and had no interest in kicking a game-tying field goal. On fourth down, they lined up, ironically, in the Wildcat formation, with running back Brad Sznajder taking the snap from center. He faked a handoff to his left, then sprinted for the right pylon. But he was met by a wall of Wildcats, including linebacker Tony Collins, who denied his entry into the end zone.
"Defensive-wise, it just set the foundation and a barrier that we can't go back now," said Collins, now a senior. "We did that. We can't go back to just depending on the offense."
Rare is it that so much comes down to one play, but based on the result, the Wildcats were either going to be 5-6 or 6-5. For a program trying to break through, it meant a lot.
As time expired, the celebration began. Davidson had its first winning season since 2007.
"To send our whole team and that side of the football into the offseason with that confidence," said Abell, "you can't measure how important that was. You really can't. That really springboarded our defense into what they've become today."
Moving forward
The 2020 seniors wanted to be "pioneers of change," as Collins puts it.
They became just that.
"Our senior leadership was so key in the way that our entire defensive unit, regardless of their role, just embraced it," said Berlin.
Now, with their playing careers done, they exit having raised the program's trajectory. It's satisfying to say the least.
"This is what we wanted to be a part of," said Perry-Martin. "It's going to be good for years to come."
"You can't write it up any better," added Hatalowich. "You can't ask for anything more."
Where they rank in the FCS
- Total Defense - 6th (278.9 YPG)
- Passing yards allowed - 9th (169.2)
- Rushing defense - 11th (109.8)
- 3rd down conversion % defense - 14th (32.6)
- Scoring defense - 17th (20.7)
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Players Mentioned
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