2008 Woodie Awards
SPORT FOR THOUGHT: Hoke preaches unification for upcoming year
Ryan Wood
Even Hoke isn't quite sure how much better his defense will be, but he likes what he sees on paper entering the season.
"I really like the speed and skill that we're able to put on the field," Hoke said. "I really like the youth that we've interjected into it. Two years ago, we signed 18 defensive players, and I'm really enjoying how those kids are coming along."
Along with a young crop of talent, Ball State also returns plenty of veterans, including six starters from last year's International Bowl. Fifth-year senior linebacker Wendell Brown, who led the Cardinals in tackles in 2006, has been underwhelming so far after coming back from a pectoral muscle tear that kept him out last season. But Bryant Haines, last year's leading tackler with 125, has been practicing at full strength after originally being questionable for the start of the season with a back injury.
Seeing the pieces for a much-improved defense fall into place, Hoke sent his latest message for unity when he chose Chris Miller to represent the 2008 team. It was the right choice because it beat the hell out of the alternative.
Sure, most media members would've preferred to speak with another big-name offensive player, such as John Mackey Award Watch List honoree Darius Hill or leading receiver Dante Love. Like Miller, both players earned the right to represent this year's team with their play on the field. But if Hoke had taken two offensive players to Detroit, he would've been sending nothing more than mixed signals to his team.
A coach can't send the message that his offensive and defensive units are equally important to success this fall and then select two players from the same side of the ball to represent his team. A compromise like that just doesn't work.
You might argue Miller is a special team's player and not a defensive member, but a team's punter is always linked with the defensive side of the ball. It's the reason former Ball State great Brad Maynard was named the 1996 MAC Defensive Player of the Year. The easiest way to improve a team's defensive is to start with its punting game. In those terms, Miller is by far the Cardinals best defensive player.
Even with Miller paving the road to improvement with each punt, it's na've to believe Ball State's defense can equal an offense that returns every starter from last season. But Hoke knows his defensive must earn credibility for his team to have the success it years for this fall.
"I really like the speed and skill that we're able to put on the field," Hoke said. "I really like the youth that we've interjected into it. Two years ago, we signed 18 defensive players, and I'm really enjoying how those kids are coming along."
Along with a young crop of talent, Ball State also returns plenty of veterans, including six starters from last year's International Bowl. Fifth-year senior linebacker Wendell Brown, who led the Cardinals in tackles in 2006, has been underwhelming so far after coming back from a pectoral muscle tear that kept him out last season. But Bryant Haines, last year's leading tackler with 125, has been practicing at full strength after originally being questionable for the start of the season with a back injury.
Seeing the pieces for a much-improved defense fall into place, Hoke sent his latest message for unity when he chose Chris Miller to represent the 2008 team. It was the right choice because it beat the hell out of the alternative.
Sure, most media members would've preferred to speak with another big-name offensive player, such as John Mackey Award Watch List honoree Darius Hill or leading receiver Dante Love. Like Miller, both players earned the right to represent this year's team with their play on the field. But if Hoke had taken two offensive players to Detroit, he would've been sending nothing more than mixed signals to his team.
A coach can't send the message that his offensive and defensive units are equally important to success this fall and then select two players from the same side of the ball to represent his team. A compromise like that just doesn't work.
You might argue Miller is a special team's player and not a defensive member, but a team's punter is always linked with the defensive side of the ball. It's the reason former Ball State great Brad Maynard was named the 1996 MAC Defensive Player of the Year. The easiest way to improve a team's defensive is to start with its punting game. In those terms, Miller is by far the Cardinals best defensive player.
Even with Miller paving the road to improvement with each punt, it's na've to believe Ball State's defense can equal an offense that returns every starter from last season. But Hoke knows his defensive must earn credibility for his team to have the success it years for this fall.
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