By Khadrice Rollins
krollins@ajc.com
Attacking the quarterback is one of the top priorities of almost every defense. Kennesaw State did just that last week and will look for a repeat performance Saturday.
The Owls (6-2, 2-1 Big South) welcome Clark Atlanta (5-4, 3-4 SIAC) to Fifth Third Bank Stadium this weekend with hopes of extending their current win streak to three games. One way KSU can make sure that happens is by making Clark Atlanta quarterbacks Dashawn Blow and Johnathon McCrary uncomfortable in the pocket.
Against Monmouth (4-5, 0-4 Big South) last week, the Owls posted up shop in the Hawks’ backfield, and it was a key to their defensive success.
“Everybody on that D-line has a dog in them, and they just don’t stop,” outside linebacker Dez Billingslea said. “We got a lot of pressure only sending two to three people sometimes. We had a lot of spying going on with the tackle and just rushing two off the edge. That just all comes from the effort and attitude that we have on the field with pass rushing. Just keep getting to the quarterback. Have relentless, get-after-it-effort.”
Defensive lineman Desmond Johnson was the primary terror last week, with a career-high nine tackles, one sack, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery in the 49-17 win. He was named the Big South Defensive Player of the Week and the National Freshman Player of the Week by STATS FCS thanks to his stout performance.
Now he gets the chance to battle the Panthers and an offensive line that has given up 24 sacks this season and has surrendered at least two sacks seven times. This is a matchup that should go well for the 6-foot-2, 230-pounder from Rome, who has six sacks this season.
“He’s making plays,” defensive coordinator Brian Newberry said. “He’s been everything that we hoped he would be, and probably a little bit more from a productivity standpoint. And the ceiling for him is still really really high.”
While Johnson and the rest of the line should provide a solid push up front, Newberry also will call for some added pressure when the opportunities present themselves.
Billingslea ranks second on the team with four sacks, and last week, blitzers accounted for 4 1/2 of the Owls’ six sacks.
“Credit to coach Newberry. He puts us in great situations where we can get pressure with unique looks and just confuse the offensive line that we’re going against and open up some gaps for us to get pressure,” linebacker Izzy Sam said.
In order to bring this added pressure though, Newberry needs a sound secondary that he can trust to maintain coverage when left alone on islands.
But when the pressure gets there in time, and the secondary does its job, the Owls have gotten some key interceptions to accompany those sacks.
“It’s great playing behind those guys,” cornerback Dante Blackmon said. “They get pressure to the quarterback a lot, and we got a defensive coordinator that’s sassy. He loves to blitz a lot. … And it makes it a better situation for us at DB.”
