Georgia State: To start winning, stop the run

But meeting that goal will require getting opponents off the field in ways that end with something other than the point-after attempt.

Miles believes fans will see a much better defense than they saw over the first two years.

“Our personnel has improved from last year,” he said. “We have a few scheme things that are helping us. Our personnel is bigger, stronger faster and more mature. We have more depth. That really helps.”

After being gored for two years, Georgia State recruited to strengthen the spine of the defense, bringing in nose tackle Julien Laurent, middle linebacker Kaleb Ringer and safety Bobby Baker. Ringer and Baker should start the opener against Charlotte on Friday while Laurent will back up returning starter Jalen Lawrence.

Ringer is a one-time Michigan signee who brings size (6-feet, 235) that previous linebackers haven’t had. Defensive coordinator Jesse Minter said signing Ringer was the best thing that happened to the group. A redshirt junior, he is a leader who won’t be intimidated.

Behind him are more gap-stuffers like Trey Payne (6-0, 230) and Ed Curney (5-11, 220), who are mobile enough to turn last year’s 6-yard runs into 3-yard runs this year. At outside linebacker, UAB transfer Alonzo McGee and redshirt freshman Michael Shaw bring speed the defense didn’t have last year to chase down running plays that go wide.

“Our depth is going to be that much better because those guys are that much better,” Minter said.

With little depth last year, Lawrence played almost every defensive snap due to of injuries. Minter said he began tinkering with the scheme to little affect, while the staff came to believe the Panthers almost needed to have an unblocked man on every play to have a chance. No scheme can provide that.

It is hoped returning players — Lawrence, defensive linemen Shawanye Lawrence, Tevin Jones, Carnell Hopson and Will Cunningham, and a group of linebackers — will be improved from another year of experience. Linemen combined for just one sack and 8 1/2 tackles for loss last year.

“People have to take into consideration player development,” Miles said. “Those kids, the Shawanye Lawrences of the world who were starting at 17 and whole sophomore year at 18, is now 19 and seasoned and has played two years. Instead of trying to survive, now they are trying to execute, which is a big difference.”

With the experience comes knowledge. Jalen Lawrence, the 6-1, 285-pound nose tackle, said he understands the system so much better than he did his first two years. Because he lines up closer to the ball than any other player, his play is crucial in curbing opponents’ belief that third-and-3 is an automatic first down.

“I feel like it’s going to be totally better across the board,” Lawrence said.

Without giving any hint what he done, Minter has tweaked his base defense, a shifting 3-4/4-3 scheme that seems the same as last year. But he thinks the changes may help because opponents will be uncertain how Georgia State will line up early in the season.

Whether all these ingredients can be mixed to stop the run remains to be seen, but it shouldn’t take long to find out. Though Charlotte was 5-6 last year, the 49ers averaged 5.5 yards per rushing attempt.

Minter said he expects every team will try to run on his defense until they can prove that they can stop them. The future of the coaching staff may depend upon it.

“You’ll see,” Ringer said. “You’ll know from that first drive that we are ready to go.”