BOWLING GREEN — Football fans of a certain age will remember the Miami Dolphins’ famous “No-Name Defense.”
As Bowling Green State University football coach Mike Jinks remembered, that was the moniker attached to the Dolphins defense in 1972 because that unit lacked well-known faces. But that nameless unit played a key role as Miami marched to the Super Bowl title and the only undefeated season in NFL history.
“I would 100 percent take that — and the results,” Jinks said.
It became apparent, as the Falcons finished spring drills earlier this month, that this year the BG defense also could be viewed as a “no-name” group because it features few faces familiar to fans.
“That’s what is exciting: We have a lot to prove, and a lot of guys with big chips on their shoulders,” Jinks said. “And they are aware of our defensive performance last season.
“But that’s a prideful group, and they want that to be different.”
Different would be better. Last season the Falcons finished No. 122 among 129 Football Bowl Subdivision schools in points allowed, giving up 38.0 points per game. Worse, BG surrendered 506.6 yards per game, making it one of only five FBS schools to allow more than 500 yards per contest.
VIDEO: BGSU coach Mike Jinks wraps up spring football practice
While the Falcons return seven starters from a year ago, only one has received postseason Mid-American Conference honors — safety Jamari Bozeman, who was third-team All-MAC in 2016 but did not play last season because of injuries.
As a result, Jinks said before spring drills began the defense was “starting over.”
“We started with a blank slate — everybody started brand-new,” he said. “From Day 1 we told them we’ll have our spring practices and what they put on tape [during those practices] will define you — and this football team.”
It helped there is a completely revamped coaching staff on defense, including one “name” in former Nebraska defensive coordinator and Florida Atlantic head coach Carl Pelini.
“They have a wealth of experience — there isn’t a situation they haven’t been in,” Jinks said of the new defensive staff members. “While there are mistakes being made, they are spot-on in making the correction.
“The thing that I noticed is that we’re going to dictate what [other] teams do offensively. What we have to do is expedite the learning curve of our kids. ... It’s a work in progress, and we’ve thrown a lot on their plates.
“But the kids realize these coaches know what they’re doing, and they’re just trying to soak it all in.”
RELATED: Can Carl Pelini help save Bowling Green football?
The defensive line features only one player with extensive experience in senior end David Konowalski, who has 24 career starts. The rest of the line returns a combined 18 starts but should be bolstered by redshirt freshmen such as Walter Haire as well as Kentucky transfer Roland Walder, a sophomore.
“Those young guys are hungry — they want to be great,” said junior defensive tackle Kyle Junior, whose 36 tackles last season included a team-leading 3½ sacks. “My only concern is that we know what we are doing.
“Those guys who are unknowns are sleepers. They work hard every day.”
RELATED: Konowalski seen as leader for young defensive line.
There also is uncertainty at linebacker. The only experienced returnee is Brandon Harris, who has started 24 games in his career and finished third on the team last season with 92 tackles. Two junior college newcomers, Brandon Perce and Hassan Belton, are expected to push for starter’s roles as well as give that group depth.
“It’s a lot different from what I’m used to — there’s a lot more stuff to know,” Perce said about the adjustment from junior college ball to BG. “There was a lot to learn at first, but the coaches are teaching it very well, and I think we’re getting better and better at it every day.
“We’re installing pretty fast, and even if we’re not getting it right away we’re getting better and better.”
RELATED: Big hits announce Perce’s arrival with Bowling Green football team.
The most experienced unit on the Bowling Green defense is the secondary, where four players have at least a full season’s worth of starts. Cornerback Clint Stephens has 21 career starts and nickel back Marcus Milton has 13, while rover Fred Garth, cornerback Cameron Jefferies, and Bozeman each has 12.
But even those experienced players are being pushed for playing time. For example, at cornerback other candidates to start include sophomore Ty Redding and freshman Sy Dabney.
RELATED: Bozeman hopes to be “a gift” to BG football team in 2018.
“People are digging into the playbook and putting in the extra work,” Milton said. “There are a lot of new faces, but everyone has a ‘next-man-up’ mentality and is getting ready to play.
“But there’s always going to be a chip on our shoulder. We have something to prove.”
That makes sense. The struggles on defense the past two seasons as well as the unknown nature of this year’s unit make it a “No-Name Defense” far different from that Miami team.
Perce said that is the motivation for this year’s defense to make a name for itself.
“We definitely want to make a statement this year — as a team,” Perce said. “If we give our all every day, and guys step up, I think when it comes time to play this defense will look pretty good.”
Contact John Wagner at: jwagner@theblade.com, 419-724-6481, or on Twitter @jwagnerblade.
First Published April 25, 2018, 11:45 a.m.
