New system, new players, new hopes for defense – Cache Valley Daily

In 2022, Utah State ranked 105th in the FBS in points allowed per game, giving up 31.2 points on average. It was the worst ranking for the team since the 2009 Aggies ranked 107th (34.0 points allowed per game). This year, under first-year defensive coordinator Joe Cauthen, USU is hoping to improve its defense despite losing numerous starters and the previous DC.

The majority of the much talked-about turnover via the transfer portal for Utah State came on the defensive side and as such most of the incoming transfers were on that side of the ball as well. But for as many transfers there are on the defense, looking at the likely starters in the unit, it mostly consists of players who were on the roster last year.

Utah State will have the 4-2-5 base defense with four down linemen and two linebackers. Behind that the team has multiple options in it’s base look. On the one hand the Aggies could go with a “Sam” which, while traditionally a term for a strong-side linebacker, it will be a position similar in scope to what former defensive coordinator Ephraim Banda’s terminology called the “Striker” position — a hybrid safety-linebacker tasked with being versatile enough to play in the box to stop the run or keep up in coverage. On the other hand, the base defense can also substitute a nickel corner. So keep that in mind when considering what “starting” means among defensive players.

Perhaps the biggest defining trait of Utah State’s defense is the fact it doesn’t have one yet. That doesn’t mean the Aggies aren’t working toward an identity, it’s just that with a new DC and a lot of new starters, nothing has been proven by this group of players. Every ounce of respect this unit gets must be earned on the field.

The front seven of this team is filled with unproven players with a sprinkling of veterans that could guide those youthful players. Utah State is set to start two underclassmen at defensive end, redshirt freshman Paul Fitzgerald and sophomore Enoka Migao. The former’s ascension to the top of the depth chart over veterans and incoming transfers was one of the surprises of fall camp and even to head coach Blake Anderson.

Underclassmen also dominate at defensive tackle with sophomore Seni Tuiaki starting alongside sixth-year veteran Hale Motu’apuaka. Bo Maile, another sophomore, sits behind Motu’apuaka in the two-deep at DT with redshirt freshman Sir Mells and sophomore Clifton Mosley filling out the three-deep depth chart at the position.

Health and added size on the D-line will be big keys to improving the performance of the down linemen which struggled last year. The Aggies were inconsistent in stopping the run last year, ranking 112th in yards allowed per game and 111th in yards allowed per rush attempt. Health was an issue last year with numerous players missing time and multiple going down with season-ending injuries (Tuiaki among those who missed essentially the entire season). There is a question of health going into the season, granted season-ending injuries haven’t popped up. Poukesi Vakauta and Motu’apuaka both missed time in fall camp and the latter is currently day-to-day and likely to be a game-day decision.

The defensive backfield is young athletes — six DBs in the two-deep depth chart are freshmen or sophomores —  but has potential with added length and speed. Chief among potential stars is safety Ike Larsen (who himself is but a sophomore). He ranked as the No. 1 player on the CVMG Top 25 Aggies and was named preseason All-Mountain West by the media. Michael Anyanwu, the only upperclassman starter in the defensive backfield, will also be taking on a big role both as a leader and producer.

One of the other key players for the Aggies is one who’s position stands between linebacker and defensive back. Anthony Switzer will play the hybrid “Sam” position in Cauthen’s defense, which is essentially where he would have played under the previous system. Switzer’s potential was seen way back in spring of 2022 but an injury in spring held him out the entire season and limited him during spring and fall camp of this year. Anderson says Switzer is healthy and not limited at all so now is the time for the versatile defender to make his mark.

While Cauthen will have a similar formation to Banda with his defense, there are a few additional wrinkles that ideally will allow the unit to be more versatile and capable. Firstly, the defense will use a true nickel corner more often rather than rely on the base 4-2-5 against three wide receiver sets. Swapping between those is where you’ll see Anyanwu and Switzer moving between positions as Anyanwu will serve as the nickel corner with Switzer moving to boundary safety, assuming he’ll trump Javar Strong who is the starter at that spot in the base defense.

Another change in the defense is how complex it will be. Cauthen’s defense works to disguise coverages and confuse opposing offenses. It’s a solid concept in theory but just how well the team takes to this complexity given how little time they’ve had to learn it is a significant concern.

The Aggies have a lot of work to do to become a great defense. Early in the season those results probably won’t be there. Youth, complexity, inexperience and some tough opponents will make the defense look poor at times. Late in the season, though, things could change as the unit as a whole gets better, casting off youth, inexperience and learning the complexity of Cauthen’s system.