Bowling Green defense wants to make its mark in '08

BOWLING GREEN - When an offense is putting up gaudy numbers, it can be easy for a defense to get overlooked. When said defense most resembles a wet paper towel, maybe that's a good thing.

While the Bowling Green offense was posting historic numbers, the defense was doing the same, in the opposite way. The defense gave up 23 first downs per game, along with 30 points, 208 rushing yards and 217 passing.

They saved the worst for last, when Tulsa lit up the Falcons for 63 points, 34 first downs and 562 total yards in the GMAC Bowl.

All memories the Falcons are working to erase.

"I think the defense is ready to come around, especially after the bowl game. That left a bad taste in our mouth. We have a chip on our shoulder," defensive lineman Michael Ream said. "I think the defense, as a whole, is pretty good."

Actually, planning for next year began soon after the bowl game debacle ended.

"It's a new team, a new heartbeat. That's what is exciting when you're getting ready to go," coach Gregg Brandon said. "That's what I told them after the bowl game, ‘That was that team, this is this team. Who are you going to be? How are you going to make your mark?'"

The defense hopes most of the marks it leaves on opponents turn purple in the morning. With eight returning starters, including the entire secondary, the hopes aren't outpacing reality.

"We've done a lot this summer. We've had a tough summer, tougher than other summers," defensive back P.J. Mahone said. "Our play spoke for itself during the spring. I think we had a little better spring than our offense."

Mahone returns after recording 90 tackles and a Mid-American Conference-leading seven interceptions.

The linebacking squad could be the strength of the defense. Erique Dozier led the team with 112 tackles, while John Haneline had 96 tackles in just nine games; he missed the final four games with a foot injury.

On the line, Diyral Briggs was a first-team All-MAC selection, gathering 54 tackles and five sacks. Ream, a Bluffton High School graduate, played in seven games and made two starts, recording 14 tackles and 1 1/2 sacks.

Everyone knows what the offense is capable of producting. For Ream and the defense, it's their turn to prove their mettle.

 "We still have to produce to help the offense, take a weight off their shoulders," Ream said. "Bowling Green is known for their offense, offense, offense, and we want to be known as a solid team. Not just offense. We want the defense to be known."