Kansas Notebook: Defense Solid, Particularly In First Half

Photo by: Allissa Rusco

9/8/2018 9:28:00 PM | Football

Playing complementary football is critical, Bonamego says

By: Andy Sneddon

Andy Sneddon, CMUChippewas.com

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – Not unexpectedly, the Central Michigan defense has been solid through the first two games of the season.

The Chippewas surrendered 31 points in losing to Kansas at Kelly/Shorts Stadium on Saturday, but 17 of those points came as a result of CMU's six turnovers.

The game was 7-0 at halftime. The Chippewa offense produced just one first down in the first two quarters.

"I thought defensively in the first half we were stellar, I thought we were outstanding," CMU coach John Bonamego said. "In the second half, a couple draw plays really hurt us; missed tackles showed up again so there's still a lot of work to do."

A more consistent offense would go a long way in helping the defense by keeping it off the field and keeping it fresher. That's Football 101.

"The two go hand-in-hand," Bonamego said. "When we go three-and-out (on offense) and keep putting (the defense) out there -- it takes more energy to play defense the way we want to play defense, it's just a fact. We expect all 11 running to the ball every single play.

"We have to play complementary football there's no question about it. We have to be able to keep the defense off the field."

Kansas finished with 361 yards in total offense, 216 of which came on the ground. The Chippewas finished with 280 yards, but much of that came in the second half after the Jayhawks had built a large lead.

Six of CMU's first eight possessions were of the three-and-out variety and another ended in a fumble after quarterback Tony Poljan connected with wide receiver Brandon Childress for a 16-yard gain.

The Chippewas punted eight times. Jack Sheldon averaged 39.5 yards on the eight punts. Kansas ran 36 plays for 151 yards in the first half to the Chippewas' 20 plays and 60 yards.

"I feel like as the game goes on if you give up three-and-outs it can wear any team down, but we're conditioned," said middle linebacker Malik Fountain, who tied his career high with 13 tackles. "We've just got to play better, period. Both sides of the ball have just got to play better at the end of the day."

RUN GAME
The Chippewa run game produced just 103 yards. Poljan led CMU with 43 yards, while running backs Kumehnnu Gwilly and Jonathan Ward combined for 60 yards on 18 carries.

More production from the running game is critical, not only to CMU's immediate success, but to Poljan's development as a passer.

"People have keyed in on those two (Gwilly and Ward)," Bonamego said. "Until we can open some things up with the vertical pass game stuff then we're going to see that. Their safeties were really filling down into the box."

Poljan tossed his first career touchdown pass, a 31-yarder, to Jamil Sabbagh in the third quarter. It was Sabbagh's first career TD.

"He did complete some balls down the field, it's evolving," Bonamego said of Poljan, who was intercepted four times. "We're maybe trying to give him some confidence throws early on. We're evaluating him all week during practice and some of those (throws) are what the defense gives you. Where you think you're going to get good matchups and that sort of thing.

"I still have confidence in Tony, I really do. I think he's going to continue to get better and better. He's got the right makeup and he will be the first one in tomorrow to want to look at this film."

THE DEFENSE
Safety Devonni Reed finished with nine tackles one week after making 14 in his first career game at Kentucky. The redshirt freshman from Detroit earned the Mid-American Conference West Division Defensive Player of the Week Award for his performance at Kentucky.

Graduate transfer Sean Adesanya (Illinois) made his first sack as a Chippewa, one of five tackles-for-loss that CMU posted in the game.

NEXT
The Chippewas go to Northern Illinois for their MAC opener on Saturday, Sept. 15 (3:30 p.m.).

The Huskies opened with a 33-7 loss to Iowa and were scheduled to play Utah at home on Saturday night.

"For us, we just need to go back to work tomorrow and really look at it critically, everybody, myself included, (the) coaches," Bonamego said. "I still maintain all the mistakes we're making right now are self-inflicted and if we can just continue to improve some of the mistakes we will be a very good football team.

"It's still early in the season. They're (the players) hurting right now, we all are, and they should be. I want them feeling that way. If they don't then something would really be wrong. We'll come back into work tomorrow, look at the film, and start to figure out a way to get better and focus on NIU next week."