By Jim Johnson
SouthernPigskin.com

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The defense, the heart and soul of Chattanooga, has been the cornerstone of the Mocs’ recent string of success.

With the graduation of Jacob Huesman, Chattanooga will have a new face of the team. It is yet to be seen how different the offense will look.

xe2x80x9cIt will be a touch different,xe2x80x9d stated head coach Russ Huesman, xe2x80x9cbut the identity wonxe2x80x99t change. Alejandro (Bennifield) does some things better than Jacob, but hexe2x80x99s not going to carry the ball 200 times this season like Jacob did. We will change and adjust and find other ways to get the ball to our playmakers. The offense will be very similar, other than the number of carries by the quarterback.xe2x80x9d

However, the defense, the heart and soul of Chattanooga, has been the cornerstone of the Mocs’ recent string of success.

Huesman has a first-team preseason all-conference selection at every level of the defense. xe2x80x9cItxe2x80x99s pretty nice when you have a guy like Keionta that can rush the passer, and be disruptive in the run and pass game. I think Nakevion Leslie is the best linebacker in the league. I probably shouldnxe2x80x99t say that, but hexe2x80x99s fantastic. And then Lucas Webb, on the back end, is getting a lot of preseason All-American talk. Hexe2x80x99s got so many records within reach — interceptions, defensive touchdowns, return yards.xe2x80x9d

From a leadership perspective, it’s important that Alejandro Bennifield establishes himself in the huddle and in the locker room. From a production standpoint, while expectations may be high, he won’t have to put up ridiculous numbers to get W’s. Therexe2x80x99s not a better offensive crutch in the league than Chattanoogaxe2x80x99s defense.

Keionta Davis leads likely the best defensive front in the conference. He, himself, set a new single-season sack record for the school, with a league leading 13.5, with another 17 tackles for loss.

Heat-seeking Nakevion Leslie is one tackle shy of the career 200 mark, 27 of which were tackles for a loss.

Lucas Webb, just a junior, is already tied for ninth, with none other than Russ Huesman, with nine career interceptions. However, with his uncanny playmaking ability, he is only 21 yards away from the school record for interception return yards.

xe2x80x9cNone of them are vocal!xe2x80x9d said Huesman of his three defensive leaders. xe2x80x9cThey all wonxe2x80x99t say two words half the time.xe2x80x9d

xe2x80x9cIxe2x80x99ll talk,xe2x80x9d Keionta Davis chimed in.

xe2x80x9cThey say nothing,xe2x80x9d Huesman reiterated. xe2x80x9cThey let their play do the talking, which Ixe2x80x99d rather have any day of the week. Ixe2x80x99ve got a few talkers out there that canxe2x80x99t play a lick of ball. Ixe2x80x99d rather have the ball players that donxe2x80x99t say much.xe2x80x9d

xe2x80x9cThose are my guys, man,xe2x80x9d Davis said of Leslie and Webb. xe2x80x9cMe and (Nakevion) came in together, and ever since freshman year wexe2x80x99ve just had a bond. We work out together. We live together. Hexe2x80x99s like my bestfriend.xe2x80x9d

xe2x80x9cLucas came in the year after us,xe2x80x9d he continued. xe2x80x9cHe was one of the guys I talked to and told him, xe2x80x98Youxe2x80x99re going to make mistakes, just keep playing hard,xe2x80x99 and after that one conversation, ever since then, hexe2x80x99s been ballinxe2x80x99.xe2x80x9d

Huesman may have been right about them not being too vocal, but apparently they donxe2x80x99t have to be. xe2x80x9cWe know the coachesxe2x80x99 expectations and we go out and execute them,xe2x80x9d Davis stated. xe2x80x9cPlaying with these guys for three or four years now, we donxe2x80x99t have to talk much, we just know.xe2x80x9d

As far as I can tell, Davis, Leslie, Webb, and company will just keep letting their play speak for them. It seems to be working pretty well.