On the surface, the Regina Thunder defence doesn't look a whole lot different from the 2008 edition.
There have been a few personnel changes, but after losing five starters from a year ago, one would think the Thunder defence would take a turn for the worse.
Not so. Five games into the 2009 Prairie Football Conference season, the Thunder is allowing a league-low 16 points per game. Last season, Regina's defence was the second worst in the league, giving up 32.5 points per game.
The scheme is almost the same. Most of the players are too. So what's the difference?
"It's that trust -- that's the main word I use for our defence," said linebacker Tyler Hogan. "We all trust each other whereas last year, a play would break down and we'd lose that trust and it would snowball from there. You build trust every day at practice. You're joking around, you're supporting each other, you're building relationships. That's how you get that confidence, that swagger, that trust."
While Regina has allowed the fewest points in the PFC, the team is actually second in yards allowed per game (272.8) behind the Calgary Colts (253.4). Both of those teams are well ahead of the third-best defence in the league -- that of the Edmonton Wildcats -- which gives up 341.4 yards per game.
The familiarity between Thunder players no doubt plays a part, said Shawn McCall, who moved up to defensive co-ordinator this season after a year as the defensive backs coach. But it's an entirely new mindset among players that has made the most difference.
"We worked hard to instill a don't-be-afraid-to-miss attitude," said McCall. "The boys are going very hard and if they miss, they aren't getting in trouble. They know someone should be behind them. The guy who is getting in trouble is the guy who isn't right behind them running hard. You talk about hustling on the field, but you also have to be confident in what you're doing so you can add that speed on top of it. That's where we're at: Guys have gotten comfortable."
The Thunder added a new wrinkle to its defence on its bye week, installing a 3-4 set (three linemen and four linebackers), which Regina used for half the game in Saturday's 18-14 loss to the host Saskatoon Hilltops.
McCall said the team planned to practise the formation again this week, but added that how much the Thunder uses it Sunday --when Regina (3-2) plays the host Winnipeg Rifles (1-4) -- will depend on personnel available.
"We've been aggressive both ways," said McCall. "From what I've seen, our 34 did just as well as our 43 against the run."
Some of the credit for the defensive resurgence also has to go to the offence, which is staying on the field longer and has already scored more points this season (145) than it did in 2008 (132).
And this year, the offence doesn't even need to score as many points.
"We cut that number in half from last year," said Hogan. "Last year we had to score 40 points to win the game. This year, if we get three touchdowns, we win that football game. We trust our offence to put up those numbers and I hope the offence trusts us to keep those numbers down."
