Sadaat on the defense

Interviewed Army co-defensive coordinator Payam Sadaat last week for a story on the defense. Here are some leftover nuggets.

On Army’s new defense

You can look back at coach Ellerson’s years of running
this defense, he’s had some great players. There’s no question about it. There
were also great players that were created because of the defense as well. It’s not an individual defense.

“It’s always great to have a standout player, don’t get me
wrong. There’s positions in this defense for a marquee players. The defense
functions in its entirety as a whole based upon how the 11 pieces of the puzzle
fit. That’s part of the success of the individuals within the defense that they
have. When they execute, how they are trying to execute it, it falls into place. It has its place for a marquee player but it does
allow the whole picture to succeed as well too.”

On the defense’s overall talent

“I think John Mumford (Army’s former defensive coordinator/now a defensive line coach) had some great players on this
defense. This defense is also bringing to light some other players as well. We
have the talent to run this defense and do some great things with this defense.
You are never going to discount the effort or the will to succeed by these
kids. This defense is built for as much as great players as it is for great
players mixed in with talent levels that fluctuate. It can play to all of them
as long as they trust their techniques. As long as they trust what we are
coaching them, they can succeed in this defense. That’s the part that is
creating the excitement. The kids here are worthy of us doing some great things
defensively.

On some of the defensive players coming to light in the new system 

“Chris Swain, Marcus Hilton. Andy Rodriguez. Systemically, it
allows for some other kids to play into the picture that may not be in the
picture in some other conventional defenses that are ran. It’s very similar to
what the triple option does on offense.”