Junior linebacker Steven Taylor, left, looks ready to step up both in his play and off the field this year, building on the momentum of last season. | File photo/The Cougar

The defense has an interesting fall ahead of them, with the loss of a few leaders both on game days and in the locker room, and a new scheme to implement. Here are a few things that we’ll be watching for as UH prepares for the start of practice.

Who steps up at linebacker in place of the departed Efren Oliphant and Derrick Mathews?

For the past few years, Oliphant and Mathews have been the anchors of the UH defense.

Perhaps most importantly however is the leadership that Mathews and Oliphant brought to the team, helping serve as mentors to many of their fellow defensive players and helping them grow on and off the field.

With both of these cornerstone defenders gone in 2015, one of the young linebackers will have to step up and fill their shoes.

Where will the pass rush come from?

Last season, the Cougar defense ranked 68th in the country in team sacks with 27 and an average of 2.08 sacks per game.

With new defensive coordinator Todd Orlando installing a new, more aggressive scheme, the team will look to emulate the fourth ranked Utah State squad Orlando led to 50 sacks and a 3.57 per-game average a year ago.

The question however, is who will help get the sacks? Seven of the players who recorded sacks last year have left the team.

The remaining group was responsible for just 11.5 of those sacks, so there will have to be players across the board to step up.

The development of the pass rushers will go a long way toward improving the team and it all starts in training camp.

Secondary Dominance

The defensive backs for the Cougars are a mature and experienced unit, led by senior safeties Adrian McDonald and Trevon Stewart.

Though a couple of players were lost, the majority of the secondary will be back in 2015 and should build on a solid performance last season, when the Cougars tied for 11th in the country in turnovers, including 19 interceptions.

The question is can they add to their turnovers and become an all-around great secondary?

McDonald had three forced fumbles and five interceptions in 2014, earning him the honor of being named Dave Campbell’s Preseason Best Defensive Back in Texas heading into 2015.

Stewart had a great season as well, recording 56 total tackles and three picks and was named to the 2015 Dave Campbell’s Preseason All-Texas Second Team.

At corner, senior William Jackson III is considered the `lockdown corner’ for the Cougars and will lead the way, followed by promising sophomore Howard Wilson, who was one of just four freshmen to appear in all 13 games in the 2014 season.

This unit was a strength of the Cougar football team last season and, with another offseason together, they should only improve if the defensive line can put more pressure on opposing quarterbacks.

sports@thedailycougar.com

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“Defensive line needs to work strength to come out on top” was originally posted on The Daily Cougar