Louisiana Tech Head Coach Sonny Cumbie, senior defensive lineman Jessie Evans and redshirt junior quarterback Jack Turner answered questions on a variety of challenges facing the Bulldogs’ during their media session at Conference USA Media Day Tuesday in Frisco, Texas.
But much of the focus centered on the defense and new coordinator Jeremiah Johnson. That wasn’t a big surprise considering the Bulldogs allowed 33.4 points per game in last season’s 3-9 campaign. Obviously, the improvement of that unit will be key to turning things around this season.
Johnson was hired in December and Cumbie praised the way he and other members of the defensive staff have performed so far.
“I think as we went through the process of making the change on defense we really thought it was important that we listen to our players — what were they looking for from a new defensive staff and from a new defensive coordinator,” he said. “And I think from a schematic standpoint hearing our players out, I think those things are very important. And I’m really excited about the multiplicity of our schemes and what we’ll be able to do with Coach JJ and our staff.”
Cumbie said the No. 1 thing the defensive staff has done is make a strong connection with the players.
“And that’s one of the cornerstones in our program is the connection piece,” he said. “And I think what play we call on special teams, defense or offense is very, very important with the ability to connect with these young men. The ability to engage their heart and mind is the No. 1 thing our players were looking for. And that’s what we try to go out and accomplish.”
Evans said Johnson has made a big difference.
“I feel like I’ve learned a lot from Coach JJ,” he said. “As soon as he set foot in the team room he kind of made an impact then and kind of got the whole defense ready to play for him. I feel like we’re really excited about what’s going to come up for the next fall. We’ve all bought into it. Now like we really want to ride with Coach JJ. He’s just a great guy to have around.”
Tech’s new-look defense is expected to allow players more freedom to make plays on their own within a scheme.
“On a day-to-day basis it means a lot to know that we don’t have to think before we make a play,” Evans said. “We’ve just got to go. Our defense, we have a lot of great athletes out there so now that I know we can just go out there and play free and just make plays. I feel that will make our defense way much better than it was last year.”
Cumbie agreed.
“I think we have the pieces in place in terms of the personnel we have and I think Coach JJ and his defensive staff we’ve assembled will get the most out of those kids from a relationship standpoint, yes, but also on the field.”
Of course, Tech will be looking for improvement on offense too and the Bulldogs have an experienced quarterback in Turner.
He saw plenty of playing time last season subbing for starter Hank Bachmeier. He appeared in eight games, passing for 1,017 yards and five TDs.
Turner said he is looking for more consistency this season.
“I would say the biggest thing personally is just consistency, being able to go through the whole season playing at a high level for myself,” he said. “But ultimately winning is big for us. That’s just a standard that we haven’t met for ourselves the past two years. And that’s something that’s incredibly important for us. So that’s the big focus for us just as a team is to make sure we win a little bit more.”
Last season, Tech had a chance to win a lot more than three games. Four of the losses were by eight points or less, including two by three.
Cumbie believes the 2024 Bulldogs have what it takes to get the program on the right track this season after back-to-back 3-9 seasons.
He believes his players took the lessons of last year’s tough losses to heart and will be better equipped to finish games strong.
“I think when you’re going into our third season as we are as a staff I think that the alignment in our program has never been greater from top to bottom from coaches to players,” he said. “As we speak right now we’re having a workout going on and I have very little heartburn about how that workout will go just because I know that our players, the intent of what they’re going to show up with every single day, the intent that they show up in terms of the improvement they want to see.
“And so the optimism that I have for this team, our staff has for this team is the work we’ve seen under the surface the last two years from the standpoint that you have two guys here that represent the 118 players that we have back. And the No. 1 thing they represent is a group that’s hungry to win. And I think the group is determined to win.”