Hard-hitters return with a fury

   When the final whistle sounded and the Marshall University Thundering Herd wrapped up a victory in the 2009 Little Caesars Pizza Bowl in December against Ohio, one glaring number stood out: 123.

   That is the number of yards that Marshall allowed on defense to the Bobcats, and that is a number that will usually lead to victories. The two defensive captains for this year's defensive unit hope to see much of the same.

   The 2010 Thundering Herd defense will be lead by Mario Harvey, a senior from Forsyth, Ga., and a preseason All-Conference USA selection and All-America candidate. Harvey is a repeat pick at captain this year and will be joined by safety Omar Brown. Brown, a junior from Moncks Corner, S.C., finished third on the team last year in tackles and also had two interceptions.

   The defense will be tested right out of the gates, with tough games against Ohio State on the road and at home against WVU. Head coach Doc Holliday said the team is prepared well and ready to go.

   "Ohio State has a great player at every position," Holliday said. "We just have to coach the players and if they execute their fundamentals and do what they are supposed to do we are going to be fine."

   Both Ohio State and WVU have potentially explosive offensive teams with All-America caliber talent in players such as Terrelle Pryor and Noel Devine. Harvey said the key is preventing the explosive plays.

   "We have to do our job and study film," Harvey said. "We can't let them get big plays over our heads and we will be alright."

   As leaders of the defense, it is part of their responsibility to make sure everyone is giving their best effort in practice. A captain is responsible for the players on their team, and Harvey and Brown have decided to lead by example.

   "Both Omar and myself are quiet captains," Harvey said. "We can be vocal when we have to be, but we are both the type of player who leads by our actions on the field."

   Both captains stressed the group mentality of the defense this year. They said they are trying to have the defense playing as one unit, all with one goal: to get the ball back for the offense.

   "We are eleven individuals out there, but we are all working together as one unit," Brown said. "If we all do our jobs we will be a good defense."

   The new coaching staff this year has brought a new excitement to the defense as well. The game plan hasn't really changed, but there seems to be a new intensity in practice.

   "There is definitely a different buzz around the team this year," Brown said. "We have a great coaching staff that came in and they tell it how it is. They push us hard every day and we want to be the hardest working team in America."

   That hard work is going to be tested this season, and the Herd will face no bigger tests than the first two games right out of the chute. The defense is hoping to pass those tests with flying colors, and if the bowl game against Ohio last season was any indication, it's as simple as 1-2-3.

   Troy Hemingway can be contacted at hemingway@marshall.edu.