Looking for Continued Success On Defense in 2016
While new offensive coordinator Tony Franklin is looking to plant roots in his first season, defensive coordinator, Tyrone Nix, has a firmly established level of expectations for his side of the ball. Nix is entering his fifth season with the Blue Raiders as the head of the defense. Nix has a well known reputation around the college football world, having earned his stripes in the SEC with coaching stops at Ole Miss and South Carolina, respectively. Coach Nix took some time with fellow coordinator, Tony Franklin, to speak with the media.
Tyrone Looks to Put the “Nix” on Opposing Offenses
When MTSU is mentioned in football circles, offense is usually the topic. Coach Nix was asked about focusing the defense with all the attention the offenses receives.
“It makes me feel happy because I know we got the right guys on offense, it starts with our offense coordinator and our players. Based on the way Brent Stockstill works and some of our guys on offense, they have the right opinion at this point. If you look at this league in the past few years, its offensive driven. And the team that has the best quarterback play and the best production offensively has won the league. I think with the guys we got returning we have as good of a shot as anybody to win this league.”
A football team is like an adopted family, but MTSU gives that phrase a whole new meaning. The Blue Raiders have not one, but two sets of “Father Son” combinations with the Stockstills, and coach Nix and his son, Ty. Tyrone was asked his thoughts on rare circumstances.
“I don’t know the statistics on it but I’m sure it’s very very low, two coaches’ sons at the same university at the same time, it’s been a great so far. If my son takes on the same work ethic as the other coach’s son here, I think the sky’s the limit. It’s been great for our family; it’s been good for MT right now. The biggest thing is that he has to understand his role, which he does. He has to work as hard, if not harder than everyone else. He’s been a blessing in disguise.”
In the off season the Blue Raiders lost many key contributors on defense, most notably Kevin Byard, who was drafted by the Tennessee Titans in the spring. Luckily for the Blue Raiders they will have four seniors manning the defensive line this year. Coach Nix lamented the importance the group will shoulder this season.
“No doubt, that we will be able to do more things defensively, coach Tommy West does great things with our guys up front and we feel like we’re deeper body-wise than we have been in the past. We have a few guys that have redshirted and have potential to play as well. So we feel like that’s a strength of ours and we’ll have to use that in order for secondary to be more effective.”
