Quite simply, the Elon University football team’s defense struggled in 2012. Elon surrendered 350 points in 11 games a year ago for an average of 31.8 points per game — second to last in the Southern Conference.
The Phoenix ranked sixth of nine teams in the conference, allowing 386.5 yards per game. Another low point was defending the ground game — Elon ranked eighth by giving up 229.5 yards per game.
Former defensive coordinator Ed Pinkham accepted the same position with Western Michigan University in the offseason, leaving Elon with a coaching vacancy.
To fill the void, Brad Sherrod was hired from the University of Delaware. Sherrod, a former player at Duke University, was the linebackers coach for the previous three seasons at Delaware. In 2010, he had the opportunity to coach Delaware in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) National Championship game, which ended in a loss to Eastern Washington University.
Sherrod’s coaching journey also had stops at Western Carolina University, his alma mater Duke, the University of Massachusetts and East Tennessee State University.
“[This past offseason, Sherrod was] probably No. 4 or 5 on my list,” said head coach Jason Swepson. “Within five minutes of our conversation, he jumped right to the top.”
The Elon opening appealed to Sherrod because “it was an opportunity to be a defensive coordinator and to get back down in the South,” Sherrod said.
Swepson’s decision was influenced by a strong recommendation from former colleague Eric Ziady, the athletic director at Delaware.
“I know he wouldn’t give me a false recommendation,” Swepson said. “I talked to a lot of people that knew Coach Sherrod. During the whole interview process, I knew he was going to be a good fit here.”
According to senior defensive lineman Tony Thompson, Sherrod has already made an impact on his players.
“Coach Sherrod brings passion, knowledge and enthusiasm to the game,” Thompson said. “Every day he is out there coaching us, you can tell he truly loves being out there and is passionate about the game.”
Elon’s defense is experiencing a coaching style Sherrod described as “very demanding,” with attention to “coaching the little things — making sure the little things don’t come back to be bigger problems.”
The Phoenix will utilize a base 4-3 defense this season with multiple coverages.
“It will allow us to be able to adjust to different [offensive] schemes that we see,” Sherrod said. “We’ll be very multiple in what we do but we’ll be very simple.”
“Coach Sherrod’s defense is different in the sense that it allows us to be playmakers,” Thompson said. “His defense is a great scheme but it doesn’t inhibit our skills and it gives each player an opportunity to make plays.”
A major defensive advantage for Elon this season is a veteran presence. The Phoenix is currently slated to start six seniors on defense, two of whom are designated captains. Thompson, one of the captains, believes the Phoenix will rely on experience all season.
“We are a veteran group of guys that knows what it takes to be successful,” Thompson said. “We are able to prepare more effectively than in the past. Almost everyone on the defense has game experience so we know what it’s like in game situations, which allows us to understand where the defense needs to be and what it takes to be a successful unit.”
Sherrod points to the natural leadership stemming from the experienced defense.
“We have a veteran team and it will help with the leadership on the field and off the field,” Sherrod said. “They are leaders in the direction they want this football season to go. I’m very pleased with their attitude.”
The feeling of satisfaction seems to be mutual, as the players have bought into Sherrod’s leadership and guidance he brings to the program.
“It has been a pleasure being around someone who has a great knowledge of the game,” Thompson said. “Coach Sherrod is constantly finding ways to improve us as a defense and as young men.”