Offence sells tickets, but defence wins championships. It’s an old football cliché, but in 2013 does the statement still have validity?
Defence might not ultimately be the sole factor in deciding which of the 27 CIS teams hoists the Vanier Cup in late November, but you better possess a strong unit to have a legitimate shot at the national championship. Case in point: Each of the last three Vanier champs has held opponents under 18.5 points per game in the regular season. There are so many offensive stars around the country that having the ability to stop, or at least slow down, playmakers is absolutely paramount.
Players on the offensive side of the ball often own the headlines, so it’s time for the top defences to get some deserved attention. Here are my top five best defensive units in Canadian university football.
1) Montreal Carabins
2013 CIS Defensive Rankings: 14.5 PPG (2nd), RUSH YPG 80.2 (2nd), 265.5 TOTAL YPG (2nd), 10 INT (T-3rd), 4 FUMBLE REC (T-7th), 33 SACKS (1st)
Like their RSEQ rivals Laval, Montreal always seems to field one of the best defences in the nation. The Carabins get to opposing quarterbacks better than any team in the country as evidenced by their CIS-leading 33 sacks. David Menard has notched seven of those himself, but you can’t just focus your protection schemes on him—seven other players on the squad have at least two sacks.
A likely future CFLer, third-year, 235-lb. Byron Achambault is a stud at middle linebacker for the Carabins defence. He leads the team with 29 solo and 38 total tackles, all while making sure Montreal’s defence is lined up properly for each snap.
2) Laval Rouge et Or
2013 CIS Defensive Rankings: 13 PPG (1st), 86 RUSH YPG (4th), 342 TOTAL YPG (5th), 9 INT (T-4th), 7 FUMBLE REC (T-4th), 19 SACKS (T-8th)
It’s no surprise to see the Laval defence make the list. The Rouge et Or are among the toughest group in the nation to score on year in and year out because they never seem to have a glaringly weak link.
Laval has strong and smart defenders at every level again in 2013. Fourth-year lineman Vincent Desloges lives in opposing backfields. He has 6.5 sacks and 8.5 tackles for loss, ranking him fourth and third in the nation, respectively. However, defensive tackle Brandon Tennant just might be the most disruptive player on the Laval defence. Tennant is a force on the inside who demands extra attention from opposing blockers.
Highly recruited sophomore Shayne Gauthier has quickly developed into the best linebacker on this Rouge et Or roster, and senior Adam Thibault is proving he has the skills to play defensive back at the pro level.
3) Guelph Gryphons
2013 CIS Defensive Rankings: 15 PPG (3rd) 75.5 RUSH YPG (1st), 291.8 TOTAL YPG (3rd), 12 INT (2nd), 4 FUMBLE REC (T-7th), 30 SACKS (2nd)
Without doubt, Guelph’s defensive line has been the best group in the country. Ian Marouf, Jeff Finley, Cam Walker and Jordan Thompson lead the way, having combined for over two thirds of the Gryphons’ sacks with 21.5 combined, and the quartet has added 28 tackles for loss. A disruptive pass rush has helped a young Gryphons secondary—the only fourth- or fifth-year player in the defensive backfield is Taylor Palmer, who has four interceptions on the season, tied for first in the country.
Guelph lost their defensive leader for the rest of the season when linebacker John Rush suffered an ACL tear in practice on September 26, but the collective depth of the Gryphons has helped the defence continue to stifle opposing offences despite Rush’s abscence.
4) Western Mustangs
2013 CIS Defensive Rankings: 19.7 PPG (6th), RUSH YPG 112 (6th), 389.9 TOTAL YPG (8th), 14 INT (1st), 11 FUMBLE REC (T-1st), 21 SACKS (T-6th)
Quarterback Will Finch and the Mustangs’ high-powered offence gets most of the press, but Western continues to plug athletes into their base, rather vanilla, 4-3 defensive blueprint and have success. The defence also continues, week after week, to go out and get the ball back for Finch and company, recording a CIS-leading 25 takeaways in seven games.
Defensive back Trevor Lass is tied for the most individual interceptions in the country with four. Meanwhile, linebacker and top-rated CFL prospect Beau Landry is tied for the CIS lead with three fumble recoveries. Bottom line, the 2013 unit of Western defenders knows how to get the ball back and get off the field.
5) Queen’s Gaels
2013 CIS Defensive Rankings: 27.3 PPG (12th), 152.3 RUSH YPG (14th), 431.7 TOTAL YPG (14th), 10 INT (T-3rd), 11 FUMBLE REC (T-1st), 24 SACKS (4th)
Another team that knows a thing or two about takeaways is the Gaels, and when they come up with a turnover they’re thinking six points. Queen’s has forced 21 turnovers (the second-highest total in the CIS), five of which have gone the other way for touchdowns. Opposing pivots must always keep an eye out for defensive back Yann Dika-Balotoken, as he’s accounted for two of those return scores himself (and four interceptions in total, which have him tied for the CIS lead).
All that said, even with a potential CFLer at every level in Derek Wiggan, Sam Sabourin and Andrew Lue, the Queen’s defence overall hasn’t lived up to pre-season expectations. However, the collective talent of the Gaels’ group is undeniable and I believe their best football is yet to come in 2013.