UAB Spring Update

[Harry]

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama - All eyes are on UAB's defense as the Blazers have opened public spring practices.

It's no secret that the defense underperformed last year, and that's a focal point of improvement as the Blazers head into head coach Garrick McGee's second spring and second season.

UAB was 86th nationally (426.8 yards per game allowed) in a 3-9 season last year. That mark was seventh among 12 Conference USA teams in a high-scoring league. Three teams that finished ahead of UAB (UCF, Memphis and SMU) depart for (what was) the Big East next year, though new Conference USA teams Florida Atlantic, Florida International, UTSA and North Texas finished ahead of UAB last year.

Another new CUSA team, Louisiana Tech, was dead last by a long shot nationally at 526 yards per game allowed.

The Blazers matched up offensively against some better CUSA teams, losing by a touchdown in games to champion Tulsa (49-42) and bowl team East Carolina (42-35). The 55-45 loss to Tulane and 46-9 loss to Memphis were low points, though UAB held Marshall to 200 yards below its average (allowing just 337) in a 38-31 win.

"They have a lot of pride," McGee said of his defense. "Our defensive staff has a lot of pride. The way that we performed throughout the season is not up to the standard that we've set for ourselves. There's no secret about that."

McGee said the staff spent the offseason figuring out ways to be more effective and get more speed on the field. Communication will be the biggest key. Now, UAB's entire secondary will meet in one room under secondary coach Brandon Sharp and assistant secondary coach Matt Sanders, instead of splitting up cornerbacks and safeties.

Read more: http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2013/03/uab_defense_striving_for_impro.html