In last year’s shutout loss to Syracuse, 24-0, it wasn’t the defense that struggled to keep the Flames in the game. Liberty held the Orange to just 10 first half points and they scored 10 of their points that evening off turnovers.
It certainly wasn’t a bad performance for the Liberty defense under defensive coordinator Scott Symons, and Symons and his defense will have plenty of confidence this weekend in the rematch in New York.
The improvement seen on the defensive side through the first four games of the 2020 season is quite astounding. Liberty is just two 4th quarter touchdowns in the last two weeks from posting a shutout for the first time since 2016.
The personnel has changed significantly from last year’s season opener against Syracuse. On Saturday, Liberty is expected to have nine new starters on the defensive side of the ball than what the Flames trotted out in week one of 2019. Only defensive tackle Ralfs Rusins and safety Javon Scruggs started against the Orange last season and are expected to start again this weekend.
“I don’t think (last year’s game) has any merit or bearing to this game,” Symons said of the matchup with Syracuse. “We have a bunch of different starters, nine new starters. So, I don’t think there’s a lot of carryover to that.”
Behind that new personnel, the Flames are currently ranked 5th nationally in total defense by holding opponents to 260 yards of total offense. Liberty also ranks 6th in passing yards allowed and red zone defense, 11th in scoring defense, and 13th in 3rd down conversion percentage defense.
“I think our staff has done a really good job recruiting,” said Symons. “I think we are more athletic, speed kills. We have to have guys that can run at all positions. I think we have guys that can do that. You’ve got some new faces. They had to get acclimated to the system. I think our coaching staff has done a phenomenal job getting those guys caught up to speed.”
LU will put all those numbers on the line against Syracuse who is expected to have a new starting quarterback after Tommy DeVito was injured this past weekend against Duke. Rex Culpepper is expected to get the start for the injured DeVito. Culpepper is 8 of 19 for 113, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception this season. For his career, he’s 53 for 94 for 631 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 4 interceptions.
“Don’t listen to the outside media and everybody tweet this, tweet that,” Symons said about his message to his defense this week. “Be humble because the process is what got you here. As soon as we lack humility, we will be humbled. I think they’ve had that chip on their shoulder mentality throughout the whole season, and I expect that to continue, hopefully, this week where they play like that.”
