TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Like his counterpart on the offensive side, Jeff Hecklinski, new defensive coordinator Brad Wilson has the tough task of installing a brand-new defensive scheme for the Sycamores: the 4-3.
 
Wilson, who came to Terre Haute following five seasons as the defensive coordinator at Wayne State, also likes to keep it simple:
 
"We're gonna play fast and we're gonna play hard," Wilson said.
 
The more pro-style 4-3 defense, which relies heavily on the four down linemen to create pressure up front, has seen a sort of comeback in the Valley recently. Wilson's main priority in these first few weeks has been solely focused on aggressiveness – a word spectators at spring practice will hear quite a bit.
 
"I think a lot of teams can claim they're aggressive with pressure, and I think the way that we've evolved is getting aggressive in your base structure; up the field up front, downhill at linebacker and safety and trying to eliminate free access at corner to really try to stress the offense from having to work in tight windows," Wilson said.
 
Wilson understands the challenges of trying to install a new system essentially overnight, and the returns have looked good for the Sycamores thus far.
 
"We want to keep it likeable and learnable for them, and what we've found is that if they like it, then they'll be willing to learn it," Wilson said. "And when they can learn it, they can play fast and aggressive. They know that our goal right now is to get them lined up every single snap and just get them to read and react and play fast."
 
This new Sycamore coaching staff may have high expectations, but, as Wilson points out, having a scheme that's fun to play in as well can go a long way.
 
"As a staff, we've tried to do a great job of being crystal-clear with the standard and the expectation, and then demanding it every single day with everything that we do and the guys have embraced it," Wilson said. "I think what they've learned over the last month is that it's fun to play in a scheme like that where you're able to play and you're able to be aggressive and you're able to attack."
 
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Today's session was yet another morning practice at 5:15 a.m. It wasn't as chilly this morning as opposed to last Tuesday, but it was still a nice wake-up call for the Sycamores.
 
The first scrimmage grows ever closer, with just one practice left on Thursday at 4:30 p.m.
 
Day 5 (March 30): 4:30-6:30 p.m.
Day 6 (April 1; 1st Scrimmage): 11:15 a.m.-1:15 p.m.
 
Day 7 (April 4): 5:15-7:15 a.m.
Day 8 (April 6): 4:30-6:30 p.m.
Day 9 (April 8; 2nd Scrimmage): 11:15 a.m.-1:15 p.m.
 
Day 10 (April 11): 5:15-7:15 a.m.
Day 11 (April 13): 4:30-6:30 p.m.
Day 12 (April 14): TBA
 
Day 13 (April 18): 5:15-7:15 a.m.
Day 14 (April 20): 4:30-6:30 p.m.
Day 15 (April 21, Spring Game): 4:00 p.m.
 
For the latest information on the Sycamore Football team, make sure to check out GoSycamores.com. You can also find the team on social media including Facebook and Twitter.