By Colleen Kane
Enquirer staff writer

SEASON OPENER

Aug. 28, vs. Indiana State, 7 p.m., Yager Stadium

Miami linebacker John Busing and strong safety Matt Pusateri have hardly noticed the changes that have come with not one, but two, new defensive coordinators this season.

"It's really been a smooth transition. I really haven't noticed any differences," Busing said.

That's exactly what head coach Terry Hoeppner had hoped for.

While it was their offense that was the focus of national attention last year, the RedHawks defense made vast improvements in former defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi's one year with the program. From 2002 to 2003, they went from being ranked 14th (last) to eighth in the Mid-American Conference in passing defense, 12th to third in total defense, sixth to first in scoring defense and second to first in rushing defense.

But then half of Hoeppner's defensive coaching staff left. Narduzzi went to the University of Cincinnati, and linebackers coach Taver Johnson left for the Cleveland Browns.

"I was faced with wanting to maintain some continuity," Hoeppner said.

So, after talking it over with Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops, who looks to two assistants to run his defense, Hoeppner decided to give the remaining half of his staff - Joe Palcic and Brian George - the slightly unusual titles of co-defensive coordinators.

"I'm not surprised how smoothly the transition has been. But I'm really, really pleased," Hoeppner said. "Their personalities complement each other. ... It's really a good marriage of the two strengths. We're able to maintain the same defense we've played to a great degree, but they've added their own personality to it. ... To lose two of your four coaches, and lose a defensive coordinator that did a great job for us, and then you almost don't miss a lick."

The RedHawks return eight starters to defense this year and are keeping the primary defensive schemes from last year intact. All parties are talking "better."

"We're still going to be fast. And we're going to be more sound in our technique," Pusateri said. "We had a new defense last year, so this year we have a year of that under our belt. So, we'll be more sound in our execution."

That's a good thing, because the RedHawks defense is likely to get more spotlight without the shadow of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger's offense this year.

Miami was 22nd in the nation in scoring defense last year, allowing 19.4 points a game. But it also had the cushion of a nation-leading 43 points a game from the offense, something Hoeppner calls "a tall order" from the new offense under Josh Betts.

"We can't control what the offense does. We're just going to do our best," Palcic said.

Palcic's and George's best have been working well together so far. Palcic, who was a linebacker when he played at Miami, oversees the defensive backs. George is in charge of the defensive line. They're both young - George is 32; Palcic is 29. And they say they're both easy-going. They said they communicate well, even trading off answers as they were interviewed together. And Palcic said if he had to pick somebody to work with, it would be George.

"I can see where it would be a problem with some people, especially when egos get involved - like, 'Who is the real defensive coordinator? Who is going to call the plays?' " Palcic said. "As long as we keep our egos in check, we're both fighting for the same goal. We just want to win. The more we win, the better the defense plays, the better it is for both of us."