UTEP defense has new look under Tom Mason

RUIDOSO, N.M. – As lovely as Ruidoso is, the UTEP defense led by new defensive coordinator Tom Mason has looked just as good so far, running a new scheme.

“I think they’ve really bought into it,” said Mason, who last served as the defensive coordinator for Hawaii in 2015. “They believe in it. And that’s the hardest thing when you come in and put in a new scheme, your kids have to buy into it.”

The new scheme is an aggressive 3-4 defense that moves former defensive lineman Nick Usher to linebacker. It’s a tough change for Usher, but he’s got coach Kugler behind him.

“He’s working hard at it,” said Kugler. “He’s one of our team captains and one of the hardest workers we’ve got out here, so I think by the time the season rolls around, Nick’s gonna be ready to roll.”

The new defense employs a number of tactics, including a focus on technique.

“Reading your keys and seeing all that stuff. That’s what you need at the end of the day,” said linebacker Alvin Jones, who led the team in tackles a year ago. “You need technique, because everybody has athletic ability.”

Another important tactic – intense pressure.

“Well, you know, this thing was designed as a pressure defense,” said Mason. “I took it from Dick LeBeau with the Pittsburgh Steelers. We’re probably gonna pressure 70-percent of the snaps or somewhere in that range.”

LeBeau is perhaps best known as the father of the zone blitz defense. According to his players, Tom Mason shares the mentality of the former Steelers defensive coordinator.

“Coach Mason, he’s an animal, man,” said Nick Usher. “He comes with it every day and says ‘He,y man, we’ve got to get after it.'”

“I’ve always said it’s a culture. Defense is a culture. And these guys are starting to learn it now,” said Mason.

The Miners open their season at home on Sept. 3 against NMSU.