Shamarko Thomas means no disrespect to Chandler Jones when he says Syracuse’s defense is tighter this year. Jones was a first-round pick in the NFL Draft who is now in training camp with the New England Patriots, but the defense he left behind may have improved its chemistry.

Five seniors will start on the Orange’s defense, and together, they’ve made sure everyone understands what needs to be done to improve.

“I feel like this year, our defense has a bigger bond,” Thomas, Syracuse’s starting strong safety, said. “That’s the key of a great defense, champions, is being brothers and being on the same page. And I feel like that’s going to take us far. “

Syracuse’s finished near the bottom of the Big East of nearly every defensive category last season, allowing 28.5 points per game. SU was last in total defense, allowing 386.4 yard per game, and sixth in rushing defense with 128.2 yards allowed per game. The Orange also had the fewest sacks in the Big East, 28.

On the surface, nothing about last year’s defensive performances give much encouragement to a better season in 2012. The defense did not improve as the season went on.

But the unit is placing a collective emphasis on the smaller points that it might have missed last season. Defensive end Deon Goggins also said some of last season’s struggles were because of inexperience.

“Honestly, we just had a lot of young guys. We were just young as a team,” Goggins said. “That’s all it was. After last year, going through what we went through, I see the changes in a lot of the young guys that have to step up.”

Goggins said the unit took the initiative this spring to continue working after the practices were over, when no coaches were around. They walked through drills, worked one-on-one and continued on their days off.

They also left the SU campus and went on trips to build chemistry.

Even a small trip to Green Lakes State Park in nearby Fayetteville went a long way toward improving that bond, Goggins said.

Marquis Spruill, who’s moving from middle linebacker to outside linebacker, said he remembers that even during his freshman season, SU’s defensive players weren’t as “in sync” as they are now.

He was a freshman in 2010, when the unit ranked seventh in the nation in total defense.

They hold each other accountable, and compete in everything from lifting in the weight room to seeing who can go the longest without getting tired during drills outside in the sweltering heat.

As practices progress, their work intensifies and continues to improve.

“As the practices go, it gets better,” Spruill said. “I saw it during the springtime. We came off a bad record. It leaves a sour taste in your mouth. You only want to get better, and that’s what everyone wants to do.”

Losing Jones would seemingly be a big hole to fill, but Goggins said it’s not something the defense is concerned about. The defensive end was glad to see Jones go accomplish his dream of reaching the NFL.

It also gives someone else on the Syracuse defense a chance to step up.

Whether or not the off-the-field improvements carry over to the defense’s performance on the field remains to be seen. For now, at least, the players are optimistic that they’ll make a difference.

“I feel like our mentality is just come together,” Thomas said. “Come together and be hungry. If you be hungry and you work hard, it’s all going to come together for you.”

Published on August 3, 2012 at 5:55 pm

Contact Chris: cjiseman@syr.edu | @chris_iseman