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The University of Mississippi Athletics
A Thinking Man's Man
9/18/2002 | Football
Sept. 18, 2002
By Will Bardwell
Sports Information Student Assistant
Considering everything he has to keep track of on the football field, it may be hard to believe that Eddie Strong still has time to make tackles.
But for a student of the game like Strong, understanding the game of football has always come naturally. So naturally, in fact, that he found enough time to make a team-best 105 tackles last season.
After a tough off-season of work and study, one of the team's four captains said he plans to find even more of that quality time for opposing offenses.
"To me, the game just comes naturally," said Strong, a senior from Batesville. "I can look at film, but it takes me to get out on the field to see what they're doing."
On the field, Strong compares his duties on defense to those of a quarterback.
"If the quarterback sees something he doesn't like, he checks off," said Strong. "If a middle linebacker sees something he doesn't like, he makes adjustments. For example, if he feels like there aren't enough people on one side, he tells the linemen to scoot over, or to get the ends to move inside so the ball will bounce outside."
Strong said a linebacker's job is more complicated than just watching the ball carrier - he also has to watch people who are coming for him.
"As a linebacker, you've got people coming to block you all the time," said Strong. "You've got linemen coming at you, then you've got the fullback, sometimes a wide receiver, and then the running back. You've got to be on your toes at all times. You've got to be in the zone and focus."
The 6-foot-4, 245-pound linebacker said that, after two tough years, he's back in that zone. Strong's impressive freshman and sophomore seasons were followed by a stress fracture in his left foot that cost him the entire 2000 season. Despite breaking the century mark in tackles in 2001, Strong said he didn't reach his potential, and that he doesn't plan on doing that again.
"That's why I feel so good this year, because I've got last year behind me now," said Strong. "I've been really working hard at it. I feel very good right now. I'm back at it again and I'm just ready."
One of the things Strong spent his time on in 2000 was watching game film. Since then, he said he's evolved into something of an offensive guru from watching offenses try to get past him.
"I basically learned the game from playing defense so much and seeing so many things thrown at me from offenses," said Strong.
Ole Miss head coach David Cutcliffe said that the nature of the linebacker position requires a deep understanding of football, and Strong fits that order.
"As a linebacker, you're playing the run and the pass, you're reading formations, and you're making strength calls," said Cutcliffe. "Eddie has a knack for being around the ball. He has a knack for being in the right place and being able to make the play once he's there. There's no question that, with Eddie Strong, we're a much better football team."
First-year defensive coordinator Chuck Driesbach said having a leader as knowledgeable as Strong made his job easier when he arrived at Ole Miss.
"I arrived here in February, and since Day 1, Eddie has been a very energetic guy with a great attitude," said Driesbach. "He was excited about learning the new scheme and how he fit into it, and has gotten better and better everyday."
Driesbach said Strong fits very well into his new defensive scheme.
"The 4-2-5 is really just old 8-man front football," said Driesbach. "What it does is it allows the inside linebackers to play hard against the run. Our defensive line pretty much covers up the guys in front of them so the linebackers can operate easier."
That frees up Strong to do what he does best - blitz.
"I love blitzing. That's my job," said Strong. "When I'm blitzing, I'm not thinking about anything. Whatever I hit in the backfield, I'm trying to destroy it. I don't care what I run into. If I hit the hole and a lineman or a fullback is there, I'm just gonna destroy them and leave room for somebody else to make the play."
Although he is arguably the biggest name on the Ole Miss defense, Strong said he believes this year's squad will have what it takes to be there to make the plays.
"I just want to leave a legacy," said Strong. "Twenty years from now, I want people to be talking about the 2002 defense. I think we've got what it takes, too. We've got a lot of guys who know what it feels like to lose and what it takes to win. We've just got to get out there and do it."
