Oct. 4, 2005

BELLINGHAM, Wash. -

JOE SUNNEN, THE BELLINGHAM HERALD

Finding a way to put the best 11 players on the field at one time has been a challenge for the Western Washington University defense this season. After Saturday's performance against Humboldt State, the Vikings might have found a solution.

WWU changed its base defense to a 3-4 look for the game, holding the Lumberjacks to 251 total yards, including 38 yards rushing. More importantly, it helped the Vikings snap a three-game losing streak.

"The move to a 3-4 look really had to do with getting the best players on the field," WWU coach Rob Smith said. "Our linebackers run well and make plays and that's something we wanted to take advantage of."

The Vikings flirted with the idea of using a 3-4 defense during spring practice a few years ago, but this is the first time in Smith's 17 seasons that WWU has run anything other than a 4-3.

"We've played with three lineman in passing situations before, but this is the first time we've tried this," Smith said. "We're pleased with the results, but it's just one game. The players and the coaches are still learning."

The Vikings sacked Lumberjack quarterback Blake Moorman four times on Saturday, almost doubling their sack total to nine for the season.

"It's an attacking defense," linebacker Ekene Agwuenu said. "It's a defense that can make big plays and it allows you to get to the quarterback. It's exciting to play in."

WWU also held Humboldt State to just 15 yards rushing on 16 carries and 70 passing yards in the first half.

"With a 3-,4 you have a lot of options," linebacker Craig Keenan said. "The linebackers can walk up to the line, bounce back, it keeps the offensive line on their heels. They don't know where the pressure is coming from."

The 3-4 defense has become increasingly popular in the NFL, with eight teams using the scheme as their base formation this season, up from four in 2003. The list of teams running the defense includes the Pittsburgh Steelers and the defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots.

"I just think our coaches are trying to utilize the strengths of our defense," Keenan said. "Obviously our other system wasn't working, so they tried to make some changes to utilize our speed and our physical play at linebacker."

In the new look, Agwuenu moves to linebacker from cornerback and joins Keenan, Shane Simmons and Adam Klingenberg. Chase Schmidtz, Geoff Hise and Ryan Lucas started on the defensive line. It's the first time Agwuenu has played linebacker since elementary school.

"I think during that first quarter their offensive line was in shock," Agwuenu said. "They were confused by the defense and just in shock to see all that speed coming at them."

Four of the Vikings' top seven tacklers this season play linebacker now, with Simmons second on the team with 30 tackles and Keenan third at 28.

"The defense was effective," Smith said. "We still have a lot of work to do with it. Then we need to decide how it fits with the other things we do. But the players enjoy it. It's an active, aggressive look."