MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Through three games this season, Middle Tennessee's defense has shown some improvement under new defensive coordinator Scott Shafer.
After finishing last season ranked 96th in the nation and ninth in Conference USA in total defense (449.5 yards per game allowed), the Blue Raiders have looked much better against three good opponents to start 2017.
Against Vanderbilt, Syracuse and Minnesota, three Power 5 conference teams, they gave up just 339.3 yards per game, good for 49th in the nation on the young season. If MT keeps that average through the rest of the year, it would be the least amount of yardage allowed since 2006 (324.