SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - Defensively, Augustana had another great season in 2014 after allowing just 18.5 points per game, third fewest in the NSIC. The Vikings also allowed just 217 first downs, also third fewest in the NSIC, and ranked sixth in the league in red zone defense at 77.8 percent.

The Vikings are young on the line, have a veteran in the middle at linebacker, and return every single defensive back from last season. With the fast tempo, multiple unit look of the Viking defense, expect to see a lot of new faces when the Code Blue defense takes the field.
 

"Holding teams to just 18 points a game, especially in the NSIC, with some of the high-powered offenses is great and should put you in a spot to be in a lot of games," Olszewski said. "We truly believe that we can be one of the best defenses in the country. We play fast,disciplined and together."

Fans understand what it means to have a fast tempo "no-huddle" offense, but the Viking defense has put its own stamp on that term playing at an up-tempo pace using multiple units.

"We want to be fresh, and that's the deal," Olszewski said. "Obviously we want our best 11 to be on the field for the majority of the time but we truly believe that everybody has a part of the success. We get a lot of snaps out of a lot of kids on a weekly basis, both in games and in practice."

Defensive Backs
It's no secret that Augustana's defensive secondary will be a major key to the success of the Viking defense this season. Augustana returns all four starters from the secondary in 2014, including seniors Chad Curry, Justin Brown and Garrett Earl.

"I think if we can stay healthy, they will continue to do a great job back there," Olszewski said. "They know our scheme, they know what we do and they know each other and where they are supposed to be."

Sioux Falls native Jordan Johnson had a breakout freshman season last year for Augustana, making 11 starts at cornerback. Johnson ranked fourth on the team with 55 total tackles, which included 44 solo stops. He recorded two interceptions and broke up seven passes and looked like everything but a freshman on the field.

"Jordan did have an outstanding year last year but he played like I thought he was capable of playing," Olszewski said. "I'd like to see him be a little more aggressive this year now that he has some snaps behind him. What excites me the most is he has even better play ahead of him and I thought he was really good last year."

Earl, a senior from Yorkville, Ill., has played in 23 career games after starting all 11 at cornerback last season. In 2014, he recorded 39 tackles, including 30 solo stops while picking off two passes.

"You get everything out of Garrett that you can possibly get," Olszewski said. "He plays to the tenth of his ability and he knows what his abilities are and he knows what his strengths are and he plays to them."

At the safety position, Augustana has two seniors in Curry and Brown, but also sophomore Jordan Determan who played in all 11 games as a true freshman last season.
 

Curry played in all 11 games last year, making nine starts. He finished fifth on the team with 54 tackles, including 29 solo stops. Curry led the team with three interceptions and also broke up six passes. Determan recorded 11 tackles on the season, including a season-high five at Wayne State on Oct. 18.

Brown, an All-NSIC South Division Honorable Mention selection as a sophomore, has played in 31 career games recording 77 tackles and three interceptions in his career at Augustana. He will be  entering his senior campaign. Trevor Naasz made a big impact on the Viking defense last season as well, recording 35 tackles in 10 games as a true freshman.

"We have great depth in the secondary," Olszewski said. "I'm really excited about our secondary for the long haul, not just this year but with only three seniors in that whole group going forward we're in great shape."

SPECIAL TEAMS
In the Jerry Olszewski era the importance of special teams play has been in the mantra since the very beginning. The third phase of this game, is preached and crafted as much as any other during the regular and offseason of this program.

"I truly believe that games can be won and lost in that third phase of the game," Olszewski said. "We train to be the team that comes away with the W and not the L. We will not lose the special teams battle on any given Saturday."

The special teams unit starts with the kicking unit, and there, the Vikings have a special one. Lucas Wainman, who was named to the Fred Mitchell Award Watch List and the USA College Football Preseason All-America Team, enters his junior season with a goal of getting even better.

He earned All-NSIC second team honors in 2014 after finishing second in the league hitting 12 field goals. He was 12 of 19 (63.2 percent) in field goal attempts and averaged just over one made field goal per game. Wainman hit 42 of 47 (89.4 percent) of his extra-point attempts and ranked fourth in the NSIC in kick scoring, averaging 7.1 points per game. He drilled a season-long 52-yard field goal in the season opener and was 7 of 8 on field goals between 30-39 yards.

Wainman was also called on to punt 44 times in 2014 and averaged 38.1 yards per punt, including a career-long 60-yard boot. He drilled six punts of 50-plus yards and landed 17 inside the opponent's 20-yard line. Wainman was also able to pin opponents deep off the tee, averaging 59.5 yards per kickoff while tallying 29 touchbacks.

"We have one of the better kickers in the country," Olszewski said. "Coming off an average year for Lucas' ability, he didn't perform at the level he wanted to, but his not-so-great, is still pretty tremendous. I think he's going to have an excellent junior year, he's worked so hard over the summer. Lucas gives us every possibility for success that we could ever ask for."

Jason and Justin Greenway made a major impact on special teams last season, both on coverage and return units. Jason Greenway earned All-NSIC South Division Honorable Mention honors as a return specialist last season. He finished the season with 463 kickoff return yards, and had a season-long return of 61 yards. Justin Greenway returned 16 kickoffs for 360 yards, including a season-long 50-yard return.

"Jason and Justin add so much to our special teams unit both in the return game and the coverage unit with their pure athleticism," Olszewski said.

"We have a philosophy as far as how much kids play on special teams and if you're a starter you're only going to be on one special teams unit. If you're a non-starter you could be on all four of our special teams units. We treat it as a privilege to be on our special teams unit and we put more time into our special teams than any other team in the country to be honest."

Coach Olszewski looks forward to a fun competition at the punt return spot heading into fall camp with a lot of guys possessing the ability to be a dangerous return man. Another spot that will have a wide open competition heading into fall camp will be the long snapping position.

Third-year head coach Jerry Olszewski will welcome 102 players to fall camp on Friday, Aug. 14. The Vikings will hold their first practice on Saturday, Aug. 15 and are set to open the season on the road at Bemidji State on Saturday, Sept. 5. Augustana's home opener is set for Sept. 12 against St. Cloud State.