If they say defense wins ballgames, then it's no wonder why Duke struggled last season.
The Blue Devils had a hard time shutting down opponents' offenses in their 11 losses. The 1996 Duke defense was ranked seventh (out of nine) in the Atlantic Coast Conference, allowing an average of 406 yards and a whopping 34.5 points per game.
This year, ever since the Blue Devils' season-opening 45-14 loss to North Carolina State in which Duke surrendered 531 yards, the defense has stepped up its play, allowing an average of only 299 yards and 23 points per game.
It's no coincidence that the Blue Devils' defensive resurgence after their opening season loss has coincided with sophomore Ryan Stallmeyer's insertion into the starting lineup at inside linebacker. He has been a major force since his first start at Northwestern, when he registered 14 tackles. He has continued his consistent play since and has emerged as one of Duke's top defenders, currently ranking second on the team with 83 tackles.
"Once he knew he was going to be on that first team, his game hit another level, which was the level we expected for a good while," coach Fred Goldsmith said. "He's got a lot of ability, and you know it's coming into fruition now."
Out of Elder High School in Cincinnati, Stallmeyer was an All-America selection and the 14th-ranked linebacker prospect in the Midwest, a solid football breeding ground. Although he was recruited by Virginia, N.C. State, Ohio State and other Big Ten schools, he chose Duke.
"There was a lot of excitement down here," Stallmeyer said. "I felt like academically and athletically you can't get much better in the nation. I wanted to be a part of this program. I thought and still do [think] that we could win games and be competitive in the ACC, so I just want to be part of that."
Fortunately for Stallmeyer, he was not hounded by constant comparisons to his older brother Mike, who also played for the Blue Devils from 1992-5. Ryan is an inside linebacker, while his brother was a defensive lineman. While Mike also was a starter, he was not the star but a solid contributor to a defense that featured All-American Ray Farmer.
"His brother was a first teamer but he wasn't a big marquee guy or anything," Duke coach Fred Goldsmith said. "Ryan probably had a bigger reputation coming out of high school."
Ryan has made use of his natural ability, already emerging as a young star in this quickly-improving defense. Even in his early years as a member of the scout team, he was able to leave his mark on the field.
"He's always impressed me," defensive lineman Chris Combs said. "He's got good instincts, he's really got good lateral quickness, and he may not be the biggest guy, but he can deliver a blow as well as anybody I've seen. He flies around real well. [Stallmeyer's success] didn't surprise me at all because I've seen what he's done in practice and spring practices. I always knew he had it in him."
Stallmeyer takes his individual success humbly, knowing that he needs to continue working hard to improve. He's learned quickly from some of the linebackers that he's played with.
Last year, he was able to learn from all-conference linebacker Billy Granville, who is now playing for the NFL's Cincinnati Bengals. This season, he has the opportunity to play alongside senior Chike Egbuniwe, the ACC's second-leading tackler.
Granville and Egbuniwe have shown him the intensity it takes to succeed in college football, especially since Stallmeyer knows that at 6-1, 220 lbs, he is not going to dominate a game with his physical presence.
"I'm not big; definitely size isn't my game," Stallmeyer said. "I think speed and instincts getting to the ball are my game. I'm not big enough where I can go in there and pound in on linemen play after play. I need to get a quick read and get to the ball as quick as I can."
Stallmeyer is only one of a number of pieces in a Duke defense that is starting to puzzle opponents' offenses. Along with fellow sophomores Lamar Grant, Darius Clark, Eric Jones, Chris Combs and Kevin Lewis, Stallmeyer is helping to bring respect back to the Blue Devil defense.
"The defense has a lot of confidence right now," Stallmeyer said. "I think the biggest thing this year is that guys are a year older, they're playing with more confidence, making up for other people's mistakes with pursuit to the ball.
"There's definitely the potential there. But you know you can't sit back there and be thankful of what you've done-you gotta keep on working. The players we have and the personalities on the defense, they will continue to keep working and the defense has to continue to get better."
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