Too often last season, though, the defensive play wasn't something McDermott could boast about. Instead, he saw missed tackles costing the team in close games, a point he acknowledged Tuesday and pledged to rectify in camp.
"If you don't tackle well - and we didn't tackle well last year - you don't win football games on defense," McDermott said.
What added to the frustration was that the team covered the basics over and over in practice, and tackling still didn't improve, according to the coach.
It's a problem McDermott hopes to correct by focusing on fundamentals early in training camp.
"It's not a sexy term for you guys to report about, I know, but we're going to work on tackling, we're going to work on getting off blocks, we're going to work on catching the football, scooping the football up when there's a ball on the ground," he said. "That's what wins football games."
After a draft that focused heavily on defense - the team went for defenders with its first five picks, and on nine of its 13 overall selections - McDermott has an infusion of youth to go with the team's veterans on a reshaped unit this year. He said he will be relying on middle linebacker Stewart Bradley to lead the squad on the field, and for rookies to fill needed roles.
"I don't care - young, old, I want the best 11," McDermott said, later adding "We need some of these young players to step up and add value to the defense," either as a starter or key reserve.
The newcomers said coaches have urged them to elevate their games.
"The D-line coach actually told us yesterday that he's looking for some players to step up, so I'm just going to come out here every day and try to take somebody's job," said Ricky Sapp, who has played at both defensive end and linebacker.
Added Coleman, "They expect us to be prepared to play. It's not prepare like a rookie, it's prepare like a vet, so they want us to go about all of our business like a veteran would."
The two most highly touted rookies, defensive end Brandon Graham and safety Nate Allen, missed Tuesday's opening practice. Allen signed Tuesday night and should be suited up Wednesday.
Graham will join a defensive front that McDermott hinted might be called on to generate pressure with fewer blitzes in 2010.
"I know the importance of getting pressure with just four. We did a good job of that last year. You can always look for more," the coach said.
The biggest addition to the defense, though, could be Bradley, who is coming back from a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee that cost him all of last season.
"From my standpoint, he's the guy that's going to quarterback the defense and he's going to know the defense as well as I know the defense," McDermott said.
Bradley is due to arrive at Lehigh with the rest of the veterans on Thursday, as McDermott continues to remake his squad.
Contact staff writer Jonathan Tamari at 215-854-5214 or jtamari@phillynews.com.
