Central Michigan counting on deep defensive rotations to live up to lofty standard
The Chippewas will be bringing back just four players who started in any capacity on defense in 2025, but feel good about their ability to come at opponents in waves.
Mt. Pleasant — Absent positions, assignments and play calls, what Central Michigan defensive coordinator Sean Cronin wants from his players is simple: Maximum, relentless, borderline-demonic effort and strain for as many plays as they can go.
Then get out, get to the sideline, and sub in someone else to give their all for their allotment of plays. Rinse, repeat.
“For them to play as hard as we envision them playing, I don't think they can play the whole game,” Cronin said recently. “You know what I'm saying? And so we're, we're deeper now. We have more guys that can play. So we'll have more of a rotation, be able to roll guys in and out.”
Central Michigan’s defense will be looking quite different in 2026, with oodles of transfers and returning backups, rotational players and depth pieces all vying to start for a group that returns just a few starters from last year. And unlike last year, when CMU and Cronin had a clear group of seniors to keep on the field and lead the way, this remade defensive roster lends itself to the Chippewas shuffling players in and out of the defensive lineup to run certain packages, handle a certain assignment they’re suited for and, of course, to keep the effort maxed out.
“So our standard, we want our standard to be higher than everyone else's standard,” Cronin said.
