Cosby, Wilborn Putting in Extra Time for Resurgent BSU Defense
October 09, 2019 | Football
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Cardinals head to Eastern Michigan this week aiming for 2-0 MAC start
Game 6
Ball State (2-3, 1-0 MAC) at Eastern Michigan (3-2, 0-1 MAC)
Date:Â Saturday, Oct. 12
Kickoff:Â 2:05 p.m.
Location:Â Ypsilanti, Mich. (Rynearson Stadium)
Watch: ESPN+Â |Â Listen:Â WLBC 104.1 FMÂ |Â Live Stats
Social: @BallStateFB, @BallStateSports, #ChirpChirp, #WeFly, #OTM
Game Notes:Â Ball State | Eastern Michigan
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If you're looking to catch up with Bryce Cosby or Ray Wilborn after a Ball State football practice, you're going to be waiting a while.
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Just because practice is over doesn't mean their work is done. On a typical day, the starting BSU safeties are out there for another half hour or so. Working on ball skills, footwork, nuanced techniques. It varies by the day, but they're always getting better at something.
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"Yesterday, we were working on weaving and breaking," Wilborn said, "because I felt like I could have had a pick last Saturday but my steps were messed up."
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It started during the summer when Wilborn made a position change from outside linebacker to safety. He and Cosby would do footwork drills on their own out on the Scheumann Stadium turf. They continued doing it through fall camp and haven't stopped now just because the season is in progress.
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They were tight before Wilborn's position change, but now you hardly ever see them apart. Working out, hanging out and stressing out opposing offenses. They have played virtually every snap this year for a BSU defense on the rise.
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"You're never going to be perfect at anything," Cosby said. "But I'm never satisfied with where I'm at, and I know the same thing for Ray. We push each other to get better."
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Jr. SAF Bryce Cosby
Cosby has been in his role since day one. He's the guy who had defensive coordinator David Elson in awe when, as a freshman, he got up in front of the entire defensive back meeting room and started breaking down opponents for his veteran teammates. It's just the way he's always been. Mature. Smart.
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And he's the guy who now texts Elson in the evenings, telling him what he's seeing in his own film study.
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"I tell our young guys, 'If Bryce tells you to watch for something, listen to him,'" Elson said. "He's like a coach on the field … There's part of it that's natural. Some guys just have it, but he still works at it. The guys that have 'it' but continue to work are the guys that become special."
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Cosby has been able to impart some of that wisdom to Wilborn, and Wilborn has been eager to learn. He's growing each week in his understanding of the position and where he needs to be. His game-by-game improvement has helped the Cardinals limit big plays in recent weeks.
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We're talking about a guy who knows how to play football. He led or shared the team lead last year in tackles, tackles for loss and interceptions but freely made the move from his linebacker spot to bolster the defensive backfield this year.
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"He's just getting more and more comfortable," Elson said. "He's much more comfortable in the run game. There are still some things out in space that he's still working on, which is natural when you make that move. He's just going to keep getting better because overall he's just a good football player."
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Sr. SAF Ray Wilborn
With Cosby and Wilborn as the last line of defense, Ball State has become much stingier the past few weeks, especially in the second half. The Cardinals' defense surrendered just 10 combined points in the second halves of the past two games and rallied BSU past Northern Illinois last week for the first time in a decade.
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This week they face another challenge against an Eastern Michigan team led by quarterback Mike Glass that ranks in the top third of the MAC in passing offense.
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Another big defensive performance would go a long way toward the Cardinals moving to 2-0 in the league for the first time in six years and to closing their three-game road swing on a high note. Ball State will finally return to Scheumann Stadium Oct. 19 to host Toledo for Homecoming.
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