Understanding Northern Illinois' 4-3 defense

The Huskies allowed an uncustomary 62 points in their final two regular-season games (losses to Ohio and MAC champ Central Michigan). With nose tackle Brian Lawson back in the fold - and handling one of the defense's most critical positions - NIU expects to deliver a better performance in the International Bowl on Saturday against South Florida in Toronto. And with nine starters expected to return in 2010, even bigger things are expected.

By the numbers: NIU ranks 29th nationally and second in the MAC with 21.2 points allowed per game. In 2008, defensive coordinator Tracy Claeys' first year at the school, NIU ranked 14th nationally and led the MAC with 18.0 ppg.

The Huskies rank 27th nationally (out of 120 teams) and lead the MAC this year with 324.0 yards allowed per game. They're third in the MAC in rushing defense (119.4 ypg) and sixth in pass defense (204.6 ypg). NIU led the MAC in 2008 with 298.5 yards per game.

Family tree: In Claeys' estimation, NIU's defense stems from the 4-3 developed at Miami in the late 1980s and early 1990s by head coach Jimmy Johnson and then-defensive coordinator Tommy Tuberville. "(Tuberville) played a 4-3 technique with a "9," which is the wide (defensive) ends," Claeys said. "And the pro guys referred to it as a College 4-3 because of how wide the ends played. The emphasis went to not doing a read front, and giving everybody one gap and attacking that gap and being aggressive in that gap."

Nutshell philosophy: "I have always been in a gap-attacking front, no matter what we've been," Claeys said. "I've always believed in just attacking a gap and being more aggressive.

"I could argue the 4-3 we're in today is really a 4-2-5 because the two outside linebackers are really like safeties for us. If I have to give up size or speed, I'm going to give up the size."