HUNTINGTON - In a warped sort of way, I think Marshall fans can find encouragement in the struggles of Marshall's four quarterbacks.

Sure, Brian Anderson or whoever is going to have to raise his game and take charge, finding a way to get that Thundering Herd offense to score. The receiving corps must show a lot more than it has this spring, even factoring injuries.

I mean, this team scored 10 points against Rice last November. Shoot, the Herd baseball team did better than that Sunday, and the diamond Owls might be harder to block.

But in MU's football scrimmage Sunday, I don't think you could call Anderson, Mark Cann, Jake Laudenslayer and Press Taylor the Gang Who Couldn't Shoot Straight. OK, maybe Taylor had his roughest practice of the spring, but you really have to look at the other end of the quartet's passes, at those defending, for part of the answer.

More and more, I am becoming sold on the Marshall secondary.

First, you must remember from where this unit came. In 2006, this bunch yielded 3,010 yards in 12 games, surrendered 20 touchdowns and had to pedal hard to finish seventh in Conference USA in pass defense efficiency rating.

Then in 2007, when the pass rush disappeared, things got worse - foes threw for 3,118 yards and 23 touchdowns, the Herd had just four interceptions and the pass defense rating slid to 10th in C-USA.

In those two years, quarterbacks both accomplished (Tulsa's Paul Smith) and pedestrian (Memphis backup Will Hudgens) had their way with Herd corners. WVU's Pat White could have stayed in the pocket and gone 25-of-30 for 300 yards - as it was, he was "only" 13-of-18 for 149 and two scores in 2007.

Last season, an influx of new talent and a more aggressive approach yielded better results. The Herd gave up 3,044 passing yards, but it faced 35 attempts a game, a rather high figure. Completion percentage and touchdowns went down and interceptions went up, albeit to just nine.

I will be disappointed if the picks don't top one per game, at the least. These defensive backs are creating the necessary mayhem to force more turnovers.

The safeties were off the chart Sunday. As detailed in my scrimmage story, Ashton Hall turned in the defensive play of the spring with his deflection and interception of what would have been an Anderson touchdown pass to Cody Slate.

Then there was John Saunders, who went haywire. He entered the spring fighting to back up Hall at strong safety and play on the pass-heavy units, and I think the Cabell Midland grad has answered the challenge.

"Yes he did, and thank goodness," said Herd coach Mark Snyder. "We need John to do that so we can leave Devin [Arrington] right where he's at [grooming at linebacker behind Brandon Burns]. John's one of those guys who needs to have a career-best senior year."

Sure, Brian Anderson or whoever is going to have to raise his game and take charge, finding a way to get that Thundering Herd offense to score. The receiving corps must show a lot more than it has this spring, even factoring injuries.

I mean, this team scored 10 points against Rice last November. Shoot, the Herd baseball team did better than that Sunday, and the diamond Owls might be harder to block.

But in MU's football scrimmage Sunday, I don't think you could call Anderson, Mark Cann, Jake Laudenslayer and Press Taylor the Gang Who Couldn't Shoot Straight. OK, maybe Taylor had his roughest practice of the spring, but you really have to look at the other end of the quartet's passes, at those defending, for part of the answer.

More and more, I am becoming sold on the Marshall secondary.

First, you must remember from where this unit came. In 2006, this bunch yielded 3,010 yards in 12 games, surrendered 20 touchdowns and had to pedal hard to finish seventh in Conference USA in pass defense efficiency rating.

Then in 2007, when the pass rush disappeared, things got worse - foes threw for 3,118 yards and 23 touchdowns, the Herd had just four interceptions and the pass defense rating slid to 10th in C-USA.

In those two years, quarterbacks both accomplished (Tulsa's Paul Smith) and pedestrian (Memphis backup Will Hudgens) had their way with Herd corners. WVU's Pat White could have stayed in the pocket and gone 25-of-30 for 300 yards - as it was, he was "only" 13-of-18 for 149 and two scores in 2007.

Last season, an influx of new talent and a more aggressive approach yielded better results. The Herd gave up 3,044 passing yards, but it faced 35 attempts a game, a rather high figure. Completion percentage and touchdowns went down and interceptions went up, albeit to just nine.

I will be disappointed if the picks don't top one per game, at the least. These defensive backs are creating the necessary mayhem to force more turnovers.

The safeties were off the chart Sunday. As detailed in my scrimmage story, Ashton Hall turned in the defensive play of the spring with his deflection and interception of what would have been an Anderson touchdown pass to Cody Slate.

Then there was John Saunders, who went haywire. He entered the spring fighting to back up Hall at strong safety and play on the pass-heavy units, and I think the Cabell Midland grad has answered the challenge.

"Yes he did, and thank goodness," said Herd coach Mark Snyder. "We need John to do that so we can leave Devin [Arrington] right where he's at [grooming at linebacker behind Brandon Burns]. John's one of those guys who needs to have a career-best senior year."

Among other accomplishments, he tipped a Taylor pass to tackle Delvin Johnson for an interception, and rejected Cann on another raging blitz. He allowed Slate to catch a 19-yard pass on second-and-15, but not without delivering a nice welt.

"I don't know what was wrong with him today. He must have eaten his Wheaties this morning, or something," Hall said.

The free safeties made their mark, too. Omar Brown had a "sack" - the quarterbacks were live but the whistles were quick in vulnerable situations - and Ahmed Shakoor picked off a pass. Kevin Perry continues to battle as hard as anyone.

But they aren't the only ones having fun. "How about the corners?" Snyder asked, with enthusiasm.

Good, good point. Now remember that the Herd was down two receivers, projected "X" position players at that. But DeQuan Bembry, T.J. Drakeford and D.J. Wingate have turned into fearless cornerbacks that don't seem much in the mood to give those 5-yard cushions of yesteryear. With an interception Sunday, Josh Miller wants to join that party.

Over the years, Hall has seen the improvement at cornerback, from the days he was temporarily shifted there out of necessity.

"They're getting extremely good," Hall said. "The ball presence, going for the ball, is so much better than when I first got here. It's like, everybody attacks the ball - our corners have the mentality that the ball is ours. They attack it every time, and I love it."

It's not an accident that they didn't give up a touchdown pass Sunday. Bembry denied Courtney Edmonson after Laudenslayer executed a lovely play fake and went for a 23-yarder. Anderson tried a shot for freshman Jamal Wilson, who was schooled by Wingate.

And so forth. Anderson, who has been around as long as Hall, has noticed the greater degree of difficulty the hard way.

"We got a lot of young guys out there - well, they were, but not any more," Anderson said. "Everyday they're improving and showing us a better look. They're making it really hard on us, and it's going to be great in the fall. I definitely think it's one of the strengths of our defense."

If that's the case, that still doesn't take the Herd offense off the hook. But that offense could start a few more drives on the sunny side of the 50-yard line, which almost has to bode well.

Reach Doug Smock at 304-348-5130 or dougsm...@wvgazette.com.