ORONO, Maine — Being an effective defense against the pass begins with the pass rush.
The more pressure you can put on the opposing quarterback, the better the chance that he can’t complete the pass, and it could also lead to a momentum-changing sack or interception.
University of Maine redshirt junior defensive end Chris Bacon has evolved into a force to be reckoned with for the Black Bears.
Bacon, a preseason All-Coastal Athletic Association selection, became a full-time starter last season and led UMaine in quarterback hurries with eight in 12 games and was third on the team in tackles for lost yardage with 7.5, fifth in sacks with four and sixth in tackles with 35.
He forced a fumble, recovered a fumble and blocked a Merrimack College field goal attempt.
The Queens, New York, native considers a sack “the best play in football.”
“I would much rather get a sack than score a touchdown,” the 6-foot-3, 241-pound Bacon said. “There’s nothing better than putting a quarterback in the ground and seeing the offensive linemen with their heads down.”
One of the keys to his success is his long arms and tenacity.
“He is a tremendous football player,” said UMaine All-CAA redshirt junior offensive tackle Anthony Iliano, who often squares off against Bacon in practice and scrimmages.
“He is relentless in the running and passing games,” Iliano said. “You think you have him shut down and then he works an extra move on you. When he is playing super long, it’s hard to get your hands on him. When he gets full extension on you [with his arms], you can’t fit your hands inside him.
“He’s going to give a lot of teams problems this year. I’m just happy I go up against him in practice instead of on game days,” grinned Iliano, who feels battling him in practice has made him a better offensive lineman.
The feeling is mutual.
“When you get to practice against one of the best in the conference, you get to become one of the best in the conference. We go at it every day, and that makes each of us better,” Bacon said.
Bacon readily acknowledges that his long arms are a blessing.
“God didn’t necessarily make me the fastest or the tallest, but he gave me the longest arms of anyone I’ve ever met. I’ve heard my whole life that I’ve got to play long, and it’s very easy to play long when you can touch people and they really can’t touch you,” Bacon said. “I try to utilize my strength. So I do my best to lock guys out. This way it makes it easier to transition, rush, tear off blocks and make plays.”
UMaine head coach Jordan Stevens, a former All-CAA defensive end at UMaine, said Bacon has the ability to rush the passer with his length and play in the C gap — between tackles and tight ends — against tight ends. He can also play the run and the pass, Stevens said.
“He has probably got an eight-foot wingspan. He has great size, big hands and a real strong skillset,” Stevens said. “He just needed time in the weight room and that’s where his biggest growth has come. He’s always had the frame.”
Bacon appeared in nine games two years ago and was involved in seven tackles.
“We love that wingspan,” UMaine defensive coordinator Umberto Di Meo said. “He is getting his hands inside to create separation. He can tear off blocks. He’s doing a really good job with his technique.”
Di Meo considers him a physical player, and Bacon said it is important for him to be one.
“You can always be more violent,” Bacon said. “Violence is always the answer in football. The more violent team always wins. The more violent we are, the better we’re going to be.”
“He has shown a mental and physical toughness throughout training camp and he did all of last season,” Stevens said. “He has really grown and matured. He takes a ton of reps. He’s a guy we can put a huge load on during games.”
Bacon wants to become a better all-around player and worked on a “lot of things” over the summer, spending a lot of time in the weight room to get bigger and stronger.
“I played the run pretty well last year, but I can definitely become a better run-stopper,” Bacon said. “I don’t want to be known as just a pass rusher or a run-stopper. I want to be known as a complete football player.”
By his own admission, Bacon has “high standards for myself.”
But rather than focus on results, he said he just tries to work hard and get “1% better every day.
“Coach preaches process over outcome. Every day, I work and do my best and, hopefully, the results will come with it,” Bacon said. “I try to prove to myself every day that I am what I think I am.”
Being from Queens, Orono was a bit of a culture shock for Bacon, but he is enjoying his time here.
“It’s definitely different. It’s smaller, it’s a lot more quiet than where I’m from. But that’s the beauty of it. It’s a little bit of a reset. It helps you stay focused on what matters,” Bacon said. “As a football player, there aren’t too many distractions. You can stay focused and get done what you have to do. If you go to a lot of other places, you could very easily get lost in the sauce.”
He is “really grateful” to Stevens for offering him a scholarship and giving him the opportunity to play Division I football.
“Not a lot of people are guaranteed an opportunity to play football at the next level. Just to even get that chance, I told myself I was going to make it count,” Bacon said.
The Black Bears, coming off a 6-6 season, including a 5-3 CAA record, will open the season with a CAA game at Towson in Maryland at 6 p.m. Aug. 27.
UMaine was picked seventh in the 13-team CAA in the preseason coaches poll.
Bacon is really looking forward to the opener and is optimistic about the campaign.
“We have worked really hard and have stayed with the process. We can’t wait to put on display what we’ve done the last eight months,” Bacon said. “I expect us to have a good year. As long as everyone has bought in, does their job and we all stay in one direction, the sky is the limit.”