It’s not easy to improve something that’s already the best.

In 2011, the Missouri Southern football team’s defense will have an opportunity to do just that.

A season ago, that group led the MIAA in total defense. That unit returns six starters in preseason All-American Brandon Williams, Kenny Smith and Maurice Pearl on the defensive line. Richard Williams and Alex Wong are back as linebackers, and Demond Horsely returns in the secondary.

“We have a newcomer at linebacker,” sixth-year Head Coach Bart Tatum said. “Aaron Hall is a young man from California. He’s done an excellent job at the inside linebacker spot.

“The interior of our defensive line with Kenny Smith and Brandon Williams, that’s a couple of the better defensive tackles that we’ll see this year. I know we’ve struggled to block them the entire training camp.”

Quarterback Collin Howard returns for his senior season and second under offensive coordinator Matt Barrett. One of Howard’s favorite targets, Kellen Cox, has noticed considerable improvement in his attack.

“He is making great decisions,” Cox said. “He’s taken care of the ball really well this year, just making better decisions, and that comes with knowing the offense better. Those quarterbacks are in Matt Barrett’s office all day long. It pays off and we appreciate it.”

Southern opened its season with an MIAA game against the nation’s No. 15 rated team, Central Missouri yesterday but scores were unavailable at press time.

Originally, the Lions’ schedule has them playing the University of Nebraska-Omaha in week two, but UNO’s move to Division-I will give Southern a bye week before hosting Washburn on Sept. 17.

“Opponent two bailed on us,” Tatum said. “So we’ve got 16 days to prepare for Washburn now. Which is fine, we’ll need all 16.”