ORONO — For a defensive unit that knows it needs to improve its pass rush, the University of Maine football team’s final preseason scrimmage on Tuesday afternoon was a step in the right direction.

Throughout last week’s scrimmage, the offense held the upper hand. On Tuesday, despite officials blowing the whistle to end each play before defenders could complete a tackle, the defensive line showed the work its doing with the coaches – particularly head coach Jordan Stevens, a former defensive lineman himself – is paying off.

“First scrimmage, we came out a little slow. This second scrimmage, I feel like we came out with more energy, more focus,” said Josh Lezi, a senior defensive lineman. “I feel like we definitely got the job done against the offense today. Not tackling hurts, but you know, we’ve got to start getting ready for the first game.”

Maine opens the season Sept. 3 at New Mexico. The Black Bears’ first home game is Sept. 10 against Colgate.

Coming off a 2021 season in which the Black Bears were last in the Colonial Athletic Association in sacks with 12 and next to last in yards per game allowed (386.9), improving that pass rush has been a point of emphasis in the preseason.

“I saw our defense do a great job responding from the first scrimmage. I thought they came out with great energy and got right after it from the start, which was good to see. That’s everything we’ve been talking about. Playing the next play. Getting the next rep,” said Stevens, who graduated from Maine in 2010 as an all-CAA defensive end.

“We’ve been really coaching them hard on the fundamentals and technique. Understanding the scheme, understanding the calls, understanding where we want them. That takes time. That takes reps.”

The first-team defense looked sharp on the opening series against the first-team offense. Senior defensive end Justin Sambu was credited with a sack on quarterback Joe Fagnano when the play was whistled dead just before Fagnano released the ball. A few plays later, Sambu stopped Fagnano on a quarterback draw, a play that went for big yardage for the offense when the team scrimmaged last Thursday.

Sambu said working with Stevens has helped him improve. The players know what kind of talent Stevens was when he wore the Black Bears helmet, and they know he’s a reservoir of knowledge when it comes to defensive-line play.

“We’ve seen plays (on tape). We know (Stevens) was a dog back then. It’s great to have him as a role model as a former player to show us how defensive players do it,” said Sambu, who made 21 tackles in eight games last season, “I’ve definitely learned to get lower in my pass rush. That’s something I’ve struggled with, but now that I’m getting it, I’m excited to get on that field. I know I’m going to be going off what he’s taught me.”

Sambu did not record a sack or a hurry last season. But Stevens said Sambu and senior defensive lineman Jamehl Wiley have improved and will be keys to the pass rush.

“(Sambu’s) such a talented defensive lineman. It’s all the body movements for him, understanding his body, understanding how to control it. Where he is relative to the quarterback. Where he is relative to the play. That awareness has improved. We need him to play that way,” Stevens said. “Wiley’s steady. Wiley just shows up every day and works.”

Senior center Michael Gerace, a team captain, has an up close view of the defensive line play every day in practice. Gerace likes what he’s seen.

“There’s stuff you guys see, that we do in practice, it has to transition into games,” Gerace said. “They’ve gotten a lot quicker. They’re only going to keep improving from here. It’s only been one month. I don’t have a doubt in my mind.”

With no more scrimmages scheduled for the 11 days remaining before the opener at New Mexico, practice time will be spent fine-tuning skills and schemes installed earlier in camp.

“Just clean up the little things. We’ve learned a lot and we’ve grown a lot. When it’s time to crack the pads, we’ll be ready,” Sambu said.

Starting linebacker Adrian Otero missed Tuesday’s scrimmage with a leg injury. Stevens said Otero, along with running back Elijah Barnwell and wide receiver Kobay White, a senior transfer from Boston College, sat out for precautionary reasons.

“At this point, with this scrimmage, we’re really just trying to be smart with some of them. Making sure they’re healthy when we come back Thursday and Friday (to practice),” Stevens said.