For most of the season, Malcolm Goodwin was the other Goodwin on the Baltimore CFLs.
He was a special teams zealot, a part-time linebacker, a sometimes rush end, but always in twin brother Matt's tall shadow.
That all changed in Week 11. That's when the CFLs retooled their defense, and moved Malcolm onto the line of scrimmage, inside the end, as a stand-up linebacker.
It effectively turned a 4-3 alignment into a 5-2, and emphatically answered the question of whether a defense built for speed at the flanks could be physical enough to stop the run.
The answer was yes.
"It's the coaches' job to create a system and not ask people to do something they can't do," coach Don Matthews said. "It's taken us awhile to figure it out. We tinkered with it until we got it right. Now we've got it right."
The result has been fairly dramatic. A defense that surrendered 100 rushing yards or more four times in the first seven games has turned almost impenetrable.
In seven games since adopting the new defensive scheme, the CFLs have given up 100 rushing yards only once -- in a 40-13 romp over Ottawa. In the past four games, they have given up an average of 46 rushing yards a game and 3.2 yards a carry.
"We found a package we liked and stuck with it," Goodwin said. "The last four weeks, teams realize they're not going to run on us, so they pass on first and second down, and use the run to get us off guard."
This week's opponent, the Sacramento Gold Miners, may be the exception. In the absence of injured quarterback David Archer (dislocated thumb), they have leaned hard on the running game. In the past two games, Troy Mills has rushed for 261 yards.
Zka,4 In a game the CFLs need to win to clinch the Eastern Division title, their rush defense clearly will be challenged. But the defense is playing as well now as it has all season.
"We've got guys trying to make plays," Goodwin said. "Some guys are jealous if somebody else makes a play instead of them. It's contagious. It runs through the whole defense."
By moving Goodwin to the line of scrimmage, it enabled the CFLs to put Matt Goodwin at middle linebacker, where he can use his pass coverage skills with strong-side linebacker Tracy Gravely.
In the trial-and-error process, the CFLs also decided to keep defensive tackle Jearld Baylis over the center instead of having him flip-flop with wide-side tackle Robert Presbury.
"Now everybody can do what they do best," Matt Goodwin said. "Malcolm is good going against the guard. . . . I don't think we've tapped his potential yet. He's a great player."
He has become a great talker on the CFLs, inheriting the job of relaying plays from the sideline. It's a task Malcolm Goodwin relishes.
"We now call him Malcolm X," said rush end O. J. Brigance, grinning at the thought. "In the huddle, Malcolm has a speech. A lot of times the offense is up behind us and he hasn't called the play. He will not shut up. We're at the point we tune it all out until we hear the play."
Malcolm Goodwin is not bashful. Having played with him at Iowa State, Matt remembered an upset loss against Kansas when Malcolm went into the enemy huddle to let the Jayhawks know what he thought.
Now, Malcolm is happy to have a position he can call his own. A linebacker most of his career, he was never comfortable at rush end.
"I feel like my first year has been successful," he said. "I've done what I was asked. More than anything, I am happy I got a chance to play linebacker again. I think I've done a good job."
NOTES: Mayor Kurt L. Schmoke will hold a "Bring it Home" celebration recognizing the CFLs' playoff season today at noon at City Hall. . . . Matthews said running back Mike Pringle's groin injury improved yesterday and he is likely to play Saturday. . . . Pringle was named CFL Offensive Player of the Week for his 209-yard rushing effort against Winnipeg, and center Nick Subis was selected Lineman of the Week. . . . Sacramento's protest of a 22-16 loss to Edmonton was rejected. The league deemed a game-ending controversial play inconclusive.