HOUSTON — Naturally, with the differences from one defensive coordinator to another comes more film study for the players involved with the transition.

“You have to do film,” Lamar junior cornerback Rodney Randle said Thursday at the Southland Conference’s Media Day. “You have to watch a lot of film. You have to get the guys out there doing extra work and extra prepping, and meeting on our time. All the time we get, we have to meet with the coaches, our new defensive coaches. Learn the schemes and study more. That’s it.”

These days, the Cardinals are learning from two defensive coordinators.

First-year head coach Mike Schultz hired Melvin Smith and Troy Douglas as co-defensive coordinators. Both share responsibilities as the third coordinator Randle has played under in as many years.

“They both bring different things to the game, different elements to the defense,” Schultz said. “They knew each other and had a relationship, but I knew it would be a very good chemistry between Melvin and Troy Douglas.”

Craig McGallion resigned as d-coordinator late in the 2015 season and has been rehired at Lamar as director of football operations. Trey Haverty replaced McGallion for the 2016 season, but was hired as defensive quality control coach at the University of Texas following head coach Ray Woodard’s firing.

Smith is going into his 28^th season as a collegiate coach and has worked on staffs of five current SEC schools (Ole Miss, Mississippi State twice, Alabama, Texas A&M and Auburn). Smith, who works with linebackers, spent the past three years at Louisiana-Lafayette.

Douglas worked at Sam Houston State the past two years, following stops including UTEP, SMU, Michigan State, Indiana, South Florida, North Carolina, Iowa State and Pittsburgh. The former Appalachian State wide receiver started his college career in 1989 at West Chester University of Pennsylvania.

The changes to the Cardinals’ defense have been evident, but it comes at a time when Lamar has just produced a third-round draft pick in Brendan Langley, now with the Denver Broncos. Randle and Langley teamed up again to work with youngsters in Jamaal Charles’ camp at Port Arthur Memorial last month and continue to stay in touch.

“After he got drafted, he told me: ‘I should set the standard for third round or below in that room because at Ohio State, their standard is first round,’” Randle said.

Randle, who graduated from Ozen in 2015, is a preseason All-Southland second-team selection despite going without an interception last year. He picked off three passes as a freshman.

Aside from just going back to a three-man front from Haverty’s 4-2-5 scheme, Smith and Douglas have added a couple of uncommon positions. Randle is listed as a “money” player, considered a sixth defensive back in a package with two linebackers, otherwise known as a “dime.” The origins of the position, according to Al.com, is traced back to Alabama coach Nick Saban’s days as a d-coordinator with the Bill Belichick-led Cleveland Browns (of the pre-Baltimore Ravens variety) in the early 1990s.

Junior Chaston Brooks and sophomore Del’chaun Rushing, both linebackers, are listed as “Cardinal” instead of their traditional position on the two-deep roster, leaving the “Sam,” or strong-side, and “Mike,” or middle linebackers behind the line.

The changes don’t seem to throw Randle off his game as he looks to pose a serious threat to Southland offenses. He’s confident his play will turn into a nice follow-up to the All-American Langley’s six interceptions in 2016.

“I’m always in the right place,” he said. “I play great technique as a defensive back. I have had some great defensive coaches. Brendan has taught me a lot as well.”

•

I.C. Murrell: 721-2435. Twitter: @ICMurrellPANews