Colorado University Athletics
Defensive Line Inexperienced, But Deep
BOULDER ? There are five defensive starters returning for the 2009 Colorado football season, but none of them is on the defensive line. That means all of the spots are open, and with 14 potential candidates all vying for playing time, the competition is quite stiff. At this time in spring practice not a single starter is set in stone, much less a two- or three-deep the Buffs will count on this coming season.
While Buff fans can expect to see newer, less-experienced faces on the D-line, what they should not anticipate is to see any drop-off in the lineGÇÖs effectiveness.
GÇ£Right now this is a time for guys just to really improve and show what they can do,GÇ¥ defensive line coach Romeo Bandison said. GÇ£Everybody gets reps, everybody gets to play, and everybody gets a chance to shine.GÇ¥
Despite losing three guys with a lot of playing experience ? three-year starters defensive tackle George Hypolite and nose tackle Brandon Nicholas, and two-year starter defensive end Maurice Lucas ? the Buffs are not worried. This yearGÇÖs D-line will be no weak link.
Ask some of the defensive linemen and theyGÇÖll say you can look forward to seeing some big things from this yearGÇÖs guys.
GÇ£We lost a couple of big guys, but we got the guys here who can fill those spots,GÇ¥ junior defensive end Marquez Herrod said. GÇ£I really think we got a lot of guys with talent and itGÇÖs basically just going to be who steps up.GÇ¥
Senior defensive tackle Taj Kaynor is trying to take on one of those roles, but he is not looking to fill anyoneGÇÖs shoes. HeGÇÖs trying to, as he puts it, GÇ£start his own dominance,GÇ¥ and to make a name for himself as someone who can be counted on.
A lot of the linemen have the same mentality as Kaynor and theyGÇÖre all getting to prove their worthiness in spring practices.
And while fans more than players like to say this player is a starter and that one isnGÇÖt, with the new rotation Bandison plans to run, it really doesnGÇÖt matter all that much.
GÇ£WeGÇÖre trying to get at least six to eight guys that can play, that can rotate,GÇ¥ Bandison said. GÇ£I feel like right now weGÇÖre really starting to make progress towards getting to that point.GÇ¥
The only defensive lineman who has been out on the field for the first defensive play is Herrod, who started at right defensive end in the last three games of the 2008 season. In his sophomore campaign, Herrod saw 187 snaps, netting 14 tackles (11 unassisted) and four sacks for a loss of 34 yards. He has played in 24 games so far in his CU career.
The Buffs return four others with significant position game experience in sophomore defensive tackles Curtis Cunningham and Eugene Goree and defensive ends Kaynor and sophomore Conrad Obi.
Cunningham saw action in twelve games as a true freshman. He contributed nine tackles (six unassisted) and a 10-yard interception.
As a redshirt freshman, Goree played in 10 games and 89 plays. According to both head coach Dan Hawkins and Bandison, Goree is really starting to step up in spring practices and to do the things they thought he was capable of when they recruited him.
In his three years of experience, Kaynor has played in 25 games for a combined 107 snaps. Bandison says that Kaynor has been doing an excellent job during spring ball and that heGÇÖs really improved.
Obi only saw action in five games his redshirt freshman year, but heGÇÖs been battling for a spot and for playing time and trying to get into the mix this year.
Other contenders with limited experience include sophomore defensive tackle Lagrone Shields who played in 2 games his redshirt freshman year, junior defensive tackle Eric Lawson who has seen action in seven games his first two years, and sophomore defensive end Tony Poremba who played in one game his redshirt freshman year.
Current redshirt freshman, defensive tackle Will Pericak, has not played for long, but is GÇ£learning, working hard, and showing up,GÇ¥ Bandison said.
According to Hawkins, heGÇÖs GÇ£starting to figure things out and has some flexibility.GÇ¥ Pericak added to his credibility by snagging an interception at practice last Tuesday.
Also battling to get into the rotation are senior defensive tackle Tyler Sale, junior defensive end transfer Joe Silipo, sophomore defensive ends Kevin Cooney and David Goldberg, and freshman defensive end Nick OGÇÖNeill.
So, with only 640 snaps combined between all 14 players on the roster, which players will step up and try to create opportunities for themselves to get in the mix and get some playing time? Only time will tell, but according to Hawkins, Kaynor, Herrod, Goree, and perhaps Pericek have emerged the most throughout spring practices thus far.
GÇ£We just got to have guys step into the positions that they know they can play,GÇ¥ Herrod said. GÇ£We got the talent, we just got to show that we have it.GÇ¥
 |