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Message: [QUOTE="SWC75, post: 1226513, member: 289"] DEFENSE Then: [I]What we have now is 296 pound Eric Crume, a good one, Ryan Sloan, a bigger one at 320 and Wayne Williams, who finally qualified but may be too a bit too big at 330, as well as talented but under-sized isaiah Washington (276), Marcus Coleman (286) and Ron Thompson, a former highly-recruited tight end prospect, who is listed at only 255 pounds. There’s not much proven ability or depth there and it’s a big concern. We are in better shape at end where Robert Welch (248) is our best lineman. Micah Robinson(270) is pretty good and Thompson will play there, as well. At least I like the name value. Marcus Coleman, Isaiah Johnson and Micah Robinson all sound like defensive linemen, don’t they? And I guess Johnson, Robinson and Thompson will be the “My Three Sons” of football. But if you’ve got problems up front, you’ve got problems, period. [/I] Now: The Injury bug that bit the offensive line also hit the defensive line, but not as strongly. Crume and Williams battled injuries, Williams missing the last 7 games and Crume 2. Marcus Coleman also missed a game. But the unit held up well through the season. We were the 32nd ranked rushing defense in FBS, out of 125 teams. Crume, Micah Robinson and Robert Welch are all graduating. But Ron Thompson emerged as a star- quality lineman this year and should only get better. I also like Isaiah Johnson. Then: [I]I’ve loved our linebackers the last few years and will love them again this year. Say the name Dyshawn Davis and I will always remember what he did to Rutgers as a freshman: [/I] [URL='https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2XcYR_ky-c'][I]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2XcYR_ky-c[/I][/URL] [I]He’s now a senior team leader. I’ll miss posting that highlight in next year’s preview. Cameron Lynch of Georgia was one the early benefits of the announced switch to the ACC, (so was George Morris, who is from the same state). He always seems to be in the middle of every play. Marquez Hodge also showed a lot of good instincts as freshman last year. Josh Kirkland had a nose for the ball last year. Zaire Franklin was a top guy in our recruiting class. Luke Arciniega provides some much-need size at 240 pounds, (Davis is 221, Lynch 226, Hodge 216, Kirkland 201 and Franklin 215), and that is the one concern with this group, especially when undersized guys are manning the defensive line.[/I] Now: This was also a solid unit for us. Lynch had a tremendous year, leading the team with 97 tackles. 12 for a loss, including 7 sacks as well as a forced fumble and safety. Davis had 71 tackles, 6 for a loss and forced 3 fumbles. Both were seniors and will be hard to replace, as will Kirkland and Arciniega , who came here from junior college two years ago. Zaire Franklin as a freshman looked like a coming star. Marquez Hodge, who started as an undersized middle linebacker, could move outside. Then: [I]We’ve been recruiting defensive backs like mad in recent years and converting offensive players back there. It’s obvious Shafer and his staff know that competing in the ACC is all about speed and you need it most in the defensive backfield, where they have to keep up with fast guys who know where they are going when the defender doesn’t. Free safety Durell Eskridge will be our best all-around defensive player. Darius Kelly will be the other safety. Brandon Reddish and Wayne Morgan are fast friends- they are friends and they are fast- from the New York City area who play cornerback for us. So does Julian Whigham, who may be better than either one but suffered a ghastly injury during Florida State when the scar tissue from a previous internal operation came loose and he vomited blood in the end zone. It made me wonder if he should be playing football at all but he’s back and is supposed to be healthy enough to play. He’s listed as a starter above Morgan. Those guys will be good- if they remain healthy. [/I] Now: Eskridge also battled injuries and didn’t have a great junior year. Nonetheless, he opted to declare for the draft so we’ll lose him along with Brandon Reddish, who had a tremendous year at cornerback, Darius Kelly and Ritchy Desir, both good safeties. Juliam Whigham, probably the weakest of the four starters will be the only open to return. But Wayne Morgan, who played only three games due to injury, will be back. Corey Winfield saw some action here after switching from offense. Freshman Antwan Cordy looked good in limited action. That recruiting will have to bear fruit. We have 7 D-backs listed as freshmen or sophomores on the roster and 4 more in the incoming class. With Shafer and Bullough in charge, I’m not worried about the defense. We’ll be OK. It’s the offense that has to get much, much better. [/QUOTE]

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