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Sorry to all that I'm running behind on this. On vacation and internet time has been taken up with work. In any event, will try to be done by the end of the weekend.
The defense is left to cover, and I'm starting with Linebackers, mostly because of how excited I am about the unit. Why? Well, for starters all three starters are back. Sio Moore is back as a RS Senior and third year as a starter. Sio burst onto the scene playing a key role in our run to the Fiesta in 2010. Last year, he played what looked to be the same position on the weakside, but he played it entirely differently. He was great runstopping and blitzing, but was asked to spend far more time guarding slot receivers and RBs coming out of the backfield and, frankly, struggled. If he gets the new schemes, and his new role, there is no reason he can't have a monster year. In the middle, Yawin Smallwood from Worcester returns for his RS Sophomore Year. He started as a Frosh last year, also was great against the run, and showed good athletic ability but not great positioning on pass defense. Again, I expect a huge, huge improvement from him as he learns from his year starting. Jory Johnson also returns as a Rs Sr. Jory started all last year and part of each of the two years before that (each time Scott Lutrus got hurt). I don't think Johnson is the athlete, or has the big play ability, that Moore and Smallwood have, but he's solid and experienced and should be better with more understanding of Don Brown's ways.
Last year, behind the three starters, we saw a tiny bit of Jerome Williams but none (except pure mop-up) from the other backups -- Opoku, Kenney and Osiecki. Williams and Opoku transferred out, Osiecki moved to FB and Kenney is still there but doesn't figure in the two deep at LB. But, the depth at LB seems to be much, much better. Donohue, who played as a backup for Don Brown at Maryland and followed him here, has now sit out his year and has two years of eligibility left. In the preseason depth chart, he was an "or" with Jory Johnson. Vann and Ashiru were both listed as backups for the first half or so of last year, but kept their redshirts on when the LBs stayed healthy and for now will play at least on specials, and presumably will compete for starting roles next year when Sio and Johnson graduate. Nothing but good things has been heard about them yet. If we're to believe what we hear, we may see six LBs play this year. Personally, I don't expect that (barring injury) but the fact that the coaches talk about them all being ready can only help.
Depth behind the two deep is provided by Kenney, now a RS Jr. who could also play Safety, Brandon Steg, the RS Soph in the middle, and true frosh (presumably all redshirting) Hicks, Vinci and Stephens. Graham Stewart, the Xavier -- Middletown player who started his career in Florida, will be sitting out this year before joining the party with three years of eligibility left next fall.
So, with three starters back and much more quality depth, the play from this unit can only be improved. Last year, it was great against the run and not nearly good enough against the pass. This year, second year in the new system, hopefully it's consistently great. I think it can be.
The defense is left to cover, and I'm starting with Linebackers, mostly because of how excited I am about the unit. Why? Well, for starters all three starters are back. Sio Moore is back as a RS Senior and third year as a starter. Sio burst onto the scene playing a key role in our run to the Fiesta in 2010. Last year, he played what looked to be the same position on the weakside, but he played it entirely differently. He was great runstopping and blitzing, but was asked to spend far more time guarding slot receivers and RBs coming out of the backfield and, frankly, struggled. If he gets the new schemes, and his new role, there is no reason he can't have a monster year. In the middle, Yawin Smallwood from Worcester returns for his RS Sophomore Year. He started as a Frosh last year, also was great against the run, and showed good athletic ability but not great positioning on pass defense. Again, I expect a huge, huge improvement from him as he learns from his year starting. Jory Johnson also returns as a Rs Sr. Jory started all last year and part of each of the two years before that (each time Scott Lutrus got hurt). I don't think Johnson is the athlete, or has the big play ability, that Moore and Smallwood have, but he's solid and experienced and should be better with more understanding of Don Brown's ways.
Last year, behind the three starters, we saw a tiny bit of Jerome Williams but none (except pure mop-up) from the other backups -- Opoku, Kenney and Osiecki. Williams and Opoku transferred out, Osiecki moved to FB and Kenney is still there but doesn't figure in the two deep at LB. But, the depth at LB seems to be much, much better. Donohue, who played as a backup for Don Brown at Maryland and followed him here, has now sit out his year and has two years of eligibility left. In the preseason depth chart, he was an "or" with Jory Johnson. Vann and Ashiru were both listed as backups for the first half or so of last year, but kept their redshirts on when the LBs stayed healthy and for now will play at least on specials, and presumably will compete for starting roles next year when Sio and Johnson graduate. Nothing but good things has been heard about them yet. If we're to believe what we hear, we may see six LBs play this year. Personally, I don't expect that (barring injury) but the fact that the coaches talk about them all being ready can only help.
Depth behind the two deep is provided by Kenney, now a RS Jr. who could also play Safety, Brandon Steg, the RS Soph in the middle, and true frosh (presumably all redshirting) Hicks, Vinci and Stephens. Graham Stewart, the Xavier -- Middletown player who started his career in Florida, will be sitting out this year before joining the party with three years of eligibility left next fall.
So, with three starters back and much more quality depth, the play from this unit can only be improved. Last year, it was great against the run and not nearly good enough against the pass. This year, second year in the new system, hopefully it's consistently great. I think it can be.
