|
CHERUBINI CHIMES IN
-----
|
 |
Analysis
Friday, March 13, 2009
-----
By Ron Cherubini
Staff Feature
Writer |
Front line
defenders talented and looking to improve
By
Ron Cherubini
©2009 Bonesville.net
All rights reserved.
Now for a look at the
2009 returning defensive units. On the surface, with eight starters
returning from a very good defense, it would stand to reason that the
unit will be very good in 2009. It should be, but a closer analysis will
reveal that there are serious question marks in terms of depth within
all the units, particularly linebacker and strong safety.
That said, a lot of young
players got needed playing time in 2008, so the defense has the real chance
of being even better in 2009, barring injuries. Depth or lack of proven
depth, has made some positions more risky than you would like heading into
the spring.
DEFENSIVE END
-
C.J. Wilson (Sr): Unless he decides to
enter the NFL draft early, Wilson will be a candidate for All-America in
2009. He is as good as they come in the country at his position and will
create a ton of opportunities for whomever should fill in on the other
side of the line as teams will surely look to game-plan for Wilson or
avoid him altogether.
-
Scotty Robinson (RS-Sr):
The Pirates could not have scripted a better situation given the loss of
high-octane end Zack Slate, the lightening of the thunder and lightening
defensive end combo. Robinson may not have the same motor and speed off
the edge, but he is very, very good and should factor within the system
quite nicely. Look for Robinson to have a big year as teams come at him
and protect against him one-on-one as they focus on holding off Wilson
from the other side.
-
Josh Smith (TR-Jr):
Smith proved that he is a viable backup at the end position. He has a
motor like Slate's, albeit it is in a more thunder-like body. Smith will
provide very good depth at the position with the game experience to
start if needed.
-
Maurice Mercer (RS-SO):
Mercer will have to pick it up in Spring to position himself for the
type of PT that he will see in 2009 as a primary backup at the defensive
end position. He got some game experience seeing action in five games in
2008 (picking up 2 tackles) but will need to be ready for prime time as
the Pirates must have four defensive ends ready to go in 2009.
Position Analysis: Going into 2009, the position looks a whole lot like it did last
season. Though the team loses outstanding, though undersized, defensive end
Zack Slate, Scotty Robinson is more than adequate to step into the full-time
starting role. With Wilson now a national name brand at defensive end,
opponents will likely game plan against him which will give Robinson a
perfect stage to demonstrate his depth of ability. Smith provides
high-quality depth at the position. The unknown is who will step up and grab
the other backup role. It would likely be Mercer, but with limited
experience, only spring will answer that question.
DEFENSIVE TACKLE
-
Jay Ross (RS-Sr):
Tabbed the starter going into the 2008 season, Lindsay was lost for the
season in pre-season camp. Strong enough to bang inside and quick enough
to get to the corner and make a big play, Lindsay gives the Pirates a
bonafide No. 1 running back, if he is fully rehabbed from his
injury.
-
Linval Joseph (Jr):
Though he was fourth on the depth chart heading into 2008, Whitley was
expected to be a difference maker in the backfield. He demonstrated that
he has big play ability taking both a pass and a run over 50 yards for a
TD. He carried the load at the end of the season and brings a load of
experience back in 2009. Whitley will have to battle being tagged a
fumble risk (he lead all ECU backs in fumbles/fumbles lost with 4/3),
but his talents are no longer a doubt.
-
Robert Jones (So) – 9 games four tackles
with 2 sacks. After fighting through an early-season injury, Pirate fans
finally got a glimpse of the speedster’s abilities to get through a
small opening and hit the gas for big yardage. Rogers will provide high
quality depth for the Pirates and can take the full the time role if
needed.
-
Antonio Allison (RS-So) – 8 games, 2
tackles.
-
Allen Crowder (RS-Fr) –
-
Anthony Garner (RS-Fr) –
Position Analysis: Like the defensive end position, the front-line players at defensive
tackle are as good as they get anywhere in the country. Between Joseph and
Ross, offenses have no safe blocking zone. During 2008, injuries to the
primary backups at the position allowed for Jones and Allison to get playing
time and they both demonstrated that they are ready to play more important
roles for the team going forward. Throw in a pair of impressive rising
redshirt freshmen in Crowder and Garner and the Pirates look to once again
be stacked at this position going into 2009.
LINEBACKER
-
Nick Johnson (Sr):
Led the team in tackles (102) from his middle linebacker spot and will
anchor the unit in 2009. He is a leader, a hitter and playmaker with a
uncanny nose for the ball. He has proven to be very reliable and durable
during his time in the program and will be an All-Conference candidate
heading into the season.
-
Jeremy Chambliss (Sr):
Chambliss has been a playmaker in the program for the past two seasons
always seemingly finding a way to make an impact in the game. He did
struggle in 2008 at one point, losing his starting job, but then
regained it to finish out the season. He is a very good starter and will
give the Pirates reliability and experience at one outside backer spot.
-
Steve Spence (RS-So):
Seeing action in all 14 games, Spence should have the game-experience
needed to provide high-quality depth behind Johnson in the middle of the
defense.
-
Cliff Perryman (RS-So):
Having gotten a taste of starting in four contests at the outside backer
spot, it would be a solid assumption to put Perryman in the other
outside spot heading into the season, but his experience is limited to
nine games total, so spring will really tell the tale on Perryman as a
front line player.
-
Chris Mattocks (Sr):
A converted safety, Mattocks more than held his own at linebacker and
turned a few heads along the way. He played in all 14 games in 2008 and
should compete handily for the outside backer job in 2009.
-
Dustin Lineback (Jr):
Lineback proved to be a reliable back up in 2008, but it is unlikely he
will push for a starting job in 2009. Still, he provides reliability in
a backup role for the Pirates.
-
Austin Haynes (RS-So):
Haynes saw his first significant action in the final four games of the
season, but is still an unknown quantity in the unit.
-
Melvin Patterson (RS-So):
Patterson demonstrated some good abilities, playing in the first seven
games before being injured. If he can regain form, he should be in the
hunt for a spot on the depth chart at OLB.
-
Matt Thompson (RS-So):
Thompson picked up some experience in three games but he is still
banking on potential.
Position Analysis: The good news is that the linebacking corps returns Nick Johnson in the
middle. The bad news is that the rest of the linebackers, except maybe
Chambliss, are really unknown. Add to that East Carolina's history of
injuries at the position and you need to look beyond the two-deep to truly
analyze the position. Doing that, this position gives the greatest cause for
concern going into 2009. The unit should be solid in the front line with
Johnson, Chambliss and likely Perryman holding down the starting jobs, but
behind them is a lot of potential without a lot of experience, save maybe
Spence who will back up Johnson in the middle. This unit will really need
for its young guys to make a statement in the spring to live up to the
quality of the position in the early stages of 2008 when Quentin Cotton and
Pierre Bell were the mainstays on the defense. The Pirates have to have
young players emerge in a big way – guys like Thompson, Haynes, Patterson,
etc., - or the unit will be just a twisted ankle away from being a very good
unit to a very questionable unit.
CORNER
-
Emanuel Davis (So):
The freshman All-America will be looked upon to improve on an already
amazing rookie campaign. More than his overtime heroics that made him an
instant star, is the fact that he has demonstrated a unique combination
of confidence to take on any opponent's best receiver and the talent to
shut that receiver down in one-on-one coverage.
-
Dakota Marshall (RS-Jr):
Over the final half of the season, Marshall demonstrated that he could
be reliable at the corner. He had always demonstrated skills, but
sometimes lapsed on plays and gave up a big gainer. With that eliminated
from his game, he has proven himself to be dependable. He will have
plenty of opportunities to become a star in 2009 as teams will surely
opt to go after him rather than Davis, providing the two end up starting
on the corners rather than sharing time as they did in 2008.
-
Travis Simmons (Jr):
Another game-changer and a sometimes starter, Simmons will rotate
regularly into the starting lineup and has the ability to displace
either Davis or Marshall in the starting lineup. He was the C-USA
Championship MVP for a reason – talent and a nose for the big play. He
will be a third high-quality lock down corner for the Pirates.
-
Daryl Reynolds (Jr):
In his career, Reynolds has demonstrated flashes of brilliance and
flashes of less-than-brilliance. He is a talent that is looking more and
more like another solid corner in the program. He will get his reps and
there will not be any noticeable drop-off when he is in the game.
-
Derek Blacknall (RS-So):
Blacknall cut his teeth in 2008 getting ample playing time in eight
contests. The coaches are very high on him and expect him to be a
regular at corner before he exits the program. With experience now on
his resume, he should be a quality backup in 2009.
-
DeAndre Jones (RS-Fr):
Considered highly-talented prospect who will look to earn some playing
time in his first campaign.
Position Analysis: Coach Rick Smith turned a bunch of raw talent into a group of young
corners who have proven that the position may be in the best shape it has
been in since Kevin Monroe and Forest Foster teamed up for the Pirates.
Davis, just a sophomore, is already known nationally as a rising star,
following a freshman All-America season, while quietly, on the other side,
Marshall has become a dependable corner. Simmons is a game-changer as
demonstrated in the C-USA championship where he earned MVP honors, and
Reynolds is a guy who can start or provide quality backup. This unit will be
expected to improve as the main characters are more experienced and have
greater understanding of the defensive schemes now. With two-deep talent at
corner, the Pirates will be able to keep fresh corners in throughout the
game with little appreciable drop-off in performance while also allowing
Smith a ton of flexibility in different coverages.
SAFETY
-
Van Eskridge (Sr):
All-Conference free safety stud Eskridge returns for his senior season
and is the unquestioned leader in the defensive backfield. He commands
respect from his teammates and his opponents, has been ultra-reliable,
and is always atop the tackle charts for the Pirates. He has proven to
be a big play, game-changing safety and will again be an all-league
candidate in 2009. Heart and soul of the secondary.
-
Julian Carter (RS-So):
Carter was a good backup at free
safety for Eskridge in 2008 and gained some valuable experience in 11
games and should again play that role in 2009 while he learns from one
of the better safeties to come through the ECU program. The position is
solid for the coming season.
-
Devon Wallace (RS-So):
If you followed the depth chart, it would appear that Wallace will be
penciled in, at least heading into spring, in the strong safety position
following the graduation loss of both Leon Best and J.J. Millbrook.
Wallace is short on experience and thus the position is definitely an
unknown heading into 2009.
-
Rahkeem Morgan (RS-Fr):
A former prep QB. Eskridge was a former quarterback...will the Pirates
see the same type of results from Morgan in the defensive backfield?
-
Leonard Paulk (RS-Fr) – Was a defensive
back who hits like a ton of bricks in high school but has no experience
yet in college. Will be expected to compete for playing time immediately
in 2009.
Position Analysis:
While it appears that free safety is in good hands with front-liner and
all-league Eskridge returning, the strong safety is a complete mystery. With
the guys on the roster at the position, it would be a speculative guess that
Wallace will man the position and if so, then the SS spot is the most
glaring weakness on the defense going into 2009. Wallace has great
potential, but unless a player like Patterson or Mattocks is moved back from
linebacker, the SS position creates a potential weak leak for the Pirates.
PUNTER
-
Matt Dodge (Sr):
Dodge garnered all-America status at end of 2008, but even so, he was
still way too inconsistent for a guy with his experience. Will he be the
guy who kicked the first punt against Kentucky in the Liberty Bowl or
will he be the guy who kicked the rest of the punts in that game, which
hurt the team badly time and again. He improved between his sophomore
and junior seasons, so expectation is that he will dial in better on his
consistency in 2009.
-
Nathan Przestrzelski
(Jr): A backup in 2008, Przestrzelski is still unproven even as a
backup.
Position Analysis: Until Dodge proves he can be consistent, the position will be a
potential liability.
Send an e-mail to
Ron Cherubini.
Dig into Ron Cherubini's archives.
03/19/2009 02:36:37 AM |
