DL Preview

[Globetrotter]

Below is my Defensive preview followed by CFN's. I certainly do not know as much as many of you here, however, when the season starts to come about I like to familiarize my self with our roster and there is no reason not to put the thoughts I have down on paper......or screen....

DL:
The Defensive Line boasts two of the Defenses best players in End Devon Parks and Tackle Brad Williams. Williams will slide inside after a year at end and although undersized provides stability to the line. The line has been a weak spot for the Falcons especially when it comes to stopping the run. The loss of Tackles Monte Cooley and Mike Thaler left the hole inside that required Williams to slide down the line. What made the transition more likely was the fact that Diyral Briggs showed great flashes at a pass rusher. Very undersized, but tremendously athletic Briggs will likely be the difference maker on the line for the next few years. Teaming with Williams inside will be two players that should make up for Williams lack of size. Sophomore Nick Davis (6-3 276) and True Freshman DJ Young (6-5 278). In a perfect world Williams plays outside on run downs and inside on passing downs, these 5 see the most of the snaps with the legion of backups behind them spelling them throughout the game.

CFN"Defensive Line
The Falcons line had a rough year getting pushed around way too much against the run and not generating nearly enough of a pass rush. It's a smaller line this season, but it's a lot faster and should be far more disruptive with Brad Williams moving outside in and more speed added to the outside with redshirt freshmen Jacob Hardwick and Thomas James backing up Diyral Briggs. Briggs and Devon Parks should form a devastating pass rushing tandem. Nick Davis has to be a star on the nose as the only bulk.
The key to the unit: Be stronger against the run and hope the overall quickness can overcome the lack of size.
Defensive Line Rating: 5"

CFN:"Projected Starters
- DE Devon Parks, Sr. - 56 tackles, 4 sacks, 8.5 TFL 6-3 252
A pure pass rusher with 13 career sacks and 23.5 tackles for loss, the speedy Parks has bulked up to 252 pounds and should be an even bigger force against the run. He has been a starter since day one and is the team's best overall defensive player. Now he has to be even more of a disruptive tone-setter who changes games by getting into the backfield."

- DT Brad Williams, Sr. - 63 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 10.5 TFL 6-3 256
A big defensive end and a small defensive tackle, the 256-pound senior will move inside to add more speed and quickness to the interior. He's a tough, hard-nosed tackler who'll hold up well despite his size.

- NG Nick Davis, Soph. - 39 tackles, 1.5 TFL 6-3 276
Davis turned into a strong backup and needs to be a strong starter in place of Mike Thaler on the nose. At 280-pounds, he's the team's biggest lineman and should be a big boost to the run defense.

- DE Diyral Briggs, Soph. - 38 tackles, 4.5 sacks, 5 TFL, 11 quarterback hurries, 3 fumble recoveries
The 6-4, 216-pound sophomore might be light and a bit too thin, but he can move and has a fantastic motor. With all the attention paid to Devon Parks on the other side, Briggs should be freed up to be a big playmaker and a terror in the backfield.

Top Backups
- DT Brady Minturn, RFr. 6-4 250
An undersized tackle at 250 pounds, got enough work this spring to be counted on behind Brad Williams. While he might be small, he's quick and should be active.
- DE Jacob Hardwick, RFr. 6-3 260
A top scout teamer last year, he should be a speed rusher on the outside combining with Thomas James behind Diyral Briggs. At 260 pounds, he's a far bigger option than Briggs.
- DE Thomas James, RFr. 6-2 255
He'll find his way onto the field sooner than later. At 255 pounds, he's a good-sized end with excellent quickness and the potential to start right off the bat if he has a big summer. He could see time on either end spot."

-Not Mentioned in CFN
DT"
DT DJ Young Fr. 6-5 278. True Freshman should play right away as one of BGs top recruits. He brings size to the table that cant be matched on the roster. If we can hold on to him for a few years he could team with Davis and Briggs to make a dominant line.

Mike Ream Fr(r) 6-3 235;

Brandon Mack Jr, 6-5 257; 9tackles 3fl 2.5 sacks

Thomas Smith Sr(r) 6-0 270; 2 tackles

Freshman Most likely to be redshirted:Orlando Barrow; 6-2 268

DE:
Joe Schaeffer So., 6-4 246 12 tackles

Trevor Frericks Fr(r), 6-1 255

Donald Sprenkel So. 6-2 241

Garth Hartung So. 6-1 230

Frosh To the weight room and the practice team....

Carlos Tipton: 6-3 209; Darius Smith: 6-2 210; Michael Culberson Fehling 6-5 230

[Globetrotter]

The Future:

With Williams and Parks graduating there should be 2 holes on the starting DL. Young should ease into Williams role while Hardwick and James rotate at the end. A very nice sized line that would make Falconboy very happy. No Juniors this year leave 2008 with a nice sized very experienced line. As always the focus will be on finding someone to play Tackle effectively. However a rotation of Davis (280), Young (280), Minturn (250), Barrow (270) and Mack (260) will be largest I can remember.

- NG Nick Davis, Jr. 6-3 276
- DE Diyral Briggs, jr. 6-4, 216
- DE Thomas James, So. 6-2 255
-DT DJ Young So. 6-5 278

Top Backups
- DT Brady Minturn, So. 6-4 250
- DE Jacob Hardwick, So. 6-3 260
- DL Mike Ream So. 6-3 235;
-DL Brandon Mack Sr, 6-5 257;
-DT Orlando Barrow; Fr. 6-2 268
-DE Joe Schaeffer Jr., 6-4 246
-DE Trevor Frericks So, 6-1 255
-DE Donald Sprenkel Jr. 6-2 241
-DE Garth Hartung Jr. 6-1 230
-DE Carlos Tipton Fr. 6-3 209
-DE Darius Smith: Fr. 6-2 210
-DE Michael Culberson Fehling Fr. 6-5 230

For those of you recruiting gurus out there, who at the end of this list do you expect to be not on the end of the list. Who could be starting or contributing very soon?

[Falconboy]

I don't really know what to expect from the D-line this year. I have my gut reactions or feelings based on certain position moves, but beyond that nothing. I as always think moving Brad Williams to DT is lunacy but thats just me. I can't believe that Williams couldn't bulk up to at least 275lbs if he wanted to. But we'll see. Diryell Briggs I think still should be and would be an amazing linebacker instead of DE ,but again thats just me. That would allow guys like Dozier to move to saftey where I think he can be absolute freak. I haven't seen much from Hardwick , James or Fredricks, but we'll learn so enough this fall.

DJ Young is a dark horse candidate to be in the DT or NT rotation. Likely redshirts are to be Barrow, Darius Smith( unless moved to LB or S),Carlos Tipton ( unless moved to LB or S) and Michael Culberson-Fehling. Nick Davis is going to be counted on to take on Thalers role for sure, he's got to be a rock in the middle.

[Globetrotter]

OK. Move Williams back to DE. Who starts at DT in his place?

[Falconboy]

OK. Move Williams back to DE. Who starts at DT in his place?

Well, for one thing Curtis would be the likely choice if moved back from the odd position of center from the spring roster. If one of the RS DEs that somebody said had gained like 50lbs on top of his 250 could be rotation and then DJ Young.

[Globetrotter]

There is no better option than Brad Williams at tackle. That speaks to both his ability and our lack of depth at the DT.

[Falconboy]

There is no better option than Brad Williams at tackle. That speaks to both his ability and our lack of depth at the DT.

Your first post makes reference to you not knowing much about the roster, so how do you know that for sure? Our ambiguious pre-season prognostications aside, we'll all know more on who's sorta right who's sorta wrong or in between when the actuall football starts once and for all.

[Globetrotter]

Brad Williams started an entire season at tackle. Nuff said.

[Falconboy]

Brad Williams started an entire season at tackle. Nuff said.

Yes he did , and do you remember how that turned out for us. Maybe it wasnt' quite as the horrid debacle it was last season but it was close. The d-line was basicly swiss cheese to any fairly good running game. Im not raggin on B.Williams here but he gives us better overall d-line play at DE than at DT in my opinion. Our LB's are real young and they need serious help this year. They can't get too exposed or its gonna look real messy.