We've had real defensive struggles on the road. But we do seem to improving. Take a small step forward, then revert, then forward. I think overall we are a better defense than we were last year, but only by a little. We returned only 3 starters from last year's lackluster squad, and the starting lineup is filled with FR and SOs.
We rotate a ton of guys, but I'll list the key contributors, bolding most likely to start.
Along the DL we go:
DE Hutchins 6'3 215 (RS JR but first real playing time this year, slimmed down to play LB but got moved back to DE, pass rush specialist)
DE Clark 6'3 245(JC JR, first year here, got cleared academically 4 days into fall camp)
DE Fa'anono 6'2 250 (True SO, started quite a bit last year as a True FR)
DE Jeffries 6'1 250 (RS SO)
DT Yates 6' 310 (RS FR, has plugged into the starting role last week and really helped run game)
DT Sheridan 6'4 285 (SR)
DT Thomas 6'3 285 (JR but was out of college ball for a year due to some off the field issues, last year first real year playing since high school)
DT Bignell 6'2 290 (SR)
LB:
OLB Bignell 6' 180 (SO, plays fast and hard, first year playing)
OLB Braun 6'2 227 (SO, been injured on and off until this year)
MLB Collins 6'4 222 (RS FR, probably the most talented of the group, coming on strong as a FR)
OLB Tappan 6'2 235 (SO, 1st year transfer from Cincinnati, never played, trasnfered from JC, first real action in 3 years)
Secondary:
S Carter 6'2 190 (SR,1st year transfer from UAB after program ended, was their starter, has underwhelmed)
S Garcia 5'10 178 (SO, thrust into starting lineup last year, hits about the hardest on the team despite smaller stature)
S King 6' 192 (FR, rotates in)
CB Keeton 6'2 190 (SR transfer from Nevada, started last year, probably our best passing defener, not that that is saying a whole lot)
CB Strong (6'1 190 (True Freshman, as you'd expect for a FR CB he gets burned but is making strides)
CB Timmer 6' 183 (SR, injury plauged career, looked poise to finally take reigns but has been plagued with inconsistency, lost his starting job to Strong)
CB Alley 5'11 165 (True SO, not much of a factor yet)
As you can see, we only have 3 upperclassmen starting, and 1 is a 1st year transfer. We are very young and the guys who are upperclassmen, many are transfers trying to fit into the new system. New DC, new system, young kids all over, equals plenty of bad play so far, but they are showing signs of life here and there!
