Assuming the Position: Breaking Down the Fighting Illini Defensive Linemen
By Editorial Staff
The fifth edition of Writing Illini’s position breakdowns goes inside the trenches to analyze the defensive line.
In 2009, Illinois struggled to stop both the run and the pass. The Illini were last in the Big Ten in passing defense and 8th in rushing defense.
In order for the defense to transform from last in total defense to a real threat in the conference, the first step is for the D-line to get more pressure in the backfield.
Reinventing the Defense
With the new coaching staff, the defensive line has undergone some serious changes heading into this season.
Much like the changes that have occurred under new offensive coordinator Paul Petrino in the offensive line’s schemes, the defensive line is packing a different look in 2010.
New defensive coordinator Vic Koenning has created a new position for this year’s defense, a hybrid between a defensive end and an outside linebacker that has been dubbed the “Bandit.”
The Bandit is supposed to be able to rush the passer or drop back into pass coverage. Ideally, this dual threat will confuse opposing offenses and keep opposing quarterbacks guessing.
The Defensive End Depth Chart
Opening Day Starter: #97 Clay Nurse
Year: Redshirt Senior
Height / Weight: 6’-3” / 230 lbs
Collegiate Game Experience: 32 games (23 Big Ten), 6 starts
Career Tackles: 40
Career Sacks: 6
Career Fumbles Forced: 1
The Backup Plan: #54 Justin Staples
Year: Redshirt Sophomore
Height / Weight: 6’-4” / 230 lbs
Collegiate Game Experience: 10 games (7 Big Ten), 0 starts
Career Tackles: 1
Career Sacks: 0
Career Fumbles Forced: 1
The Third Stringer: #90 D.J. Woods
Year: Freshman
Height / Weight: 6’-3” / 214 lbs
Collegiate Game Experience: None
Career Tackles: 0
Career Sacks: 0
Career Fumbles Forced: 0
The Defensive Tackle Depth Chart
Opening Day Starter: #93 Corey Liuget
Year: Junior
Height / Weight: 6’-3” / 300 lbs
Collegiate Game Experience: 23 games (15 Big Ten), 6 starts
Career Tackles: 61
Career Sacks: 5
Career Fumbles Forced: 2
Opening Day Starter: #94 Akeem Spence
Year: Redshirt Freshman
Height / Weight: 6’-1” / 305 lbs
Collegiate Game Experience: None
Career Tackles: 0
Career Sacks: 0
Career Fumbles Forced: 0
The Backup Plan: #47 Glenn Foster
Year: Redshirt Sophomore
Height / Weight: 6’-4” / 260 lbs
Collegiate Game Experience: 3 games (1 Big Ten), 0 starts
Career Tackles: 0
Career Sacks: 0
Career Fumbles Forced: 0
The Backup Plan: #98 Daryle Ballew
Year: Redshirt Junior
Height / Weight: 6’-1” / 310 lbs
Collegiate Game Experience: 21 games (13 Big Ten), 0 starts
Career Tackles: 2
Career Sacks: 0
Career Fumbles Forced: 0
The Third String: #85 Whitney Mercilus
Year: Redshirt Sophomore
Height / Weight: 6’-3” / 265 lbs
Collegiate Game Experience: 11 games (7 Big Ten), 0 starts
Career Tackles: 8
Career Sacks: 1
Career Fumbles Forced: 0
The Third String: #96 Wisdom Onyegblue
Year: Junior
Height / Weight: 6’-3” / 280 lbs
Collegiate Game Experience: 1 games (1 Big Ten), 0 starts
Career Tackles: 1
Career Sacks: 1
Career Fumbles Forced: 0
The Bandit Depth Chart
Opening Day Starter: #99 Michael Buchanan
Year: Sophomore
Height / Weight: 6’-6” – 225 lbs
Collegiate Game Experience: 10 games (7 Big Ten), 0 starts
Career Tackles: 0
Career Sacks: 0
Career Fumbles Forced: 0
The Backup Plan: #48 Nate Palmer
Year: Redshirt Sophomore
Height / Weight: 6’-3” / 220 lbs
Collegiate Game Experience: 12 games (8 Big Ten), 0 starts
Career Tackles: 3
Career Sacks: 0
Career Fumbles Forced: 0
The Third Stringer: #59 Tim Kynard
Year: Redshirt Freshman
Height / Weight: 6’-3” / 255 lbs
Collegiate Game Experience: None
Career Tackles: 0
Career Sacks: 0
Career Fumbles Forced: 0
Now-and-Then
The following Illini players are defensive linemen who are active members of the team, but are not expected to see action on the field this year. An asterisks by the player’s name denotes that they are available to redshirt the season should the coaches choose for them to do so.
Some Thoughts on the Illini Defensive Line
In order for the Illini to win more games this season than last, Illinois’ defensive line will have to perform much better.
As far as the defensive side of the ball is concerned, the D-line is the most certain of all the positions, which is a bit worrisome when considering that 2 of the 4 expected starters have yet to make a tackle at the college level
With that said, it will still be interesting to see how the defensive line handles itself under this new scheme. The Bandit position sounds interesting provided that the players have a full grasp of its workings when the season starts.
Writing Illini Projections
While the Bandit will prove helpful in Illinois’ early non-conference games, it will lose any element of surprise and confusion by the time conference play starts.
The line will have to work that much harder to get pressure on opposing quarterbacks and help a relatively young Illini secondary avoid getting picked apart.
Much like the offensive line, the defensive line will not likely receive the credit that it deserves for leading this defense, but its pressure and run-stopping abilities will be key to the team’s success on this side of the ball in 2010.
Preseason Defensive Line Grade: B-/C+
With the exception of some inexperience, there is no specific weakness on this year’s line. With that said, no strengths jump out either.
The players must be cautious not to expect the confusion created by the Bandit to carry over to conference play, where opponents will have been studying every snap for the past three games.
Expect the defensive line to grow more comfortable in their roles as the season progresses.
Now whether that translates into more success than last year is a major storyline worth following.