There is no question that USC's defensive coaches have their work cut out for them this season. Today Cockfather Illustrated begins a positional breakdown for this year's defense with an in-depth analysis of the defensive line.
New defensive line coach Brad Lawing really has his work cut out for him this season. USC lost four defensive ends that logged significant snaps last fall in Charles Silas, DeAdrian Coley, Orus Lambert, Josh Johnson. To make matters worse, Sophomore Dakoda Walker was moved from defensive end to outside linebacker following spring practice, even further depleting the numbers at that position. This fall the Gamecocks will depend on a converted linebacker, a junior college transfer, a true freshman, and one returnee, who is in Head Ball Coach Steve Spurrier's doghouse, to provide solid defensive end play.
Ryan Brown 6' 260 Junior(R) - Brown emerged from spring practice as a starter at one of the defensive end positions. In 2005, Brown appeared in all 12 games, tallying 1.5 sacks and 3.5 TFL. The red-shirt junior from Berkeley High School has developed into a dependable and disciplined player that plays his assignments well. Brown had a great summer in the weight room, and is a player that assistant coach Brad Lawing has come to trust. Brown has been steady with his play thus fall, and will be one of the leaders on the defensive line this fall.
Cockfather Illustrated believes that Brown can perform as well as Orus Lambert did in 2005, if not better. Brown's biggest drawback is is lack of height, but his motor is always running, and he possesses excellent quickness.
Casper Brinkley 6'3 250 Junior(Tr.) - The twin brother of starting middle linebacker Jasper Brinkley, Casper arrived on campus this summer and has shown the same talent and physical ability to become a big-time SEC player. The Thomson, GA native adds a physical presence, and has the ideal size and speed to be a force coming off the edge in 2006. The Georgia Military JC transfer has quickly worked his way into a starting position on the depth chart, supplanting incumbent starter Jordin Lindsey. Brinkley had the "grill of the day" in USC opening scrimmage when he slid down the line of scrimmage and made a bone-jarring hit on core Boyd near the goal line.
Cockfather Illustrated believes that Brinkley will be an upgrade to the defensive end position from 2005, and that Brinkley will have a solid, if not excellent season.
Eric Norwood 6'2 256 Freshman - Norwood has been one of the surprises of fall camp, as he has impressed everyone with his initial first step and burst off the line. The Ackworth, GA native had 11 sacks and 50 tackles as a senior at North Cobb High School and was named the Cobb County defensive player of the week six times in 2005. A 3 star prospect by Rivals.com, Norwood was clearly under-rated and under-recruited. Norwood is currently the second team defensive end behind Ryan Brown, and will push Brown for snaps this fall. Norwood could also be used in passing situations, as he is one of the best pass rushers on the team.
Cockfather Illustrated believes that Norwood has a bright career ahead of him at South Carolina, and will be of great help this fall to the defensive front, providing quality depth at defensive end.
Jordin Lindsey 6'3 252 Junior - Lindsey is the lone returnee at defensive end from the 2005 season, yet he is currently running with the second team, behind Casper Brinkley. In 2005, The Mobile, AL native had 3 sacks and 5.5 TFL. Lindsey is an effort player who lacks the ideal athleticism and speed to be an SEC caliber defensive end. Still, Jordin gets the most out of his talent. However, Head Coach Steve Spurrier has been critical of both Lindsey's off-field behavior and work ethic. Jordin also has a twin brother, Dustin, who was a starter in 2005 at MLB, but was ruled academically ineligible for the 2006 season. Dustin Lindsey has re-enrolled at USC, and will red-shirt this year and practice with the team.
Cockfather Illustrated believes the added weight should help Lindsey be a more effective player in 2006, but he lacks the ideal speed and quickness to be a quality starter in the SEC.
Terrance Campbell 6'4 270 Freshman - Campbell is the 5th defensive end in the mix for playing time this fall. However, it is likely that the true freshman will red-shirt and make the move inside to defensive tackle next spring. A 3 star prospect by rivals.com, Campbell was probably under-recruited. He has been extremely impressive in fall camp. The South Cobb High School star was a high school teammate of current Gamecock wide receiver Kenny McKinley. As a senior, Campbell led his team to a 9-2 record and a regional title.
Cockfather Illustrated believes Campbell has the frame to play at 295 pounds, and should be a force to be reckoned with after a red-shirt season in 2007.
Defensive End Analysis- While USC's defensive end corps will be undersized, and still not up to what a quality SEC defensive end groups should look like, cockfather Illustrated projects this group to be more productive than in 2005.
Rising Star- Casper Brinkley
Most Dependable- Ryan Brown
Best Pass Rusher- Eric Norwood
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2 comments:
CockFather, how much do you think a different scheme will play into a more productive season from the end position ?
And do you think is Coach Law is coaching them up to a point of playing even better maybe than their capable of ?
I just worry so much that teams will run it down our throats with these big OL's. Like Bama and Aubie did last year.
thanks!
Tony, I think that USC's defense will be much more sound fundamentally than they were a year ago. I also believe they will be better coached. Lawing is definitely coaching up the DL's. Cooper is coaching the secondary, and he is known as one of the best in the business. Nix is coachign LB's, which is his expertise, and just Like Cooper, he has put several guys in the NFL. Wommack is a good football coach, and will do a good job with the WLB's.
Better coaching, more fundamental scheme, more aggressive scheme, more team speed, all lead me to the conclusion that USC's defense will be better than it was a year ago.
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