Football Preview: The Defensive Line
8/27/2011 1:16:00 PM | Football
The Rockets return perhaps their best overall defense in over a decade, thanks in large part to a deep and talented defensive line.
The Rockets improved from allowing 37.7 points per game in 2009 to 28.5 last year. Forced turnovers increased from 21 two years ago to 34 last year. Improvement like that could not have happened without a solid front four. Toledo has that and maybe more.
"We do have depth on the defensive line," said Beckman. "We can move seven or eight guys in there and keep everyone fresh. That's important if you expect to win close games in the fourth quarter."
The D-line is led by a pair of bookends at defensive end, junior T.J. Fatinikun and senior Malcolm Riley. Fatinikun, a third-team All-MAC pick in 2010, led the line with 51 tackles to go along with 13.0 tackles for loss, the most by a Rocket since 2006. Fatinikun was a disrupter, ranking third in the MAC with four forced fumbles.
Riley played tackle in 2010 but shifts to end this fall, giving UT more size on the line (6-3, 281). He had 44 tackles, 5.5 sacks and a team-leading nine QB hurries in 2010. He's also known as a vocal leader on the defense.
Returning at nose tackle is senior Johnnie Roberts, who had 34 tackles and 3.5 TFL in his first season as a Rocket after transferring from junior college in Mississippi.
The other inside tackle position has been won by senior Johnathan Lamb. Lamb had nine tackles as a reserve in 2010.
The second string on the defensive line will see heavy rotation this season. Among the players likely to see playing time at tackle are sophomore Elijah Jones, and juniors Danny Farr and Phil Lewis. At defensive end, sophomores Christian Smith and Jayrone Elliott are expected to make big contributions.
Defensive Line Depth Chart
Defensive End
Malcolm Riley (6-3 281 Sr.)
Christian Smith (6-2 260 So.)
Ben Pike (6-3 266 So.)
Andre Sturdivant (6-3, 265, Fr.)
Nose Tackle
Johnie Roberts (6-3 280 Sr.)
Elijah Jones (6-2 295 So.)
Phil Lewis (6-2 295 Jr.)
Defensive Tackle
Johnathan Lamb (6-4 285 Sr.)
Danny Farr (6-5 295 Jr.)
Keenen Gibbs (6-3 260 Fr.)
Ayoub Hamidah (6-1, 260, Fr (R))
Defensive End (Leo)
T.J. Fatinikun (6-2 245 Jr.)
Jayrone Elliott (6-3 220 So.)
Hank Keighley (6-4 250 Jr.)
Jordan Barnes (6-1 240 So.)
Tomorrow: The Receivers
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