Position Ponderings: Defensive Line
8/19/2004 12:00:00 AM | Football
Some of the names are different. The coach is new. But at Montana State, dominance in the defensive line doesn’t seem to change much, at least not if Jason Linders has a say in the matter.
“Our level of play will not drop,” says MSU’s first-year defensive line coach Jason Linders, who inherits perhaps the Big Sky Conference’s best position group over the past five years. “I will not let that happen.”
At first glance, Linders’ chore appears daunting. He replaces two four-year starters in end Jon Montoya and tackle Adam Cordeiro. The cupboard, though, is anything but bare. “A coach told me once that if you have good players, just don’t mess them up,” Linders said with a laugh.
He should have plenty, starting with preseason All-America Ray Sebestyen, a first team All-Big Sky choice last year, and fellow tackle Beau Clark. According to Linders, strength in the middle of the line is a good starting point. “That’s the fastest way a team can hurt you, right up the middle,” Linders said. “Those guys are both in great shape. They had good summers, they’re a little lighter and very fast.”
Defensive end is similarly strong, and even deeper, Linders said. “Chad Gluhm is really playing well, but Clive Lowe and Ryan Cogley have some experience, and Andy Matakis looks good.” Gluhm and Lowe will man the rush end spot, with Cogley and Matakis, a Texas A&M transfer, at the other end spot.
With the talent he’s inherited, Linders knows he has one primary task. “We’re still going to play hard,” he said, “that’s more important than technique and all that other stuff. You’ll run at the ball hard and play hard all the time, or you won’t be on the field. Our level of expectation is very high.”
DEFENSIVE LINE DEPTH
Rush End -- Chad Gluhm, Clive Lowe, Sky Johnson, Bobby Daly
Tackle -- Ray Sebestyen, Daryl Rogers, Troy O’Connor
Nose -- Beau Clark, Aaron Papich, Tim O’Tool, Louis Saucedo
End -- Ryan Cogley, Andy Matakis, Nick Gilchrist, Mason Ophus
“Our level of play will not drop,” says MSU’s first-year defensive line coach Jason Linders, who inherits perhaps the Big Sky Conference’s best position group over the past five years. “I will not let that happen.”
At first glance, Linders’ chore appears daunting. He replaces two four-year starters in end Jon Montoya and tackle Adam Cordeiro. The cupboard, though, is anything but bare. “A coach told me once that if you have good players, just don’t mess them up,” Linders said with a laugh.
He should have plenty, starting with preseason All-America Ray Sebestyen, a first team All-Big Sky choice last year, and fellow tackle Beau Clark. According to Linders, strength in the middle of the line is a good starting point. “That’s the fastest way a team can hurt you, right up the middle,” Linders said. “Those guys are both in great shape. They had good summers, they’re a little lighter and very fast.”
Defensive end is similarly strong, and even deeper, Linders said. “Chad Gluhm is really playing well, but Clive Lowe and Ryan Cogley have some experience, and Andy Matakis looks good.” Gluhm and Lowe will man the rush end spot, with Cogley and Matakis, a Texas A&M transfer, at the other end spot.
With the talent he’s inherited, Linders knows he has one primary task. “We’re still going to play hard,” he said, “that’s more important than technique and all that other stuff. You’ll run at the ball hard and play hard all the time, or you won’t be on the field. Our level of expectation is very high.”
DEFENSIVE LINE DEPTH
Rush End -- Chad Gluhm, Clive Lowe, Sky Johnson, Bobby Daly
Tackle -- Ray Sebestyen, Daryl Rogers, Troy O’Connor
Nose -- Beau Clark, Aaron Papich, Tim O’Tool, Louis Saucedo
End -- Ryan Cogley, Andy Matakis, Nick Gilchrist, Mason Ophus
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