Odin Coe moves into an expanded role this fall
Photo by: R. Dean Hendrickson
Bobcat Football Summer School: A Look at the Defensive Line
5/14/2014 3:07:00 PM | Football
Experience inside, talent at the ends highlight MSU's defensive front
Three will be a big number for the Bobcat defensive line this fall.
As in: three sacks. Over the last four seasons, Montana State is a stunning 21-3 when sacking the opposing quarterback at least three times. As in: three-man rotations. Eighth-year defensive line coach Bo Beck looks to craft rotations of at least three men at the two inside positions and the two outside positions.
And most importantly and improbably: the Bobcat defensive front looks to capture a third consecutive Buck Buchanan Award, or at least produce a player with that type of production, after Caleb Schreibeis (2012) and Brad Daly (2013).
The impressive defensive line production over Beck's seven seasons gives him every reason to believe it can be roughly replicated in 2014 regardless of his group's youth. Only Taylor Dees, a two-year contributor at tackle, enters his senior season this fall. "There is a lot of pride in our room that we don't have to rely on anyone else (to rush the passer)," Beck says.
While it's obvious that one standout can't carry a grouping of four positions, Beck is confident that a player will emerge as a star at the featured Bandit position, much the same as All-Americas Dane Fletcher in 2009 and Schreibeis and Daly. "We'll build somebody," Beck said. "I truly believe Odin (Coe at Bandit) can be as good as Caleb was, they're very, very similar. Zach Hutchins (at the other end) has some stuff to him, too, as a pass rusher, and we'll find a role for Luke (Halliburton)." Coe was a starter most of last season.
Experience abounds at the inside positions. Dees is a returning starter, and Taylor Sheridan is a returning regular. Connor Thomas played sparingly last fall but turned heads in the spring, and the same can be said of Nate Bignell. "Craig (Ashworth, a two-year starter at nose tackle) will be gone, and he was so good on the field as a leader dude," Beck said. "He steadied everybody in there.
"But I think Taylor Dees has reached a level of comfort that he can be vocal, line everybody up in tough situations. (The question) is, can the third guy be as productive as the (Ashworth) last year. We could rotate Craig and Sheridan and Dees and be fine. So can Nate or CT or both of them come in and, instead of just giving us a blow, be help us? I think they're getting close."
One X factor is the possible emergence of a newcomer this fall. Freshman defensive end Garrett Marino is a possibility. "Marino is a freak," Beck says. "If he can learn the defense he brings something to it. I think we'll be productive."
Defensive Line at a Glance
Position Coach: Bo Beck (8th year)
Returning Starters: DE Odin Coe (part-time with Preston Gale), DT Taylor Dees
Other Returning Lettermen: Nate Bignell, Odin Coe, Luke Halliburton, Taylor Sheridan, Connor Thomas
Returning Squad Member: Zach Hutchins
Returning Redshirts: DT Matt Brownlow, DE Dallas Hayes, DE Devin Jeffries, DE Robert Wilcox, DE Eric Williamson
Starter Lost: DT Craig Ashworth, DE Brad Daly, DE Preston Gale
Other Lettermen Lost: DE Hayden Vick
Incoming Freshmen: DT Tyrone Fa'anono, DE Garrett Marino, DE Zach Wright, DT Tucker Yates
Returning Award Winners: DT Taylor Sheridan (HM All-Big Sky)
Key Position Battle: With a rotation set up between the two interior positions, the primary position battles occur at the two ends. Odin Coe is likely to
Burning Question: Can one player step into the role previously occupied by such stars as Brad Daly, Caleb Schreibeis and Dane Fletcher?
Overview: The Bobcat D-line is anchored by experience in the middle, with dynamic Taylor Sheridan and steady, physical Taylor Dees. Nate Bignell and Connor Thomas add depth. Among program veterans at the end positions, Odin Coe appears to be the heir apparent at Bandit with Zach Hutchins and Luke Halliburton battling for the opposite spot. New freshman Garrett Marino is expected to compete for time at end when fall camp begins, while redshirt Devin Jeffries also competes for a role.
Depth Chart (Returners)
Bandit: 10-Odin Coe (6-3, 250, Jr), 94-Devin Jeffries (6-1,235, Fr)
Tackle: 47-Taylor Dees (6-2, 273, Sr), 97-Connor Thomas (6-3, 270, Fr)
Nose: 90-Taylor Sheridan (6-4, 280, Jr), 50-Nate Bignell (6-2, 273, Jr)
End: 95-Zach Hutchins (6-3, 238, So), 48-Luke Halliburton (6-0, 230, So)
As in: three sacks. Over the last four seasons, Montana State is a stunning 21-3 when sacking the opposing quarterback at least three times. As in: three-man rotations. Eighth-year defensive line coach Bo Beck looks to craft rotations of at least three men at the two inside positions and the two outside positions.
And most importantly and improbably: the Bobcat defensive front looks to capture a third consecutive Buck Buchanan Award, or at least produce a player with that type of production, after Caleb Schreibeis (2012) and Brad Daly (2013).
The impressive defensive line production over Beck's seven seasons gives him every reason to believe it can be roughly replicated in 2014 regardless of his group's youth. Only Taylor Dees, a two-year contributor at tackle, enters his senior season this fall. "There is a lot of pride in our room that we don't have to rely on anyone else (to rush the passer)," Beck says.
While it's obvious that one standout can't carry a grouping of four positions, Beck is confident that a player will emerge as a star at the featured Bandit position, much the same as All-Americas Dane Fletcher in 2009 and Schreibeis and Daly. "We'll build somebody," Beck said. "I truly believe Odin (Coe at Bandit) can be as good as Caleb was, they're very, very similar. Zach Hutchins (at the other end) has some stuff to him, too, as a pass rusher, and we'll find a role for Luke (Halliburton)." Coe was a starter most of last season.
Experience abounds at the inside positions. Dees is a returning starter, and Taylor Sheridan is a returning regular. Connor Thomas played sparingly last fall but turned heads in the spring, and the same can be said of Nate Bignell. "Craig (Ashworth, a two-year starter at nose tackle) will be gone, and he was so good on the field as a leader dude," Beck said. "He steadied everybody in there.
"But I think Taylor Dees has reached a level of comfort that he can be vocal, line everybody up in tough situations. (The question) is, can the third guy be as productive as the (Ashworth) last year. We could rotate Craig and Sheridan and Dees and be fine. So can Nate or CT or both of them come in and, instead of just giving us a blow, be help us? I think they're getting close."
One X factor is the possible emergence of a newcomer this fall. Freshman defensive end Garrett Marino is a possibility. "Marino is a freak," Beck says. "If he can learn the defense he brings something to it. I think we'll be productive."
Defensive Line at a Glance
Position Coach: Bo Beck (8th year)
Returning Starters: DE Odin Coe (part-time with Preston Gale), DT Taylor Dees
Other Returning Lettermen: Nate Bignell, Odin Coe, Luke Halliburton, Taylor Sheridan, Connor Thomas
Returning Squad Member: Zach Hutchins
Returning Redshirts: DT Matt Brownlow, DE Dallas Hayes, DE Devin Jeffries, DE Robert Wilcox, DE Eric Williamson
Starter Lost: DT Craig Ashworth, DE Brad Daly, DE Preston Gale
Other Lettermen Lost: DE Hayden Vick
Incoming Freshmen: DT Tyrone Fa'anono, DE Garrett Marino, DE Zach Wright, DT Tucker Yates
Returning Award Winners: DT Taylor Sheridan (HM All-Big Sky)
Key Position Battle: With a rotation set up between the two interior positions, the primary position battles occur at the two ends. Odin Coe is likely to
Burning Question: Can one player step into the role previously occupied by such stars as Brad Daly, Caleb Schreibeis and Dane Fletcher?
Overview: The Bobcat D-line is anchored by experience in the middle, with dynamic Taylor Sheridan and steady, physical Taylor Dees. Nate Bignell and Connor Thomas add depth. Among program veterans at the end positions, Odin Coe appears to be the heir apparent at Bandit with Zach Hutchins and Luke Halliburton battling for the opposite spot. New freshman Garrett Marino is expected to compete for time at end when fall camp begins, while redshirt Devin Jeffries also competes for a role.
Depth Chart (Returners)
Bandit: 10-Odin Coe (6-3, 250, Jr), 94-Devin Jeffries (6-1,235, Fr)
Tackle: 47-Taylor Dees (6-2, 273, Sr), 97-Connor Thomas (6-3, 270, Fr)
Nose: 90-Taylor Sheridan (6-4, 280, Jr), 50-Nate Bignell (6-2, 273, Jr)
End: 95-Zach Hutchins (6-3, 238, So), 48-Luke Halliburton (6-0, 230, So)
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