We continue Football Preview Week on GoDutchmen.com by taking a look at the defense. As the MAC's top-rated unit last year, the Dutchmen "D" stuffed the run and shut down receivers. With the loss of MAC Defensive Player of the Year Brian Cottone, can they be as dominant in 2009?
The Goals
Be Positive on Turnovers: LVC was +5 on turnovers last year, which was only middle-of-the-pack in the MAC, but generated 13 fumbles, second-best in the league, and nine picks, third-best.
Stop The Run Late: In their four losses last year, the Dutchmen allowed an average of 67.75 yards rushing in the fourth quarter alone - including 101 yards and a touchdown to Moravian and 96 yards and two TDs at Delaware Valley.
Stuff Conversions: Opponents converted fourth downs at a remarkable 72.2 percent clip last year, including six of nine tries in the fourth quarter.
Better Starting Position: The LVC special teams put their defense in a bind last year, with an average starting field position from kick-offs on the 38 for opponents.
Defense By the Numbers
1 - MAC rank of the LVC defense in total, rushing, and passing defense
2 - Safeties by the Dutchmen last year
4 - Team-leading number of interceptions by safety
Dane Eichelberger
4.5 - Sacks by defensive end
Zach Bleiler last year, most on the team
7 - Defensive starters returning
7 - Different linebackers that started a game in 2008; six return for 2009
Positional Breakdown
DEFENSIVE LINE
2008 Starters:
Zach Bleiler and Daryl Buck (DE) /
Mark Bowne (NT)
2009 Preseason:
Zach Bleiler and
Rob Evangelista (DE) /
Mark Bowne (NT)
Anchored around second-team all-MAC end
Zach Bleiler, the defensive line has a ton of size and quickness back for 2009 after coming in as the MAC's best run-stoppers last year (111.9 yards per game). The 6-5, 263-pound Bleiler (57 tackles, 12.5 TFL) had a breakout 2008 as a sophomore, while
Mark Bowne (10 tackles) and his younger brother Nick (13 tackles) shared time at nose.
Rob Evangelista figures to step into the starting end role with the graduations of Daryl Buck and Kyle Sylvester, but a deep group including
Kevin Pirring at nose tackle and Corey Homer and
Wes Rockwell at end should help LVC repeat as one of the best run-stopping units in the league.
Coach Monos:
"Physically, with our interior three, we're going to be matching up well. You've got a guy like Bleiler coming back, and he can run. Evangelista and Rockwell have gotten to that size, and Homer is quick as a cat."
LINEBACKERS
2008 Starters: Brian Cottone and
Jeff Ochoa (OLB) /
Bruno Iozzo and
Will Keylor (ILB)
2009 Preseason:
Alex Gilchrist,
Jeff Ochoa, or
Chadd Comp (OLB) /
Bruno Iozzo and
Will Keylor (ILB)
The linebacking corps was hit by injuries in 2008, with seven different men starting at one point or another during the season. The good news for 2009, however, is that all but one of those starters return, but the one loss is significant: MAC Defensive Player of the Year Brian Cottone. Thankfully, the returning group includes
Alex Gilchrist (32 tackles, 3 sacks),
Jeff Ochoa (36 tackles), and
Chadd Comp (14 tackles) at the outside and big hitters
Will Keylor (67 tackles) and
Bruno Iozzo (47 tackles) inside. Depth in the 3-4 system is a concern, however, with just
Tom Rasich (7 tackles) and Rob Kucherich (10 tackles) having game experience.
Coach Monos:
"We don't replace Cottone. He's not replaceable. But Alex Gilchrist, Jeff Ochoa, and Chadd Comp - those guys are football players. With those three guys at outside backer, we really feel good about that position. Inside, with Keylor and Iozzo we feel like we have two of the best in the league, but our concern there is depth. In our scheme, linebacker play and having the ability to run is big, and we feel like we have a great set of linebackers who can run to the ball."
CORNERBACKS
2008 Starters: Bill Dixon and
Tim Ridewood
2009 Preseason:
Bryan Phanthavong and
Tim Ridewood
Arguably one of the fastest corner units in the MAC with
Bryan Phanthavong and
Tim Ridewood (27 tackles, 4 break-ups), it gets even quicker with returner
Justin Lee and the addition of
Jerome Duncan, who moves over from safety. Just how fast are they? Duncan and Phanthavong earned silver and bronze medals in the 110-meter hurdles at the MAC Championships track last spring, while Lee was a member of the track team's 4x100 relay along with Duncan. Overall in 2008, the unit helped LVC to the MAC's best pass defense statistically, allowing 154 yards per game but generating no interceptions by corners.
Coach Monos:
"Ridewood is steady and he plays with an edge. We've moved Duncan over [from safety] to take advantage of his speed."
SAFETIES
2008 Starters:
Dane Eichelberger (FS), Andrew Shambach (SS)
2009 Preseason:
Dane Eichelberger (FS), Ju'rey Fowlkes (SS)
Eichelberger was a revelation in 2008, stepping into a starting role as a sophomore and responding with a team-best four interceptions and 39 tackles, along with a pair of forced fumbles to earn second-team all-MAC honors. Fowlkes started for him in the final game against Lycoming due to injury and saw significant playing time otherwise, racking up 15 tackles with a pick and a fumble. Behind them,
Dave Hallinan,
Tim Greiner, and converted quarterback
Nic Shirey will look for time. But one of the keys to the secondary may be, Monos says, the freshman class, which has six safeties in it, including a few who could be impact players.
Coach Monos:
"We have some quality depth at the safety position. We're real excited with the freshman group that we've recruited in the secondary - we have some real good athletes for the future."
