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I expect the 2012 Boise State defensive line to be better than it was last year.
Let me say that again, the five Bronco seniors departing to the NFL notwithstanding, the Boise State defensive line should be better than last year. As much as we loved those players, and the NFL accepted them with far greater enthusiasm than they did Kellen Moore, the Bronco defensive line did not have one of its best years last fall. Boise State had all of 24 sacks and in the key game with TCU when the team sorely needed a sack, they could not get one. The fact that the Bronco line could not get to TCU quarterback Casey Pachall not only gave Pachall time to wait and hit three receivers for scoring strikes of 75, 74 and 69 yards, but considerable confidence in the process. That sacks total of 2011 was not even half of what the Broncos managed in 2010, when they got 49, and it was the lowest number since at least 2001.
And you can be assured that new defensive line coach Andy Avalos is telling his unit that he expects the number to be much, much higher in 2012. That is also an extension of the mentality that defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski has. While a player at Boise State, Kwiatkowski was one of the top penetrators in school history, racking up 15 sacks and 62 tackles for loss (2nd all-time).
So pressure on the quarterback is obviously a focus this fall, and that starts with the defensive ends. Bronco coach Chris Petersen has said that his defense was 4-7 turnovers shy of the number he wants his squad to create, and there's no better way of forcing a turnover than making a quarterback sandwich. We're not as sure about the starting ends as we are the tackles, but conventional wisdom has sophomore Demarcus Lawrence (6-3, 242) starting at one position and either sophomore Beau Martin (6-2, 250) or freshman Samuel Ukwuachu (6-4, 222) at the other spot. Tyler Horn, the 6-5, 265-pound sophomore from Meridian's Mountain View High School is the other name mentioned as a possible starter. Behind them are junior Kharyee Marshall (6-2, 240), Sam McCaskill (6-3, 236, Fr.) and Darien Barrett (6-2, 222, Fr.).
Lawrence transferred to Boise State from Butler Community College, where he earned first-team JC Gridwire All-America honors. Butler won the Region IV Championship and finished last season as the #2 junior college team in the nation. Lawrence had 66 tackles and rang up big numbers with 10 sacks and 27 tackles for loss.
Martin is another transfer, coming to the City of Trees after earning RMAC Defensive Freshman of the Year at CSU-Pueblo in 2010. Martin had 35 tackles, including 7.5 sacks and 9.5 tackles for loss at Pueblo and was named Boise State's Defensive Scout Player of the Year last season.
Ukwauchu earned second-team All-Texas as a junior and senior and helped Pearland High School win the Texas 5A State title in 2010. Ukwauchu recorded 70 tackles and 10 sacks his senior year and after a redshirt season, looks to have a breakout year this fall.
Big things are expected from Horn as well. He played in eight games last season, burning his redshirt in the season opener against Georgia. Tyler had seven tackles on the season and the former all-state performer will be a key factor this fall.
Bronco fans have patiently waited for big Michael Atkinson (6-0, 306) to become a force on the d-line and it seems he is poised to do just that. The Bronco senior has performed well in the past, but had to wait behind future professionals Billy Winn and Chase Baker. Atkinson put together a solid season with 31 tackles, 2.5 for loss last year. We still have yet to see "Bacon", as he is affectionately known, tote the ball over the goal line from a fullback position, however! Make it happen, Pete!
Ricky Tjong-A-Tjoe, who chose Boise State over offers from several heavyweight programs, is expected to land the other starting job. Tjong-A-Tjoe had 24 tackles as a freshman, including 2.5 sacks and 6.5 for loss, and he was credited with 15 tackles, two sacks and three tackles for loss in seven games last year. Bacon and Ricky TAT (6-3, 296, Jr.) give the Broncos 600 pounds of beef in the middle.
Seniors Greg Grimes (6-0, 293) and Darren Koontz (6-3, 274) and promising newcomer Jeffrey Worthy (6-3, 285, Fr.) will battle for playing time and converted tight end Armand Nance (6-0, 273) continues to put on weight and could be a factor if he doesn't redshirt.
Others in the mix for playing time are Robert Ash (6-3, 283, Fr.) and David Cushing (6-1, 272, Sr.). The Bronco staff went to Tavistock, England to pick up their latest prospect, 6-4, 275-pound Elliot Hoyte, and he is expected to redshirt as he learns the American system and the Bronco way.
Boise State simply must have more than 24 sacks this year and the defensive line will have to be a big part of that. They'll need to start right away in the season opener to give their team a fighting chance to pull off the upset.
I believe the defensive line will be one of the strengths of this team.
Let me say that again, the five Bronco seniors departing to the NFL notwithstanding, the Boise State defensive line should be better than last year. As much as we loved those players, and the NFL accepted them with far greater enthusiasm than they did Kellen Moore, the Bronco defensive line did not have one of its best years last fall. Boise State had all of 24 sacks and in the key game with TCU when the team sorely needed a sack, they could not get one. The fact that the Bronco line could not get to TCU quarterback Casey Pachall not only gave Pachall time to wait and hit three receivers for scoring strikes of 75, 74 and 69 yards, but considerable confidence in the process. That sacks total of 2011 was not even half of what the Broncos managed in 2010, when they got 49, and it was the lowest number since at least 2001.
And you can be assured that new defensive line coach Andy Avalos is telling his unit that he expects the number to be much, much higher in 2012. That is also an extension of the mentality that defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski has. While a player at Boise State, Kwiatkowski was one of the top penetrators in school history, racking up 15 sacks and 62 tackles for loss (2nd all-time).
So pressure on the quarterback is obviously a focus this fall, and that starts with the defensive ends. Bronco coach Chris Petersen has said that his defense was 4-7 turnovers shy of the number he wants his squad to create, and there's no better way of forcing a turnover than making a quarterback sandwich. We're not as sure about the starting ends as we are the tackles, but conventional wisdom has sophomore Demarcus Lawrence (6-3, 242) starting at one position and either sophomore Beau Martin (6-2, 250) or freshman Samuel Ukwuachu (6-4, 222) at the other spot. Tyler Horn, the 6-5, 265-pound sophomore from Meridian's Mountain View High School is the other name mentioned as a possible starter. Behind them are junior Kharyee Marshall (6-2, 240), Sam McCaskill (6-3, 236, Fr.) and Darien Barrett (6-2, 222, Fr.).
Lawrence transferred to Boise State from Butler Community College, where he earned first-team JC Gridwire All-America honors. Butler won the Region IV Championship and finished last season as the #2 junior college team in the nation. Lawrence had 66 tackles and rang up big numbers with 10 sacks and 27 tackles for loss.
Martin is another transfer, coming to the City of Trees after earning RMAC Defensive Freshman of the Year at CSU-Pueblo in 2010. Martin had 35 tackles, including 7.5 sacks and 9.5 tackles for loss at Pueblo and was named Boise State's Defensive Scout Player of the Year last season.
Ukwauchu earned second-team All-Texas as a junior and senior and helped Pearland High School win the Texas 5A State title in 2010. Ukwauchu recorded 70 tackles and 10 sacks his senior year and after a redshirt season, looks to have a breakout year this fall.
Big things are expected from Horn as well. He played in eight games last season, burning his redshirt in the season opener against Georgia. Tyler had seven tackles on the season and the former all-state performer will be a key factor this fall.
Bronco fans have patiently waited for big Michael Atkinson (6-0, 306) to become a force on the d-line and it seems he is poised to do just that. The Bronco senior has performed well in the past, but had to wait behind future professionals Billy Winn and Chase Baker. Atkinson put together a solid season with 31 tackles, 2.5 for loss last year. We still have yet to see "Bacon", as he is affectionately known, tote the ball over the goal line from a fullback position, however! Make it happen, Pete!
Ricky Tjong-A-Tjoe, who chose Boise State over offers from several heavyweight programs, is expected to land the other starting job. Tjong-A-Tjoe had 24 tackles as a freshman, including 2.5 sacks and 6.5 for loss, and he was credited with 15 tackles, two sacks and three tackles for loss in seven games last year. Bacon and Ricky TAT (6-3, 296, Jr.) give the Broncos 600 pounds of beef in the middle.
Seniors Greg Grimes (6-0, 293) and Darren Koontz (6-3, 274) and promising newcomer Jeffrey Worthy (6-3, 285, Fr.) will battle for playing time and converted tight end Armand Nance (6-0, 273) continues to put on weight and could be a factor if he doesn't redshirt.
Others in the mix for playing time are Robert Ash (6-3, 283, Fr.) and David Cushing (6-1, 272, Sr.). The Bronco staff went to Tavistock, England to pick up their latest prospect, 6-4, 275-pound Elliot Hoyte, and he is expected to redshirt as he learns the American system and the Bronco way.
Boise State simply must have more than 24 sacks this year and the defensive line will have to be a big part of that. They'll need to start right away in the season opener to give their team a fighting chance to pull off the upset.
I believe the defensive line will be one of the strengths of this team.
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