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Position Battles: Defensive Line
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Stampede your face!! Offline
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Post: #1
Position Battles: Defensive Line
The Broncos are really starting to create some depth here, and if last year is any indication, we might continue to see a bunch of improvement from this group. There is really going to be some nice battles for playing time. Of course the big loss is Richard Ash, who provided a lot of beef in the middle and helped improve Western's run defense greatly. Kenny Finley, Nick Matich, and Cleveland Smith seem to be the guys that will battle for the 2 interior starting spots. As for the ends, RS sophomore Andre Turner, and true sophomore Nathan Braster really started to stand out last year as the season wore. Jarrell McKinney is another guy that made some plays as well, and Keon Adams saw a lot of action as well. Will be interesting to see if freshmen like Tony Balabani, Dante Horton, and Eric Assoua can crack the rotation.

Starters:
DE: Nathan Braster
DT: Cleveland Smith
DT: Kenny Finley
DE: Andre Turner

Backups:
DE: Keon Adams
DT: David Curle
DT: Nick Matich
DE: Jarrell McKinney

Others who will play: Jamar Simpkins is versatile where you could put him inside or outside because of his size. I do think that Balabani and Assoua in particular could see some playing time immediately.
02-07-2015 12:51 PM
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ColinApocalypse Offline
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Post: #2
RE: Position Battles: Defensive Line
Our front 7 will have a lot of depth and experience next year. I'm pretty excited for that.
02-07-2015 01:42 PM
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Stampede your face!! Offline
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RE: Position Battles: Defensive Line
(02-07-2015 01:42 PM)ColinApocalypse Wrote:  Our front 7 will have a lot of depth and experience next year. I'm pretty excited for that.

If they can essentially get as incrementally better from 2014 to 2015 as they did from 2013 to 2014, this could be the most dominant group on the team along with the receivers.
02-07-2015 01:51 PM
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ITalian83i Offline
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Post: #4
RE: Position Battles: Defensive Line
(02-07-2015 12:51 PM)Stampede your face!! Wrote:  The Broncos are really starting to create some depth here, and if last year is any indication, we might continue to see a bunch of improvement from this group. There is really going to be some nice battles for playing time. Of course the big loss is Richard Ash, who provided a lot of beef in the middle and helped improve Western's run defense greatly. Kenny Finley, Nick Matich, and Cleveland Smith seem to be the guys that will battle for the 2 interior starting spots. As for the ends, RS sophomore Andre Turner, and true sophomore Nathan Braster really started to stand out last year as the season wore. Jarrell McKinney is another guy that made some plays as well, and Keon Adams saw a lot of action as well. Will be interesting to see if freshmen like Tony Balabani, Dante Horton, and Eric Assoua can crack the rotation.

Starters:
DE: Nathan Braster
DT: Cleveland Smith
DT: Kenny Finley
DE: Andre Turner

Backups:
DE: Keon Adams
DT: David Curle
DT: Nick Matich
DE: Jarrell McKinney

Others who will play: Jamar Simpkins is versatile where you could put him inside or outside because of his size. I do think that Balabani and Assoua in particular could see some playing time immediately.

I agree, but Finley will have to beat out Matich who saw a fair amount of playing time and will have a year in the weight room. I know Finley has great upside, but Matich is tough as well. If they rotate 8 like PJ claims, it's no biggie either way.
02-08-2015 10:46 AM
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Dirty Ernie Offline
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Post: #5
RE: Position Battles: Defensive Line
(02-08-2015 10:46 AM)ITalian83i Wrote:  
(02-07-2015 12:51 PM)Stampede your face!! Wrote:  The Broncos are really starting to create some depth here, and if last year is any indication, we might continue to see a bunch of improvement from this group. There is really going to be some nice battles for playing time. Of course the big loss is Richard Ash, who provided a lot of beef in the middle and helped improve Western's run defense greatly. Kenny Finley, Nick Matich, and Cleveland Smith seem to be the guys that will battle for the 2 interior starting spots. As for the ends, RS sophomore Andre Turner, and true sophomore Nathan Braster really started to stand out last year as the season wore. Jarrell McKinney is another guy that made some plays as well, and Keon Adams saw a lot of action as well. Will be interesting to see if freshmen like Tony Balabani, Dante Horton, and Eric Assoua can crack the rotation.

Starters:
DE: Nathan Braster
DT: Cleveland Smith
DT: Kenny Finley
DE: Andre Turner

Backups:
DE: Keon Adams
DT: David Curle
DT: Nick Matich
DE: Jarrell McKinney

Others who will play: Jamar Simpkins is versatile where you could put him inside or outside because of his size. I do think that Balabani and Assoua in particular could see some playing time immediately.

I agree, but Finley will have to beat out Matich who saw a fair amount of playing time and will have a year in the weight room. I know Finley has great upside, but Matich is tough as well. If they rotate 8 like PJ claims, it's no biggie either way.

I agree. Competition for the 1-2 team slots is a great thing, and winning that competition is a worthy goal for all of them. But, more important is this is a team approach for once. I can't recall the last time we were in the position for float people in and out as needed with perhaps not much downside. Fresher, don't need to pace yourself, play hard on every play, if you are gassed, next guy in. No Problem. Love it.
02-08-2015 10:54 AM
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Chipdip2 Offline
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Post: #6
RE: Position Battles: Defensive Line
I don't see McKinney as a backup.
02-08-2015 12:45 PM
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Stampede your face!! Offline
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RE: Position Battles: Defensive Line
(02-08-2015 12:45 PM)Chipdip2 Wrote:  I don't see McKinney as a backup.

It was a toss up for me on McKinney vs. Turner. I went with Turner because he is a Fleck signee. I think the case could be made for either. They both played well as the year went on, though I do think McKinney was a little better.

I guess it really doesn't matter, both will get significant playing time.
02-08-2015 04:16 PM
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