(06-05-2020 08:34 AM)emu steve Wrote:  

(06-05-2020 08:19 AM)Sellers dweller Wrote:  

(06-05-2020 08:10 AM)emu steve Wrote:  

(06-05-2020 08:05 AM)emu79 Wrote:  

(06-05-2020 07:51 AM)Sellers dweller Wrote:  I thought I read they moved Haney to the end.

That may be true

No stars, but a lot of players who can be in the 2-deeps.

I agree, no one like POC or Maxx, but a lot of solid players and mix of young guys and vets. Hopefully they can find a solid rotation.

Here is what I found out about Haney from an interview with CC that Alex did:

"Defensively, Creighton looks to D-line

There are six seniors to represent the defensive line this year, and there’s a lot of talent behind them that warrant playing time too.

“I think that we’ll be led by our defense this year. It starts with our D-line, and our D-line is pretty good,” Creighton told me.

Turan Rush, senior end, led the team with five sacks and six QB hurries. Mikey Haney, a sophomore who moved from interior to end, is the D-line’s returning tackler with 43 total last season (2 sacks) and started in 11 games. Woo Scott started nine games, played in all 13, and recorded 40 tackles last year. C.J. Hunt, Anthoney Ransey, and Carter Stagner all played in at least 10 games for the Eagles with additional experience from Ty Eddington, Clay Holford, DeSean Boyd (moved from linebacker), Alex Merritt, and Aaron Hamilton coming back.

The D-line didn’t play in 2019 like it did in 2018 (with Maxx Crosby and Jeremiah Harris) but that’s also to say that there’s plenty of room to grow. Eddington’s season was cut short to injury, but was able to redshirt with only four games played last year. Holford’s another player that EMU was expected to graduate, but is able to have him for his sixth year with the program."

Bottom line:

The talent base is way above last year. As indicated above, having Eddington and Holford back is a big plus. Both are good enough to start.

Add Rush, Haney, Merritt, Scott, etc. Add a couple new recruits and that is eight for a rotation. (not counting redshirts, etc.).

I think the wildcard for a strong defense is Mikey Haney. I remember when he was a freshman on the scout team and ETough shared that Maxx thought Haney has potential. I thought Haney came on strong at the end of last season and played well against Pitt. I think he could have a big season if he could gain some quickness perhaps by losing 20-25 lbs and play DE at 255lbs.