Going into 2022 the entire defense the past two years has been a subject of criticism. Its true defenses win championships. As far as the defensive line is concerned many pine for the days of the Harris-Crosby defensive line and for good reasons. The past two seasons have seen little on the pass rush side and allowing too many rushing yards. EMU does like to rotate the defensive tackles which means depth is important The cupboard isn't bare for 2022. A major loss for the 2002 is Mikey Haney Sr. 6'4 245 who played 13 games and has 3 sacks as defensive end. My projected starting 4 are:

Jose Ramirez Sr. 6'2 250 at DE who played 13 games and 6.5 sacks.
Jordan Crawford Sr. 6'1 325 DT who played 12 games
Alex Merritt Jr. 6'2 290 DT who played 12 games
Grant Trueman Sr. 6'2 230 who had 1.5 sacks over 13 games

Returnees include:

Jaden Gaines DE 6'5 240 Redshirt DE
Aaron Hamilton Sr. 6'2 250 played 2 games in 2021
Carter Evans So. 6'4 250 DE who played 4 games in 2021
Dexter Manior Jr. 6'2 290 DT who played 5 games in 2021
Payton Price So. DT 6'2 290 who played 11 games in 2021
Melvin Swindle II So. DT 6'3 290 who played in 3 games
Tim Grant Randall So. DT 6'0 285 who played in 2 games
Zachariah Kadri Sr. 6'4 265 who played in 6 games in 2021
Carter Gilbert So. DT 6'4 300 walk on
Adrain Gonzalez Sr. DT 6'4 300
Mikah Coleman So. DE 6'5 245 played in 4 games in 2021

Newcomers include walk on Nyles Latimar Fr. 6'3 230, JUCO Jaavon Brown a 6'1 345 Jr., JUCO Joseph Zelinsky a 6'4 260 Jr., Maliek Bogard a 6'6 220 true frosh and Sterling Miles a junior P5 transfer 6'5 235.

I think Trueman is more of a depth guy than a starter. I expect Evans, Gaines, or Coleman to get that spot.

This is the most excited I have been about our DL since Pat - Harris and then Harris and Crosby. Unfortunately we will be very young at DE but loaded with potential. We will need a break out year from one of our young DEs and a breakout year from one of our young DTs to be effective this season. If our young DL develop, then I believe next year we may be fantastic but this year will be development. I do believe we’ve adjusted our recruiting strategy to sign an abundance of DL/DEs hoping to find 8 that can play. I do believe we finally have the talent here but they are more likely too young for this level of football. I do hope I’m wrong!!!

(07-24-2022 08:32 PM)TheWoodenNickle Wrote:  I think Trueman is more of a depth guy than a starter. I expect Evans, Gaines, or Coleman to get that spot.

Agree with Nickle here. The tape on Truman last year was not good Often got washed. It was not close to good.

(07-24-2022 08:24 PM)emu79 Wrote:  Going into 2022 the entire defense the past two years has been a subject of criticism. Its true defenses win championships. As far as the defensive line is concerned many pine for the days of the Harris-Crosby defensive line and for good reasons. The past two seasons have seen little on the pass rush side and allowing too many rushing yards. EMU does like to rotate the defensive tackles which means depth is important The cupboard isn't bare for 2022. A major loss for the 2002 is Mikey Haney Sr. 6'4 245 who played 13 games and has 3 sacks as defensive end. My projected starting 4 are:

Jose Ramirez Sr. 6'2 250 at DE who played 13 games and 6.5 sacks.
Jordan Crawford Sr. 6'1 325 DT who played 12 games
Alex Merritt Jr. 6'2 290 DT who played 12 games
Grant Trueman Sr. 6'2 230 who had 1.5 sacks over 13 games

Returnees include:

Jaden Gaines DE 6'5 240 Redshirt DE
Aaron Hamilton Sr. 6'2 250 played 2 games in 2021
Carter Evans So. 6'4 250 DE who played 4 games in 2021
Dexter Manior Jr. 6'2 290 DT who played 5 games in 2021
Payton Price So. DT 6'2 290 who played 11 games in 2021
Melvin Swindle II So. DT 6'3 290 who played in 3 games
Tim Grant Randall So. DT 6'0 285 who played in 2 games
Zachariah Kadri Sr. 6'4 265 who played in 6 games in 2021
Carter Gilbert So. DT 6'4 300 walk on
Adrain Gonzalez Sr. DT 6'4 300
Mikah Coleman So. DE 6'5 245 played in 4 games in 2021

Newcomers include walk on Nyles Latimar Fr. 6'3 230, JUCO Jaavon Brown a 6'1 345 Jr., JUCO Joseph Zelinsky a 6'4 260 Jr., Maliek Bogard a 6'6 220 true frosh and Sterling Miles a junior P5 transfer 6'5 235.

man, I hope we don't have that starting 4. Ramirez is very good and Merrit is fine but I'm not sold on Truman and I've never been a fan of our decision to put an Anchor in the middle. We've been doing that the past couple seasons and it becomes a major issue with getting qb pressure as well as overall lack of conditioning.

Instead, I really like Ramirez and either Evans/Miles at the other End. Carter Evans is young but has a huge upside and will be in his 2nd year. At the DT position I think we go young with Swindle. I'm super big on this guy and while he is young, I think he is strong and athletic. At the other spot I like Merrit or Hamilton who I think could have a breakout season.

I think Nickle or Luckey said it in another post that they are excited with this group because we will return everyone except Ramirez. This is a very talented and young group. In my opinion it's the best DL group I've seen here. We have the younger guys (Evans and Swindle) ready to play now and we addressed the lack of QB pressures with Ramirez coming on and the addition of Cincinnati transfer Sterling Miles.

This won't be a top of the MAC group, but should he vastly improved and going into the following season should be considered at the top of the MAC.

(07-25-2022 06:39 AM)steve4840 Wrote:  

(07-24-2022 08:24 PM)emu79 Wrote:  Going into 2022 the entire defense the past two years has been a subject of criticism. Its true defenses win championships. As far as the defensive line is concerned many pine for the days of the Harris-Crosby defensive line and for good reasons. The past two seasons have seen little on the pass rush side and allowing too many rushing yards. EMU does like to rotate the defensive tackles which means depth is important The cupboard isn't bare for 2022. A major loss for the 2002 is Mikey Haney Sr. 6'4 245 who played 13 games and has 3 sacks as defensive end. My projected starting 4 are:

Jose Ramirez Sr. 6'2 250 at DE who played 13 games and 6.5 sacks.
Jordan Crawford Sr. 6'1 325 DT who played 12 games
Alex Merritt Jr. 6'2 290 DT who played 12 games
Grant Trueman Sr. 6'2 230 who had 1.5 sacks over 13 games

Returnees include:

Jaden Gaines DE 6'5 240 Redshirt DE
Aaron Hamilton Sr. 6'2 250 played 2 games in 2021
Carter Evans So. 6'4 250 DE who played 4 games in 2021
Dexter Manior Jr. 6'2 290 DT who played 5 games in 2021
Payton Price So. DT 6'2 290 who played 11 games in 2021
Melvin Swindle II So. DT 6'3 290 who played in 3 games
Tim Grant Randall So. DT 6'0 285 who played in 2 games
Zachariah Kadri Sr. 6'4 265 who played in 6 games in 2021
Carter Gilbert So. DT 6'4 300 walk on
Adrain Gonzalez Sr. DT 6'4 300
Mikah Coleman So. DE 6'5 245 played in 4 games in 2021

Newcomers include walk on Nyles Latimar Fr. 6'3 230, JUCO Jaavon Brown a 6'1 345 Jr., JUCO Joseph Zelinsky a 6'4 260 Jr., Maliek Bogard a 6'6 220 true frosh and Sterling Miles a junior P5 transfer 6'5 235.

man, I hope we don't have that starting 4. Ramirez is very good and Merrit is fine but I'm not sold on Truman and I've never been a fan of our decision to put an Anchor in the middle. We've been doing that the past couple seasons and it becomes a major issue with getting qb pressure as well as overall lack of conditioning.

Instead, I really like Ramirez and either Evans/Miles at the other End. Carter Evans is young but has a huge upside and will be in his 2nd year. At the DT position I think we go young with Swindle. I'm super big on this guy and while he is young, I think he is strong and athletic. At the other spot I like Merrit or Hamilton who I think could have a breakout season.

I think Nickle or Luckey said it in another post that they are excited with this group because we will return everyone except Ramirez. This is a very talented and young group. In my opinion it's the best DL group I've seen here. We have the younger guys (Evans and Swindle) ready to play now and we addressed the lack of QB pressures with Ramirez coming on and the addition of Cincinnati transfer Sterling Miles.

This won't be a top of the MAC group, but should he vastly improved and going into the following season should be considered at the top of the MAC.

Word I'm getting is that Crawford has been pushing himself hard and appears to be in better shape as far as conditioning than he has been since joining the team. I'm not saying he is going to turn into a William Perry, but he could be a key player up front on the defense. It will be fun to watch and see if he can give them some stopping power in the middle.

I think a guy a lot of people are sleeping on is Peyton Price. He and Swindle came in together as true freshmen d-tackles, with Swindle being the headliner. A lot of people are excited for Swindle (myself very much included), but Price got a lot more playing time compared to Swindle last year and I thought played pretty well for a freshman late in the year.

(07-25-2022 06:39 AM)steve4840 Wrote:  

(07-24-2022 08:24 PM)emu79 Wrote:  Going into 2022 the entire defense the past two years has been a subject of criticism. Its true defenses win championships. As far as the defensive line is concerned many pine for the days of the Harris-Crosby defensive line and for good reasons. The past two seasons have seen little on the pass rush side and allowing too many rushing yards. EMU does like to rotate the defensive tackles which means depth is important The cupboard isn't bare for 2022. A major loss for the 2002 is Mikey Haney Sr. 6'4 245 who played 13 games and has 3 sacks as defensive end. My projected starting 4 are:

Jose Ramirez Sr. 6'2 250 at DE who played 13 games and 6.5 sacks.
Jordan Crawford Sr. 6'1 325 DT who played 12 games
Alex Merritt Jr. 6'2 290 DT who played 12 games
Grant Trueman Sr. 6'2 230 who had 1.5 sacks over 13 games

Returnees include:

Jaden Gaines DE 6'5 240 Redshirt DE
Aaron Hamilton Sr. 6'2 250 played 2 games in 2021
Carter Evans So. 6'4 250 DE who played 4 games in 2021
Dexter Manior Jr. 6'2 290 DT who played 5 games in 2021
Payton Price So. DT 6'2 290 who played 11 games in 2021
Melvin Swindle II So. DT 6'3 290 who played in 3 games
Tim Grant Randall So. DT 6'0 285 who played in 2 games
Zachariah Kadri Sr. 6'4 265 who played in 6 games in 2021
Carter Gilbert So. DT 6'4 300 walk on
Adrain Gonzalez Sr. DT 6'4 300
Mikah Coleman So. DE 6'5 245 played in 4 games in 2021

Newcomers include walk on Nyles Latimar Fr. 6'3 230, JUCO Jaavon Brown a 6'1 345 Jr., JUCO Joseph Zelinsky a 6'4 260 Jr., Maliek Bogard a 6'6 220 true frosh and Sterling Miles a junior P5 transfer 6'5 235.

man, I hope we don't have that starting 4. Ramirez is very good and Merrit is fine but I'm not sold on Truman and I've never been a fan of our decision to put an Anchor in the middle. We've been doing that the past couple seasons and it becomes a major issue with getting qb pressure as well as overall lack of conditioning.

Instead, I really like Ramirez and either Evans/Miles at the other End. Carter Evans is young but has a huge upside and will be in his 2nd year. At the DT position I think we go young with Swindle. I'm super big on this guy and while he is young, I think he is strong and athletic. At the other spot I like Merrit or Hamilton who I think could have a breakout season.

I think Nickle or Luckey said it in another post that they are excited with this group because we will return everyone except Ramirez. This is a very talented and young group. In my opinion it's the best DL group I've seen here. We have the younger guys (Evans and Swindle) ready to play now and we addressed the lack of QB pressures with Ramirez coming on and the addition of Cincinnati transfer Sterling Miles.

This won't be a top of the MAC group, but should he vastly improved and going into the following season should be considered at the top of the MAC.

Agree!!

Well in the 2022 Football media guide the Depth chart is as follows:

END 95 Mikah Coleman 6-5 245 Jr.
52 Carter Evans 6-4 252 So.

NOSE 93 Jordan Crawford 6-1 325 Sr.
98 Tim Grant-Randall 6-0 283 Jr.

DT 92 Alex Merritt 6-2 292 Jr.
94 Peyton Price 6-2 286 So.
91 Dexter Manior 6-2 291 Jr.

BULL 55 Jose Ramirez 6-2 252 Sr.
90 Grant Trueman 6-3 230 Sr.
51 Aaron Hamilton 6-2 252 Sr.

(07-28-2022 11:57 AM)EdifiedVoyage6 Wrote:  Well in the 2022 Football media guide the Depth chart is as follows:

END 95 Mikah Coleman 6-5 245 Jr.
52 Carter Evans 6-4 252 So.

NOSE 93 Jordan Crawford 6-1 325 Sr.
98 Tim Grant-Randall 6-0 283 Jr.

DT 92 Alex Merritt 6-2 292 Jr.
94 Peyton Price 6-2 286 So.
91 Dexter Manior 6-2 291 Jr.

BULL 55 Jose Ramirez 6-2 252 Sr.
90 Grant Trueman 6-3 230 Sr.
51 Aaron Hamilton 6-2 252 Sr.

As may have been noted, I'm baffled by Swindle not in the 2 or 3 deep at Nose/DT.

Wonder if there is an issue like injury? He isn't the 4th best DT?

(07-28-2022 01:26 PM)emu steve Wrote:  

(07-28-2022 11:57 AM)EdifiedVoyage6 Wrote:  Well in the 2022 Football media guide the Depth chart is as follows:

END 95 Mikah Coleman 6-5 245 Jr.
52 Carter Evans 6-4 252 So.

NOSE 93 Jordan Crawford 6-1 325 Sr.
98 Tim Grant-Randall 6-0 283 Jr.

DT 92 Alex Merritt 6-2 292 Jr.
94 Peyton Price 6-2 286 So.
91 Dexter Manior 6-2 291 Jr.

BULL 55 Jose Ramirez 6-2 252 Sr.
90 Grant Trueman 6-3 230 Sr.
51 Aaron Hamilton 6-2 252 Sr.

As may have been noted, I'm baffled by Swindle not in the 2 or 3 deep at Nose/DT.

Wonder if there is an issue like injury? He isn't the 4th best DT?

I thought Mikah Coleman was the biggest surprise
But I think training camp will shake everything up

(07-25-2022 06:39 AM)steve4840 Wrote:  

(07-24-2022 08:24 PM)emu79 Wrote:  Going into 2022 the entire defense the past two years has been a subject of criticism. Its true defenses win championships. As far as the defensive line is concerned many pine for the days of the Harris-Crosby defensive line and for good reasons. The past two seasons have seen little on the pass rush side and allowing too many rushing yards. EMU does like to rotate the defensive tackles which means depth is important The cupboard isn't bare for 2022. A major loss for the 2002 is Mikey Haney Sr. 6'4 245 who played 13 games and has 3 sacks as defensive end. My projected starting 4 are:

Jose Ramirez Sr. 6'2 250 at DE who played 13 games and 6.5 sacks.
Jordan Crawford Sr. 6'1 325 DT who played 12 games
Alex Merritt Jr. 6'2 290 DT who played 12 games
Grant Trueman Sr. 6'2 230 who had 1.5 sacks over 13 games

Returnees include:

Jaden Gaines DE 6'5 240 Redshirt DE
Aaron Hamilton Sr. 6'2 250 played 2 games in 2021
Carter Evans So. 6'4 250 DE who played 4 games in 2021
Dexter Manior Jr. 6'2 290 DT who played 5 games in 2021
Payton Price So. DT 6'2 290 who played 11 games in 2021
Melvin Swindle II So. DT 6'3 290 who played in 3 games
Tim Grant Randall So. DT 6'0 285 who played in 2 games
Zachariah Kadri Sr. 6'4 265 who played in 6 games in 2021
Carter Gilbert So. DT 6'4 300 walk on
Adrain Gonzalez Sr. DT 6'4 300
Mikah Coleman So. DE 6'5 245 played in 4 games in 2021

Newcomers include walk on Nyles Latimar Fr. 6'3 230, JUCO Jaavon Brown a 6'1 345 Jr., JUCO Joseph Zelinsky a 6'4 260 Jr., Maliek Bogard a 6'6 220 true frosh and Sterling Miles a junior P5 transfer 6'5 235.

man, I hope we don't have that starting 4. Ramirez is very good and Merrit is fine but I'm not sold on Truman and I've never been a fan of our decision to put an Anchor in the middle. We've been doing that the past couple seasons and it becomes a major issue with getting qb pressure as well as overall lack of conditioning.

Instead, I really like Ramirez and either Evans/Miles at the other End. Carter Evans is young but has a huge upside and will be in his 2nd year. At the DT position I think we go young with Swindle. I'm super big on this guy and while he is young, I think he is strong and athletic. At the other spot I like Merrit or Hamilton who I think could have a breakout season.

I think Nickle or Luckey said it in another post that they are excited with this group because we will return everyone except Ramirez. This is a very talented and young group. In my opinion it's the best DL group I've seen here. We have the younger guys (Evans and Swindle) ready to play now and we addressed the lack of QB pressures with Ramirez coming on and the addition of Cincinnati transfer Sterling Miles.

This won't be a top of the MAC group, but should he vastly improved and going into the following season should be considered at the top of the MAC.

I believe Ramirez has one more year of eligibility.