Football: Press Release on Defense
Posted by Trotsky
Football: Press Release on Defense
Posted by: Trotsky (---.raytheon.com)
Date: September 07, 2006 10:39AM
[cornellbigred.cstv.com]
2006 Football Outlook: The Defense
Six starters return on one of the nation's stingiest run defenses
Aug. 29, 2006
ITHACA, N.Y. -- Cornell's defense will do what it has each of the first two seasons under Jim Knowles -- attack, attack, attack. A deep and talented defensive line and defensive backfield will lead the way as a group of young and inexperienced linebackers break into the rotation.
DEFENSIVE LINE
Few positions for the Big Red is as deep and talented as the defensive line, which returns three starters and will elevate numerous young players into key roles after spot duty as freshmen. All-Ivy selection Jonathan Lucas will join classmates Jeff Dicks and Ryan Kiscadden as the veterans on the line, while sophomores Dario Arezzo, Scott Boone and Graham Rihn lead the youngsters.
Lucas was a second-team All-Ivy pick as a junior, and the three-year starter continues to be one of the top rush ends in the Ancient Eight. He ended the year with seven tackles for loss and a team-high four sacks as one of the leaders on a line that allowed opponents just 88.3 rushing yards per game. His quickness and power will be key in collapsing the pocket as a pass rusher, and he already is recognized as a top run-stuffer.
Both Dicks and Kiscadden were extremely impressive in their first years as starters in 2005. Dicks is a solid run stopper who gets a great push on the offensive line, helping to generate negative plays for the offense. He had 21 tackles and two sacks while starting all 10 games. Kiscadden had a breakout campaign, leading the defensive linemen in tackles (41), while posting 7.5 tackles for loss and three sacks. A versatile lineman, his quickness and toughness make him an elite defensive end.
Arezzo, Boone and Rihn saw time as freshmen thanks to Coach Pete DeStefano's philosophy of rotating linemen to keep players fresh late in games. Arezzo played in three games and has developed into a tremendous pass rushing end. Boone saw action in seven games, missing the other three due to injury, and ended the year with 12 tackles and two forced fumbles. Rihn played in nine games, recording eight tackles while breaking up two passes, and had a tremendous spring campaign.
Senior Matt Darby is a key special teams player who will attempt to work into the rotation. He joins senior Scott Feldman, junior Spencer Hansen, sophomores Frank Kunis, Jonathan Ruch and John Stathas, and freshmen Ricky Ballou and Trevin Cowman, in attempting to solidify playing time on a talented, veteran line.
LINEBACKERS
Cornell will have a complete overhaul at linebacker after the graduation of All-Ivy caliber players Patrick Potts '06 and Joel Sussman '06. A pair of juniors, Ryan Blessing and Doug Lempa, seem to be the early favorites to slide into those positions.
Blessing had a tremendous spring season and will go from special teams star to high-motor linebacker. He saw action in all 10 games a season ago as a reserve, posting six tackles and a sack. Blessing is a good tackler with outstanding instincts.
Lempa proved to be a big-play linebacker, and after adding size and strength in his first two years, is ready for a breakout campaign. He saw action in all 10 games a season ago, recording 23 tackles, an interception and a blocked kick, while registering 1.5 sacks. He is strong enough to get off blocks and make a play, and quick enough to drop back into coverage if needed.
The fall practices will determine what other players earn time at linebacker. Junior Kyle Reidy, sophomores Luke Kairys, Luke McCarthy, Brian Ostrowsky and Ryne Posey, and freshmen Chris Costello and Aaron Levine will all flash their talents to impress the coaching staff.
Reidy will have a shot to get on the field after sitting behind a pair of experienced players in his first two seasons. Both McCarthy and Posey showed in the spring that they can be contributors after improving throughout their rookie campaigns. Ostrowsky moved to linebacker from running back and is a physical player who will be a hard-hitter, while Kairys continues to add size and strength. Both Costello and Levine had outstanding prep careers and look to see immediate playing time.
DEFENSIVE BACKFIELD
Three key players return in the defensive backfield as Cornell's 4-2-5 defense continued to pay dividends a season ago. The Big Red's pass defense dropped by more than 50 yards per game over the first two seasons in the defense as players have adjusted to their new roles. The return of senior Matt Grant, junior Michael Boyd and sophomore Tim Bax, as well as the addition of several other talented athletes, will help Cornell improve even more in 2006.
Grant opens his third year as a starter at defensive back and is the team's top returning cover corner. He picked off a pair of passes a season ago and recorded a career-high 34 tackles . After being converted from running back to wide receiver to cornerback, Grant has finally found his niche and could be one of the top defensive backs in the Ancient Eight as a senior.
Boyd had a breakthrough season as a sophomore in 2005, starting all 10 games and ranking fourth on the team in tackles with 53. The hard-hitting, big-play safety had four pass breakups, three tackles for a loss, a sack and an interception on the season. He has the speed and strength to cover all areas of the field as the defensive whip.
Bax was one of the most impressive freshmen in the Ivy League a season ago, winning the league's top rookie honor twice in 2005. He ranked sixth on the team and first among conference freshmen in tackles (40) and had 2.5 tackles for a loss, two pass breakups, an interception, a forced and a recovered fumble. A top playmaker, Bax has an innate sense of where to be on the field. He continues to add strength on his 6-2 frame and is likely to become one of the better defensive players in the league.
Juniors Jared Ison and Colin Nash are expected to play a role in the defensive backfield as well. Ison was another player whose spring play earned him accolades from the coaches after seeing action in seven games as a sophomore. Nash converted from wide receiver early last season and saw time at defensive back. He is one of the odds-on-favorites to earn a starting spot.
Sophomores Aaron Mumford and Matt Malleo also showed during the spring their ability to become playmakers. Mumford is a converted running back who quickly adapted to defensive back a season ago. Malleo is an outstanding athlete with tremendous football instincts and is able to sit on an island and make a play on the ball.
At safety, senior Adam Hollier, junior Chi Chi Madu, sophomore Gus Krimm and Anthony Sabo, and freshmen T.J. Hochanadel and Nate Staruch will all compete for playing time, while the cornerback position will see challenges from senior Jarin Jackson, junior Brandon Kerns, sophomore Marcel van Eeden, and freshmen Conner Hare, Joe Jackson and Frank Morand.
2006 Football Outlook: The Defense
Six starters return on one of the nation's stingiest run defenses
Aug. 29, 2006
ITHACA, N.Y. -- Cornell's defense will do what it has each of the first two seasons under Jim Knowles -- attack, attack, attack. A deep and talented defensive line and defensive backfield will lead the way as a group of young and inexperienced linebackers break into the rotation.
DEFENSIVE LINE
Few positions for the Big Red is as deep and talented as the defensive line, which returns three starters and will elevate numerous young players into key roles after spot duty as freshmen. All-Ivy selection Jonathan Lucas will join classmates Jeff Dicks and Ryan Kiscadden as the veterans on the line, while sophomores Dario Arezzo, Scott Boone and Graham Rihn lead the youngsters.
Lucas was a second-team All-Ivy pick as a junior, and the three-year starter continues to be one of the top rush ends in the Ancient Eight. He ended the year with seven tackles for loss and a team-high four sacks as one of the leaders on a line that allowed opponents just 88.3 rushing yards per game. His quickness and power will be key in collapsing the pocket as a pass rusher, and he already is recognized as a top run-stuffer.
Both Dicks and Kiscadden were extremely impressive in their first years as starters in 2005. Dicks is a solid run stopper who gets a great push on the offensive line, helping to generate negative plays for the offense. He had 21 tackles and two sacks while starting all 10 games. Kiscadden had a breakout campaign, leading the defensive linemen in tackles (41), while posting 7.5 tackles for loss and three sacks. A versatile lineman, his quickness and toughness make him an elite defensive end.
Arezzo, Boone and Rihn saw time as freshmen thanks to Coach Pete DeStefano's philosophy of rotating linemen to keep players fresh late in games. Arezzo played in three games and has developed into a tremendous pass rushing end. Boone saw action in seven games, missing the other three due to injury, and ended the year with 12 tackles and two forced fumbles. Rihn played in nine games, recording eight tackles while breaking up two passes, and had a tremendous spring campaign.
Senior Matt Darby is a key special teams player who will attempt to work into the rotation. He joins senior Scott Feldman, junior Spencer Hansen, sophomores Frank Kunis, Jonathan Ruch and John Stathas, and freshmen Ricky Ballou and Trevin Cowman, in attempting to solidify playing time on a talented, veteran line.
LINEBACKERS
Cornell will have a complete overhaul at linebacker after the graduation of All-Ivy caliber players Patrick Potts '06 and Joel Sussman '06. A pair of juniors, Ryan Blessing and Doug Lempa, seem to be the early favorites to slide into those positions.
Blessing had a tremendous spring season and will go from special teams star to high-motor linebacker. He saw action in all 10 games a season ago as a reserve, posting six tackles and a sack. Blessing is a good tackler with outstanding instincts.
Lempa proved to be a big-play linebacker, and after adding size and strength in his first two years, is ready for a breakout campaign. He saw action in all 10 games a season ago, recording 23 tackles, an interception and a blocked kick, while registering 1.5 sacks. He is strong enough to get off blocks and make a play, and quick enough to drop back into coverage if needed.
The fall practices will determine what other players earn time at linebacker. Junior Kyle Reidy, sophomores Luke Kairys, Luke McCarthy, Brian Ostrowsky and Ryne Posey, and freshmen Chris Costello and Aaron Levine will all flash their talents to impress the coaching staff.
Reidy will have a shot to get on the field after sitting behind a pair of experienced players in his first two seasons. Both McCarthy and Posey showed in the spring that they can be contributors after improving throughout their rookie campaigns. Ostrowsky moved to linebacker from running back and is a physical player who will be a hard-hitter, while Kairys continues to add size and strength. Both Costello and Levine had outstanding prep careers and look to see immediate playing time.
DEFENSIVE BACKFIELD
Three key players return in the defensive backfield as Cornell's 4-2-5 defense continued to pay dividends a season ago. The Big Red's pass defense dropped by more than 50 yards per game over the first two seasons in the defense as players have adjusted to their new roles. The return of senior Matt Grant, junior Michael Boyd and sophomore Tim Bax, as well as the addition of several other talented athletes, will help Cornell improve even more in 2006.
Grant opens his third year as a starter at defensive back and is the team's top returning cover corner. He picked off a pair of passes a season ago and recorded a career-high 34 tackles . After being converted from running back to wide receiver to cornerback, Grant has finally found his niche and could be one of the top defensive backs in the Ancient Eight as a senior.
Boyd had a breakthrough season as a sophomore in 2005, starting all 10 games and ranking fourth on the team in tackles with 53. The hard-hitting, big-play safety had four pass breakups, three tackles for a loss, a sack and an interception on the season. He has the speed and strength to cover all areas of the field as the defensive whip.
Bax was one of the most impressive freshmen in the Ivy League a season ago, winning the league's top rookie honor twice in 2005. He ranked sixth on the team and first among conference freshmen in tackles (40) and had 2.5 tackles for a loss, two pass breakups, an interception, a forced and a recovered fumble. A top playmaker, Bax has an innate sense of where to be on the field. He continues to add strength on his 6-2 frame and is likely to become one of the better defensive players in the league.
Juniors Jared Ison and Colin Nash are expected to play a role in the defensive backfield as well. Ison was another player whose spring play earned him accolades from the coaches after seeing action in seven games as a sophomore. Nash converted from wide receiver early last season and saw time at defensive back. He is one of the odds-on-favorites to earn a starting spot.
Sophomores Aaron Mumford and Matt Malleo also showed during the spring their ability to become playmakers. Mumford is a converted running back who quickly adapted to defensive back a season ago. Malleo is an outstanding athlete with tremendous football instincts and is able to sit on an island and make a play on the ball.
At safety, senior Adam Hollier, junior Chi Chi Madu, sophomore Gus Krimm and Anthony Sabo, and freshmen T.J. Hochanadel and Nate Staruch will all compete for playing time, while the cornerback position will see challenges from senior Jarin Jackson, junior Brandon Kerns, sophomore Marcel van Eeden, and freshmen Conner Hare, Joe Jackson and Frank Morand.
Sorry, only registered users may post in this forum.