Unit Analysis: Defensive Line

As we continue the player profiles in our "Rush through the Roster" series, we will also look at the units as a whole, from the tight end position to the corner position.  We will look at the strengths, weaknesses, depth, projection for the season, and grade the unit and how well they can perform during the year. This time we take a look at the defensive line.

Depth chart coming out of the spring:

DE - Ryne Giddins (6-3 263-pounds); Tevin Mims (6-3 256-pounds)

DT - Elkino Watson (6-2 287-pounds); Todd Chandler (6-0 307-pounds)

DT - Luke Sager (6-3 282-pounds); Clavion Nelson (6-3 269-pounds)

DE - Julius Forte (6-2 255-pounds); Eric Lee (6-3 235-pounds)

Who else is on the depth chart: Anthony Hill (6-4 283-pounds - He is out for the season after tearing his ACL in non-contact drills this spring), Cody Sanfratello (6-0 263-pounds), Cory Grissom (6-2 316-pounds ) fractured his ankle this spring, expected to be at full strength for the start of the fall), and Demi Thompson (6-1 281-pounds).

What the team lost after the season: Claude Davis, Rony Delisca, Patrick Hampton, Marquis White, and Keith McCaskill.

2012 recruits joining the team: Eric Lee (already on campus and on the spring depth chart), James Hamilton (6-2 330-pounds - enrolled early this spring, but missed time due to injuries and did not appear on the depth chart), Guito Ervilus (6-4 230-pounds), and Daniel Perry (6-8 225-pounds) (team is also adding star Aaron Lynch from Notre Dame).

Strengths of the unit: Starting at the defensive end, Ryne Giddins, the former 4-star recruit, matured last season and became a consistent threat.  Now in his junior season, he is poised for a break-out season.  On the other side of him is JuJu Forte who has been progressing each season as a reserve and now is ready to take over the duties at the end position.  At the defensive tackle position, Elkino Watson emerged on the scene last year with a solid freshman campaign and will help add depth when Cory Grissom returns healthy.  Sager is a capable lineman as well and if he can stay healthy, will make a solid impact this season.  Todd Chandler, after getting his grades settled, could be a solid run stopper this year as well.  

Weakness of the unit: At the end position, the Bulls are very thin on the depth chart.  After Giddins and Forte, there are question marks on who will rise to the reserve role.  Mims is a JUCO recruit and Eric Lee is a true freshmen.  What can they bring to the team this season?  Losing Anthony Hill to the ACL injury was a big loss due to his experience.  The team might have to take a look at Guito Ervilus when he arrives on campus, but it is highly unlikely that he plays or that Daniel Perry plays (too skinny).  The team will look into getting hardship waiver for Lynch, but it would be unlikely that they will succeed there.

At the tackle position, they are a little thin as well.  Watson and Sager are solid players and Grissom should return healthy, but aside from them, there are unknowns.  Chandler is finally on the field, but how good can he really be?  Clavion Nelson added weight and moved from end to tackle, but is he ready to go at that position.  Demi Thompson could make an appearance (can he stay healthy) and James Hamilton, once healthy, could also see time at the position, but he is another unproven freshman.

Overall grade for the unit: B. The starters (Giddins, Forte, Watson, Sager) are all great players, but there are so many questions with this group.  There are several key players such as Grissom that have to return from injury healthy and the young players like Lee, Hamilton, Mims, and others will have to mature fast and help add depth and playmaking ability.  So concerns over depth and health are the biggest issues for this unit, but overall, it's a solid one.