From: Porter Davis (
P_Davis@EMU.com)
To: Defensive Assistants
Subject: Positional Analysis
Good Morning,
I hope you all are well. As we discussed here are my thoughts on the defensive personnel we currently have on the team. Remember this information is for our eyes only and should not be shared outside of our group. Thank you.
Defensive Ends
95 Kalonji Kashama 6'4" 270 SR
54 Omar McFarlane 6'1" 250 SO
37 Deshai Powell 6'3" 245 FR
74 Matt Price 6'3" 259 SR
92 Jacob Rich 6'2" 238 JR
Defensive End is a position where we really are lacking the overall speed and acceleration we hope to have at the position in our scheme. McFarlane does have what we're looking for so we will be starting him on the left side. Rich is close to what we're looking for as well so I envision him starting as well. Kashama is more of a tackle in our system but he will rotate at end when we see fit. Price brings great experience to the table and has good strength so he will work in as well. Powell is a true freshman who needs a fair amount of work in all aspects of his game. If we had more depth here he would likely be a candidate to redshirt.
Defensive Tackles
76 Travis Linser 6'4" 288 JR
93 Cy Maughmer 6'2" 278 JR
99 Aaron Pipkins 6'1" 270 SO
97 Kevin Thomas 6'1" 275 JR
A little better here with Maughmer bringing a decent skillset to the table. He's a fairly strong player for his size and he moves reasonably well. He's our top option here. Linser is a more traditional 0 or 1 technique tackle who clogs things up in the middle and we'll use him there in some 3 man fronts. Kashama figures into this rotation as well. Pipkins looks like a good player in a year or two and Thomas unfortunately seems to be over his head.
Linebackers
55 Tim Brown 6'0" 218 JR
35 Bilal Collins 6'0" 232 SO
36 Derrick Dunlap 6'1" 235 FR
25 Amos Houston 6'2" 213 FR
40 Sean Kurtz 5'11" 224 SR
44 Hunter Matt 6'1" 225 SO
50 LaVonte Robinson 5'11" 215 FR
19 Ike Spearman 6'1" 220 SO
47 Derric Williams 6'1" 210 FR
43 Anthony Zappne 6'1" 235 FR
We're really lacking overall speed at the linebacker position. We have some really high effort guys here but talent wise this may be our weakest group. Robinson, a true freshman, has been a pleasant surprise and has earned the main inside linebacker position. Behind him we're looking for guys to step up but it looks like Zappne has won the second spot. Kurtz has earned one of the outside spots but a lack of speed will keep him off the field in some situations. Spearman is better in coverage and will steal playing time in passing situations. Brown looks to be the other "starter" outside and is a bit quicker than Kurtz. Houston could be an option if he gets up to speed. Williams, Dunlap and Collins have to develop.
I will send my thoughts on the secondary tomorrow.