New look D Line(sorta)

[alabamagrizzly]

The strongest position on last years defense may be the biggest question mark on 2015's defense. Big Sky Con Defensive MVP Zack Waggenmann and fellow Sr's Tonga Takai(All-BSC Defense) and Trevor Rehm have graduated. Luckily for Montana, the players stepping in have plenty of expierience. Tyrone Holmes will be a three year starter and has played in every single game in his career here including 27 straight starts. Derek Crittenden, with almost 100 career tackles will become the other starting DE. Caleb Kidder and Zach Peevey will fill the shoes of the departing DT's and should do so admirably. Between them they have played in 51 games registering 90 tackles, 8 sacks, and 13 tackles for loss. Even our 2nd string has had alot of playing time and shown signs to be great players here. I beleive, especially with the retaining of Legi and Gregorak and three very expierienced LB's behind them, that the D line will still be a strong spot.

2015 depth chart
DE Tyrone Holmes/Addison Owen/Kole Swartz
DT Caleb Kidder/Nate Bradley/Evan Miksch
DT Zach Peevey/Bo Harris/Kyle Davis
DE Derek Crittenden/Ryan Johnson/Nick Mertes

The staters
DT Caleb Kidder has played in 26 games, starting in two. His Jr season ended shortly in the 1st game with an arm injury. He has recorded 5 sacks, 8.5 tackles for loss, and 57 tackles in two years as one of the best reserve D lineman in the Big Sky. He is also very solid at disrupting passing lanes while knocking down five passes his So year. Since he played as a true Fr, he should get cleared for a RS and start 2015 as a RSJr.

DT Zach Peevey stepped in as a RSSo in 2014 for the injured Kidder and played very well. He played in all 14 games registering 30 tackles, 3 sacks, and 4.5 tackles for loss. As a RSFr in '13, he played in 11 games recording 3 tackles.

DE Tyrone Holmes has started 28 of 38 games in his career including 27 straight starts since the beggining of his So season. He has 16.5 career sacks and 25 tackles for loss while registering 127 career tackles. He will be a true Sr in 2015.

DE Derek Crittenden was an amazing reserve last year and will step into the starting spot vacated by Waggenmann. He has played in 38 games(0 starts) and registered 5.5 sacks, 9 tackles for loss, and 93 tackles overall. Despite never starting a game, in '13 he was the teams 8th leading tackler and finished 12th in tackles last year.

The reserves
DT Nate Bradley will be a RSSo in '15. As a Fr last year he played in 12 games and registered 13 tackles as the 2nd reserve DT after Kidder went down.

DT Bo Harris will be a RSJr next year. He has played in 7 games and recorded 4 tackles.

DE Ryan Johnson has played in 14 games and recorded 11 tackles, 7 of which came last year as the third reserve DE playing in 11 games. He is the only non-Sr of the top four DE's where he will be a RSJr next year.

DE Addison Owen will be a Sr in '15. With 33 career games under his belt and 36 career tackles( 11 games and 7 tackles last year as an end) he will be a very expierienced reserve.

the redshirt freshman
DT Kyle Davis
DL Evan Miksch
DE Kole Swartz
DE Nick Mertes
DL Ben D'Alton
DE Even Defer
All these guys are unknowns and we probably won't see much of them this year. All but Swartz are walk-ons but all (like most recruits) were pretty decorated in their high school careers. My guess is Miksch is the most ready to see time at DT. Swartz started as a TE recruit but I beleive he was switched to DE(where he was very successful at Hellgate). Mertes may also be ready to play some at DE. Of course that also depends on who the incoming recruits are.

possible 2015 commitments
DL Mau Enu 6'2" 285 San Diego, CA
DL Kyon Clark 6'1" 320 Rialto, CA 3 Star
DE Cody Baker 6'4" 255 Bellevue, WA 3 Star
DE Joe Corrao 6'0" 230 Sussex, WI
Rumor has Clark will change his commitment to UCLA but Baker sounds like he's ready to play now and if so he could take time from Ryan Johnson mabey.

 

[BWahlberg]

My hope is that the 2015 D-line has a similar outcome that the 2014 LBs had.

2014 LBs replaced all 3 starters and was going from "NFL/CFL-ready" size to a little lighter but faster and better in coverage. It worked out pretty damn well.

The D-line is going to be a little smaller/lighter but I think it's got a ton of potential with it as well. Holmes is the old pro but will get the most attention too. Crittenden has a ton of experience with 2 years rotating at the spot, Johnson should be ready to step up too - he's shown great flashes of potential in spring/fall camp. Owen I've got good hopes for, he should be adjusted to the spot and ready to go... I hope.

Interior is thin on experience, we need Kidder to stay healthy. Peevey is a beast, love the way he plays with a chip on his shoulder. Wonder if Bradley can keep improving and have a Ben Hughes-like rise to the job. Will Bo Harris finally be ready to make some noise?

Great opportunities for incoming recruits and guys coming off a red shirt. D-line should see a great amount of competition. And we've got Legi back working with them so I have the utmost confidence in the group.

 

[alabamagrizzly]

Interior is thin on experience, we need Kidder to stay healthy. Peevey is a beast, love the way he plays with a chip on his shoulder. Wonder if Bradley can keep improving and have a Ben Hughes-like rise to the job. Will Bo Harris finally be ready to make some noise?

I've been expecting this guy to step up for awhile now. At 6'3" and 280, he has great size to be a physical and athletic DT in the Big Sky. I'm hoping he's not one of those guys that tops out in abilities at 18. With two years left, it would be awesome to see this guy grow this year and become a heck of a reserve for us.

 

[Umista]

I noticed Nate Bradley having good speed for a DL. Small/short but I think we will begin to see some good plays from this young man. He should be a pleasant surprise. What is neat about this time of year is trying to guess who will step up next fall. Like Waberg pointed out, who expected the LBs to be so darn good and we did not miss a beat with them. Some good D line play will be needed and after spring ball we will get a much better take on who will be the guys that carry us on.

 

[AZGrizFan]

I noticed Nate Bradley having good speed for a DL. Small/short but I think we will begin to see some good plays from this young man. He should be a pleasant surprise. What is neat about this time of year is trying to guess who will step up next fall. Like Waberg pointed out, who expected the LBs to be so darn good and we did not miss a beat with them. Some good D line play will be needed and after spring ball we will get a much better take on who will be the guys that carry us on.

I like him too. Built like a fireplug. Good "leverage", so to speak. Looking for bigger things from Mr. Bradley next year...

 

[grizatwork]

I noticed Nate Bradley having good speed for a DL. Small/short but I think we will begin to see some good plays from this young man. He should be a pleasant surprise. What is neat about this time of year is trying to guess who will step up next fall. Like Waberg pointed out, who expected the LBs to be so darn good and we did not miss a beat with them. Some good D line play will be needed and after spring ball we will get a much better take on who will be the guys that carry us on.

I like him too. Built like a fireplug. Good "leverage", so to speak. Looking for bigger things from Mr. Bradley next year...

Funniest holding call I have seen this year. The cats were down inside the 10 and ran a play that we stuffed. Bradley and one of the cat's O lineman were down the field a couple yards and the the O lineman picked Bradley up from behind like he was his little brother in the way. Holding called. Haven't laughed like that in a while. He was so frustrated and didn't know what to do with him, so he just picked him up.

 

[THE BETCH]

I watched Bradley too. A tough nut that is hard to stop.

 

[Alaska Griz]

I thought and said multiple times before last season that our "new look" linebacking corp would be the best we've had in a long while and better as a unit than JP, Coyle, and Tripp, and their "lack of size" would mean nothing other than superior speed to past units. I believe this turned out to be true. Next year they will be just as good with more depth. As far as the d-line, health and depth on the interior will be vital. Takai was very durable and will be missed.

 

[George Ferguson]

I don't think Kyon Clark will stick with his verbal. In fact, I'm waiting every day for the famed decommitt on him. I think he's gonna get scooped up. The Griz NEED Enu and Baker to stick with their commits. Praying both those two do.

 

[RobGriz]

The strongest position on last years defense may be the biggest question mark on 2015's defense. Big Sky Con Defensive MVP Zack Waggenmann and fellow Sr's Tonga Takai(All-BSC Defense) and Trevor Rehm have graduated. Luckily for Montana, the players stepping in have plenty of expierience. Tyrone Holmes will be a three year starter and has played in every single game in his career here including 27 straight starts. Derek Crittenden, with almost 100 career tackles will become the other starting DE. Caleb Kidder and Zach Peevey will fill the shoes of the departing DT's and should do so admirably. Between them they have played in 51 games registering 90 tackles, 8 sacks, and 13 tackles for loss. Even our 2nd string has had alot of playing time and shown signs to be great players here. I beleive, especially with the retaining of Legi and Gregorak and three very expierienced LB's behind them, that the D line will still be a strong spot.

2015 depth chart
DE Tyrone Holmes/Addison Owen/Kole Swartz
DT Caleb Kidder/Nate Bradley/Evan Miksch
DT Zach Peevey/Bo Harris/Kyle Davis
DE Derek Crittenden/Ryan Johnson/Nick Mertes

The staters
DT Caleb Kidder has played in 26 games, starting in two. His Jr season ended shortly in the 1st game with an arm injury. He has recorded 5 sacks, 8.5 tackles for loss, and 57 tackles in two years as one of the best reserve D lineman in the Big Sky. He is also very solid at disrupting passing lanes while knocking down five passes his So year. Since he played as a true Fr, he should get cleared for a RS and start 2015 as a RSJr.

DT Zach Peevey stepped in as a RSSo in 2014 for the injured Kidder and played very well. He played in all 14 games registering 30 tackles, 3 sacks, and 4.5 tackles for loss. As a RSFr in '13, he played in 11 games recording 3 tackles.

DE Tyrone Holmes has started 28 of 38 games in his career including 27 straight starts since the beggining of his So season. He has 16.5 career sacks and 25 tackles for loss while registering 127 career tackles. He will be a true Sr in 2015.

DE Derek Crittenden was an amazing reserve last year and will step into the starting spot vacated by Waggenmann. He has played in 38 games(0 starts) and registered 5.5 sacks, 9 tackles for loss, and 93 tackles overall. Despite never starting a game, in '13 he was the teams 8th leading tackler and finished 12th in tackles last year.

The reserves
DT Nate Bradley will be a RSSo in '15. As a Fr last year he played in 12 games and registered 13 tackles as the 2nd reserve DT after Kidder went down.

DT Bo Harris will be a RSJr next year. He has played in 7 games and recorded 4 tackles.

DE Ryan Johnson has played in 14 games and recorded 11 tackles, 7 of which came last year as the third reserve DE playing in 11 games. He is the only non-Sr of the top four DE's where he will be a RSJr next year.

DE Addison Owen will be a Sr in '15. With 33 career games under his belt and 36 career tackles( 11 games and 7 tackles last year as an end) he will be a very expierienced reserve.

the redshirt freshman
DT Kyle Davis
DL Evan Miksch
DE Kole Swartz
DE Nick Mertes
DL Ben D'Alton
DE Even Defer
All these guys are unknowns and we probably won't see much of them this year. All but Swartz are walk-ons but all (like most recruits) were pretty decorated in their high school careers. My guess is Miksch is the most ready to see time at DT. Swartz started as a TE recruit but I beleive he was switched to DE(where he was very successful at Hellgate). Mertes may also be ready to play some at DE. Of course that also depends on who the incoming recruits are.

possible 2015 commitments
DL Mau Enu 6'2" 285 San Diego, CA
DL Kyon Clark 6'1" 320 Rialto, CA 3 Star
DE Cody Baker 6'4" 255 Bellevue, WA 3 Star
DE Joe Corrao 6'0" 230 Sussex, WI
Rumor has Clark will change his commitment to UCLA but Baker sounds like he's ready to play now and if so he could take time from Ryan Johnson mabey.

Would be nice to have a true NT like Takai. Basically the two guys that are starting according to your depth chart are both 3 techs. Not saying they can't do it but a big body with a low center of gravity sure helps.

 

[grizaremoregooder]

I don't think Kyon Clark will stick with his verbal. In fact, I'm waiting every day for the famed decommitt on him. I think he's gonna get scooped up. The Griz NEED Enu and Baker to stick with their commits. Praying both those two do.

Hope you are wrong on that one. I think that kid would be a huge get for the Grizzlies IF he sticks with the verbal.

 

[AZGrizFan]

If we don't keep Clark, might I suggest we convert Luke to a NT? He's definitely got the "nasty" in him to do it....wonder if he played both ways in high school?