Utah Spring Football Notes: The Defense

3/11/2010 12:00 AM | Football

March 11, 2010

SALT LAKE CITY -

Strengths: D-Line, Cornerback

Questions: Linebacker, Safety

The Utes must replace seven starters on the defense, including all three linebackers and both safeties. The departed senior class also featured three first-team all-conference players and the tackle leaders from the past two seasons.

Still, expectations are as high as ever for the Ute defense, which routinely finishes among the nation's leaders. One source of optimism is the defensive line, where the Utes welcome back three starters and look extremely deep. Experience can also be found at the corners--starting with the position coach: Jay Hill, the cornerbacks coach from 2005-2006, is back after two years with the tight ends.

At linebacker, two former starters will try to reclaim their posts against stiff competition. The biggest question mark is at safety, where spring ball will prove a real training ground.

Defensive Line

Ever since 1994, when a young coach named Kyle Whittingham watched over the defensive line, Utah's front four have been the lynchpin of the defense. This year should be no different. Starting tackles Dave Kruger and Sealver Siliga are all-conference candidates (Siliga won honorable mention honors last fall) and expectations are sky high for both them and their backups.

Highly-touted Latu Heimuli was projected to play as a true freshman last year before a knee injury in preseason camp forced him to take a redshirt year. The coaches can't wait to get him on the field. Ditto for James Aiono, the nation's No. 1 rated junior college lineman in 2008. Aiono makes his long-awaited Utah debut this spring.

The addition of Heimuli and Aiono allowed defensive coordinator Kalani Sitake the luxury of moving junior Lei Talamaivao--a part-time starting tackle in his first two years--outside to right end. Seniors Junior Tui'one and Christian Cox enter spring camp as the co-starters at left end.

Competition at end becomes even more heated in August, when two-year starter Derrick Shelby returns from a knee injury. Shelby played tackle in 2008, moving to end in 2009, where he started the first 10 games before a season-ending injury. Even if Shelby bumps out Tui'one and Cox in the fall, they and redshirt freshman Trevor Reilly will get lots of playing time thanks to a liberal substitution philosophy that allows for fresh players on the line at all times.

Linebacker

Can a team that plays a 4-3 defense lose three starting linebackers, yet return six starters? That's how Sitake feels about the linebackers. He has six players with significant game experience, including two former starters.

Junior J. J. Williams started as a freshman in 2006 and then left on a church mission--rejoining the team last spring. He has the early nod at the rover position. Senior Nai Fotu started at linebacker as a sophomore in 2008 before moving to end a year ago to add depth to that position. Known for his speed and crushing tackles, Fotu prefers playing linebacker and is No. 1 in the middle.

The early choice at "stud" linebacker is 6-foot-5 senior Chad Manis, a former quarterback who practiced at both positions a year ago, while seeing playing time at exclusively on defense and special teams.

Sitake says emphatically that Jamel King, Matt Martinez and Chaz Walker will be interchangeable with the starters. Best yet? All six returners are versatile enough to play every linebacker position. A key backup who will also play is sophomore Boo Andersen.

Secondary

Introductions will be necessary in the defensive secondary, where seniors handled both safety positions and one corner a year ago. Observers may want to quickly reacquaint themselves with All-America candidate Brandon Burton--the team's sole returning corner. With his blend of size (6'0"), speed and intelligence, Burton could find teams throwing away from him.

If they do, they'll have to contend with scrappy Lamar Chapman, last year's starting nickel back. Along with Burton, Chapman is one of the fastest players on the team, although lightening fast backup Conroy Black can beat both in a foot race.

Kameron Yancy joins the two deep after breaking in with the special teams last year.

The only familiar face at safety is 6-foot-3 senior Justin Taplin-Ross. He played in all 13 games and started one at strong safety last fall. He looks solid as the starter this coming season. Bryce Bennion backs up.

After redshirting with an injury in 2009, promising freshman Chris Washington hopes to take over at free safety. He must fend off a hot commodity from the latest signing class in true freshman Damian Payne. Payne graduated early and is participating in spring drills.