2020 IUFB Preview: D-Line

[daddyhoosier]

Daddy Hoosier | September 20, 2020
If the offensive line is the heart of a football team, the defensive line is the soul. Defensive line is all about motor and passion and tenacity. And make no mistake, this 2020 group has a chance to be one of the best d-line units to ever take the field at Indiana. The defensive tackle position in particular is as deep as it has ever been with at least four players who could all easily start.

This defensive line group is talented and experienced. Among players expected to get the majority of snaps there are a combined 161 games played and 88 games started.

Here is a projected starting lineup but keep in mind the rotation could consistently go at least seven or eight deep:

RE - James Head, Jr., Jr #6
DT - Jovan Swann, GSr #51
DT - Jerome Johnson, Sr #98
LE - Michael Ziemba, Sr #87

Junior Tackle DeMarcus Elliot (#94) is coming off of an All Big Ten Honorable Mention season in 2019 but Stanford Graduate Transfer Swann is a tremendous addition who will be hard to keep off the field. Sophomore Tackle Sio Nofoagatoto'a (#50) played in ten games last year and made his presence felt on many occasions in ways that don't always show up on the stat sheet.

If these four defensive tackles have a team oriented mindset and don't get too caught up in who gets the start and who rotates in they have a chance to be very disruptive and very effective.

While Head and Ziemba should start at defensive end, Junior Alfred Bryant (#92), Sophomore Beau Robbins (#41) and Junior Tramar Reece (#97) should all be vying for snaps as players rotate in to keep everyone fresh going into the fourth quarter.

Disruption
Tackles for a Loss (career)
18.5 - Swann
16.5 - Johnson
6.5 - Ziemba
6 - Bryant
5 - Elliot
4 - Head
2 - Jones

Sacks (career)
11.5 - Swann
9.5 - Johnson
3 - Elliot
2.5 - Head
1 - Ziemba
0.5 - Jones

Hurries (career)
8 - Head
8 - Swann
3 - Ziemba
3 - Johnson
1 - Jones
1 - Elliot
1 - Reece

Pass Break-ups (career)
3 - Head
3 - Swann

Fumbles forced (career)
2 - Swann
2 - Bryant
1 - Head
1 - Elliot
1 - Johnson

Fumbles Recovered (career)
2 - Ziemba
2 - Bryant
1 - Johnson

*Swann also has an interception and a field goal block.

Development
Sophomores Jonathan King (#18) and Shamar Jones (#52) along with Redshirt Freshman Antoine Whitner (#95) are three defensive tackles to keep an eye on as they look to move up the depth chart and become impact players for IU in the future.

Coach
Kevin Peoples comes to Bloomington from New Orleans (Tulane) and brings with him 27 years of coaching experience. Indiana Head Coach Tom Allen describes Coach Peoples as a 'strong technician' and the defensive line will be in good hands:

In 2018 as Defensive Line Coach at Tulane the Green Wave ranked 8th in the nation in sacks per game (3.15) and 24th in Red Zone Defense
While at Georgia Southern as D-line Coach (2014-15) the Eagles ranked 24th in the country in rush defense and total defense respectively en route to a Sunbelt Conference Championship
In 2012 as D-line Coach at Arkansas the Razorbacks finished 19th in the nation in rush defense and 24th in sacks

Peoples also coached at UAB and Arkansas St (with Tom Allen) and in 2003 was a recipient of the AFLAC National Assistant Coach of the Year Award.

Originally published here

 

[DANC]

Daddy Hoosier | September 20, 2020
If the offensive line is the heart of a football team, the defensive line is the soul. Defensive line is all about motor and passion and tenacity. And make no mistake, this 2020 group has a chance to be one of the best d-line units to ever take the field at Indiana. The defensive tackle position in particular is as deep as it has ever been with at least four players who could all easily start.

This defensive line group is talented and experienced. Among players expected to get the majority of snaps there are a combined 161 games played and 88 games started.

Here is a projected starting lineup but keep in mind the rotation could consistently go at least seven or eight deep:

RE - James Head, Jr., Jr #6
DT - Jovan Swann, GSr #51
DT - Jerome Johnson, Sr #98
LE - Michael Ziemba, Sr #87

Junior Tackle DeMarcus Elliot (#94) is coming off of an All Big Ten Honorable Mention season in 2019 but Stanford Graduate Transfer Swann is a tremendous addition who will be hard to keep off the field. Sophomore Tackle Sio Nofoagatoto'a (#50) played in ten games last year and made his presence felt on many occasions in ways that don't always show up on the stat sheet.

If these four defensive tackles have a team oriented mindset and don't get too caught up in who gets the start and who rotates in they have a chance to be very disruptive and very effective.

While Head and Ziemba should start at defensive end, Junior Alfred Bryant (#92), Sophomore Beau Robbins (#41) and Junior Tramar Reece (#97) should all be vying for snaps as players rotate in to keep everyone fresh going into the fourth quarter.

Disruption
Tackles for a Loss (career)
18.5 - Swann
16.5 - Johnson
6.5 - Ziemba
6 - Bryant
5 - Elliot
4 - Head
2 - Jones

Sacks (career)
11.5 - Swann
9.5 - Johnson
3 - Elliot
2.5 - Head
1 - Ziemba
0.5 - Jones

Hurries (career)
8 - Head
8 - Swann
3 - Ziemba
3 - Johnson
1 - Jones
1 - Elliot
1 - Reece

Pass Break-ups (career)
3 - Head
3 - Swann

Fumbles forced (career)
2 - Swann
2 - Bryant
1 - Head
1 - Elliot
1 - Johnson

Fumbles Recovered (career)
2 - Ziemba
2 - Bryant
1 - Johnson

*Swann also has an interception and a field goal block.

Development
Sophomores Jonathan King (#18) and Shamar Jones (#52) along with Redshirt Freshman Antoine Whitner (#95) are three defensive tackles to keep an eye on as they look to move up the depth chart and become impact players for IU in the future.

Coach
Kevin Peoples comes to Bloomington from New Orleans (Tulane) and brings with him 27 years of coaching experience. Indiana Head Coach Tom Allen describes Coach Peoples as a 'strong technician' and the defensive line will be in good hands:

In 2018 as Defensive Line Coach at Tulane the Green Wave ranked 8th in the nation in sacks per game (3.15) and 24th in Red Zone Defense
While at Georgia Southern as D-line Coach (2014-15) the Eagles ranked 24th in the country in rush defense and total defense respectively en route to a Sunbelt Conference Championship
In 2012 as D-line Coach at Arkansas the Razorbacks finished 19th in the nation in rush defense and 24th in sacks

Peoples also coached at UAB and Arkansas St (with Tom Allen) and in 2003 was a recipient of the AFLAC National Assistant Coach of the Year Award.

Originally published here

Good report. I'm still not sold on our DEs. They are solid football players, and individually they make some play, but I don't think they're good enough to help us to the next level.

I love Ziemba's motor and Head's potential. Bryant and Reece..... meh. I'm hoping they have improved over the last year. I'm anxious to see what Robbins can do.

You left out one guy, Lewis, who I think is going to be a stud from day 1. We've got a very good group at DT. I'd like to see some 3 man fronts there this year, because I think we have the talent to do it.

I also feel better with Peoples coaching the DL.

 

[Hoosier009]

Daddy Hoosier | September 20, 2020
If the offensive line is the heart of a football team, the defensive line is the soul. Defensive line is all about motor and passion and tenacity. And make no mistake, this 2020 group has a chance to be one of the best d-line units to ever take the field at Indiana. The defensive tackle position in particular is as deep as it has ever been with at least four players who could all easily start.

This defensive line group is talented and experienced. Among players expected to get the majority of snaps there are a combined 161 games played and 88 games started.

Here is a projected starting lineup but keep in mind the rotation could consistently go at least seven or eight deep:

RE - James Head, Jr., Jr #6
DT - Jovan Swann, GSr #51
DT - Jerome Johnson, Sr #98
LE - Michael Ziemba, Sr #87

Junior Tackle DeMarcus Elliot (#94) is coming off of an All Big Ten Honorable Mention season in 2019 but Stanford Graduate Transfer Swann is a tremendous addition who will be hard to keep off the field. Sophomore Tackle Sio Nofoagatoto'a (#50) played in ten games last year and made his presence felt on many occasions in ways that don't always show up on the stat sheet.

If these four defensive tackles have a team oriented mindset and don't get too caught up in who gets the start and who rotates in they have a chance to be very disruptive and very effective.

While Head and Ziemba should start at defensive end, Junior Alfred Bryant (#92), Sophomore Beau Robbins (#41) and Junior Tramar Reece (#97) should all be vying for snaps as players rotate in to keep everyone fresh going into the fourth quarter.

Disruption
Tackles for a Loss (career)
18.5 - Swann
16.5 - Johnson
6.5 - Ziemba
6 - Bryant
5 - Elliot
4 - Head
2 - Jones

Sacks (career)
11.5 - Swann
9.5 - Johnson
3 - Elliot
2.5 - Head
1 - Ziemba
0.5 - Jones

Hurries (career)
8 - Head
8 - Swann
3 - Ziemba
3 - Johnson
1 - Jones
1 - Elliot
1 - Reece

Pass Break-ups (career)
3 - Head
3 - Swann

Fumbles forced (career)
2 - Swann
2 - Bryant
1 - Head
1 - Elliot
1 - Johnson

Fumbles Recovered (career)
2 - Ziemba
2 - Bryant
1 - Johnson

*Swann also has an interception and a field goal block.

Development
Sophomores Jonathan King (#18) and Shamar Jones (#52) along with Redshirt Freshman Antoine Whitner (#95) are three defensive tackles to keep an eye on as they look to move up the depth chart and become impact players for IU in the future.

Coach
Kevin Peoples comes to Bloomington from New Orleans (Tulane) and brings with him 27 years of coaching experience. Indiana Head Coach Tom Allen describes Coach Peoples as a 'strong technician' and the defensive line will be in good hands:

In 2018 as Defensive Line Coach at Tulane the Green Wave ranked 8th in the nation in sacks per game (3.15) and 24th in Red Zone Defense
While at Georgia Southern as D-line Coach (2014-15) the Eagles ranked 24th in the country in rush defense and total defense respectively en route to a Sunbelt Conference Championship
In 2012 as D-line Coach at Arkansas the Razorbacks finished 19th in the nation in rush defense and 24th in sacks

Peoples also coached at UAB and Arkansas St (with Tom Allen) and in 2003 was a recipient of the AFLAC National Assistant Coach of the Year Award.

Originally published here

Love our DT rotation for this year. Top 4 may be the strongest group in IU history??? DE grouping may be our Achilles heel.. Head is solid but after that I'm not sure. We will need more pressure on the QB to step up and be a great defense. Maybe our new coach will coach up the DE group. #LEO

 

[td75]

Head has the tools to be an excellent DE...

 

[crossfire74]

Excellent breakdown. I personally don't think Swann will start. I believe Elliot will and Swann will be moved around the line depending on matchups and down situations. I fully expect our line to be good against the run, and I also expect this line to be much deeper in terms of being able rotate bodies in. We have a very solid DT group that should be able to not only hold the line in the run game, but also with Johnson, Swann, and Lewis, have the ability to push in the pass rush. There's certainly valid concerns about the DEs pass rushing ability, but with the added rushing of Swann and Lewis in the middle, it's feasible to think that will help get our DEs more one on one situations and help there as well. Head is fairly legit as an all around DE, but the other size is pretty wide open as to who you can count on to be that rusher. Ziemba will give you everything he has but we still need more rush consistency from either him or someone else. Plenty of bodies to throw at it, but really a concern until proven otherwise out of this bunch. Peoples has a big time reputation of taking mediocre players and making them pass rushers, so we shall see if he can also work a bit of magic here as well.