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Defensive Analysis
The whole should be better than the sum of the parts. There are a few fantastic players to build around like DE Mathias Kiwanuka and CB Will Blackmon, but overall depth is a major problem and the run defense could need a little work with average tackles and linebackers.
Star of the defense: Senior DE Mathias Kiwanuka
Player that has to step up and become a star: Junior LB Ray Henderson
Unsung star on the rise: Junior LB Ricky Brown
Best pro prospect: Kiwanuka
Top three all-star candidates: 1) Kiwanuka , 2) CB Will Blackmon, 3)
FS T.J. Stancil
Strength of the defense: Linebacker
Weakness of the defense: Tackle
Defensive Line
Projected Starters
- Defensive end Mathias Kiwanuka, Jr. - Kiwanuka might be the best player in the Big East. He had a monster season finishing with 83 tackles, 13 sacks, 16 tackles for loss and 24 quarterback hurries earning him All-Big East honors. He's a premier pass rusher with too much speed for most tackles to handle.
- Defensive tackle Tim Bulman, Sr. - Bulman has several career starts, but he'll have to really shine to replace the void left by Tom Martin and Doug Goodwin on the inside. He's not massive, but he's experienced enough and good enough to be the anchor in the middle coming off a 33 tackle, 11 tackle for loss, four sack season.
- Defensive tackle Justin Bell, Soph. - After seeing time as a true freshman season making six tackles, it'll be up to Bell to get a chance at the left tackle spot. He has the quickness to play end, but his size is needed in the middle.
- Defensive end Phillip Mettling, Sr. - Mettling gets to clean up with offenses spending all of their time dealing with Mathias Kiwanuka on the left side. He's a decent pass rusher on his own making five sacks to go along with 29 tackles last year, and now he's expect to grow into an All-Big East caliber performer.
Top Backups
- DT Danny Zepp, Soph. - The 270-pound Zepp doesn't have a whole bunch of experience only playing in six games last year making five tackles, but his 270-pound frame is needed on a line that could use a little bulk.
- DE Myran Hunter, Sr. - Hunter needs to use his little bit of experience to become a top backup behind Mathias Kiwanuka. He made two tackles last year.
The Skinny: The concern is size in the middle as the tackles average
around 270 pounds. While that's not bad, there's not the space-eating 300-pound
run clogger to anchor things around. The ends will be tremendous as Mathias
Kiwanuka should make several All-America teams. The overall depth is severely
lacking.
Player to keep an eye on: Justin Bell ... Defensive Line Rating: 7.5
Linebackers
Projected Starters
- Ricky Brown, Jr. - The former high school defensive back is now a 238-pound linebacker taking over for Brian Flores and his 105 tackles and six sacks. He made 30 tackles last year and should shine in a full-time role. It'll be a shock if he's not one of the team's top three tacklers.
- Ray Henderson, Jr. - Henderson is tremendously quick getting better and better as last year went on finishing with 88 tackles and eight tackles for loss. He's a hard-nosed player in the middle with enough speed to make the big hit sideline-to-sideline. He'll have to be the leader of the relatively inexperienced corps.
- Joe Misiewicz, Jr. - It'll be up to Misiewicz to replace Josh Ott and his 381 career tackles. He's a quick player with a bit of experience making 24 tackles last year as an understudy. He has the speed to be a strong pass rusher from the outside.
Top Backups
- JoLunn Dunbar, RFr. - The star of the future, all the former running back needs is time before becoming a star in the linebacking corps. He's a physical player with good size and great quickness.
- Dan Berglund, Soph. - The former quarterback will battle for playing time behind Joe Misiewicz. It'll take him a little while to get the hang of the job, and there are several young prospects that'll push him this fall.
The Skinny: There's too much lost production to hope for a repeat of
last year's great job done by the corps. Ray Henderson needs to emerge as
a superstar to fill the overall void left by Josh Ott and Brian Flores. The
depth needs to develop quickly with JoLunn Dunbar needing to become a productive
player right away. It's possible super-recruit Brian Toal gets into the mix
right off the bat.
Player to keep an eye on: Ricky Brown ... Linebacker Rating: 6
Secondary
Projected Starters
- Cornerback Will Blackmon, Jr. - Blackmon earned second-team All-Big East honors last year making 64 tackles with four interceptions and ten broken up passes. He's extremely athletic with the experience to grow into an elite cover-corner.
- Free safety T.J. Stancil, Sr. - The intimidator in the secondary, Stancil was the star of the San Francisco Bowl picking off three passes. He finished last year with 82 tackles and should be in the hunt for All-Big East honors this year.
- Strong safety Jazzmen Williams, Jr. - Part corner part safety, the speedy Williams was tried out at strong safety after starting six games last year as a corner making 59 tackles and two interceptions. He isn't all that big, but he'll try to make up for it with his speed.
- Cornerback Peter Shean, Sr. - Shean overcame a torn ACL to get back his starting job back last year making 54 tackles and three interceptions. While he isn't the all-around corner that Will Blackmon is, he's quick and experienced.
Top Backups
- Cornerback Larry Anam, Soph. - One of the team's biggest corners, Anam was a valuable reserve last year making 13 tackles and an interception. He has some of the best wheels on the team.
- Strong safety Ryan Glasper, Soph. - Glasper had a huge freshman season making 52 tackles and an interception. He's going to use his cornerback speed and quickness at strong safety combining with Jazzmen Williams for the job.
The Skinny: The BC pass defense could stand some tightening after allowing
229.5 yards per game and 21 touchdown passes last year, and it'll happen as
Peter Shean and Will Blackmon form an excellent corner duo. There's some playing
around at safety moving some natural corners there, but things will be fine
if Jamie Silva and Ryan Glasper work out well as backups.
Player to keep an eye on: Ryan Glasper ... Secondary Rating: 7.5
Special Teams
- Placekicker Mike Fassel, Sr. - It'll be his job to try and replace record setter Sandro Sciortino who hit 20 of 29 field goals last year. The son of former New York Giant head coach Jim, Fassel has served as the team's holder and part-time kicker over the last few years. He hit nine of ten extra points last year.
- Punter Dennis Eaton, RFr. - Jeff Gomulinski replaced Kevin McMyler and had a solid season averaging 39.8 yards per kick and put 17 inside the 20. He has a good leg and would be better with a year of experience under his belt, but he's off the team. Expect an open casting call for the punting job this fall.
The Skinny: The kicking game will be ine even after the loss of Sandro
Sciortino. There could be more pop to the kickoff returns as the team only
averaged 19.3 yards, but Will Blackmon averaged 22 yards per return. Nathaniel
Hasslebeck and his 11.1 yard average will be the main punt returner again.
The punt coverage unit needs to be better after allowing 12.6 yards per return.
Special Teams Rating: 6
