Latest news with #defensiveline
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Michigan State football betting on 3,000 snaps of experience from defensive tackles
EAST LANSING — Sometime in mid-August last year, just as coaches wanted to see players the the lead in positional competitions, Alex VanSumeren's injury-filled past disappeared. He emerged from Michigan State football's preseason camp as a somewhat surprising starter in the 2024 season opener. That doesn't mean he can feel comfortable as a starter for the upcoming season. Not with how deep the Spartans are on the interior of the defensive line. 'Every day is a separation day, really, when you look at it,' VanSumeren said after practice Tuesday, Aug. 12. 'No matter who you are, no matter what you've done in the past, you gotta earn it every single day because rent's due. That's my mindset, and that's the midset of the defense and the team as a whole. So basically, when you get that in your mind, that's when guys can really start to take that next step.' PASSING THE TEST? Michigan State football's first scrimmage is done: Does offense or defense have edge? Despite lacking a pass-rush presence from the edge, defensive tackle might be the deepest and most experienced spot for MSU this season. VanSumeren is back alongside former transfers Jalen Satchell, Ben Roberts and Ru'Quan Buckley for their second seasons together, with offseason pickup Grady Kelly joining them after two prior high major stops. Those five have combined to play nearly 3,000 snaps at the FBS level. Add in up-and-comers Mikeshun Beeler and Derrick Simmons, and defensive line coach Lego Suiaunoa loves the clay he gets to mold on a daily basis on the interior. 'We're pretty fortunate right now,' Suiaunoa said Tuesday. "I think we're in a really, really good position in terms of having the numbers inside. Its'a good place to be at. Now, I always tell the guys, 'Give me a reason to rotate you.' ' The 6-foot-3, 295-pound VanSumeren started all 12 games last season, picking up 16 tackles and 1½ sacks in a career-best 333 snaps. The 12 starts next to him went to since-departed seniors in D'Quan Douse and Maverick Hansen, while Satchel had 213 snaps in his first season after arriving from Old Dominion, Roberts 128 after arriving from Oregon and Buckley 127 after transferring from Nebraska. 'It's very competitive,' said the 6-1, 293-pound Satchell, who has 41 tackles in 38 games with MSU, ODU and Temple (his first school). 'We gotta bring our A-game every day. This is that type of room that, if you have a bad day, then somebody can replace you that fast.' Buckley, a senior, is a massive presence at 6-5 and 325 pounds, while Roberts also is stout at 6-2 and 335 pounds as a fourth-year junior. Kelly arrives after playing 204 snaps at Florida State last year. The 6-2, 295-pound senior owns the most experience, having played 1,029 snaps at Colorado State in 2022 and 2023. He has 98 career tackles (11½ for loss) and 3½ sacks over four seasons. THE GOAL: Priority on defense: Get to QB more, improve dismal sack totals 'We're rolling depth-wise. We got people to roll,' said Kelly, who has started 22 of his 38 career games. 'This is probably the deepest room I've ever been a part of. We could roll six deep, and I don't think there's a dropoff on the field.' Beeler (6-2, 293) preserved a redshirt but debuted last season with three plays against Prairie View A&M. Coaches have raved about the Chicago native's growth in his second camp while also praising Simmons, a 6-3, 297-pound true freshman from Frankenmuth. 'Interior defensive line, we're pretty deep,' coach Jonathan Smith said. 'I mean, we've got some guys there. … I like the additions. Feeling that we have options there, that's competitive.' That depth, Smith said, is what he hopes will allow Suiaunoa to rotate frequently. But the position coach also wants someone in the group to take their own VanSumeren-like leap in the second scrimmage of camp, set for Saturday, Aug. 16. 'We got a group of guys that we feel like are above the line that's gonna help us win football games,' Suiaunoa said. 'Ideally, you'd like to take the guys that are doing the heavy lifting, they're gonna play until we have a chance to rotate other guys in. I think over the course of a season, because we do got a deep group, it's gonna naturally happen. I think guys are gonna get tired, or if they're on three or four plays, well, that guy's fifth play is probably not as good as this guy's first play. … 'Now, I tell the guys, 'Hey, I want to see how much gas you got in the tank.' That was a big thing going into the scrimmage – how many plays can we get you before I have to sub you?' Contact Chris Solari: csolari@ Follow him @chrissolari. Subscribe to the "Spartan Speak" podcast for new episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or anywhere you listen to podcasts. And catch all of our podcasts and daily voice briefing at This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan State football defensive tackles banking on deep experience
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
LSU football DC Blake Baker talks Dominick McKinley's progression going into year two
LSU football defensive coordinator Blake Baker details sophomore defensive lineman Dominick McKinley's progression this preseason camp.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
49ers' rookie defensive linemen face a steep learning curve as they aim for an NFL impact
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Few teams have the star power of the San Francisco 49ers, who feature several of the top players in the game, including Trent Williams, Nick Bosa, Fred Warner and Christian McCaffrey. San Francisco's hopes for a major turnaround following an injury-plagued six-win season might depend on a bunch of untested players on the defensive line. The Niners used three of their top five picks on defensive linemen and will need major contributions from those rookies if they want to get back to the postseason. The early results show signs of promise, but the 49ers know that counting on rookies to make an immediate impact can be a dicey proposition. 'We may not know who they are until the midway point of the season. They're rookies,' defensive coordinator Robert Saleh said. 'As soon as we hit Week 1, it's going to start all over. They're going to be leaning on new bodies, new blocking schemes, and they've got to learn week to week what they're putting on tape and understand that part of the game that's happening in there. Right now, you just want to see those guys play as hard as they can, as violent as they can and you trust that as they get more reps, they'll learn how to play the game a little bit better and get better every day.' The results from the new-look defensive line were mixed in the preseason opener against Denver, but the group gets another chance this week with a joint practice against the Las Vegas Raiders on Thursday and an exhibition game Saturday. Defensive line coach Kris Kocurek has been pleased with the progress so far from rookies Mykel Williams, Alfred Collins, C.J. West and Sebastian Valdez but knows there's a lot more work to do. 'It's a learning curve, especially coming from the way colleges are kind of constructed and offenses that they see in college compared to jumping into the NFL,' Kocurek said. 'It's even a stronger learning curve than probably it was seven, eight, nine years ago when colleges ran the ball more. Now it's a lot of the pass game, RPO, up-tempo stuff. So for D-lineman coming from college to the NFL, there's a learning curve that's involved in there and it's getting steeper it seems like every year.' The 49ers are counting most on Williams, who was drafted 11th overall. He has shown flashes in practice of being the run-stopping defensive end they need but also has dealt with a series of minor injuries, including a hyperextended knee that will prevent him from playing until at least the preseason finale next week. Collins, the second-round pick, missed the offseason program while recovering from a calf injury and is still getting up to speed. 'He was way far behind the eight ball, and I felt like this past weekend, especially in the game, he took a really, really good step in terms of strain and power at the point of attack,' Saleh said. 'I think the next step for him is to get off blocks, play with great pad level, go make some plays.' The less-heralded players have fared better. West, picked in the fourth round, has flashed repeatedly in practice with his strong hands, and Valdez, an undrafted rookie out of Washington, has been able to get consistent penetration and is making a serious bid for the roster. West's power showed up at times against the Broncos, but he also got pushed around on other plays. 'At this level, offensive linemen are smarter, they're faster, and they know different ways to bend the rules just a little to give themselves an advantage,' he said. "(It) was definitely humbling, going up against the starting offensive line and this other team. There's a lot to learn in order to get better.' ___ AP NFL:
Associated Press
3 days ago
- Sport
- Associated Press
49ers' rookie defensive linemen face a steep learning curve as they aim for an NFL impact
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Few teams have the star power of the San Francisco 49ers, who feature several of the top players in the game, including Trent Williams, Nick Bosa, Fred Warner and Christian McCaffrey. San Francisco's hopes for a major turnaround following an injury-plagued six-win season might depend on a bunch of untested players on the defensive line. The Niners used three of their top five picks on defensive linemen and will need major contributions from those rookies if they want to get back to the postseason. The early results show signs of promise, but the 49ers know that counting on rookies to make an immediate impact can be a dicey proposition. 'We may not know who they are until the midway point of the season. They're rookies,' defensive coordinator Robert Saleh said. 'As soon as we hit Week 1, it's going to start all over. They're going to be leaning on new bodies, new blocking schemes, and they've got to learn week to week what they're putting on tape and understand that part of the game that's happening in there. Right now, you just want to see those guys play as hard as they can, as violent as they can and you trust that as they get more reps, they'll learn how to play the game a little bit better and get better every day.' The results from the new-look defensive line were mixed in the preseason opener against Denver, but the group gets another chance this week with a joint practice against the Las Vegas Raiders on Thursday and an exhibition game Saturday. Defensive line coach Kris Kocurek has been pleased with the progress so far from rookies Mykel Williams, Alfred Collins, C.J. West and Sebastian Valdez but knows there's a lot more work to do. 'It's a learning curve, especially coming from the way colleges are kind of constructed and offenses that they see in college compared to jumping into the NFL,' Kocurek said. 'It's even a stronger learning curve than probably it was seven, eight, nine years ago when colleges ran the ball more. Now it's a lot of the pass game, RPO, up-tempo stuff. So for D-lineman coming from college to the NFL, there's a learning curve that's involved in there and it's getting steeper it seems like every year.' The 49ers are counting most on Williams, who was drafted 11th overall. He has shown flashes in practice of being the run-stopping defensive end they need but also has dealt with a series of minor injuries, including a hyperextended knee that will prevent him from playing until at least the preseason finale next week. Collins, the second-round pick, missed the offseason program while recovering from a calf injury and is still getting up to speed. 'He was way far behind the eight ball, and I felt like this past weekend, especially in the game, he took a really, really good step in terms of strain and power at the point of attack,' Saleh said. 'I think the next step for him is to get off blocks, play with great pad level, go make some plays.' The less-heralded players have fared better. West, picked in the fourth round, has flashed repeatedly in practice with his strong hands, and Valdez, an undrafted rookie out of Washington, has been able to get consistent penetration and is making a serious bid for the roster. West's power showed up at times against the Broncos, but he also got pushed around on other plays. 'At this level, offensive linemen are smarter, they're faster, and they know different ways to bend the rules just a little to give themselves an advantage,' he said. "(It) was definitely humbling, going up against the starting offensive line and this other team. There's a lot to learn in order to get better.' ___ AP NFL:
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Patriots sign DT Kyle Peko
The Patriots picked up a defensive lineman on Monday. The team announced the signing of defensive tackle Kyle Peko. Defensive tackle Bryce Ganious was waived in a corresponding move. Peko had two tackles in five games for the Lions last season. He started 10 of his 13 appearances for the Titans in 2023 and has appeared in 47 games over the course of his NFL career. Peko has 58 tackles, two sacks, and a forced fumble in those 47 appearances. Gainous was undrafted out of Wake Forest this year and signed with the Patriots on August 5. He played eight snaps in New England's first preseason game.
