Pete Germano has inherited a defensive line that is thin on the inside, but strong on the outside.
Germano, who coached the tight ends last season, said the defensive line has depth on the ends, but the inside is a concern. Redshirt juniors A.J. Oxley and Ernie Hodge are the only interior linemen with much experience.
Redshirt junior Marcellis Williamson, senior Corey Moncrief and redshirt freshman Neal Huynh have little to no experience.
You're going hard every play
Oxley said. If you play a team that has more depth than you it comes down to just speed and will power so depth is very important.
In addition to lacking depth, the loss of Jameson Hartke takes away much of the versatility the defensive line had.
Hartke not only played both interior positions, but end as well. As a sophomore Hartke recorded 7.5 sacks, which is the fifth-best single-season mark at Ohio. His 17.5 career sacks are second all-time, behind only Andre Jackson's 19.
Ohio differentiates its interior linemen by how they line up and how they are utilized. The defensive tackle, or three technique, is a more athletic player that usually shades the inside of shoulder of either guard. The nose tackle covers the center and is usually a little bit bigger and not quite as quick.
The three techniques are the Landen Cohens of the world
Germano said. The guys that are athletic and big and can move.
Germano said that Hodge is the only guy that has the ability to play either position, but because nobody else can play defensive tackle he's going to be restricted to playing only on the inside. Oxley is the primary nose tackle.
It would be nice if we could move Ernie to different places
which is something that we just can't do right now
Germano said.
The lack of depth and experience on the interior has even effected the way the Bobcats have recruited.
John Taylor, a 6-foot-5, 275-pound lineman from North Olmstead and Carl Jones, a 6-foot-2, 240-pounder from Arlington, Texas, are both part of the incoming freshman class.
It's hard to predict what a freshman will do
Germano said. But we're a little concerned. We don't have a lot of experience outside of A.J. and Ernie.
Germano is much less concerned about the situation at defensive end.
The top three ends a year ago - junior Curtis Meyers, redshirt senior Conor Reilly and senior Kris Luchsinger - all return this season. Meyers (shoulder) and Reilly (foot) are both sitting out this spring, but Germano thinks that will just make the position deeper.
Redshirt junior Stafford Gatling, redshirt freshman Tremayne Scott and junior Dak Notestine are getting an increased amount of reps.
They've gotten better
Germano said. With those two coming back
we could be three deep at each side of the end position.
Germano said that some of these players could be used to fill roles, coming in on third and long for example, while others will play every down.
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