Travian Robertson is Out For Year
Starting defensive tackle Travian Robertson, a Junior and one of the most experienced starters on the Gamecock defense, sustained a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his right knee and is now out for the season. This post looks at the Gamecock defensive tackles that will have to step into a big hole left by Robertson.
Robertson was a workhorse in the first three games playing a ton of snaps. Many of those snaps will now be played by the projected, pre-season starters at the tackle position, Ladi Ajiboye and Nathan Pepper, from Greenville.
Ajiboye was suspended for the first three games of the season. Losing Robertson is disappointing because the prospect of Ajiboye playing alongside of Robertson could have given opposing offensive linemen headaches. Pepper has also played sparingly through the first four game after having suffered an ankle injury early in the Georgia game and playing through a creaky knee. Thus, two solid starting defensive tackles are set for the rest of the season.
However, in the SEC it is definitely unwise to go to war with just two tackles. That is not enough depth to withstand the rigors of four quarters against an SEC offensive line. A defense needs a minimum of four sound tackles . . . if not six . . . who can rotate in and out. Big defensive tackles have to have fresh legs because there is no resting in the battle at the line of scrimmage. If you don't have quality depth in the SEC, the offensive lines will wear down the tackles anchoring the middle of the defense, and the defense will collapse in the second half.
The first of the backup players is Melvin Ingram (6'2, 297), number 6. Fans were disappointed that Ajiboye was unavailable due to a suspension earlier in the year. However, his absence now should be viewed as a blessing in disguise. Ingram played a lot of snaps and gained valuable experience against several strong offensive lines in the first four games. Ingram is a redshirt sophomore who, after undergoing foot surgery in 2008, did not play last season. In the 2007 season, Ingram, then a freshman, played a lot of linebacker (after Jasper Brinkley was injured against LSU). He also returned kickoffs.
After Ingram, there are no tackles left with much experience on the roster. The only scholarship defensive tackle is redshirt freshman Kenny Davis (6-3, 287), from Newberry. Davis plays with number 94. His biography on USCSports.com says he is a, "raw but talented player who is continuing to learn the game." Davis was a three star recruit by the Rivals ranking service. Davis chose the Gamecocks over North Carolina, Clemson, Georgia, Stanford and Virginia Tech. He played a good bit against Ole Miss when Robertson went down.
The only other uninjured defensive tackle listed is Darantzy Brunson, a 258 pound Junior walkon from Wade Hampton High School. I love Wade Hampton and their exciting Delaware Wing T offense, but it is probably safe to speculate that the Gamecock coaches may be considering position switches to shore up the defensive tackle spot rather than playing Brunson, who is also undersized for tackle in any case.
One possibility is JUCO transfer Steven Singleton (6-3, 300). Singleton (number 75) was rated as a three star offensive linemen coming out of junior college. He was signed out of high school by LSU as a four-star offensive lineman prospect. Already this season, the Gamecock coaches have mentioned that moving Singleton to defensive tackle might be needed. Singleton is not currently listed on the offensive line depth chart so he could get some playing time on the defensive side.
Another offensive lineman who might play some defense is Ryan Broadhead (6-5, 261). Broadhead (number 65) was a terror playing defensive end in the spring game. He is a bit smallish for the tackle position, but possibly he could provide needed relief for the starters.
The other option is moving a defensive end to the tackle spot. Clifton Geathers (6-8, 281) has the size and talent to step into the position. Nevertheless, the coaches have not indicated he would be shifted to tackle. Perhaps they like his huge 6-8 wingspan out on the end to swat away pass attempts. However, the other defensive ends are probably too small to play tackle and Geathers is likely the only player who could step into the job.
Technorati Tags: gamecocks, defensive, line, depth
Robertson was a workhorse in the first three games playing a ton of snaps. Many of those snaps will now be played by the projected, pre-season starters at the tackle position, Ladi Ajiboye and Nathan Pepper, from Greenville.
Ajiboye was suspended for the first three games of the season. Losing Robertson is disappointing because the prospect of Ajiboye playing alongside of Robertson could have given opposing offensive linemen headaches. Pepper has also played sparingly through the first four game after having suffered an ankle injury early in the Georgia game and playing through a creaky knee. Thus, two solid starting defensive tackles are set for the rest of the season.
However, in the SEC it is definitely unwise to go to war with just two tackles. That is not enough depth to withstand the rigors of four quarters against an SEC offensive line. A defense needs a minimum of four sound tackles . . . if not six . . . who can rotate in and out. Big defensive tackles have to have fresh legs because there is no resting in the battle at the line of scrimmage. If you don't have quality depth in the SEC, the offensive lines will wear down the tackles anchoring the middle of the defense, and the defense will collapse in the second half.
The first of the backup players is Melvin Ingram (6'2, 297), number 6. Fans were disappointed that Ajiboye was unavailable due to a suspension earlier in the year. However, his absence now should be viewed as a blessing in disguise. Ingram played a lot of snaps and gained valuable experience against several strong offensive lines in the first four games. Ingram is a redshirt sophomore who, after undergoing foot surgery in 2008, did not play last season. In the 2007 season, Ingram, then a freshman, played a lot of linebacker (after Jasper Brinkley was injured against LSU). He also returned kickoffs.
After Ingram, there are no tackles left with much experience on the roster. The only scholarship defensive tackle is redshirt freshman Kenny Davis (6-3, 287), from Newberry. Davis plays with number 94. His biography on USCSports.com says he is a, "raw but talented player who is continuing to learn the game." Davis was a three star recruit by the Rivals ranking service. Davis chose the Gamecocks over North Carolina, Clemson, Georgia, Stanford and Virginia Tech. He played a good bit against Ole Miss when Robertson went down.The only other uninjured defensive tackle listed is Darantzy Brunson, a 258 pound Junior walkon from Wade Hampton High School. I love Wade Hampton and their exciting Delaware Wing T offense, but it is probably safe to speculate that the Gamecock coaches may be considering position switches to shore up the defensive tackle spot rather than playing Brunson, who is also undersized for tackle in any case.
One possibility is JUCO transfer Steven Singleton (6-3, 300). Singleton (number 75) was rated as a three star offensive linemen coming out of junior college. He was signed out of high school by LSU as a four-star offensive lineman prospect. Already this season, the Gamecock coaches have mentioned that moving Singleton to defensive tackle might be needed. Singleton is not currently listed on the offensive line depth chart so he could get some playing time on the defensive side.Another offensive lineman who might play some defense is Ryan Broadhead (6-5, 261). Broadhead (number 65) was a terror playing defensive end in the spring game. He is a bit smallish for the tackle position, but possibly he could provide needed relief for the starters.
The other option is moving a defensive end to the tackle spot. Clifton Geathers (6-8, 281) has the size and talent to step into the position. Nevertheless, the coaches have not indicated he would be shifted to tackle. Perhaps they like his huge 6-8 wingspan out on the end to swat away pass attempts. However, the other defensive ends are probably too small to play tackle and Geathers is likely the only player who could step into the job.Technorati Tags: gamecocks, defensive, line, depth
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