D-line looks to replace Southern

No unit on the JMU football team lost more this off-season than the defensive line.

Graduated defensive end Jerame Southern led the team with 6.5 sacks and 20 tackles for loss last season. His departure leaves some huge shoes to fill on the line.

"Jerame was the best player on the team hands down," junior defensive tackle Frank Cobbs said. "We’re going to need more than one person to step up."

"It’s always pretty hard to replace a great edge-rusher," defensive coordinator and line coach George Barlow said.

The Dukes will look for red-shirt sophomore defensive end Kevin Winston to pick up where Southern left off. Winston had two sacks in 2003.

"He had really good spring practices," Barlow said. "Once he gets his feet wet, he could become a Jerame Southern-type player. Technique- wise, he’s a very sound lineman."

The Dukes will switch to a 4-4 defense this season, which seems to appeal to the defensive linemen.

"I like this defense more," Winston said. "There’s more attacking and blitzing, and it’s easier to read."
With the new defense in place, the Dukes will be expected to do a better job on rush defense.

"We had some problems stopping the run last year," Cobbs said. "With this eight-man front, we’ll be more focused on stopping the run this season."

Along with Winston, Barlow expects big things from Cobbs this season based on what he’s seen in practice.
"Frank Cobbs will probably push for a starting job this year," Barlow said. "He looked real good in two-a-days."

The defensive line has dealt with various injuries in practice. Winston, though injured, expects to be ready for the season.

"I’d be playing right now if it were up to me," he said. "The injuries have kind of hurt us. We have a lot of people playing out of position."

One player who certainly knows the frustration of injuries is red-shirt senior defensive tackle Brandon Beach. Beach missed all of last season with a knee injury, but has since recovered.

"Brandon Beach looks like he’s back from his injury," Barlow said. "He’s pushing for a starting job this year."

Junior defensive tackle Demetrius Shambley and true freshman Franklin Martin have caught Barlow’s eye in practice.

"[Shambley] looked good in spring practices, and has kept that up," Barlow said. "Franklin Martin’s just been a real pleasant surprise."

The Dukes switch to a 4-4 defense means every other unit on the defense will change too. Barlow however, doesn’t think the transition should be too hard for the line.

"Some of the techniques change in the run technique," Barlow said. "And they’ll have to learn a few new things they didn’t use in the 4-3, but overall the line has the easiest transition to make on the defense."

Winston doesn’t feel the need to worry about the prospect of playing in a new defense without Southern, he said.

"Everybody’s just got to step up, that’s all we can do," Winston said. "We also can’t sit and dwell on the fact that Jerame’s not here anymore, because it’s not going to bring him .