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Show StatesmanSports Page 12 “Where the Locals Eat” Lunch • Dinner • Breakfast • Banquet Facilities • Steaks • Seafood • Large Variety of Omelettes USU JUNIOR QB DIONDRE BOREL, 12, rolls out to avoid the pressure being applied by junior linebacker Devin Johnson, 44, during the Aggies scrimmage on Saturday. Opposing quarterbacks should be under a lot of pressure this season due to head coach Gary Andersen’s attacking style of play on the defensive side of the ball. PATRICK ODEN photo Speed, strength will be key for Ags By TIM OLSEN sports editor Welcome Back Aggies!!! 20% OFF Buy any entree get one The Kitchen Sink 1/2 OFF Not valid with any other offer Not valid with any other offer Monday, Aug. 24, 2009 Speed, strength and more speed. After spending eight months under the tutelage of Utah State’s new head football coach Gary Andersen, it’s clear what the Aggie defense is focusing on heading into the 2009 season. “Since the coaches have come in it’s been great. We’ve had the best summer and spring ball since I’ve been here,” said senior safety James Brindley. “We’ve gotten extremely stronger as a team since January.” Along with their strength, Andersen quickly addressed the speed of the team’s defense by shuffling players around. He even brought over some guys from the offensive side of the ball to play defense. “To play an aggressive, fast, up-tempo type of defense you’ve got to be able to run,” Andersen said. “We can’t put enough emphasis on the defensive side, so we had to tweak that as much as possible. That takes time … it takes time for them to develop in those positions, but I think it will pay great dividends as we go into the future.” Some of those changes include safeties being moved to linebacker and linebackers being moved to the defensive line. One of the biggest changes may be to players like former running back Curtis Marsh, who will now be playing cornerback. “We want to be able to pressure, play man coverage, bluff and move around,” Andersen said. “We’re not real big so we’ve got to keep people guessing. We’re a small defense, but we’ve got to be able to run, move and cause people some problems.” Despite all the shuffling on the defensive side, the Aggies are returning a solid core to the defense that includes seven returning starters and 24 returning lettermen. Brindley, and fellow seniors Paul Igboeli and Kejon Murphy figure to play key roles in the evolution of Utah State’s defense from its past conservatism to Andersen’s attacking style. The 6-foot, 220-pound Igboeli is the Aggies’ top returning tackler as he posted 78 stops last season, including six tackles for loss and one interception. Brindley wasn’t far behind as the 5foot-11-inch safety recorded 75 tackles and a team high of three interceptions. “With the new scheme and the players that we’ve got and the players that we recruit, I think this scheme is better because we’ve been having a fast defense so we can pretty much run with anybody,” Murphy said. “I felt that the past years we’ve been playing conservative and not attacking, but with this new defense we’re in attack mode all the time. I think that this defense now is going to shock some people.” One doesn’t have to look too far to witness the type of shock Andersen’s defense can provide unsuspecting victims. Alabama can attest all too well to Andersen’s defensive prowess as they were stymied by the former Utah defensive coordinators schemes throughout the Utes surprising Sugar Bowl victory last season. The Crimson Tide were held to a mere 31 rushing yards – 165 yards below their season average – and gave up eight sacks to Andersen’s attacking defense. “The energy is what probably stands out the most, just everyone is optimistic,” Brindley said. “And as a defense just a lot more playing to the ball speed. We’ve got a lot of speed on the team this year, so that will be one of the biggest, most noticeable changes this year.” With so much talent returning, a new scheme and a new coaching staff, the players are keenly aware of heightened expectations heading into the 2009 season. “We have high expectations. I think this town deserves a great year of football, it hasn’t been that way in a long time,” Murphy said. “This year I believe the town has high expectations with coach Andersen and all the recruits he’s bringing in. We’re ready to get this thing rolling, just get this thing steered in the right direction, and start something new.” –t.olsen@aggiemail.usu.edu JUNIOR TIGHT END JEROME BARBOUR, 26, hauls in a pass before being tackled by sophomore linebacker Tim Wlodarczyk, 45, at the Aggies scrimmage Saturday. PATRICK ODEN photo Come play Northern Utah’s Best-Kept Secret. 18 Championship Holes Driving Range Practice Putting & Chipping Greens G o l f C o u r s e 550 East 100 North Smithfield, Utah 435-563-6825 Fall USU Student Special: 9 Holes of Golf, Sunday-Friday $10, must show current USU ID. |