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Show StatesmanSports Monday, Aug. 29, 2011 Page 15 USU Football improves front line BY TAVIN STUCK! sports editor that we've gone through it with the spring and now through camp, I really love what it has to bring to the table - the different dynamics that come out of it. I think it's very exciting." The 3-4 defense usually involves other players to put pressure on the quarterback in addition to the linemen and those blitz packages come in many different looks which can confuse opposing offenses. Junior defensive tackle Al Lapuaho said the new look gives USU a big advantage. "It's dynamic," said the transfer from Snow College. "We have backers coming and blitzing, we have safeties and corners blitzing, the offense won't know what we're doing." Maile said the look brings new flavor to the Western Athletic Conference. "I love it right now because no one really does it in our conference," Maile said. "It's something a little different." As dynamic as the new defense will be with all the blitz options, one less lineman means the line needs beefier linemen, prompting USU to recruit several juco transfers. "The reason why we brought them was because of who they were at their junior colleges," Maile said. The D-line positions will be filled by Lapuaho at nose tackle, flanked by junior transfer Bojay Filimoeatu and senior Quinn Garner. Expect transfers Havea Lasike and Evan Huahulu to also make an impact for the Aggies. "This is the most talent I've seen on a defensive front in a long time," Maile said. "Together it's a wrecking crew. But again, I've got to get them ready to be that wrecking crew when the time comes." - tavin.stucki@aggiemail.usu. edu The trenches. The beef. The big-uglies. Quarterback bodyguards or quarterback killers. Football coaches across the country will tell you a game is won or lost on the line. The 2011 season at Utah State University is no different. In this, the first of a three-part series previewing the Aggie football team, take a look at the men who make it all possible for the skill guys to do their job; the linemen. Offensive Line The Aggies return three starters on the offensive line: sophomore Tyler Larsen at center with seniors Funaki Assisi on the left and Philip Gapelu on the right at the guard positions. Larsen started his freshman year while both Assisi and Gapelu have two years of experience apiece. Offensive line coach TJ Woods said he will rely on the experience of those three to anchor the line. "Obviously that's our strength right now on the front," Woods said. "We've got three guys who've got experience, they've been in the fire. We're looking forward to be able to lean on those guys." The biggest question mark for the 0-line will be at the two tackle positions. Oscar MolinaSanchez played half of the season in 2010 and has won the starting job at right tackle this year, recently beating out junior transfer Stetson Tenney. Tanner Richins and sophomore Eric Schultz continue to battle it out for the left side, a spot vacated by Spencer Johnson who graduated last year. Larsen said the line is doing much better than they were in the spring. "The tackles are catching 41.111111.111111.14. 111% 11162•2rwrztt UTAH STATE'S LINE SQUARES off at Saturday's scrimmage. Both the offensive and defensive lines will be a key cog in deciding the Aggies' success for the 2011 season. TODD JONES photo up, so that's a really good sign," Larsen said. "Our communication is a lot better. We're picking up defenses that we haven't seen before. We're just all-in-all a lot smarter. We're getting more and more experienced out there." But what is the key to a successful offensive line this year? "Cohesiveness, playing as one, consistency," Woods said, "that's our biggest goal right now is to try and improve being on the right assignment and being consistent. We have a lot of talent, we got a lot of guys who can do a lot of good things, but 0-linemen got to do it every day, every play. That's the bottom line." Defensive line At the end of last season head coach Gary Anderson announced a change in the defensive scheme from a 4-3 to a 3-4, which means USU will have one more linebacker on the field, but one less lineman. It is also an unfamiliar switch for defensive line coach Frank Maile, who said he was always used to a 4-3. "When we switched it was new for me," Maile said. "Now U S U STUDENTS... GET READY TO RIDE BACK TO SCHOOL ri The Now $249 USU struggles, inexperienced sets before the T-birds pulled out a 2-point victory in the fifth set to take the match. The Aggies narrowly took the first set from the T-birds, 25-23, but the Southern Utah rebounding on the next set edged out Utah State, 26-24. "When you are a little inexperienced, things will matter. Little things will matter," DuBose said. "I thought Southern Utah was a little more aggressive than we were and I think that was the difference." The Aggies nearly pulled out the fifth set and had a great opportunity with the score knotted up at 13 apiece, but sophomore middle blocker Nicole Gneiting-Theurer and McArthur committed back-toback errors to give the T-birds the victory. - ty.d.hus@aggiemail.usu.edu From Page 13 Andersen radio show returns Fun Day on Saturday, Aug. 27, at the Romney Stadium Box Office, which is located on the South end of Romney Stadium. After its season-opener at Auburn on Saturday, Sept. 3, Utah State's home opener is on Saturday, Sept. 10 at 6 p.m. (MDT), taking on in-state foe Weber State, marking the first time that USU and WSU have squared off since 2001, and Utah State leads the all-time series, 11-1. The Aggie-Wildcat match-up will have special meaning for Andersen, who will be facing his mentor, Weber State head coach Ron McBride. Andersen played for McBride at Utah in 1985-86. 1 coupon portsman 4 clothing• shoes • equipment I $25 bike tune up expires 09/ I 5/ II RALEIGH EVA 3.0 Reg. $369 From Page 13 RALEIGH TALUS 4.0 Reg. $459 sane $120 Now $299 r r Like us on facebook and get I I I 40% off one item see store for details 1113 l'13 Pe ALL LOCKS 40% off ALL I HELMETS I 40% off z grew, U' 04 RALEIGH EVA 2.0 Reg. $309 I ;CC h Now $199 The portsman mince 947 Aclothing• shoes •equipment Open labor day! 129 North Main 752-0211 Store Hours: Mon & Sat 9-6 Tues-Fri 9-7 RALEIGH TALUS 3.0 Reg. $369 Now $249 I I I I I |