Cardinal Defense to Reload This Fall
July 31, 2003 | Football
July 31, 2003
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - One of the top-ranked units in the nation last year, the Cardinals must find a way to replace seven starters to a unit that allowed just 319.1 yards (22nd in the nation) and 24.5 points per game.
However, looking on the bright side, the Cards return six starters with at least two years of starting experience and have a plethora of hungry talent who are anxiously waiting to carve its own niche on the defensive side of the ball.
While many of the familiar faces from one of the nation's top defensive units over the last two seasons have departed The Ville, an abundance of young talent, which saw its fair share of playing time, is ready to step into the limelight and give a repeat performance.
In a way, it's fitting that a new era in the proud history of Cardinal football begins with a changing of the guard on defense.
The Cards are fortunate to be in the experienced hands of first-year defensive coordinator Mike Gillhamer, who has four years of NFL experience and 14 more coaching I-A defensive backs. He will employ a fast and hard-hitting 4-3 defense with an emphasis on team speed.
While two faces which became very familiar to opposing quarterbacks, defensive ends Dewayne White and Devon Thomas, will no longer be calling opposing backfields home, a familiar face in the form of former Cardinal Reggie Johnson will take on the task of tutoring the new crop of Cardinal defensive linemen the finer points about greeting opposing signal callers.
A four-year letterwinner at linebacker for the Cards, Johnson will take on the role of defensive line coach at U of L.
Replacing White, the U of L and C-USA all-time leader for sacks and tackles for loss, will be no easy matter, however, sophomore Montavious Stanley will get the first crack at the starting job. Stanley was impressive in 2002 while getting his first taste of collegiate game action. With the strength to collapse the pocket and the speed to track down quarterbacks, he has the potential to turn the young line into a strong point of the defense.
 Junior Bobby Leffew will figure into the mix at the stud end position after spending his first two collegiate campaigns at tackle  | |
Clogging the middle at the left and right tackle slots, respectively, are a pair of athletic 300-pounders in junior Tyrone Saterfield and senior Scott Lopez. An imposing force upfront, Saterfield was solid in 2002, logging 19 tackles.
Lopez, a two-year starter with 25 starts under his belt at left tackle is penciled in for the starting post at right tackle, but will be pushed by sophomore Elvis Dumervil, one of only a handful of true freshmen to earn a letter in recent years. Dumervil, who played defensive end this past spring, is a strong and athletic prospect, who was impressive in limited action a year ago.
Also looking to push Saterfield at left tackle are sophomore Jeremy Seguin and redshirt freshman Brinson Harley, both of whom were impressive contributors to the scout team a year ago.
Junior Marcus Jones, a slightly undersized but extremely quick and athletic end, heads into camp targeting the starting job at right end. Quick off the edge, Jones garnered valuable playing time as a sophomore, especially over the second half of the season, and appears to be ready to earn his stripes in the starting lineup. Redshirt freshman Matt Sanders and sophomore Chad Rimpsey, who returns to the defensive line after spending the second half of his redshirt freshman season at tight end, also figure to battle for playing time during the spring.
Coming Friday: A preview of the Linebackers
