Michigan State Defensive Line Preview

From The Orlando Sentinel blogs

By Blain Bradley
 

"Offense wins games, defense wins championships." The Spartans will have to believe in this phrase in order to have on field success this season. Michigan State's defense was ranked sixth in the nation in total defense, allowing only 277.4 yards a game. 

Much of the defense's success came from the play of the d-line. The big boys up front were anchored by defensive tackle and current Green Bay Packer Jerel Worthy (currently Worthy is rotating in the starting lineup and impressing coaches and teammates at Packer's training camp). Although Worthy is gone, Spartan fans can rejoice in the fact that seasoned veterans return such as Marcus Rush and William Gholston. Both had impacts last season. 

College football insider Phil Steele ranked Michigan State's defensive line the 10th best unit in the nation. He notes that the Spartan front line was key last season allowing only 101 rushing yards per game. The Spartans also tallied 45 quarterback sacks. This year Steele says the Spartans will rely on William Gholston to rally the front four.

Gholston (who is cousin to former Buckeye and current Chicago Bear Vernon Gholston) is a physical specimen, standing 6 feet 7 inches and weighing 278 pounds. He has a freakish reach that will allow him to disengage blockers and create separation. He is a preseason favorite for the Bednarik, Hendricks, Lombardi, Camp, and Nagurski awards. Gholston also holds preseason All American Titles from CBSSports.com (2nd Team) and Phil Steele (3rd Team).

Gholston is looking to have a big year, largely due to the fact that he is a hot draft prospect. Last year he had a little slip up against rival Michigan. In an incident that has gained fame via internet clips, Gholston punched Wolverine quarterback Denard Robinson during a scrum on the ground. Gholston served a suspension handed by the Big Ten for the incident. He has put it aside and looks to lead the Spartan D-line and defensive unit.

The defensive line preseason depth chart reads as follows: Defensive End Marcus Rush (6-2, 250 SO) Defensive Tackle Anthony Rashad White (6-2, 330 SR) Nose Tackle Tyler Hoover (6-7, 310 SR-5) or James Kittredge (6-4, 272 SO) Defensive End William Gholston (6-7, 278 JR)

Marcus Rush, an Ohio native, enters his second starting season. He has numerous preseason accolades and is praised by coaches. As a redshirt freshman he earned Big Ten Freshman Defensive MVP honors from ESPN.com. Rush is excited about the depth of the defensive line. In an interview from the Lansing State Journal Rush stated:

“Your goal is to have that comfort zone that you can come out and rest for a couple plays and be able to come back in, and that's great. We’re gonna be that much more fresh and more powerful.”

Anthony Rashad White has some tough shoes to fill. The senior from Battle Creek is replacing All American d-tackle Jerel Worthy. White appeared in 13 games, but he is best known for the blocked field goal that set up the Outback Bowl win for the Spartans. He has pure size and strength. His veteran experience will help him endure the season long battle in the trenches.

Tyler Hoover, a fifth year senior from Novi, is in a heated position battle With James Kittredge (a Ramsey, New Jersey). Hoover added 20 pounds to his frame in order to make the switch from d-end to nose tackle. He suffered a fractured rib last season, yet he impressed coaches during the Green and White scrimmage. Hoover won the Danziger Award as a sophomore (this is presented to the team's most impressive Detroit area player). He tallied nine starts as a sophomore and had a huge impact. Hopefully Hoover stays healthy and produces this season.

Kittredge is a product of Don Bosco Prep, a national football powerhouse that has reached the top of high school polls across the nation. He was an Under Armour All American, who originally committed to Vanderbilt. Kittredge originally played Offensive Line at Vandy, appearing in games as a true freshman at guard and center. He sat last season out during the transfer period and has three years of eligibility left. Kittredge's father played with coach Dantonio at South Carolina. Kittredge had a falling out with the Vanderbilt program and wanted a team allowing him to play on the defensive side of the ball. Kittredge was originally recruited by MSU as a d-lineman in high school. He has a high motor and instinct for making plays. 

Both Kittredge and Hoover are excellent players. What might be best is a hybrid nose tackle role in which both players rotate. Hoover offers overwhelming size and experience, while Kittredge is quick and versatile. A combination could prove to be a secret weapon in the Spartans defensive arsenal.

A defensive unit is anchored by the d-line. With a deep squad, experienced veterans, freak athletes, and hungry younger players, the MSU d-line will set a precedent for the rest of the squad. Look for a big season from the front four.

MSU Spartans lose DT Jerel Worthy but have Anthony Rashad White ready to go

Photo: Michigan State Athletics (MSUSpartans.com) -- Anthony Rashad White sounds eager to fill the void DT Jerel Worthy left after declaring for the NFL Draft.



By Adam Biggers
@AdamBiggers81

The Michigan State Spartans' defense flourished in 2011. It was one of the best in the nation against the run (137 yards, 78th-ranked), and one of the stingiest in terms of points allowed (about 18, 10th-ranked). While the secondary was certainly part of that transformation and success, the front line could have been all the more valuable.

And who was on the front line leading the way? Junior Jerel Worthy, who opted to skip his final year in East Lansing and enter the 2012 NFL Draft. He's a likely first-round pick. It was without a doubt the right choice.


However, Worthy's absence leaves questions. One of the largest looming is who will replace him at defensive tackle. Tyler Hoover comes to mind, but according to a report, that player could be Anthony Rashad White, who enters his second season at Michigan State.


Worthy, a 6-foot-3, 310-pound tackle, was known for a great anti-Michigan tattoo and an affinity for making the most on the pass-rush. He had 30 tackles in 2011, including five in the Spartans' 33-30 Outback Bowl win over Georgia. He finished the year with 3.5 sacks and served as a prime example for the younger defensive linemen to follow.


Players like Worthy don't come around often. There is no doubt that Michigan State will have a difficult task replacing him. But it sounds like there is at least one ready to pick up where Worthy left off.


"Losing Jerel, that's a big thing," White said in a recent interview. "But (he and I) already discussed, 'You're not losing anybody, because it's your turn.' He said I need to step up and take control of the D-line. And I think we're going to be great next year. He's a great player and he's taught me a lot, also."


White missed four games in 2011, but don't forget what he did while he was on the field. Just as important as Worthy in the Outback Bowl, White had seven tackles that came in handy as Michigan State won its first bowl game under coach Mark Dantonio.


It will be important for White to brush up on technique. Following Worthy will present its own challenges as well. More will be answered April 28, in theory, when the Spartans take the field for their annual Spring Game in East Lansing. White, according to Dantonio, will be an important cog of a defense that should be "pretty good."