Numbers tell story for USC D-line

Last season’s ugly games aside, some stats point to improvement in ’08

Brad Lawing would like to clear up some things, and the USC defensive line coach is prepared to do so with stats.

Yes, the Gamecocks struggled against the run last season, especially in two games that set records for defensive futility. But there is more to the story, insists Lawing, and reason to believe things will change this season.

When facing two-back teams, the Gamecocks’ defense came through, holding Georgia and Clemson to a total of one touchdown.

The problem came when the opponent had a quarterback who could run, and Lawing includes in that category Arkansas’ Darren McFadden, who tied the SEC’s single-game rushing mark of 321 yards against USC. A week later, Florida’s Tim Tebow ran roughshod at Williams-Brice; a few weeks after that, defensive coordinator Tyrone Nix was gone, with a push from coach Steve Spurrier.

“We got beat by the No. 1 and No. 2 Heisman guys. They beat us, and we looked horrible playing them. I’m not going to dispute that at all,” Lawing said. “Clemson’s got that high-powered offense, and do you know how many touchdowns they scored against us? One. I rest my case. The bottom line is scoring points.”

Lawing has a point. USC was ranked seventh in the league in scoring defense, at 23.5 points per game, while it was ninth in yards allowed, 378.1, and last in rushing defense. Another stat Lawing points out is third-down defense, in which USC ranked fifth, stopping opponents 36.1 percent of the time.

And those stats include the games against Arkansas and Florida, which combined to convert 22 of 29 third-down chances and score the most points, 99, a Spurrier-coached team has surrendered in consecutive games.

“We were built to stop the pass, and in the pass defense we were pretty darn good,” Lawing said. “But when teams spread the ball, we weren’t built for the quarterback being able to run.”

To that end, the points of emphasis have changed for the defensive line. First is stopping the run — which is the defense’s mantra as a whole — and second is leading the SEC in third-down defense.

Lawing takes ownership of the latter stat, because it often is the defensive line’s job to put pressure on the quarterback and force incompletions.

The talent might be present for the line to excel. The question is whether it’s ready to.

Last year, Lawing was happy to finally have a bevy of big, SEC-type bodies: Clifton Geathers, Cliff Matthews, Travian Robertson, Ladi Ajiboye, Byron McKnight and Donte’e Nicholls. All but McKnight and Nicholls were forced to play as true freshmen, though, with Ajiboye starting 10 games at defensive tackle.

“Last year, I didn’t know the plays as well, and coach was teaching me some new stuff, just polishing me up,” said Geathers, who is competing for the starting spot at defensive end. “So therefore, I’m just getting better and better every day.”

They all will play more this season, especially with Eric Norwood moving to linebacker and Matthews shifting back to the line after a year at linebacker. The unit has four upperclassmen who are likely to play, but three sophomores and junior Nate Pepper could start.

Offenses aren’t changing much, so the unit will continue to see spread offenses and mobile quarterbacks. (And Tebow is still around.) New defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson has pledged to use more of a 4-2-5 set-up, but Lawing said that doesn’t affect the line.

To him, it all comes down to the same old fundamentals, and improving those stats.

“We’re going to stop the run,” Lawing said “That’s objective No. 1.”

DEFENSIVE LINE DEPTH CHART

End

Player	Hgt.	Wgt.	Year
Jordin Lindsey	6-3	261	R-Sr.

Redshirted last season, had 15 sacks combined in 2006-07 seasons.

Clifton Geathers

6-7

290

So.

Likely to see a lot of action on passing downs.

Tackle

Player	Hgt.	Wgt.	Year
Nate Pepper	6-1	292	R-Jr.

Received a medical redshirt last season after starting first three games.

Jonathan Williams

6-2

290

Sr.

Also competing with Donte’e Nicholls, end Travian Robertson for playing time.

Tackle

Player	Hgt.	Wgt.	Year
Ladi Ajiboye	6-1	300	So.

Had 39 tackles and three sacks as a true freshman.

Marque Hall

6-3

314

R-Sr.

Played in all 12 games, starting eight, in 2007.

End

Player	Hgt.	Wgt.	Year
Cliff Matthews	6-4	250	So.

Back at his original position after playing OLB last year.

Travian Robertson

6-4

270

So.

Coach Steve Spurrier calls him one of the team’s strongest players.

Reach Emerson at (803) 771-8676.

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