University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Previewing the 2003 Panthers: The Linebackers
8/26/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
Previewing the 2003 Panthers: The Linebackers
8/26/2003
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Lewis Moore will move to middle linebacker this year. |
With the departure of starters Gerald Hayes and Brian Beinecke, the linebacker position is in need of underclassmen to step up and fill the voids. Last season, the Panthers touted one of the Big East?s best linebacker units in Hayes, an NFL Draft selection of the Arizona Cardinals, Beinecke, a three-year starter, and LEWIS MOORE, the lone returning starter who appears on the verge of stardom as he enters his final year.
?Losing Gerald Hayes is definitely losing the heart and soul of our defense, our leader of the defense,? linebackers coach Curtis Bray said. ?Brian Beinecke was the most underrated player on our team last season. He was one of our smartest players who helped out everyone on the field.
?The biggest thing about losing Gerald and Brian is the departure of both production and leadership. That?s what made those two great players who they were.?
?We have a very young unit this year,? Bray said. ?We only have one returning starter (Moore) and that is where our experience will have to come from. Other than Lewis and Malcolm, we are going to rely on either first or second-year players to contribute.
?As a group, though, the underclassmen are pretty athletic and we are going to have to play to their strengths as they learn our defense.?
?We are looking for Lewis to have a big year and he?s definitely capable of it,? Bray said. ?He?s athletic and very talented but just needs to refine himself. He has the ability to take over the position from both a leadership and production standpoint. We fully expect him to do that.?
Providing depth in the middle is junior JOE DIPRE (6-4, 250). According to Bray, Dipre is a ?smart football player who just needs to get back into football shape? following a year in which he was restricted to practicing with the team. The 2003 season will be Dipre?s first seeing active duty.
Postell (6-1, 235), who switched from running back to linebacker last season, has the edge for the starting Will linebacker nod. He played in all 13 games last year as an understudy to Beinecke and shows nice potential.
?Malcolm can really run and has displayed the ability to be a pretty good blitzer,? Bray said. ?We expect him to step into the starting role and perform solidly. I think last year?s experience has really helped him and that will show this season.?
Also vying for time at the weakside spot will be sophomore CHARLES SALLET (6-0, 225) and junior DOUG ROSEBERRY (6-0, 225).
BRIAN BENNETT (6-0, 235) is a leading contender at Sam linebacker following a solid spring. Bennett will be pushed strongly by AZZIE BEAGNYUM (6-1, 245) for the starting nod. Both enter their sophomore year following inactive seasons in 2002.
?Brian is athletic and has good instincts,? Bray said. ?Although he doesn?t have the conventional size for the position, Brian can play big and with great technique. We?re looking for him to continue to battle to earn a starting position.
?Azzie can really run. He is very fast and very athletic. We?re looking forward to seeing him develop. Right now he just needs to continue to gain experience.?
Five incoming freshmen will enter the mix for fall training camp, including middle linebacker candidates CHRIS MCKILLOP (6-2, 230) and CLINT SESSION (5-11, 230), Sam linebacker prospects H.B. BLADES (5-11, 245) and DERRON THOMAS (6-1, 220) and Will linebacker JOE CLERMOND (6-2, 220).
