Football Friday: Linebackers

July 23rd, 2010 Tim Schlittner

Frank Ordonez / The Post-Standard

By Tim Schlittner     

Forty three days to the opener. Last week, Dave Cooperman kicked off our look at the defense with an excellent analysis of those who will be playing on the line of scrimmage. Now it’s time for an overview of what is arguably Syracuse’s strongest position group—linebacker.     

I’ve been pretty fortunate when it comes to the Football Friday feature. I was picked to review the running backs, a position of great tradition at Syracuse that remains strong to this day. Now I am pleased to breakdown the linebacking corps which includes three senior starters and tons of upside.   

Derrell Smith   

This talented senior will serve as the quarterback of the defense from his middle linebacker position. The 2009 2nd Team All-Big East selection can do it all. In naming him the 24th best player in the Big East, ESPN.com’s Brian Bennett said: “Smith was the heart and soul of the Orange defense. A guy who has played all over the field during his career (including running back), he found a home at middle linebacker, where he can put his smarts and athleticism to use.”     

Smith led the team in tackles, had 6.5 sacks, and forced four fumbles in only ten games. In other words, this guy can play. If Smith stays healthy, he will have a chance to shatter last year’s statistics and be in the running for Big East Defensive Player of the Year.     

Doug Hogue     

Senior Doug Hogue joins Smith to form an absolutely dynamic duo in the second level of Syracuse’s defense. Can you remember the last time the Orange had two certified stars at one position? If so, leave it in the comments section. Hogue was a beast in 2009, his first year at linebacker. He led the team with 9.5 sacks. His .79 sacks per game were tied for 21st nationally and he led the Big East with 1.33 tackles for a loss per game.     

His best game came against Rutgers, just voted as Syracuse’s biggest rival by Otto’s Army. Against the Scarlet Knights, Hogue set a new Syracuse record with 6.5 tackles for a loss. He had a total of 7 tackles, 3.5 sacks, and a forced fumble in the absence of Smith who was out with injury. As Dave Cooperman reported, Hogue underwent knee surgery in April but should be back for summer conditioning. Expect this former running back to have a big campaign in 2010.       

Ryan Gillum     

A search of senior Ryan Gillum’s name on OttosArmy.com returns three results, all revolving around the infamous snowball incident that got him, Delone Carter, and Torrey Ball suspended.  He is listed as a starter on the post-spring depth chart. Not sure exactly what to make of him.     

Gillum has 11 career tackles. Perhaps the attention being paid to Smith and Hogue will free him up for some big plays this season, but I can’t help but think how much more comfortable I’d be with E.J. Carter in this role. If he only would have kept his appointments.    

The Reserves    

Given the fact that Smith and Hogue are both coming off injuries and Gillum is best known for a snowball incident, the lack of depth at the linebacker position is concerning. Our backup linebackers are freshmen Marquis Spruill and Brice Hawkes and junior Dan Vaughan. Vaughan has the most experience, playing in all 12 games in 2009. Spruill is a 6’2″, 223 lbs. all-state product from New Jersey who played a year at Fork Union Military Academy in Virginia after receiving no interest from major colleges. Bleacher Report lists Spruill as one of the Big East’s 10 impact freshmen for 2010 saying: “Spruill is a tackling machine.  (At Fork Hill) he opened the eyes of evaluators and was considered one of the better prep school players in the country. Look for Spruill to give Ryan Gillum a run for his money at weakside linebacker as the season draws closer. It may not take long for Orange fans to become accustomed to hearing Spruill’s name at the end of a big tackle.”
  
Hawkes, 6’3″, 205 lbs, was a Florida high school teammate of highly touted freshman defensive end Max Beaulieu. According to the Syracuse Post-Standard, Florida State, LSU and Michigan were beginning to show interest in Hawkes—who apparently experienced a late growth spurt—when Syracuse got him to commit. His coach told the Miami Herald that Syracuse got one of the big steals of the Class of 2010 in south Florida. Only time will tell.
  
Conclusion
  
Smith and Hogue are the stars of not only this position group, but the entire defense. Their performances will be a large factor in whether or not Syracuse makes a bowl game. Gillum will have an opportunity to make plays but may be replaced by two freshmen that appear to have significant upside.  
 
Overall, if the unit remains healthy, it will be one of the Orange’s great strengths. I’ll leave you with a quote from the Syracuse Post-Standard’s Nolan Weidner: “The linebackers have really been an impressive story from this time last year.  The depth is there and the coaches are more comfortable with this group than any other position on the field.”      

—     

Follow along in the Otto’s Army Football Friday series.  Here is what we already wrote about and the upcoming schedule:    

Date Position Writer
11-Jun Quarterbacks Dave Cooperman
18-Jun Running Backs Tim Schlittner
25-Jun Wide Receivers Euclid 419er
2-Jul Tight Ends Tom Sullivan
9-Jul Offensive Line Steve Schaefer
16-Jul Defensive Line Dave Cooperman
23-Jul Linebackers Tim Schlittner
30-Jul Defensive Backs Euclid 419er
6-Aug Incoming Freshman Tom Sullivan
13-Aug Coaching Staff Tim Schlittner
20-Aug Schedule Analysis Steve Schaefer
27-Aug Season Predictions Everyone
3-Sep Akron Preview Dave Cooperman
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5 Responses to “Football Friday: Linebackers”

  1. Patrick Conole says:
    July 23, 2010 at 11:18 am

    Tim,

    You guys at Otto’s Army do an incredible job covering SU – so thanks!

    It’s been a while since SU has had 2 linebackers like Smith and Hogue. I think the last time we had this good of combination of LBs goes back to the late 1990′s when Keith Bullock and Morlon Greenwood and Rich Scanlon were making tons of tackles. Prior to that group, I would have to go back to the days of Dan Conley and Glen Young making tackle after tackle. Anyways, I’m hoping for a huge year from Smith & Hogue. Go Cuse.

    Reply
  2. Orange Koolaid says:
    July 23, 2010 at 1:29 pm

    This will be an exciting year for the SU defense. Also, this will be a serious evaluation year for Scott Schafer. The tools are there (mostly). His ability to “hide” the secondary will be crucial. I hope to see aggressive blitz packages. The quicker we get to the QB, the less time they will have to dissect our weakness. Although I see the secondary improving, I still feel this is an area of talent concern. With most of the slated QB starters on our schedule being dual threat, I am also interested to see the ability of the D Line to pressure, and keep the opposing O-line from the second level. Starting to get quite excited friends. Go Cuse

    Reply
  3. Tim says:
    July 23, 2010 at 4:59 pm

    Thanks Patrick. Very much appreciate it.

    OK-I agree that this is a very big year for Shafer. We finished last in the league in points allowed in 2009. He has a solid, experienced group and must do better this year.

    Reply
  4. darnell says:
    July 25, 2010 at 12:19 am

    If you would like to see footage on Spruill check Marquis Spruill/hudl.com

    Reply
  5. Syracuse dilf says:
    July 27, 2010 at 9:02 pm

    Bullock and Clifton Simth in 99 were a very effective tandom

    Reply

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