Team is counting on better pass rush as part of an improved defense

By KENT YOUNGBLOOD, Star Tribune

Last update: August 7, 2008 - 10:06 PM

Defensive tackle Eric Small, always strong, is bigger. Defensive end Willie VanDeSteeg, always quick, is healthier.

There has been an influx of talent, from junior college (end Cedric McKinley) and from high school (freshman nose tackle Jewhan Edwards).

So the University of Minnesota defensive line is healthier, bigger, deeper. But will it be better?

It has to be, said coach Tim Brewster, if the Gophers defense is to improve.

"We've got to be able to manufacture a pass rush without adding pass rushers to the mix,'' Brewster said. "Without adding secondary players or linebackers. We have to get to the quarterback if we rush three or four guys.''

Especially with a schedule in which eight of the Gophers' 12 opponents will run a version of the spread offense. The Gophers defensive line has to be a bigger, better version of last year's version, even though key roles will be filled by names from last year. But here are some reasons defensive coordinator Ted Roof thinks it will be:

• Small, a JC transfer last year, came to the Gophers at 280 pounds but ended the season a pretty beat-up 265. This summer, hard work and his mom's cooking have him over 300.

• VanDeSteeg had 10 sacks as a sophomore but played last year with a broken bone in his left wrist. It's hard to beat a block with one arm in a cast, and his sack total dropped to one.

• A defensive line devoid of much experience a year ago has another season under its belt, with the Gophers returning a half-dozen players with Big Ten experience.

• McKinley, who is atop the depth chart at left end, and Edwards, who is backing up Small, have been added.

And there is more. "Lee Campbell [McKinley's backup] had a very solid spring. He's a consistent performer, physical,'' Roof said. "And Garrett Brown [starting defensive tackle] is one of the most improved players on the team.''

Put it all together and the Gophers staff believes the unit will improve the numbers from last year, when the team finished last in total defense. Minnesota totaled only 11 sacks and allowed 5.7 yards per rush.

"That was one of our weakest points [last season],'' VanDeSteeg said. "We can't wait to get out and redeem ourselves. We need to pick our end of the thing up. But we have a lot of guys who can help.''

Full pads today

By NCAA rules, the Gophers spent the first two days of camp with helmets but no pads. Shoulder pads were added for Wednesday and Thursday. Today will be the first with full pads, and Brewster can't wait. Neither can his players.

Indeed, he thinks that there is as much or more risk of injury during so-called noncontact, no-pads drills, simply because it's hard to keep a rein on eager players.

They'll be let loose today. "You can sense the guys wanted to compete [this week],'' Brewster said. "They had to understand we weren't tackling yet. But now they'll get their chance.''

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