Aug. 11, 2009

Cornerbacks

Eddie Brown coached the defensive line in 2008 and for the 2009 season he will be moving over to the defensive backfield to work with the cornerbacks. This might seem like a difficult move given the differences between the two position groups, but Eddie Brown is stepping back into his wheelhouse. Brown was a starting cornerback for the Michigan State Spartans prior to a 13-year career in the AFL as a CB/WR, so he certainly isn't lacking in experience.

The starting corners when the season rolls around will likely be Robert Carlisle and Enrique Shaw. "They are both tall corners and have a lot of length," said Brown, who considers any corner over 6' to be tall. "Rob will be counted on for a lot of leadership in his senior year. He's a true leader on and off the field." Brown also commented that Carlisle will be expected to be a big playmaker on the defensive side of the ball this year. "With his ball skills, he should have a big year for us." Shaw transfered from Michigan State last season and saw some time on special teams and got plenty of in-game experience. "Shaw is kind of a younger version of Carlisle," Brown commented. "He has a ton of athletic ability and hopefully he can work hard enough to fulfill his potential."

As things stand in practice right now, there is a position battle for the nickel corner spot. Sophomore Dominique Darden and redshirt freshman Chris Crawford are both battling for the third corner spot. "Crawford is still a little bit raw since he played quarterback in high school," said Brown. "He probably has the best break on the ball. He could be really good as he learns the defense." Crawford could also see some time on the field as a returner on special teams. "Darden is another tall corner with a lot of speed and good hips. We are just looking for some more consistency out of him," Brown said.

A few of the other players who will be pushing for playing time are Myron Puryear and Vince Beachem. Brown said as those two get more reps in practice they could make a solid impact on the depth of the position. Eddie also talked a little about the true freshmen coming in this season and how excited he was to see them develop as a group.

Safeties

Former Laker Bill "Pix" Brechin is helping out in the defensive backfield this year in his second season as a graduate assistant. Brechin earned fame after intercepting two passes and recovering the game-clinching fumble in the 2006 championship game. He is looking to share his knowledge with the current players as they look to return to Florence, Alabama this season.

Senior Jake McGuckin is the unquestioned leader of the Laker defense this year. "McGuckin will need to be a vocal leader for the defense because he knows it better than anyone else on the field," said Brechin. "So far he has embraced that role and he has been a great example for the younger players."

Sophomore Zach Breen is slotted to start as the second safety on the field after starting the final eight games of the season last year. "Breen was very surprising last year," Brechin commented. "He's one of the hardest workers on the team and has a motor that just never stops. With his ability and work ethic, he'll be a good player for quite a while."

Other players who could see some action in game situations are Matt Bakker, Jarrod Cox, and Dion Reed. Bakker earned some valuable time playing behind McGuckin last year and will be expected to provide some fresh energy at times this season. Brechin described Cox as one of the most gifted athletes on the team, "Once he learns how to work within the system, he'll be a very good player for a long time." Dion Reed is a transfer from Cincinnati who still needs to learn the defense, but the coaches are excited to see what he can do in the near future.