My 5 players who must improve on the Raider defense. First I agree with the front page but I looked more at those who backup or push the starters..mostly..
My picks – Sandy Riley becomes more than a situational replacement. Like Jake Ratliff a good Div1 DE mind you he seems to either run himself out the play or get tangled up by the Off. Tackle. Plays a lot on special teams as I recall. Better than average straight line speed perhaps?
Brandon Sharpe appears to be speedy; he got a couple of great near misses which would have been sacks last year @ aTm, & Nevada? And ran down Fozzy Whitaker in the Texas game from behind just because he kept attacking. I feel he as a 6th year senior, that he is ready to explode- with lots of desire and wants to contribute in a big way. Might even be a bookend for Sesay or Howard or Henley. I am sure there is formulaic wide side, strong side, opponents’ tendency drill the assistant coaches use to run out D line packages. So it’s going to come down to a pass rush, short yardage run stuff or pass play denial sets which drives the specific player packages pushedonto the field. Like say Henley/ Sesay grouped with R. Jones/ Myles Wade. BTW Wade is at 340 pounds right? Hope Mr. Wade can take the Benny Wylie the wind sprints.
Daniel Howard – He’s a neat guy. I really like watching him launch himself around the passer. Been said before but he is a "flush"guy – sort of bird dog the passer into other D linemen. But like Riley – Daniel needs to be the Left DE not just a situational player. (I think Fehoko takes the "Joker" job from him this year but that’s just me.) Wait all our D line men – except C. Whitlock are situational players darn…
Bront Bird – he seems to be ready to pop on the scene. Say 50 plus tackles right coming in after B. Duncan among the line backers perhaps? I mean he plays well @ the Strong side backer but did we see him redirect receivers consistently last year? (I.e. vs. Nebraska , Mississippi?) And he can improve on his run stuffing. Seth you are correct in some games he’s invisble though we know he’s taking on blockers- hopefully?? I also think he gets pushed by S. Fehoko for reps.
Brent Nickerson looks to be speedy enough but is short of stature?? . Seem to recall he plays short too. However he was the guy who slapped the ball out of bounds in the end zone vs. Baylor – correct?? Allegedly a very savvy player. Guess he’s going to get picked on regardless because J.Wall the senior is opposite from him and he’s got the rep. I would like to see 9 -12 pass break ups by CB Nickerson. Can he do it? I am not sure but we need it especially in Stillwater, Austin and Houston.
To roll this thread up – I picked on the D line but they will set the tone for the Raiders defense. Our sports Media types are bemoaning the loss of Dixon’s and B Williams’ 22 sacks produced last year – so the onus is on them to step up and get at least 20 of those back. I feel good about this defensive scheme; the groups coach ability, and the overall "violent" attitude. We need a constant attacking spirit right out of the gates… Wreck em baby just wreck em.

Weighing in: Henely did have a tough year last year, but his 2007 numbers show his true potential. Keep in mind that those numbers are from a DT position, a spot in our defense that’s more about eating up space than getting to the passer. At DE, it’s going to let him focus more on getting upfield, but being a converted DT, I think that it means we won’t be seeing him getting blown off the line. I think we might see a lot from him.

Seasay was out of shape, as well as Perry. Wade, on the other hand, has come into camp in top shape. I think it was bennie mentioning that he was the most in-shape player that he has seen on day 1 of his TTU workouts. I hope to see big improvements in productivity from the first too and a surprise contribution from the third.

Don’t forget Pearlie Graves coming in (man, I’m glad we got him). He’s a beast and he could see time in the fall. I think that he’s going to play DE for us, though I wouldn’t be surprised if we use him as a combo DT/DE considering our d-line situation for 2010. Pearlie is the freshman that has a shot at playing. The other two freshmen DE are going to be undergoing developmental years, i think and that’s a good thing.

Bront Bird… well, I think he can be something else, just has to learn how to get off of those pesky TE’s. It won’t be Sam Fehoko who pushes him for time, though. Fehoko is being groomed as a MLB. He’s going to push Duncan for playing time. Sonnier, I believe, is #2 behind Bird and rumor has it that he has been living up to his potential over the spring and into summer workouts.

that the DLine as a unit has a lotta questions. Hence, three guys make your list. The DLine, however, has a LOT of upside potential.

BUT…arent there a lot of questions surrounding our safeties? I gotta think losing both of last year’s starters is HUGE.

I have nothing to add to this discussion, just wanted to see my new sweet a$$ avitar on a page. Thank you. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Folks the feeling I have is that we’re going to surprise a few opponents’ offenses this season.
It’s going to be the Charlie Sadler coached def linemen who get it done.
My purpose for talking about the 2 deep rotaion was really two fold. They the 2nd string – need to get reps for the future, and they need to contribute right now – on around 25 – 30 snaps per game .The D line has – IMO – shown the most progress in the last 2 years. Despite the naysayers who claim we don’t have a better defense these folks our Raider defensive down linemen have shown the most rapid rise in technique and talent. It’s displayed by those 22 x Dixon and B Williams 2008 sacks. 3 games won by Tackles or Def End play (Nebraska, Texas and UT). The 2 best DE’s we have had in the last 15 years are gone. Yet we still have folks like Henley, Sharpe, and Howard and hopefully Sesay, who are arguably the best 3rd team D line unit in the South division – only outmatched by 5 or 6 pre season all Americans playing for OU, UT and North Div Nebraska. Ultimately it is always about the match ups between o linemen and def. linemen. In the upcoming season IAW our all knowing media prognosticators – they say – Only UT and OSU return a preponderance veteran O linemen. This should work to our advantage especially if the Raiders can effect a rapid and effective D line rotation from the 25 yard line of the opponents to the 30 yard line of the Raiders. Ward, Perry, Hunter become key contributors in the effort to stuff up the rushing game and keep Whitlock, R Jones and Perry fresh for the key downs in the Red zone. I.e. forces the opponents Off. Coordinators to go for the FG or face the 4th down conversion gamble. Keep the opposing offense in steady diet of 2nd and long followed by 3rd and long. We get chance to win on defense and force a punt. Good as a take away in my book. Our opponents in the South have impressive offensive weapons our 2nd rotation especially on the D line is going to play a key role in limiting their opportunities for success. I close this comment by citing the points allowed statistic. What was it 27.5 we allowed last year? It’s going to drop to 23 points or less for 2009. It goes without saying we can match any offensive output but add a few forced opponents FG’s, stops or take away’s by the defense and the balance of a 2 or three score margin is magnified. I am psyched by the potential of our D line. I am just saying bring it, baby bring it. Go Raiders!

“3 games won by Tackles or Def End play (Nebraska, Texas and UT). " . Meant BU not UT. Sorry.

All I have to add is that it’s painfully obvios that we’ve lost a great deal of talent. Strange as it sounds, our young D is going to have to rely on our I and Special Teams to put them in a postion where the D can ne successful. This means TP can’t give up interceptions(????) the ball carriers can’t fumble(I think we have a good “grasp” on that. Hasn’t been a problem for BB or any recievers), and we’re gonna have to cover kicks and punts well. I just can’t be as optimistic as some of y’all.

I have watched the replay of the Texas game several times now. Nickerson definitely needs to step it up. He nearly lost that game several times. Early in the game Shipley blew by him like he was standing still. Luckily he dropped the ball. There was a long pass that was caught right over hime, and then I believe Shipley blew by him again. You can’t let people get behind you like that.

I know we will be young but our D-Line has the most talent at least 2 deep and maybe 3 deep as we have had in a long time if ever. I wish we had Dixon/Sesay as the “studs” but we don’t so I hope Sesay can make it thru and be motivated by $$ down the road. Ruffin needs to adopt a “air-raid” mentality on the Defense. Not stupid but at least give teams multiple looks even if we are playing base. Also, I would move players around for certain situations. Why can’t Bront Bird become a rush end on 3rd down? Again, use your strengths and give different looks. I know it maybe hard to believe but it appears at least by the stats and early looks our D will be alot faster this year and beyond. Wreck’em Tech