HARRISONBURG – With the Dukes now in full pads, there figures to be a lot more violent hitting at football practice this week. And if you’re looking for a powerful collision, there are a few good players to keep your eye on.
“I like to watch myself,” sophomore linebacker Stephon Robertson said.
Robertson laughed as he spoke, but he’s not wrong.
The Dukes’ second leading tackler a season ago is one of the biggest hitters in JMU’s lineup, rivaling – among others – senior safety Vidal Nelson.
“I’d like to say I’m still the reigning king but Stephon is creeping up, definitely,” Nelson said.
He’s not alone. Linebacker Chase Williams and defensive end D.J. Bryant have been known to lay a good lick on a ball carrier. The up-and-comer of the defense is safety Dean Marlowe, who redshirted last year as a true freshman.
“Dean looks like he has a little power behind them pads too,” Nelson said.
Even if – at 6-foot-2 and 180 pounds – he doesn’t look like he would.
“If you see Dean, he’s really tall and lanky,” Robertson said. “But you’d be surprised how hard he can hit.”
Robertson said there are different techniques for delivering a particularly devastating blow.
“You an put your hat on the ball, make the ball pop out,” he said. “Or if the ball carrier has the ball centered, in a locked position, you can always put your helmet on his sternum. I know that hurts a lot. If a guy’s trying to open up and sprint to the goal line you can catch him off guard form a blind spot. Those are pretty bad shots too.”
Of course, at the end of the play, the most important thing is to have stopped the opposing player. That’s something Robertson said he’s trying to focus on this season.
“See my problem is, it’s like I kind of tackle but I like to rip a guy,” Robertson said. “I kind of go for the big hit every play. I’m learning to kind of slow down, break down. Tackling’s really important. If you can’t tackle, you can’t play defense.”
Offensive line shuffle: While senior center Roane Babington sat out Saturday morning’s practice with a bruised ankle, Marshall transfer A.J. Scott was in full pads. Scott played left tackle, with Josh Wells moving to right tackle. Matt Krout moved from right tackle to right guard. Earl Watford stayed at left guard and Matt Williams filled in for Babington at center.
Babington said he expects to be back practicing early this week.
Catch of the day: Rennard Robinson made a one-handed grab on a skinny post thrown by Billy Cosh during one-on-ones Saturday.
Quote of the day: After Jakari Jackson dropped a would-be interception, tight ends coach Jeff Durden heckled new defensive assistant Tony LeZotte, a former safety at JMU.
“It takes guts to make an interception. LeZotte, give him some guts. You have any left?”
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