Syracuse football defensive linemen not locked into 1 spot in Tampa 2
Daily Orange File Photo
Chris Slayton has been lending a helping hand at defensive end for Syracuse recently. He had bulked up to play on the interior, but the move is proving his versatility for an undermanned defensive line.
Syracuse’s defensive line is switching it up a bit more this year. Rather than going with linemen on the right and left side of the line, the D-Line will be switching based on the strong side and weak side of the offense, multiple players said.
The strong side of a formation is typically the side with more players on the line.
“We started working with both sides, at least the guys in the spring,” senior defensive end Hernz Laguerre said. “… We have a general feel for both positions.”
Laguerre said ends whose strength is power are more likely to be put on the strong side and speed ends are more likely to work on the weak side. He added that the strategy could switch based on gameplans, however.
Chris Slayton, who had been listed on the post-spring depth chart as a No. 1 defensive tackle, has been practicing at end recently. Because of his experience inside, Slayton could fit as a strong side end for SU. In his first season with playing time, Slayton made 22 tackles, six of them for a loss, and forced one fumble.
“We have certain ends that go somewhere so it’ll just be like depending on what the call is and what the strength is, we’ll just switch,” Steven Clark said. “Nose will go one way, tackle will go the other way, we’ll both switch. So it’s just basic.”
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With SU’s relative lack of game experience at end, moving Slayton to end could allow the Orange to rotate its mostly smaller and speed-based ends on the opposite side of the line. Slayton said he can bring strength to the end position, but isn’t used to the space allotted on the outside.
“I’m working a little bit of both,” Slayton said of the defensive tackle and end positions. “I’m trying to master both.”
That seemingly would allow Clark and Kayton Samuels to also play next to each other on the interior of the line. Last season, Clark played in all 12 games, tallying 21 tackles and 1.5 tackles for a loss. Samuels piled up 15 total tackles and made 2.5 tackles for a loss.
Asst. Sports Editor Jon Mettus contributed reporting to this article.
Published on August 10, 2016 at 11:14 am
Contact Chris: cjlibona@syr.edu | @ChrisLibonati
