Buffalo Bulls Will Rely Heavily on Defensive Line This Season
By Paul Taylor
With media analysts not predicting much from the Buffalo Bulls this season, they will need the strongest unit on their roster to step up and lead the way.
As we recently wrote, the Buffalo Bulls are not expected to do much this season, despite having a promising first campaign under Lance Leipold. In fact, as per a recent poll by media members, they are being picked to finish fourth in the MAC East Division.
A major part of the reason for these low expectations, comes down to the turnover of personnel, which will see seven new starters on offense, along with four more on the defensive side. To further this point, consider that college football analyst Phil Steele has ranked the Bulls as the fourth most inexperienced roster in the nation.
Leipold discussed the relative youth of his roster with Mark Gaughan of The Buffalo News and the rest of the local media last week: “Forty-two new players in this camp is a lot of players who have to learn what our expectations are just in the daily routine.
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“If you look at the roster, there’s a lot of guys who’ve never been through a fall camp here. We’ve got to rely on our older players and the coaching staff to get them acclimated as quick as possible.”
If the Bulls are to remain competitive this season, they will lean heavily on their defensive line. This is arguably the most talented and deepest unit on the team.
To get some idea of exactly how much depth there is, consider the words of defensive line coach Tim Edwards. Speaking to Gaughan, Edwards said: “I want to have a problem figuring out how to get them in as opposed to worrying how I can get them a rest.
“I told them to make my job hard. I don’t want it to be easy. I’d like to play 10 and not have any drop off – I think we have the opportunity to do that.”
The projected starters are Brandon Crawford and Demone Harris at the ends, with Max Perisse and Chad Ford lining up between them. Perisse and Ford in particular, are expected to make for an imposing duo against the run.
However, despite the strength of the d-line, it is not without some concern, with questions surrounding their pass rush skills. In fact, last season the Bulls defense as a whole only managed 22 sacks against opposing quarterbacks.
Defensive coordinator Brian Borland — who Leipold brought over with him from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater — is the man charged with putting more pressure on opposing offenses . Expect Borland to be more aggressive and creative although, as Gaughan points out, he’s not renowned for being a gambler.
Despite not being a starter, Torey Hendrick is expected to be the Bulls’ main edge-rush threat. Hendrick sat out last season, but previously recorded 10 sacks during two seasons with the Avengers.
Overall, the pressure the defensive line will be aiming to put on the opposition may be nothing compared to what they will feel in carrying the rest of the team. As we previously stated, the Bulls should be just fine long-term, but expect more downs than ups during the 2016 season.
Next: Odds stacked against Bulls having a good season
What are you expecting from the Bulls this season? Do you think they will continue to improve from last year, or will their lack of experience be too much to overcome? Let us know in the comments section below.