The Pinkie Previews: Louisville Defensive Line

The next installment of the Pinkie Previews takes a look at the Louisville defensive line.  This group will be a relatively young and inexperienced group with the loss of leaders L.T. Walker and L.D. Scott.   Last season the Cardinals struggled to put pressure on opposing quarterbacks and didn’t get the push up front to be effective.  This season is a season of unknowns for this group.  With head coach Charlie Strong’s defensive background, I have a feeling this unit will grow up quick and perform a lot better than they did a year ago.

The Veterans

#11-DT- Gregg Scruggs- Scruggs is a 6’4, 269lb junior defensive tackle from Cincinnati Ohio’s St. Xavier high school.  In 2009, Scruggs appeared in all 12 games and was the 12th leading tackler on the the team. He recorded a total of 24 tackles including 6.5 for tackles for loss.  He also had two sacks and a fumble recovery.  In 2008 he appeared in 9 games as a true freshman including 3 starts.  He recorded a total of four tackles during that season.  Scruggs should be the starter in the middle and will be one of the leaders of this young group.  He has done a solid job in his first two seasons and I look for him to break out in 2010.

#91-DE-William Savoy- Savoy is a 6’1, 238lb junior from John Hardin high school in Elizabethtown, KY.  He played in all 12 games in 2009 and recorded a total of 23 tackles.  He had 5.5 tackles for loss and was second on the team with five sacks.  As a freshman in 2008, he played in five games, recording three tackles (2 sacks).  Savory plays with great energy and intensity and should be the Cardinals biggest pass rushing threat.  He should be the starter at the end of the defensive line and I believe he will improve on what was a solid 2009 campaign.

#90-DE-Malcom Tatum- Tatum is a 6’4, 253lb senior end from Moss Point, Mississippi.  In 2009, he played in all 12 games, making 6 starts.  He recorded a total of 29 tackles including 2.5 for loss.  He also had a sack and a forced fumble.  Tatum has spent only one season in Louisville after being recruited from Gulf Coast Community College.  Tatum is the leading tackler of the defensive line coming in to 2010.  I think that he used 2009 to get adjusted to Division 1 football and  looks to have a great 2010 season as the starting DE.

Other Impact Players

#58-DE-Rodney Gnat- Gnat is a 6’3, 253lb senior from Jacksonville, Florida.  He played in 11 games in 2009 and made one start at West Virginia.  He recorded 10 total tackles including three for loss.  He also had one sack.  Gnat appeared in 10 games in both 2007 and 2008.  In the ’08 campaign he recorded seven tackles, 1.5 for loss, and had one sack.  He also had a career high five pass break-ups and forced a fumble.  As a red shirt freshman in 2007, Gnat made 2 starts and 10 appearances.  Recorded 10 t0tal tackles, a sack, and a forced fumble during the season.  Gnat provides plenty of experience on the defensive line.  He hasn’t made many starts in his career and will probably be the backup to Tatum and Savory.  As a senior, Gnat can provide leadership and mentor the many freshman of this D-Line unit.

Outside of these four guys, there isn’t much experience on the defensive line.  There will be six freshman and three sophomores competing for playing time along the front line. Freshman  DT Brandon Dunn and freshman Lacey Coleman could be thrown into the fire right away and will have to grow up quickly.  I also look for redshirt freshman defensive end Malcom Mitchell to see some big minutes.  

As I mentioned, this group does not have a ton of experience.  The defensive line will rely on the few veteran leaders it has to put up big numbers and help guide the young freshman along.  A lot of responsibility will  be put on the freshman and sophomores and they will have to step up to the challenge.  If the young guns are unable to perform at the D-1 level, it could be a long season for the Cardinal defense.