AIR FORCE FOOTBALL: On defensive line, shallow 2006 makes for deep 2007

For Ron Burton, coaching the Air Force defensive line during the 2006 season was a lot like trying to put together a jigsaw puzzle — with somebody constantly stealing pieces and only occasionally giving them back.

Because of injuries, Burton started 10 players on the defensive line in six combinations and often had to use converted offensive players in reserve roles.

“D-line got hit with the plague last year,” said senior Josh Clayton, who missed the final five games of the 2006 campaign with a broken wrist. “Everyone was going down.”

Indeed, heading into the BYU game Oct. 28, three defensive linemen who had started earlier in the year were unable to play because of injury. Then, during the game against the Cougars, two other starters and a reserve suffered season-ending injuries.

In all, Air Force’s four opening-day starters missed a combined 24 games.

Burton, however, called the injuries “a part of the game.” And instead of complaining about missing pieces, he reshaped some of those he had remaining and forced others to fit.

Hence, the silver lining to the rash of injuries in 2006: more ready-to-use pieces in 2007 starting with the Sept. 1 opener vs. South Carolina State.

“Overall, because we have some kids who got a taste last year, we’re coming along OK,” Burton said.

“Sometimes there can be blessings in disguise,” added junior Jake Paulson, who missed four games with a dislocated elbow last season. “I think everybody learned from their experiences and everybody’s ready to go now.”

Each of the three Falcons listed as starters on the defensive line this season — Paulson (left end), junior Jared Marvin (nose guard) and Clayton (right end) — started games last season. And of the backups, junior Ryan Kemp (right end) started five games last year, and sophomores Ben Garland (left end) and Ryan Gonzales (nose guard) both played.

Kemp and Marvin in particular were thrown into the fire. Marvin began 2006 on the junior varsity, adjusting to a move from fullback (where he played as a freshman). And Kemp was not even listed on the depth chart at the start of the season.

Because so many linemen got a chance to play last season, defensive coordinator Tim DeRuyter said he anticipates rotating linemen to keep them fresh.

“We’ve got some decent depth there,” DeRuyter said. “For last year’s defense, obviously (injuries) hurt them, but the fact that we’ve got guys who have played in games, they just have a different swagger about them when they’re coming around the second time around.”

The returning defensive linemen also look bigger and stronger — Clayton, who played most of last season at 250 pounds, is up to 265, and Kemp, who finished last season at 230, reported to camp at 260. Garland and Marvin are listed at 270, up 30 and 10 pounds, respectively.

“The kids have taken ownership in the strength and conditioning and you can tell the difference,” Burton said. “They can still improve, but we do have some measureables that show we’re getting stronger.”