Over The Pylon

This is the second of a 2 part series evaluating the losses to graduation that Ball State will face before we get to the incoming players and prospects in our Cardinal Recruiting Series beginning next week. Thanks for your blood, sweat, and tears gentlemen. It’s truly appreciated. The next unit up? The defense.

Name: Spain Cosby
Number: 48
Position: MLB
Height: 5′11″
Weight: 222
Career Stats: 47 games, 1 start. 73tkls, 4.5 TFL, 2 forced fumbles, played in all but 4 games throughout his career.
Replaceability: While Spain Cosby was not the standout defensive playmaker that would have generated attention and headlines, he was a very solid player for this Cardinal defense, as well as having the unenviable task of switching to a totally new format in his senior season.

Name: Brandon Crawford
Number: 90
Position: DE
Height: 6′3″
Weight: 260
Career Stats: 49 games, 39 starts. 138 tkls, 37.5 TFL, 9 forced fumbles, 15 sacks.
Replaceability: Arguably the Cardinals’ biggest loss on the defensive side of the football, Brandon Crawford was not only a very talented player and defensive standout, he was also a great story. The definition of non-traditional college student, Crawford was a leader on and off the field for the Cardinals, a trait that will be sorely missed next season in addition to his on-field prowess and success.

Name: Drew Duffin
Number: 65
Position: DT
Height: 6′3″
Weight: 266
Career Stats: 48 games played, 23 starts. 129 tkls, 14.5 TFL, 1 forced fumble, 2.5 sacks
Replaceability: As a defensive tackle, Drew Duffin used his agility, speed, and power to his advantage, wreaking havoc in the backfield and on opposing offenses. Duffin was also a sure tackler, seldom letting a back get past his first contact. Duffin, while not as celebrated as Crawford, will be missed on this defensive unit next season.

Name: Alex Knipp
Number: 38
Position: FS
Height: 6′0″
Weight: 200
Career Stats: 51 games played, 37 starts. 293 tkls, 6.0 TFL, 1 sack, 9 INTs, 23 pass deflections, 2 forced fumbles.
Replaceability: Knipp comprised half of arguably the best defensive safety corps in the MidAmerican Conference. Potentially the second most important loss after Crawford, Knipp takes with him not only a wealth of experience, but also strong leadership, and pass defense acumen, an area that the Cardinals struggled a bit in this past year.

Name: Kyle Kuntz
Number: 9
Position: FS
Height: 5′10″
Weight: 197
Career Stats: 46 games, 1 start. 37 tkls, 1 fumble recovery.
Replaceability: Another role player for the Cardinals, or someone capable of filling in when needed for either a breather for the starter or an extra defensive back, Kuntz made the most of his limited opportunities in Cardinal and White. Kuntz was used sparingly in his first three seasons, though did manage special teams appearances in his junior season. Kuntz also picked perhaps the biggest stage of the year for his coming out party as his first career start was in 2009 at Auburn.

Name: Sam Woodworth
Number: 55
Position: LB
Height: 6′2″
Weight: 215
Career Stats: 38 games, 4 starts. 88 tkls, 4.5 TFL, 2 sacks
Replaceability: Another example of being needed when called on and filling in where needed is Sam Woodworth. Throughout his career at BSU, he was used sparingly and in spot relief, but Woodworth rarely disappointed and gave the BSU defense a viable and serviceable second option for the linebacking unit, a unit that in 2009 was in desperate need of help from anyone able.

While the defensive unit by number alone didn’t suffer overwhelming losses, it was more about who they lost rather than the quantity. Not only did the defensive unit lose stalwarts like Crawford or Duffin, or shut down coverage guys like Knipp and Kuntz, they also lost the most serviceable backups and spot relievers. The good news is as younger players begin to fill their roles and roster spots, they are players who have more experience in addition to yet another spring with this staff and this scheme.

In terms of recruiting, an overwhelming majority of the Cardinals’ 19 commitments are defensive players, and if Stan and staff have shown anything, it’s that they are not opposed to putting green players in to see how they respond.

Going forward for the Cardinals, the defensive intensity of the Hoke years need to be matched with the hopeful familiarity and expertise with this new defensive system and scheme. The transition to the 4-3 from the previously installed Hokian 3-4 took its toll on defensive production this season, but 2010 may very well show a refocused and recommitted defensive unit to match the optimistic outlooks for the offense.

This is the first of a 2 part series evaluating the losses to graduation that Ball State will face before we get to the incoming players and prospects in our Cardinal Recruiting Series beginning next week. Thanks for your blood, sweat, and tears gentlemen. It’s truly appreciated. The first unit up? The offense.

Name: Jordan Applegate
Number: 70
Position: C
Height: 6′5″
Weight: 300
Career Stats: 5 games played, 0 games started.
Replaceability: Jordan Applegate, a convert from defensive tackle to center after his freshman season, didn’t see much field time during his career in Cardinal and White, spelling folks when needed, and perhaps becoming a victim of poor timing and stacked talent in front of him on the offensive line for the majority of his career. Applegate came in one year after the emergence of talents like Dan Gerberry, Robert Brewster, and Andre Ramsey, who now find themselves playing on Sundays in the NFL. With Kreg Hunter emerging this year as the center of choice for Parrish and the Cards, the offensive line will not lose an integral piece.

Name: Chad Davis
Number: 69
Position: OT
Height: 6′3″
Weight: 280
Career Stats: 3 games played, 0 games started.
Replaceability: Former walk on Chad Davis never saw much action for the Cardinals, and like many offensive line folks over the past several seasons, that can be attributed more to the stellar class ahead of him and the need to get young players ready in classes behind him. Though a bit undersized for BCS level offensive linemen, Davis’ story is yet another of several on this roster of folks who made it to this level more so for effort and determination instead of God-given ability.

Name: Tanner Justice
Number: 17
Position: QB
Height: 6′3″
Weight: 205
Career Stats: 35 games played, 5 starts. 56-111 passing, 648 yds, 5 INTs, 2 TDs.
Replaceability: Justice was the unfortunate victim of circumstance in 2009, as Kelly Page’s injury against Bowling Green. Justice would go on to start the final 5 games for Ball State, leading the team to two wins in the process. Considering Justice was a career back up, he played serviceable for the Cardinals, and was the starter in every win in the 09 campaign. Going forward, the Cardinals have depth at the QB position unlike recent years, as Page will return to a starter role, and Aaron Mershman (on redshirt in 09) will compete for reps as well.

While technically a “starter” in that he started several games, Justice was only in that particular depth chart slot because of Page’s injury. As such, he gets ruled a back up by the highly scientific process of OTP. On paper, and assuming this holds, this is quite the opposite of last year, which saw 10 players, 6 of whom were starters, bid Muncie adieu. The key element to that statement above is “assuming this holds”.

Currently, there are two offensive weapons that are multi-year starters and holding their breath (figuratively) to hear from the NCAA regarding a medical redshirt and a 6th year of eligibility. TE Madaris Grant and RB MiQuale Lewis both are awaiting a decision from Indianapolis that not only has ramifications for them, but also Ball State. Assuming the best, that both Quale and Grant are back next season, this Cardinal offense looks to be potent. With another year of seasoning for Kelly Page, the return of the 3rd best rusher in Ball State history, as well as the offensive line with a year of seasoning and offseason work, Ball State looks to be markedly improved on the offensive side of the football.

The most interesting dynamic for this offense to manage will be the sheer number of returning starters and how Parrish and company manage to keep everyone happy and productive. As we saw this season, the Cardinal backfield is an exceptionally crowded place. On the recruiting trail for the Cardinals, there were no specific holes to fill on the offensive side of the ball, but the Cardinals have managed 8 verbal commitments for the offense. The highest rated prospect from Scout.com is TE David Schneider from Moeller High School in Cincinnati.