Football team’s defense looking stronger than offense in scrimmage

Rodney Leisle, Ryan Boschetti, and Mat and Dave Ball spent
Friday afternoon getting cozy with their friends on offense. When
the four first-string defensive linemen weren’t dog-piling on
top of sophomore running back Wendell Mathis on the line of
scrimmage, they were visiting sophomore quarterback Matt Moore in
the backfield for a little face time.

The defensive line dominated the scrimmage, forcing the offense
to settle for a single field goal on the day.

“They rose to the occasion today. They wanted to shut the
offense down and they did a nice job of that,” head coach
Karl Dorrell said. “We need to get a little bit better
offensively in terms of trying to do a better job of raising the
bar on that side of the ball. We’ve got a young offensive
line, so we’ve got some work to do.”

The whole defense was eager to contribute to the effort after a
Tuesday scrimmage where it felt the needed to lift the bar.

“The last scrimmage we had, the offense kind of beat us up
a little bit,” said sophomore safety Jarrad Page, who made an
interception. “We really had to come out and prove something,
not to ourselves, because we know, but to coach, to show
him.”

The defensive line continues to be tutored by coach Don Johnson,
one of the three holdovers from the Toledo era.

“All the d-line respects him,” redshirt freshman
defensive lineman Thomas Patton said of Johnson. “He is like
my dad away from home. He is a role model.”

In 2001, under Johnson’s tutelage, the line helped the
Bruins lead the Pac-10 in total defense, allowing 320.6 yards per
game. Leisle and Dave Ball started on that line as well, alongside
Kenyon Coleman and Ken Kocher, both of whom play in the NFL
now.

Last year, Leisle and Dave Ball were joined by Steve Morgan and
Rusty Williams as the defensive line experienced ups and downs. It
held opponents to under 100 yards rushing in seven games but was
bowled over by Colorado, which gained 325 yards, and Washington
State, which rushed for 220. Dave Ball, however, consistently
showcased his pass rush skills, racking up 11 sacks on the
season.

This year the line looks strong with Leisle and Ball returning
for their senior seasons, to be joined by fellow seniors Boschetti
and Dave’s twin Mat.

“I’m glad that they are on our defense. I think our
line and USC’s are the best in the Pac-10,” Dorrell
said.

The unit suffered its biggest blow of spring on Tuesday when
C.J. Niusulu was carted off the field with a knee injury. On Friday
he underwent arthroscopic surgery on the torn lateral meniscus
cartilage in his left knee.

“C.J. was in meetings this afternoon. He had surgery this
morning and was walking about this afternoon,” Dorrell said
Friday.

The injury should to take three to four weeks to heal and
Niusulu will be ready to play by summer.

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Part of the joy of spring football is that players who rarely
see the field on game day get to make plays.

“I think No. 27 is the star,” one fan in the stands
said. Indeed, senior running back Akil Harris looked solid Friday.
He gained only 337 yards rushing last season after being displaced
by Tyler Ebell and Manuel White, but has made the most of his
opportunity this spring.

Later, fourth-string fullback Mark Mangelsdorf darted (as fast
as a fullback can) down the sideline to the crowd’s cries
until he was clocked by safeties junior Jibril Raymo and sophomore
Glenn Ohaeri.

“Jibril was hitting good today,” Page said.

Mangelsdorf’s gain was the biggest one the offense had all
day and set up its sole field goal.

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Ebell sat out of Friday’s practice. With the exception of
Niusulu, everyone else is healthy.