Editor’s Note: This is the sixth of a seven-part series on Emporia State football’s position groups.
Emporia State fans might need a roster when picking out the team’s playmakers at linebacker.
That’s because Ken Gordon believes the unit won’t have one or two go-to guys — it will have upwards of eight.
“This is the biggest group — as far as depth-wise — in a linebacking corps that I’ve had since I’ve been coaching football,” the ESU defensive coordinator said.
The large numbers will be part of a rotating trio in the middle as ESU makes the transition from the 4-2 to the 4-3 defense.
The scheme allows the Hornets to get an additional linebacker on the field and also takes some pressure off the linebackers that are out there on the field by giving them another player at the position.
“If you make a mistake,” ESU senior Matt Demicoli said, “those guys can get your back a little bit.”
Beyond the Xs and Os, Gordon said the biggest change fans would see this year will be in aggressiveness.
“It’s more of an attacking defense,” Gordon said. “We’re not going to sit back and let the offense dictate what we do. We’re going to try to dictate what the offense does. The only way you can do that is to come get them.
“That’s our plan ... to attack the whole game.”
Demicoli comes in as the top returner from a year ago, posting 65 tackles to finish second on the team.
The 6-foot, 212-pounder has had to sit out practice with a hamstring injury but hopes to return to workouts next week.
Junior A.J. Brinkman also has stood out in practices, with Gordon calling him a “bull.”
The Parsons product notched 13 tackles in 2006.
ESU also should receive some help from sophomore Marcus Mead, a transfer from Baylor University.
Mead (6-2, 233) saw action in 10 games for the Bears in 2005.
“Everybody’s working hard,” Mead said. “I don’t see anybody taking plays off. We hardly have any loafs during practice. Everybody’s hungry.”
Redshirt freshman David Diener (5-8, 207) and true freshman Ryan Heil (5-11, 190) are players Gordon said could contribute right away.
Mike LoPorto (6-0, 226) contributed 27 tackles last year, while Olpe’s John Waechter (5-10, 220) was a key contributor on special teams.
Gordon said he was most optimistic because of his linebackers’ work ethic.
On a few occasions after practice, the coach has looked back to see the players doing some additional running — extra training that he had not even asked them to do.
“You don’t have to be the most athletic,” Gordon said, “but if you’re close (as a unit) and you work hard, I’d take that any day.”
Mead said the linebackers’ efforts during the hot practices had helped make them tighter as a group.
“It’s been one of the tougher camps I’ve been through so far,” Mead said. “We’re going to be war-ready. By the time the season gets here, it’s going to be easy as tough as they’ve been working us during camp ...
“When you look over there and see your buddy sweating and dying just as hard as you are, it just makes you want to work that much harder for him.”
The linebacking depth will be a necessity for Gordon, as all the linebackers will not only compete on defense but also on special teams.
He believes there shouldn’t be much of a drop-off — if any — when the starters come out of the game.
“When you get a group where you really can’t tell your ones and your twos,” Gordon said, “that’s a good problem to have.”
Mead said he was expecting big things from the linebackers — even if people weren’t expecting big things from them.
“We’ve got these signs up in the locker room telling us we’re not getting that much respect,” Mead said. “People don’t know what’s coming I don’t think.
“I’ve said it 100 times: I can’t wait. We’re going to surprise everybody.”