USU D-line must get tougher

LOGAN — Back in December, Utah State football coach Brent Guy issued a challenge to the defensive line to step it up. How well they listened will be determined one week from tonight when the Aggies host UNLV in the season opener.

Utah State defensive line coach Danilo Robinson believes the unit has, but only time will tell.

"I don't know if we have corrected it yet. We've got to see what we can do when the lights are on and it all counts," he said. "I'm encouraged how we worked in the winter. We got stronger. We got bigger, and we got faster up front. I'm encouraged with those positive signs."

Last year, the Aggies ranked 116th of 119 teams in team defense at 436 yards per game, 117th in points allowed at 38.5, 112th in passing defense at 249.17 and 110th in rushing defense at 186.8 yards per game.

"Our weaknesses last year were we couldn't get off the field." Robinson said. "We couldn't stop the run at critical times and apply good enough pressure."

The key to bettering those numbers begins up front.

"It's a cliche to say at least, but you have to win the game up front," Robinson said. "You've got to be able to stop the run and apply pressure on the quarterback."

The Aggie defensive unit had just 11 sacks and the defensive line had seven of them.

"We've put our focus on to really try to get people off the field and stopping the run and being fundamentally sound on every play," Robinson said.

The interior of the line will be manned by two three-year letter-winners in Franke Maile and Ben Childs. The duo combined for 14 starts and tallied 45 tackles.

Outside the Aggies' anchor is Ben Calderwood, a second-team all-Western Athletic Conference performer. Despite missing two games with a hand injury, Calderwood tallied 44 tackles, including 6 1/2 tackles for loss. He was named a preseason all-WAC player by several publications.

Darby Golden, Bevan Howard, Carl Singleton and Alan Bishop all saw time last year.

"Those guys (Golden and Singleton) really need to come on and have a good year," Robinson said.

In 11 games Golden tallied 18 tackles, including 5 1/2 tackles for loss and two sacks.

Singleton, who was hampered by injury early, played in just six games and had 14 tackles and two sacks.

Howard finished with 16 tackles in 12 games and Bishop had eight tackles in nine games.