Aug. 10, 2009
Monday Practice Photo Gallery
By Jeff Honza
Southeast Missouri State Sports Information
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - One of the deepest parts of the 2009 Southeast Missouri State University football team is the linebackers. The Redhawks go 14-deep at the position, which has a nice blend of upperclassmen and newcomers.
Troy Dumas, who played in the National Football League (Kansas City, St. Louis, Denver) and was an All-American at the University of Nebraska, looks for big things in his second season as the Redhawks linebackers coach.
"All of our linebackers know that my expectations are high and that there are certain standards we set everytime we step on the field," said Dumas. "We have a lot of quality players, who are very talented and can make plays."
Southeast will have to replace its middle linebacker and leading tackler for the second-straight season. Senior Josh Woods, juniors Tyler Epstein, Patrick Maloney, Joshua Jackson and Andrew Adams, and sophomore Philip Klaproth look to take charge of this tight-knit group.
"We call ourselves the LBC (Linebacker Core)," said Maloney. "We get along well, push each other and hang out together."
Epstein and Maloney are the frontrunners at middle linebacker, while Klaproth, Jackson, Woods and Adams key the outside linebacker spots.
Epstein, who reshirted after joining the Redhawks from Northern Iowa in 2008, is having a nice camp so far. He's clearly one of the more vocal leaders on the defense.
"Tyler is a stick of dynamite. He is a high-energy guy, who is always playing at a high level," said Dumas.
Epstein added, "Camp is going awesome. The tempo has definitely been cranked up. I think our linebackers are right there with any other program in NCAA Division I FCS football."
Maloney is also back after redshirting a year ago.
"We have set goals for ourselves as linebackers," said Maloney. "Our mentality is three-and-out. We want to keep our offense on the field."
Woods is the only senior linebacker on this year's squad. He was third on the team with 11 tackles for loss in 12 games last season.
"Josh is one of the most explosive guys you'll see," said Dumas. "He's a jack of all trades, who can blitz and play the run."
Klaproth was the Redhawks third-leading tackler as a freshman. He registered 76 tackles, the most of any freshman in the Ohio Valley Conference. Klaproth was later named to the OVC All-Newcomer Team for his efforts.
Meanwhile, Jackson recorded 22 tackles in 12 games, and Adams made six tackles in 10 contests.
Incoming freshman Blake Peiffer and junior transfer Justin Woodlief could also make an immediate impact.
Peiffer, the 2008 Southeast Missourian Player-of-the-Year, was a two-time First-Team All-State and All-Conference linebacker at nearby Jackson High School. He is the son of Southeast Hall-of-Famer Dan Peiffer (OL, 1970-73).
"I've been really impressed by Blake," said Dumas. "He has a natural feel for the game."
Woodlief comes to Southeast from San Jose State. He also attended Cabrillo College, where he earned First-Team JCFootball.com All-Coast Conference honors.
"Justin can run like the wind and has the potential to be really good," commented Dumas.
Rounding out the linebackers are seniors Robert Anderson and Jared Goodson, junior Jim Vechiarella and freshmen Darrick Borum, Derek Gohn and Nick Shortal.
Anderson played mainly on special teams last season. Goodson, a Preseason All-OVC selection in 2008, missed the final six games due to a hamstring injury. Vechiarella, the brother of Southeast quarterback Nick Vechiarella, did not see action a year ago.
Borum is having a strong camp after redshirting as a walk-on in 2008. He batted down two passes and had a tackle for loss in practice earlier today.
Gohn joins the Redhawks from Christian Brothers High School in St. Louis. His father, Mike, was a Third-Team All-American defensive end at Southeast in 1979.
Shortal was an All-State and All-Metro linebacker at Mary Institute and Country Day.
Observations from Monday's practice:
Monday marked Southeast's first day in full pads and the adrenaline was running high.
The defense dominated the team's 11-on-11 drills. LB Tyler Epstein forced a fumble on a pitch to RB Jacob McKinley which sent the defense into an uproar. Three-consecutive plays, including a batted down pass by LB Darrick Borum, a tackle for a loss of three yards by DE Quentin Brown and a tipped pass by LB Justin Woodlief also highlighted that period.
The defense also had strong showing in skeleton drills, where it didn't give up a pass play of more than five yards on several occasions. FS Bryan Blanfort intercepted a pass 30 yards downfield and ran 20 yards before the play ended. Offensively, QB Dustin Powell completed a 50-yard touchdown pass to TE Kyle Hubert. Hubert made the catch off of a deflection by LB Blake Peiffer.
In the team period . . .
CB Larry Edwards put a big hit on WR Aaron King along the right sideline. Edwards' hit came after King gained 20 yards on the play.
QB Matt Scheible completed a 50-yard touchdown pass to WR Walter Peoples. Peoples caught the pass at the 28-yardline before sprinting another 22 yards down the right sideline to the end zone. Scheible later threw a 30-yard strike to WR Brad Stewart.
DT Steve Hendry sacked QB Dustin Powell for a loss of five yards. S Taylor West intercepted QB Dustin Powell and ran for 30 yards.
In special teams . . .
K/P Doug Spada connected on field goals from 25, 40 and 47 yards out. Freshman K Drew Geldbach also made a 47-yard field goal.
