This uncertainty in the backfield, which puts the onus on the front seven in Princeton’s 3-4 scheme, is a blessing in disguise for the Tigers, whose defensive line brings a combination of size and experience unmatched in the Ivy League.
“We’ve got guys that have been there for three years, and you can’t do much better than that,” defensive coordinator Steve Verbit said. “Experience, size, guys that are pretty tough and guys that run to the ball very, very well.”
Senior defensive end Pete Buchignani, who stands at six feet, three inches and 255 pounds is a two-time All-Ivy selection who has started every game since midway through his freshman year. His massive presence regularly draws double teams, which is a staple of the 3-4 defense.
Buchignani’s counterpart is classmate Tom Methvin, a 6’3”, 275-pound senior who was on his way to what looked like an All-Ivy season of his own in 2007 before being derailed by an injury. Methvin is fully healed this season and poised to play at a high level all year.
The man in the middle is six-foot, 255-pound senior defensive tackle Matt Koch, a two-year starter and 2007 All-Ivy selection. Koch is a player who never quits, and his diligence and determination regularly demand double teams. His hard work over the past three seasons earned him enough respect to be elected one of the Tigers’ tri-captains.
Junior defensive end Joel Karacozoff, another mammoth at 6’3” and 255 pounds, will be the first man into the rotation, a spot he earned last year when he notched 14 tackles in two games while starting for Methvin along with 5.5 tackles for a loss on the season.
“[The defensive line has] to step up and take the pressure off the other position groups,” Koch said. “Whereas before it was the linebackers who had the experience, now it’s us, the ones with the experience who have been in games before, faced the adversity. So we have to be the leaders out there, and we really have to set the tone for everybody.”
Behind the linemen is a deep and versatile linebacking corps that will be led by junior John Callahan and senior Collin McCarthy. Callahan stands at 6’3” and 210 pounds and registered four sacks and 10.5 tackles for a loss last season. McCarthy made 56 tackles last season, including 14 in consecutive games. The performance of the outside linebackers will be especially important this season, as an inexperienced secondary could be exploited without the aid of a strong pass rush.
The inside positions will be occupied by relatively new faces. Six-foot, one-inch, 225-pound sophomore Steven Cody and 5’10”, 205-pound junior Scott Britton are ready to make plays after waiting in the wings behind graduated anchors Tim Boardman ’08 and Doori Song ’08. Britton is back to full health after struggling to overcome a torn ACL that sidelined him midway through his freshman season and slowed him down last season. The coaches have held high expectations for him since the day he arrived that could finally be fulfilled this year.
Cody is an explosive player who will look to use his speed to pressure the quarterback and make stops in the running game from the weak side.
No matter how well Princeton’s front seven perform, however, the fate of the defense could be determined by the performance of the secondary. Junior cornerback Cart Kelly and classmate strong safety Wilson Cates are the only members of the group with significant varsity action. In recent years, Princeton has depended on players like Jay McCareins ’06 and J.J. Artis ’07 to go one-on-one with opponents’ top receivers. Kelly, who recorded 44 tackles, seven pass breakups and an interception while starting all 10 games last season, may have the potential to fill that role.
With a strong performance toward the end of last season and the departure of junior Dan Kopolovich for the offense, Kelly has earned the title of number-one cornerback and will be called on to lock down opposing teams’ number-one receivers. Offseason improvements in footwork and understanding the Tigers’ defensive scheme should allow Kelly to transition smoothly into this role.
Cates notched 33 tackles and two picks last year, including one in the tightly contested season finale against Dartmouth. It will be up to Cates to keep other players in the backfield in line, as his experience is unmatched among the safeties.
Junior free safety Carlos Roque and senior cornerback Barry Newell round out the secondary. Roque had an impressive offseason after seeing some action early in the 2007 season, while Newell is now fully recovered from an injury that kept him out of action last season.
Other players looking to make an impact in the secondary include senior cornerback Evan Ayasso and sophomore cornerback Glenn Wakam, who at 5’10” and 195 pounds shouldn’t have much trouble outmuscling taller receivers. Senior defensive back Pete Ploszek will be looking to make an impact on defense after transitioning from running back last season.
Early in the season, the secondary could see some changes as the coaches decide on the right combination of players.
“We like our talent level [in the secondary], but there’s no substantial experience, and again they may be a little bit of a work in progress as we go through the first four to five games and hopefully get prepared for the end of the schedule,” head coach Roger Hughes said.
In the meantime, the defensive coaches will be placing special emphasis on the pass rush.
“Your best friend is pass rush, so those guys up front better buckle up and find a way to get to the quarterback,” Verbit said. “If those three guys can’t, we’ve got to have a fourth lineman come in, and he better find a way to help out, and if they don’t, then Callahan and McCarthy better find a way to get there. Pressure is a secondary’s best friend.”
As for special teams, Princeton returns both senior placekicker Connor Louden and All-American senior punter Ryan Coyle. Coyle averaged 43.1 yards per punt, including a long of 69 yards, and 13 of his 50 punts landed inside the 20-yard line.
Princeton’s defensive performance this season will be especially important as the offense undergoes a switch to the spread. If the front seven can hold strong while the secondary discovers itself, the Tigers should be able to give their offense a fighting chance to win games.
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