Eastern Washington defensive line ready to take the next step

This is the fifth of an eight-part series on spring football at Eastern Washington. Today: the defensive line.

New schemes and newfound physicality made a big difference last year for Eastern Washington’s defensive line.

The next step: winning consistently at the line of scrimmage against run-heavy programs like North Dakota State and Youngstown State.

Not coincidentally, those teams accounted for both Eagle losses in 12-2 season.

“We’re going to match up with more of those teams, and we’ve made it a point of getting better in short-yardage situations and with heavier personnel,” said EWU defensive front coordinator Eti Ena.

The players have responded.

“I really enjoy this,” nose tackle Jay-Tee Tiuli said. “This is something we need.”

Here’s how the Eastern D-line is shaping up this spring:

Tackle: The Eagles typically employ a nose tackle and a “3 Technique” tackle, with some players seeing game action at both spots.

Tiuli was one of the biggest surprises for the Eagles last year, filling in for injured senior Matt Sommer and going on to become a first-team all-Big Sky Conference pick.

“That didn’t surprise me,” said Ena, who noted that opposing coaches continually mentioned the 6-foot-4, 315-pound Tiuli as a “big problem inside.”

That’s a nice compliment, but Tiuli (33 total tackles last year, including five for loss) insists that he’s going into his senior year “just staying humble and trying to get better.”

Andre Lino, a 6-3, 265-pound senior-to-be, started every game at the other tackle spot. He also has high motor and endurance, allowing him to shift to nose tackle when Tiuli needs a breather.

Thanks to their practice of rotating 10 to 12 players per game, the Eagles developed plenty of depth across the line. Dylan Donahue, a 6-foot, 255-pound junior, is the top backup at nose tackle, while several players are in the mix at the 3 Technique position.

They include Jonah Jordan, a 6-2, 250-pound junior out of Mead High School; Keith Moore , a 6-5, 290-pound redshirt freshman; and Dylan Ledbetter, a 6-4, 250-pound sophomore who’s sitting out spring ball following shoulder surgery.

End: Eastern’s scheme often uses a speedier “rush end” on the weak side and a bigger “field end” on the strong side of the opposing offense.

The biggest chore is to compensate for the graduation of All-Big Sky rush end Samson Ebukam (14 ½ tackles for loss and 9 ½ sacks last year).

“You don’t just replace him,” Ena said.

Samson’s heir apparent is senior Marcus Saugen, a 6-4, 220-pound senior out of North Central who “is having a “great spring,” according to Ena.

And though he’s primarily a pass-rusher, Saugen said run defense is “fun on the edge too – I like to get down and dirty, and get into those gaps.”

The top backups at rush end are sophomore Darnell Hogan, a 6-5, 225-pound sophomore; and Nick Foerstel, a 6-3, 230-pound junior who’s out for spring ball as he recovers from ACL surgery.

The Eagles have a wealth of talent at field end, headed by 14-game starter Albert Havili. The 6-2, 255-pound senior, a former linebacker, brings enough athleticism that he also can play rush end. “I like to switch these guys, if I can find a chink in the other team’s armor,” Ena said.

Last year, Havili had 61 total tackles and six tackles for loss.

Juniors Jim Townsend (6-4, 230) and Conner Baumann (6-2, 240) and sophomore Keenan Williams (6-3, 260) also will see plenty of action.

Coming up: part six, the linebackers