North Dakota State Football Preview, The Defense/Special Teams (Part two of two)
8/5/2006 5:00:00 AM | Football
There's no question North Dakota State is playing the toughest schedule in the program's tradition-rich history with the addition of Division I-A Minnesota and Ball State, and perennial Division I-AA powerhouse Georgia Southern to mention a few. Then there's the week-in and week-out dogfight known as the Great West Football Conference.
It's certainly no place for the faint of heart and a place where only the strong will survive.
However, the Bison have long been known as a program that likes a challenge and NDSU head football coach Craig Bohl has been more than encouraged with what he and the coaching staff has seen through the spring and summer in earnest preparation for the 2006 season.
North Dakota State looks to improve on its 7-4 record in 2005 that included a 3-2 third-place finish in the conference.
"I think we're an improved football team. We have more speed and overall more depth," said Bohl, who enters his fourth season at NDSU with a 23-10 record including a 15-3 ledger in the Fargodome.
"But we're going to need to be a better, stronger, more explosive football team because our competition has increased."
Here's part two of the NDSU football season preview.
Defense
Collectively, the Bison defense allowed 13.7 points and 272.4 yards per game and also posted a pair of shutouts in 2005
NDSU was plus-11 in turnover margin, coming away with 15 interceptions and 10 fumble recoveries. The Bison committed only 14 turnovers.
It was a group effort -- on the line with players like senior defensive tackle Justin Frick, at linebacker with sledgehammers like junior Joe Mays and sophomore Mike Maresh, and in the secondary where steady senior strong safety Craig Dahl patrols.
"In a number of categories, we were in the top five in I-AA football," said Bohl.
"We built a really good defense. We lost a lot but we have some returning players coming back."
There are 19 letterwinners back on defense and six starters including five full-timers.
Defensive Line
"The defensive line is where it starts," said Bohl.
And that's where senior defensive tackle Justin Frick (6-3, 292) returns after a solid junior season that saw him earn Football Gazette I-AA All-America second team honors. He recorded 54 tackles including 10.5 tackles for loss, four pass breakups, three sacks, a fumble recovery for a TD and a blocked kick.
This season Frick was No. 25 on the College Football News.Com list of I-AA players worth the price of a I-A Admission.
"Justin is a guy that showed signs of being a dominant defensive tackle so we're going to build that front around him.
The nose guard position will be decided in the fall where redshirt freshman Michael Fairbairn (6-2, 293), and junior college transfers Thomas Campbell (6-1, 275) and Michael Brown (6-0, 270) will battle.
"We'll have four guys in the middle to rotate. They are all around 300 pounds and are strong. We feel good about that," said Bohl.
Senior Brian Dahl (6-2, 232) looks to win the right defensive end position with senior Alex Kingsley (6-0 1/2, 213) and sophomore Nick Compton (6-0, 235) presenting a challenge.
On the left side, sophomore Joe Lardinois (6-4, 233) is coming off another solid spring practice. Junior college transfer Christon Dallas (6-3, 280) also looks to contribute.
Linebackers
"I think linebackers are our strong suit. I think we have some good players there," said Bohl.
Junior middle linebacker Joe Mays (5-11, 245) led the Bison with 83 tackles including 48 solos, 10.5 tackles for loss and three interceptions in 2005. He had three double-figure tackle efforts last season including a career-high 14 against Nicholls State.
Flanking Mays will be a pair of sophomores. Mike Maresh (6-0, 226) had 50 tackles including 33 solos, 2.5 tackles for loss and a pair of sacks. Ramon Humber (5-10 1/2, 221) picked up things quickly as a true freshman last year and had a sudden impact. His playing time increased steadily as the season went along.
"Those three I think are as good of a linebacker corps that we've had since I've been here," said Bohl.
Expect senior Brett Itterman (6-1 1/2, 222), sophomore Mike Brower (6-0, 214) and redshirt freshman Tyler Henry (6-1 1/2, 227) to figure into the scheme of things on defense. Itterman, an Aberdeen, South Dakota native, had a breakout performance against South Dakota State in the Dakota Marker game and earned conference player of the week honors.
Secondary
With the loss of both starting cornerbacks, the strength of the NDSU defensive backfield will be up the middle with the safeties.
Senior strong safety Craig Dahl (6-1, 211) has been a steady performer for the Bison during his career. Dahl was second on the team with 71 tackles including 49 solo stops. He added an interception, a pair of pass breakups and a fumble recovery. Dahl also blocked a punt against SDSU.
Versatile senior Ryan Olson (5-11, 189) will backup at strong safety.
"Craig has had a great career here so far and was a captain last year. We anticipate excellent things out of him. He covers a lot of ground, is a physical hitter and smart," said Bohl.
Sophomore Nick Schommer (5-11, 191) stepped into the starting role at free safety last fall. He tied for the team lead with three interceptions and also had three pass breakups. Senior Barry Quickstad (6-0 1/2, 211) will provide depth at free safety.
"At the corner position, we are inexperienced but we have ability there," said the NDSU head coach.
A pair of sophomores, Richard Bowman (5-8, 174) and Nate Agbetola (5-8, 169) will benefit from the playing time they received as true freshmen last fall.
Junior David Earl (6-0, 184) enters fall camp as the projected starter at the right corner and will receive a challenge from redshirt freshman Courtney Mitchell (5-9, 170).
Special Teams
Junior punter Mike Dragosavich (6-5, 196) set a NDSU single-season record averaging 46.5 yards per punt including a career best 79-yard blast against nationally-ranked Southern Illinois. He had 11 touchbacks and 10 punts inside the 20-yard line.
Dragosavich was named to the 2005 Associated Press I-AA and Football Gazette I-AA All-America second-team, and College Sports Report.com I-AA first team.
"I think he (Dragosavich) is a weapon. We'll utilize him as a weapon," said Bohl.
"Mike is developing more consistency. He has a strong leg and can change field position. We think this next year he will continue to improve."
Dragosavich will again take care of the holding duties on PATs and field goal attempts.
Redshirt freshman Jeff Curtis (6-2 1/2, 207) is expected to take over the long snapping reponsiblities with Wurzbacher in reserve, if needed.
Taking his place awaiting punts and kickoffs is junior Shamen Washington (5-6, 151), who was named to The Sports Network's I-AA Preseason All-America second team along with Dragosavich.
"I think Shamen Washington is electric with the football and we are going to utilize him at the position," said Bohl.
Washington averaged 13.9 yards per return and two TDs on 28 punt returns to lead the GWFC last season. He also returned 16 kickoffs for an average of 22.4 yards per return including a season-long of 55 yards.
North Dakota State has some big shoes to fill at placekicker. Sophomore Kyle Wilcox (5-11, 185) and incoming freshman Shawn Bibeau (5-11, 200), an all-state performer at White Bear Lake (Minn.) High School will vie for the starting nod for departed senior Cory Vartanian.
