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MARSHALL SPORTS
For Jacobs, help is on the way
Marshall defensive end John Jacobs stops Houston running back Anthony Alridge last season at Robertson Stadium in Texas. Jacobs was the warrior of Marshall's defensive line last season, often logging as many as 70 snaps a game.
Purchase this photoHUNTINGTON -- Putting it modestly, it was a long season for John Jacobs.
Early August was an invigorating time for Marshall University's sturdy defensive end in 2007. He had earned a starting role, and eagerly anticipated playing opposite Conference USA's reigning Defensive Player of the Year, Albert McClellan.
Midway through preseason camp, McClellan was lost for the year with a knee injury. Marshall had lost its best player, forcing an 11th hour game plan audible and severely depleting the defensive end depth chart.
Jacobs emerged as a leader, but it was taxing sophomore season. An overall lack of defensive depth led to fourth quarter struggles, a trouble spot that could reverse in 2008.
"What was exciting was (Jacobs) play," McClellan said. "He plays with such emotion. He's always going. He's got a fast motor. He runs from sideline to sideline.
"And he's a hard hitter, so it's amazing to watch (Jacobs). (Last year) come around the fourth quarter, he also played most of the special teams, so it was hard for him to still be pretty fresh in the fourth quarter."
McClellan now is back, and Jacobs finally is living the dream of a year ago. Mix in an improving Michael Janac, promising newcomer Vinny Curry, Ian Hoskins, DeMetrius Thompson and possibly true freshman John Youboty, and Marshall suddenly boasts a functioning rotation.
"We have so much depth on the D-line, across the board," Jacobs said. "It just means more fresh legs all the time. Last year there were games where we were all playing 70 snaps a game.
"The top defensive linemen in the country average probably 30 to 35 plays a game. They're fresh every single play, and we're going to be able to do that this year with the depth we have, and at tackle."
Jacobs totaled eight tackles for loss and 2.5 of the Thundering Herd's 13 sacks last season. When Jacob's hearty workload recently was mentioned, Marshall's head coach countered with another indicator of Jacobs' long season.
"When he was healthy," Mark Snyder said.
Good point.
Jacobs missed three games with a broken left hand, but still led the team in tackles behind the line of scrimmage. Ideally, Jacobs' game day plays will significantly dip, making for a better second half defense.
At 6-foot-4 and 280 pounds, Janac is the most physically imposing of the group. He and Hoskins (6-2, 253) will play tackle and end in defensive coordinator Rick Minter's multiple scheme.
Jacobs (6-3, 241) and McClellan (6-2, 252) are proven playmakers and serve as unquestioned leaders at the position. Curry (6-5, 249) has displayed flashes in his first Marshall preseason camp, and Youboty (6-4, 237) well could shed his redshirt.
The new-look defensive front unveils Saturday in the season opener against Illinois State. Kickoff at Joan C. Edwards Stadium is 4:30 p.m. WOWK-TV will televise the game.
"A lot of the teams we play will run you sideline to sideline," Jacobs said. "West Virginia will run you sideline to sideline. And when you don't have the depth to roll guys in every four or five plays, you've got guys out there for nine-play drives all the time.
"And at the end of the game those same guys are out there. That really takes a toll on your legs.
"You think you're running fast and then you watch the film and you're like 'man, I was going slow.'"
Barring injury, fresh legs shouldn't be an issue. Illinois State will provide an early test with an offense predicated on the run.
"The depth we had last year, watching from the sideline was pretty hard," McClellan said. "We only had about four guys going in the rotation so (only) every eight plays somebody was coming out.
"Some of the guys still didn't know the plays so it was kind of hard to put people in that really didn't understand the system. But this year it's a lot different.
"And they know the plays and understand the plays. They understand where they fit at."
McClellan was dominant in 2006, ranking in the top 10 nationally with 19 tackles for loss and 11 sacks. He's gradually returning to form and served as a vocal mentor during camp.
"It's great to have Albert back," Snyder said. "He's a good leader out there. He's doing a good job of coaching those young guys, especially Vinny.
"I saw him again today coaching Vinny - with kid gloves off. From a leadership standpoint that's tremendous. He knows that Vinny has a whole bunch of talent.
"And I think Mike has come a long way. (Jacobs) is not having to prod him much. Mike's trying to get on the field out there.
"He can be a dual role guy now for us, inside and outside. I thought he had a good camp. It's good to have depth there. It's definitely going to help in those close games in the fourth quarter."
