Huskie Outsider

The Huskies returned a veteran defensive unit in 2011, one that would finish as the top scoring defence and third-best defence in terms of yardage, in spite of some untimely injuries to the linebackers and in the secondary.

The defensive line will return largely intact, with defensive end Jon DeWitt being the only member who will not return. Sacks leader, nose tackle David Rybinski, is expected to return, as will fellow fifth-year Steve Kovach, while fourth-year veterans Zach Hart, Joel Seutter, Levi Steinhauer and Ben Rush will complete one of the best defensive lines in the CIS. Because there are so many players in their fourth and fifth years, the Huskies will be looking to bring in new players and will likely work a couple into the lineup to give them playing time before taking on starting roles in 2013.

The defensive secondary may also return intact, although that will depend on whether safety Bryce McCall, who is ranked as one of the top ten prospects for this spring’s CFL draft, returns. McCall had three interceptions last season, bringing him within two of tying the CIS record of 21. Interception co-leader, cornerback Mitch Friesen, is expected back for his fifth year, as are fourth-year veteran halfbacks Seamus Neary and Luke Thiel. Cornerbacks Cory Eddington and Andrew Abbs, who split time at the corner opposite Friesen last season, are also expected to return.

It would appear that the greatest need on defence would be at linebacker, with at least two starters, tackles leader Tony Michalchuk and veteran Nico Higgs, graduating. Another veteran who joined the team for his fifth season in 2011, Tommy Lynch, has also exhausted his eligibility, while middle linebacker Peter Thiel, may not return for his fifth season if an opportunity in the CFL comes up. However, the Huskies have plenty of depth at linebacker, with veterans like Charlie Power, Brodie Rothe and Thomas Hilderman showing they are ready for greater roles.

My conversation with Coach Towriss continues below, with questions on the defensive needs answered.

DC: Turning now to the defensive line, you only lose one one guy, Jon DeWitt, there. However, Rybinski and Kovach are entering their fifth years, and guys like Hart and Seutter are going into their forth. Is this an area where you will build for the future.

BT: Well, it is. Our main look has been at high schools, and we’ve had visits from a couple of the top guys from the Football Canada Cup. We have another kid who has been out of football for a year who we’re in the process of confirming a visit for. There are also a couple players in junior who we’ve kept in contact with, who, if they’re not here this year, will likely come over next year.

DC: Linebacker is an area similar to receiver where, although you are losing some good, veteran players, you appear to have a lot of depth and game-ready talent waiting to play.

BT: Yeah, we lose two or three kids, but we carried three more than we usually do last year. We carried 15 when we usually carry 12.

Ronald Mwamba (who was recruited in 2010 and spent 2011 playing for the Edmonton Wildcats) is coming back. He’s a good player and has a year of playing experience now, which probably helped him. There are also a couple other guys we’re looking at, right now.

It’s not an area of high priority. We’ve spent most of our time on running backs and on o-and-d-linemen right now, and a couple guys in the secondary. We’ve got offers out there right now and we need answers on those before we go any further.

DC: The secondary, as you mentioned, is a bit of a key area considering that the one cornerback position had a rotation of players last year and since you could lose Bryce to the CFL.

BT: Yeah, that one cornerback position was a bit of a concern last year, but then again, (Keenan) MacDougall didn’t play (MacDougall is expected back this season). We have a junior veteran committed and the player who I think is the best young corner in Saskatchewan committed, as well. We also have one of the best defensive backs from Alberta coming in for a visit, and also a couple kids from Quebec.

It’s an area where we had such good young kids last year, too. We had five kids on our show team that weren’t a whole lot different than the ones who were playing. They gave our offence as many fits as our starting defence did. (Geoff) Hughes is a good player, (Kurtis) Gryba is a good player, (Spencer) Krieger is a good player. All of those guys are going to be college football players.

We would like to have a guy who has experience to step up and play corner, but after this season, we lose Friesen, we lose Bryce, and Thiel will have a CFL look, I think, next year. So we still have to build the position, but it’s not an immediate need this year.

Filed under: Huskies, Recruiting Tagged: | defensive back, defensive line, Huskies, linebacker, recruiting