Defensive line competition keeps Dogs on their toes

“Part of the problem that we’re running into is that it’s so much talent out there on the field that we can’t play everybody all at one time,” Drew said. “We try our best to make Coach Rock’s job easy as it can be but come game day it’s going to be tough for us to see who he’s actually going to put out there.”

When it comes to the ever-evolving Pruitt defense, defensive linemen take snaps at every position on the line of scrimmage. Because of the heave substituting and rotation, Drew worked his way into the lineup and had the opportunity to improve from his underwhelming training camp and prove himself to be a valuable asset to coach Tracy Rocker’s defensive line. After playing off the bench against both Clemson and South Carolina, Drew got the nod to start in the Bulldogs’ past two games against Troy and Tennessee.

“As you’ve seen, we’ve had a different starting lineup all three weeks,” Drew said before starting against Tennessee. “If I continue to practice the way I’ve been practicing and getting better, I’ll have a fighting chance at keeping that position. If not and someone comes out and has a better week at practice than I do, they’re going to have that job.”

Last season Drew started seven of 13 games, including Georgia Tech, South Carolina and the Bulldogs’ loss to Nebraska in the Gator Bowl. He finished the 2013 season with 43 total tackles, eight tackles for loss (fifth on the team) for 52 yards and six sacks — half a sack shy of team-leader Floyd to tie for second with former Bulldog Garrison Smith.

With big bodies like Smith’s gone from the defensive line, the rotation benefits guys like Toby Johnson, DeLoach, Drew, Sterling Bailey, Mike Thornton, John Atkins and Josh Dawson (who average 285 pounds a piece).

“…When you get into the games, you have that many fresh legs that you can constantly roll,” Drew said. “Guys are going out and you can go full speed the entire game which pays off at the end when the other team is wearing down and getting tired. You’re still at your peak performance.”

Although the defensive front may lack the star power it’s had in years passed, Drew doesn’t doubt that he and his unit will increasingly contribute to the team’s pass rush as the season goes on.

“Even though we don’t have ‘the big names’ — I never thought that, good luck with that,” Drew said jokingly, “but names don’t really mean much. It’s what you do on the field and what you do on film and what you take away from the game.”

Against Tennessee, Drew gave one of the better performances of the defensive linemen and recorded five tackles, the most of his position group. Even so, the depth chart he saw heading into last Saturday’s game ensures nothing beyond that game.

“It’s the way Coach Rock keeps us on our toes,” Drew said.