Defense looks to repeat strong season

When the football team opens its season at home against Hamilton on Saturday, the major question facing the defensive unit will be whether it can match its 2001 achievements.

Last year's squad allowed a stingy 10.4 points per game, and with an offense that featured a clock controlling running attack, the Jumbos found a winning formula. Though a rash of preseason injuries have plagued the defense, optimism abounds as the Tufts defense returns nine of its 11 starters.

"I think (the defense) can be as good as last year," coach Bill Samko said. "Will we be? I don't know... We were pretty much sophomore dominated last year, and now they're not sophomores anymore. These guys have more experience, so they have the potential to be better."

Only two defensive starters were lost to graduation, lineman Everett Dickerson, and linebacker Scott Mittenthal. Mittenthal was the team's leading tackler with 59 while picking up one sack, while Dickerson recorded 24 tackles and two sacks. Yet Samko is confident that Rich Aronson and Chris Lawrence, two sophomores who each saw limited time last season, will fill the void left by Dickerson. Northeastern transfer junior Gaetan Kashala will help fill the void left by Mittenthal.

The Jumbos certainly boast one of the league's top defensive backfields. Juniors Jorge Rordriguez and Drew Blewett return at safeties.

"We think the backfield is a strength. They've played well in preseason," Samko said. "Jorge started every game for us last year, and Blewett will be a very, very good player who has a chance to be outstanding."

The tandem of senior tri-captain Evan Zupancic and junior Mark Tilki return at corner. Both boast outstanding speed. Zupancic intercepted three passes last year, bringing his career total to 13, only two short of the Tufts all-time record. Zupancic's junior season was enough to earn All-Nescac second team honors. Tilke led the squad in interceptions with four, and was voted to the All-Nescac first team as a special teams player.

The linebacking core is the team's most suspect, as a rash of injuries have spread through it. Freshmen Robert Borney, who was expected to see some gametime this season was injured in the Wesleyan scrimmage last week. He tore his ACL and will likely be out for the rest of the year.

Freshman Zack Dumas, whom Samko hopes will contribute at linebacker, has also dealt with early season injuries.

But Tufts does return some experienced linebackers. Returning starter senior Sean Kennedy has drawn rave reviews as the defense's most improved player, senior Matt DePaolis, whose fourth quarter interception against Colby clinched an important victory last November, and headsy sophomore Jack Byrne round out the unit.

The defensive line returns strong off the 2001 season. Junior tri-captain Caleb Hudak, an All-NESCAC first team selection last year after leading the Jumbos with four sacks, anchors the line along with junior Matt Keller. Both started every game last year.

"Hudak has a chance to become a special player," Samko said. "He's good and his attitude is terrific. Kellar ain't fancy, but he shows up all the time, he's very solid. Those two are really cornerstones, and I trust they'll play well this year."

Tufts rotated three players to play the two defensive end positions last season, junior Reid Palmer, senior Brian Burbank and junior Jay Hirsh, all of who return for the 2002 season.

"Burbank and Hirsh have had really good preseasons," Samko said. "And I think Reid is arguably our best player."

Though Tufts enters the season with high expectations, looking to complete its first back to back winning seasons in ten years, Samko is careful not to make too many bold predictions.

"Our goals are the same as they always are," Samko said. "Be as good as you can be, play as hard as you can every play, and the results will take care of themselves. Really we have one goal, and that's to win. If you're better at the end than you were at the beginning, I think that's the sign of a successful team.