The Jumbos' defense may have lost an NFL−caliber safety in Tom Tassinari (E '10), but with three seasoned linebackers anchoring the squad, Jumbos fans can expect a season of consistently stalwart defensive play. Senior Matt Murray and junior Ferras Albitar — who both finished in the top five on the team in tackles and sacks last season — form an imposing linebacker trio with senior Brian Danshaw that should give opposing offenses fits.
The linebackers are confident that having a battle−tested group — all three were starters last year — will lead to improvement from last year, when the Jumbos had the worst rush defense in the NESCAC and dropped their final five games to end the year with a record of 2−6.
"I think [our] experience is going to help, and hopefully we'll have a better outcome this season," Albitar said.
In last year's finale against Middlebury, Albitar demonstrated the kind of spark he brings to the team with an interception and five tackles. But the Jumbos ultimately lost that game 26−7, giving up 336 passing yards and three touchdowns through the air. The challenge this season will be to be more consistent.
"We've had a young linebacking corps, and now it's getting older with Matt [Murray] and Brian [Danshaw] being seniors," defensive coordinator Scott Rynne,said. "Those guys work very hard, and they're close. The leadership's there. Our big challenge was graduating three captains on defense, and I think that question's been answered."
Another Jumbo filling a major leadership role is junior tri−captain Donnie Simmons, the energizer of the defense. Simmons exudes passion on the field through his upbeat and humorous personality, and the All−Conference defensive end leads by example on game day.
"Donnie [Simmons] is a high−energy guy," Rynne said. "He runs all over the place, between practices and to practices. He loves to play football. He's downhill, he's making plays on the edge. …He's a great rusher."
Starting on the line with Simmons are senior Alex Gresham and juniors Nick Croteau and Phil Artis. Croteau was a tight end last year and notched six receptions and a touchdown. Gresham is a returning starter who collected 19 tackles last season. Another question the team has to answer is how the secondary will perform after graduating Tassinari, who worked out for NFL teams in March, and fellow All−Conference defensive back Alex Perry (LA '10).
"It's hard to replace guys like Tas and Perry," Albitar said. "But we have a lot of speed, and they're coming along nicely."
Primarily a 4−3 defense, Tufts will need to combat the popular spread offense, which some teams in the NESCAC have converted to using nickel and dime packages that put extra defensive backs on the field.
Though three players in the starting secondary are sophomores, all have had game experience after stepping in last year because of injuries. Starting are Tommy Castle, Vincent Lee, Austin Crittenden and Nick Falk, the lone junior.
The Jumbos defense will immediately have a chance to prove itself against a flawed opponent tomorrow when Tufts faces off against the Hamilton Continentals, a team that also finished 2−6 last year and was shut out twice.
With an experienced linebacking corps, a speedy secondary and Simmons and the line bearing down on quarterbacks, the Jumbos' defense has a good chance to wow the home crowd.
