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(UWIRE) NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. -- The Rutgers defensive line may have lost a great leader in Eric Foster, but it certainly isn't worried about a lack of experience, as the line will be led by a core of returning players who were all able to make an impact in 2007.
"The best thing about our defensive line right now is that they've played," head coach Greg Schiano said on the strengths of the line in spring practice.
Senior linebacker Kevin Malast is confident that the D-Line will be able to fill the shoes of Foster.
"Eric was great," Malast said. "But we have guys who are stepping up and making a difference. Guys like [senior defensive tackle] Pete Tverdov are really doing a great job of leading the younger guys."
That leadership was on full display at Wednesday's practice as the defensive line was able to dominate the Rutgers football team's offense during the team's goal-line drills. The drills proved that perhaps the biggest change in the line this year, the move of senior Jamaal Westerman from right end to tackle, may have been a smart decision.
Westerman will be the cornerstone of a core of starting seniors for the Scarlet Knights.
"We have a lot of strengths right now," sophomore defensive end Alex Silvestro said. "But we need to stay focused on working hard. It's important that we never stop working and trying to improve because the moment you do someone will be there to take your place."
Freshman offensive lineman Matthew Hardison began taking snaps with the starting offensive line, and Schiano said he likes what he has seen so far.
"If it works, it's permanent," Schiano said on deciding to start Hardison at offensive line. "We felt like we needed to provide more depth at offensive line and Matt's athletic enough to provide that depth."
Junior fullback Jack Corcoran has made strides toward winning a starting job and is now the leading contender for the position over sophomore Andres Morales.
"He [Corcoran] has just played better, more physical, more consistent," Schiano said. "[He's better in] his overall development as a fullback. He's blocking better and looking for natural. We need him to."
(C) 2008 Daily Targum via U-WIRE
