After recording just 17 sacks and ranking last in pass efficiency during the 2011 WAC season, the Idaho defensive line will take measures to enhance itself prior to the fall campaign. However, the departure of defen- sive end Charles Smith has left a hole on the line and initiated a position battle between three familiar and worthy candidates.
Junior Vince Keener and sophomores Maxx Forde and Marius Burgsmueller earned valuable field experience last season. Though Keener is the veteran of the three, Forde saw the most action last season and Burgsmueller has no shortage of potential.
All three come from different backgrounds and employ different tools on the field, part of the reason this specific position battle stands out to defensive line coach Eti Ena.
“All three of them are showing some good things, I mean there’s a lot of on-the-field play from last season,” Ena said. “The most expe- rience is going to go to Keener and Maxx … Marius is a new guy that’s coming along to get in that mix, he doesn’t necessarily have the field time, but he does have the physical tools and is something we can get to come along and add to that group.”
Burgsmueller hails from Dortmund, Germany, and was introduced to football at age 13. He spent a year in the German military, a few years later walked on at Idaho thanks to a recommendation from former Vandal and NFL offensive lineman Patrick Venzke.
Ilya Pinchuk | Argonaut Senior running back Ryan Bass stiff-arms a defender Saturday in the Kibbie Dome. The Vandals held their first scrimmage of the season Saturday and coach Robb Akey said he was impressed with his squad despite a limited offensive showing.
Playing 11 games as Idaho’s long snapper last season, Burgsmueller has the physical tools to compete for the defensive end role.
“His strength is drive, he wants it bad,” Ena said.
Forde, who redshirted in 2010, was Smith’s primary back-up during the 2011 season. The former Washington Associated Press 4A all- state team honoree saw action in all 12 games and completed 15 tackles.
The sophomore noted the work ethic of his two competitors brings out the intensity of the position battle. However, the year of experi- ence could give him a slight advantage.
“I know I’ve made a lot of gains in the weight room, understanding the defense and everything so I’m just a year older, wiser and ready to go,” Forde said.
Forde’s best assets, according to Ena, are his “drive and smarts.” But the Woodinville, Wash., native hopes to improve multiple aspects of his game to better prepare for the fall.
“Well, I mentioned pad level, get off, those are two key things for a defensive lineman. I need to work on my pass-rush a little bit, I know that’s something that we as a unit didn’t get as many sacks as we wanted to, so that’s something I want to improve on,” Forde said.
The position battle between quarterbacks Taylor Davis and Dominique Blackman has lit up spring practice thus far but Keener said the defensive end battle is “the biggest position battle on the field right now.”
After redshirting in 2009, Keener has experienced limited reserve action in 2010 and 2011. Last season, the 6-foot-4-inch junior saw field time in nine games, recording six tackles.
Keener’s work in the weight room during the offseason will be a major factor come fall.
“Giving 110 percent effort out there, conditioning, get your heart rate up,” Keener said. “All that plays a big factor so you can go the distance in the fourth quarter, you’ve got to have the strength and the conditioning for that.”
Ena said Keener’s strengths apply specifically to the defensive end position.
“Vince Keener is tools, he’s got speed and agility that you want in that position,” Ena said.
Though he didn’t state when he would name the defensive end starter, Ena set a few general goals for the line as a whole.
“Some of the objectives that we’ve set for ourselves is one in the run game we want to dominate the line of scrimmage,” he said. “In the pass game we want to be more reckless in our pass rush.”
Theo Lawson can be reached at [email protected]