Who Dey? Pre-season analysis part II - the defense

So now that Buffalover's insightful analysis has declared the 2008 Buff offense to be "good", let's quiet the celebration a bit and look honestly at our defense, shall we?

Defensive Line:
The interior of this line is perhaps the best we've seen in a decade. George Hypolite (pictured) and Brandon Nicholas are seasoned, senior, nasty, mean, tenacious, fierce defensive linemen. They will clog up the middle, prevent the run and occupy several blockers. These big uglies are so beautiful to me. On one end, they are joined by Mo Lucas - the Patrick Williams of the defense. Mo has always had the look of a world beater but has simply never arrived. This is the year for him to catch fire and wreak havok. He's our greatest hope for creating the QB pressure that we so obviously lacked last year.

Linebackers:
Let us all pause and thank Buddha for delivering to us the greatest linebacker coach in college football, Brian Cabral. This mustachioed magician has delivered another crop of outstanding 'backers. Though you can never, ever replace a guy like Jordan Dizon (pauses, sheds tear, thumps chest)... I tell you that the LB corp will be OK. Starting will be the trio of Jeff Smart, Marcus Burton and Brad Jones. There will be plenty of rotations though at these positions because the group is so deep. Michael Sipili (pictured), who returns after last year's suspension for after hours fisticuffs (the pass time of champions), will be a ferocious force. He is huge, fast and hits like a, well, Michael Sipili!

DBs:
Now for the sobering part of the analysis. Terrence Wheatley is now gone, playing in the NFL (pauses, sheds tear, thumps chest)... In his place are two new cornerbacks both small, both untested. The well apostrophied Cha'pelle Brown joins Garner McKay as the two most likely to be blamed for losses. At safety are the experience duo of DJ Dykes (insert sophomoric joke here) and Ryan Walters (pictured). Walter is the leader of this misfit crew and he is a good man. He is a second generation Buff and someone who will positively destroy his own body in order to inflict pain on opposing receivers. I love that man and I wish him godspeed in his pain inflicting mission.

Summary:
The good news is, we'll be great at stopping the run. The bad news is, we'll be poor at stopping the pass. That would be reasonably fantastic news if this was the Big 8 and the year was 1980. But alas it's the Big XII of 2008 and this conference flings the pig around a bit, no? So brace yourselves, brothers and sisters, we're in for a rocky ride.