Step it up Spring: The Defensive Line

Hard to believe this pic was taken 4 years ago!

Next to Columbia's obvious challenges on the offensive line, the biggest test in 2013 may be finding a way to continue the positive momentum on the defensive line without the graduating Josh Martin.

Martin isn't the only graduation loss, pass rushing specialist Will Patterson and "big uglies" Shad Sommers and Greg Lee are also finishing their studies. 

But the Lions do have one senior who could be a true ace in the hole. Seyi Adebayo is coming back for a 5th year after missing most of 2012 with an injury. All reports say Seyi is looking great and could even be an NFL prospect at this time next year. Adebayo's healthy return eases the loss of Martin in a big way, but he'll have to step it up this spring and fall to send Columbia to the next level.

The other two seniors are in classic "step it up" territory. Wells Childress indeed did step things up in 2012, but he has to get his game just a bit better, (I'd say into All Ivy Honorable Mention territory), to really make the kind of impact Columbia needs this year. Fellow senior Nick Melka was a breakout "step it up" guy in 2011, but he was lost for almost all of 2013. If he can return to his 2011 levels that would be pretty good, but if he can improve from that base point, that would be a big bonus.

The key rising junior and one of the keys to the entire defensive line is Chad Washington. Last year, he went from encouraging freshman to impact sophomore. Now he needs to be top starter. He has the talent and the ability to do it and as a co-captain it's clear his teammates see that potential as well. It's hard to put too much emphasis on how much Washington's improvement means to the Lions in 2013. 

The only other rising junior is Hunter Little, who remains mostly under the radar despite playing in five varsity games last year and even getting a tackle for a loss. If he steps his game up to the level of key backup or better, that's would also be a nice net positive.

The rising sophomores look extremely good. Niko Padilla had a breakout freshman year and if he can make the kind of improvements top players make between their first and second years, look out. Padilla has all the makings of an All Ivy player. Toba Akinleye is a personal favorite player of mine being that he comes straight out of Brooklyn and got better and better as the year went on last season. Coming out of the NYC PSAL football league, it's safe to say Akinleye is still learning the game, which is exciting because he has the athletic ability to be a BCS player. I think if he had played HS ball in New Jersey or Texas, he'd be at UCLA or Stanford right now. 

But all the potential and talent on the D-line is still not enough to answer all the questions. Can the Lions get the same kind of push without the double-teams Martin drew play after play? Will all the players with Al Ivy athletic ability show up ready to get it done? Is there enough depth in case one or two players get badly banged up?

One thing I do know is that what's left of the media covering Ivy football will totally disrespect this unit in the preseason write-ups. The same people who almost never mentioned Martin last season will now portray his graduation as something as disastrous as Hurricane Sandy. If the Lion D-line needs any more motivation to step it up, perhaps that will be it.

TOMORROW: The Offensive Line