Wake Forest Athletics
Depth Up Front Allows Deacs to Stay Fresh
10/17/2020 11:38:00 AM | Football, Les Johns
“I enjoy this group more than any group we’ve had in seven years.” -Dave Cohen
The Wake Forest defensive line returned seven players who started a season ago, added an All-Conference USA performer and is headlined by a preseason All-American defensive end Carlos "Boogie" Basham at defensive end.
This very well may be defensive line coach Dave Cohen's most formidable unit in seven seasons at Wake Forest.
"I think that will be answered on the field," he said. "It is certainly without question the deepest."
The depth up front means the Deacs should continue to be fresh late into games and potentially deeper into the season, which features a massive 10 ACC contests.
"I think we're better run defenders right now than pass rushers right now," Cohen said. "It (the depth) takes away the need for somebody to play 65 plays at 300 pounds and maybe cut it to 40 plays. Competition is very healthy and a good motivator."
Basham; who is on the Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List, the Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List and the Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List, has his sights set on the Wake Forest single-season sack and tackle for loss records this year.
"What makes Boogie special is his motor," Cohen said. "He's like the Energizer Bunny. He has a laser focus to get to the football. We do such a good job on offense of getting rid of the football fast. He's playing as hard, if not harder than he ever has in the past, with the same skill level and focus.
"I would hope he's able to do all those things. But as I tell my guys, sacks are hard to get. They're not handing them out on Main Street. Sometimes he got a sack last year because Rondell (Bothroyd) would beat his guy but miss the quarterback. I'd be disappointed if the pressures and TFLs weren't up to that level."
After three games this season, Basham has a sack in each game and has extended his NCAA-best tackle for loss streak to 21 games.
Following in the footsteps of Duke Ejiofor, now with the Houston Texans in the NFL, Basham initially broke through solely because of his physical talent.
"In 2018, he was a player that solely relied on his physical abilities," Cohen said. "He figured he would just pick up where Duke left off. What is your motivation? It's always harder than they think it will be. It's hard to do it play-in and play-out. We knew what he needed to take the next step.
"What I see is great focus, energy and finishing plays, with a lot of good talent."
With Basham getting double teamed on the line often, it creates opportunities for other Wake Forest defensive linemen.
"We've made that a major focus with JaCorey (Johns) and Shamar (McCollum)," Cohen said. "They have to get there and I think we have some younger guys who are getting better, like Royce Francis and Isaiah Chaney. We have to get more threats. Tyler Williams at the three technique is a big threat. We have some good athletic guys in pass rush situations.
"I think Ja'Cquez Williams is going to do some special things in those situations as both an on the line and off the line blitzer. He's really flashing. He's got a twitch, with a good change of direction and is light on his feet. Traveon Redd can help with that, up on the line of scrimmage."
With the ever changing schedule, it brought a new challenge of preparing for No. 1 Clemson and in-state rival NC State in the opening two weeks of the season.
"We had some great ideas for ODU and Villanova," Cohen said jokingly.
For the Deacs to close the season strong, it'll be up to Cohen's unit to set the tone and create consistent pressure up front. It's a group with the talent and experience to lead potentially one of the best defensive units in the Clawson era.
"I enjoy this group more than any group we've had in seven years," Cohen said. "The amount of time we sort of bust each other's stones — it's just a lot of fun. Now, I'm a yeller. But there's a lot less of it. I think the expectation level is understood and they're there to compete against each other."
This very well may be defensive line coach Dave Cohen's most formidable unit in seven seasons at Wake Forest.
"I think that will be answered on the field," he said. "It is certainly without question the deepest."
The depth up front means the Deacs should continue to be fresh late into games and potentially deeper into the season, which features a massive 10 ACC contests.
"I think we're better run defenders right now than pass rushers right now," Cohen said. "It (the depth) takes away the need for somebody to play 65 plays at 300 pounds and maybe cut it to 40 plays. Competition is very healthy and a good motivator."
Basham; who is on the Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List, the Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List and the Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List, has his sights set on the Wake Forest single-season sack and tackle for loss records this year.
"What makes Boogie special is his motor," Cohen said. "He's like the Energizer Bunny. He has a laser focus to get to the football. We do such a good job on offense of getting rid of the football fast. He's playing as hard, if not harder than he ever has in the past, with the same skill level and focus.
"I would hope he's able to do all those things. But as I tell my guys, sacks are hard to get. They're not handing them out on Main Street. Sometimes he got a sack last year because Rondell (Bothroyd) would beat his guy but miss the quarterback. I'd be disappointed if the pressures and TFLs weren't up to that level."
After three games this season, Basham has a sack in each game and has extended his NCAA-best tackle for loss streak to 21 games.
Following in the footsteps of Duke Ejiofor, now with the Houston Texans in the NFL, Basham initially broke through solely because of his physical talent.
"In 2018, he was a player that solely relied on his physical abilities," Cohen said. "He figured he would just pick up where Duke left off. What is your motivation? It's always harder than they think it will be. It's hard to do it play-in and play-out. We knew what he needed to take the next step.
"What I see is great focus, energy and finishing plays, with a lot of good talent."
With Basham getting double teamed on the line often, it creates opportunities for other Wake Forest defensive linemen.
"We've made that a major focus with JaCorey (Johns) and Shamar (McCollum)," Cohen said. "They have to get there and I think we have some younger guys who are getting better, like Royce Francis and Isaiah Chaney. We have to get more threats. Tyler Williams at the three technique is a big threat. We have some good athletic guys in pass rush situations.
"I think Ja'Cquez Williams is going to do some special things in those situations as both an on the line and off the line blitzer. He's really flashing. He's got a twitch, with a good change of direction and is light on his feet. Traveon Redd can help with that, up on the line of scrimmage."
With the ever changing schedule, it brought a new challenge of preparing for No. 1 Clemson and in-state rival NC State in the opening two weeks of the season.
"We had some great ideas for ODU and Villanova," Cohen said jokingly.
For the Deacs to close the season strong, it'll be up to Cohen's unit to set the tone and create consistent pressure up front. It's a group with the talent and experience to lead potentially one of the best defensive units in the Clawson era.
"I enjoy this group more than any group we've had in seven years," Cohen said. "The amount of time we sort of bust each other's stones — it's just a lot of fun. Now, I'm a yeller. But there's a lot less of it. I think the expectation level is understood and they're there to compete against each other."
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