Line in the Sand: Shore Conference’s Top Returning D-lineman

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Defensive line is a unique position. They get glory for making sacks, but do not often get shown love unless the QB is running for his life. They keep bodies off of their LBs and often force plays to make their teammates look like world-beaters. Today we honor some of the big bodies in the trenches that do the knitty-gritty work necessary to complete for championships. These d-linemen all play for teams within Jersey's Shore Conference.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["280063"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Rumson-Fair Haven has an outstanding offense led by [player_tooltip player_id='724739' first='Jack' last='Mauthe'] and [player_tooltip player_id='545577' first='Owen' last='O'Toole']. Defensively, we have identified one standout (so far) who sets the tone along the defensive line named [player_tooltip player_id='280063' first='Cooper' last='Bunnell']. This Bulldog measures 6'1u0022 250lb and made 105 tackles with 15 for a loss and 2 FR. He also rushed 9 times for 51 yards.rnrnBunnell does a great job of getting his hands on someone each play. From there, he bench presses them, locks out, and sheds in pursuit of the ball. His biggest asset might be his quickness. On several occasions we have seen him rally in pursuit of short passes toward the boundary. Bunnell only has a chance to make these plays because of the great angles he takes to the ball. Bunnell plays half-man gap leverage extremely well and often spits double teams with his quickness off the ball. When beating linemen one-on-one, Bunnell goes to the swim move. Although he may have picked the wrong side when pulling off that move, he is fast and quick enough to recover and get back in position to make a play. Bunnell may eventually end up playing DE in college. This said, I would love to see more clips of him working his hips and generating a straight pass rush.rnrnBunnell leads a Bulldog defensive front that is chomping at the bit to claim what they felt was theirs last season - a state championship.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64372c21bd5b3"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/16291670/63594e4c9a90e30eace8834d' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64372c21bd608"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/cooperbunnell","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/cooperbunnell </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["675568"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"With offensive standouts [player_tooltip player_id='284069' first='Najee' last='Calhoun'] and [player_tooltip player_id='284061' first='Emanuel' last='Gerena'] leading the way, did you not think Donovan Catholic has standout defenders too? The first Griffin on defense we identified as a stud is [player_tooltip player_id='675568' first='Louis' last='DiBiase']. DiBiase made 42 tackles (2 for a loss), and 1 sack last fall. He is listed at 6'2u0022 270lbs.rnrnFor a big-bodied DT, DiBiase has a motor. When o-linemen give up on a play he keeps working and, by sheer effort alone, gets in the mix on plays he probably should not have. He uses his strength to muscle through and slip double teams. Needless to say, with his propensity to split double teams DiBiase consistently wins one-on-one blocks. DiBiase reads his o-line keys well, fighting pressure, and can defend two gaps. I appreciated the pass rush he generates from the DT position, which seems like a rarity given the amount of film I watch. Given his size and strength, I would love to see DiBiase work to jack o-linemen backwards more consistently. This makes a new LOS in the backfield and is now an obstacle in the backfield RBs need to first run around.rnrnDiBiase is the type of tone-setting interior d-lineman that any team who has hopes of contending for a championship needs. Luckily for Donovan Catholic, they get to play u003cemu003ewithu003c/emu003e DiBiase and not u003cemu003eagainstu003c/emu003e him.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64372c21bd6a4"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/17868606/63991ff804281a12ecd1c7b4' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64372c21bd6cc"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/lou_dibiase23","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/lou_dibiase23 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["768015"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Freshman teammate Miguel u003cspan data-sheets-value=u0022{u0026quot;1u0026quot;:2,u0026quot;2u0026quot;:u0026quot;Maldanadou0026quot;}u0022 data-sheets-userformat=u0022{u0026quot;2u0026quot;:515,u0026quot;3u0026quot;:{u0026quot;1u0026quot;:0},u0026quot;4u0026quot;:{u0026quot;1u0026quot;:2,u0026quot;2u0026quot;:16711680},u0026quot;12u0026quot;:0}u0022u003eMaldanado may be the u003cemu003enext u003c/emu003estandout D-lineman the Long Branch Green Wave are ready to roll out; however, he must first contend and surpass 6'1u0022 240lb [player_tooltip player_id='768015' first='Joseph' last='Corley']. Corley, who also plays basketball and track, made at least 10 tackles with 2.5 for a loss. I suspect these stats are underreported. u003c/spanu003ernrnIn limited game clips we see that Corley can generate power and force from his hips. This allows him to either toss opponents to the side or simply bury them. When unblocked, he knows to squeeze and seek out contact u003cemu003ebefore u003c/emu003elooking to make a play. Needless to say, we u003cemu003emust u003c/emu003ehave more film on Corley to get a better sense of what he brings to the table as a prospect.rnrnLong Branch is an interesting team. They had a successful season and playoff run, but not a lot of information is out there on their players. Perhaps the mystery behind this team is what is creating the allure. We hope to get answers in 2023.rnrnu003ca href=u0022https://www.hudl.com/profile/16196049/joseph-corley/highlightsu0022u003eHudlu003c/au003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64372c21bd73e"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/JosephCorley55","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/JosephCorley55 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["768016"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Middletown North QB [player_tooltip player_id='751320' first='Luke' last='Sheehan'] is only going to sharpen his craft every day as he has 6'4u0022 225lb teammate [player_tooltip player_id='768016' first='Michael' last='Dwyer'] breathing down his neck each and every practice. Dwyer made 39 stops (3 for a loss), 1 FR, 1 FF, and 5 hurries for the Lions last fall.rnrnDwyer is focused on blowing up his matchup each and every down he plays. He does a nice job getting into the body of the o-lineman and driving his feet. This establishes a new LOS in the backfield and a roadblock the offense must now work around. You can see that u003cspan data-sheets-value=u0022{u0026quot;1u0026quot;:2,u0026quot;2u0026quot;:u0026quot;Maldanadou0026quot;}u0022 data-sheets-userformat=u0022{u0026quot;2u0026quot;:515,u0026quot;3u0026quot;:{u0026quot;1u0026quot;:0},u0026quot;4u0026quot;:{u0026quot;1u0026quot;:2,u0026quot;2u0026quot;:16711680},u0026quot;12u0026quot;:0}u0022u003eDwyer fights and claws every single snap, delivering maximum effort every single play. He likes the arm-over to get into position to make plays. An area for Dwyer to improve is to strain-and-separate from the o-lineman. We see him kind of barrel into the offense - yes, driving them back - but he is not in the best position to make an immediate stop.u003c/spanu003ernrnDwyer is a big, physical, nasty specimen in the middle of the defense. The tone he sets, smacking whistle to whistle, is one that the Lion seem to rally behind and respond to.rnrnu003ca href=u0022https://www.hudl.com/profile/17898954/Michael-Dwyer/highlightsu0022u003eHudlu003c/au003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64372c21bd7b9"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["768029"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Joining fellow lineman [player_tooltip player_id='675568' first='Louis' last='DiBiase'] in the trenches for Donovan Catholic is 6'3u0022 250lb teammate [player_tooltip player_id='768029' first='Za'eir' last='Day']. Day, who also plays basketball for the Griffins, made 101 tackles on the season, 12 of which were for a loss, 3 sacks, 3 FR, and 3 FF on defense. On offense he caught 14 passes for 131 yards and 2 TDs while also rushing 7 times for 43 yards. Day has played both with his hand on the ground and standing up.rnrnDay's game begins and ends with his quick-twitch ability. We see him beat slow lineman to their inside gap all the time en route to tackles. Much of his production comes from this. Day is the beneficiary of being so quick off the snap that nobody stands a chance. His quickness comes into play against the option. He has discipline to play the keep-man, but has shown the quickness to chase down the pitch-man for a minimal gain, if any. He can maintain half-man gap responsibility and squeezes to elude blockers en route to making a play. Day will solidify himself as an edge college prospect should he add more clips of him winning with an outside pass rush and taking on blockers to his film.rnrnPractice at Donovan Catholic sounds like a doozy. On one side of the ball you have [player_tooltip player_id='284069' first='Najee' last='Calhoun'] and [player_tooltip player_id='284061' first='Emanuel' last='Gerena'] practicing against [player_tooltip player_id='675568' first='Louis' last='DiBiase'] and [player_tooltip player_id='768029' first='Za'eir' last='Day']. As the old saying goes, u0022iron sharpens iron.u0022 Donovan Catholic seems to live by those words.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64372c21bd828"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/15062642/635ea2e90427f90c1c7b7fdc' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64372c21bd849"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/ZaeirD","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/ZaeirD </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed -->