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Big Plays Still
Lattimore’s Forte |
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Prior to the start of the 2005 football season, there was a school of thought that AU linebacker Allen Lattimore’s (Dayton, OH/Colonel White) numbers would rise like the nation’s gas prices. After five games of the current campaign, Lattimore is still regarded as one of the top linebackers in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. That’s true even though his personal numbers are running a bit behind last season’s. Lattimore is second on the team in tackles (42/19 solo) and tackles for loss (6-23). He’s tied for the team lead in sacks (4). In the current GLIAC statistics, the 6-0, 221-pound junior is seventh in sacks and 25th in tackles per game (8.4). Last season, he tied for first in the conference in sacks (9) and was fourth in tackles for loss (18) while earning honorable mention all-league honors. “When I look at the games, the stats are OK,” said Lattimore. “But they could be better. I’ll look at the games and I think I should have had three sacks instead of one.” It’s a good thing Lattimore is reviewing football tapes rather than movies because with that outlook, no film would get above one and a half stars. This season isn’t a case of Lattimore’s production being down, it’s the Eagles having a full tank on defense. Over the last two weeks (Sept. 17 and Sept. 24), the Eagles have played two undefeated, nationally-ranked teams in Grand Valley State (now first in the nation) and Michigan Tech (15th). The Eagles held those two teams to a combined 31 points. Grand Valley State came to AU as the GLIAC leader in points per game and won, 14-10. Michigan Tech owned the league’s best rushing offense and was among the conference leaders in scoring and edged the Eagles, 17-14. A year ago, AU had one of the best defenses in the conference (second in rush defense, fifth in total defense) and that unit was built around Lattimore and linebackers Devin Conwell (Baltimore, MD/Montgomery C.C.) and Brady Miller (Cincinnati, OH/Elder). That trio made the bulk of the team’s tackles playing defense and special teams. Now, the defense is deeper, especially the linebacking corps which has been bolstered by newcomer Luke Busson (Wadsworth, OH/Kent State) and the emergence of senior Jeremy Crabtree (Pickerington, OH). “Crabtree’s great around the ball, great getting to the ball,” said Lattimore. “Brady is just Brady, he knows everything, all the checks, he’s the quarterback on defense. He directs the defense on every play. Busson is very physical.” “I think our competition has been very good,” said AU defensive coordinator Jim Meyer. “When that competition is factored in, you’re not going to have the numbers you have against some teams. Plus, Crabtree is making a lot of plays. Our defensive line is a lot better, too, and that’s affected his numbers. But I don’t know if you compare his numbers to last year, that they’re really off. I guess it’s a case of spreading the wealth.” A look at AU’s top tacklers follows. All are linebackers except Conwell, who now lines up at strong safety.
Such depth helps the Eagles in a number of ways. Having more playmakers should keep Lattimore and his mates from wearing down. The linebacking corps isn’t the biggest in the conference, but it probably has the most speed. “We knew entering the season that we had a strong linebacking corps,” Lattimore said. “We’re living up to that. We knew we had great players. We’re living up to expectations. This is the most sound group of linebackers I’ve been around.” Lattimore has been sound since his freshman year. That season, he played in nine games and had 16 tackles. He was effective even though he was playing with a broken hand. After that year, Ashland changed coaching staffs and the Lee Owens era began. That’s when Lattimore was really turned loose. He began to study the game more and combine his speed and quickness with a better understanding of the game. “That started the spring when Coach Owens came,” said Lattimore. “They put me in the starting lineup and I knew I had to study hard. I didn’t want to let anyone down.” That hasn’t been a concern. Lattimore has consistently been among the GLIAC’s best defensive players. This Saturday, the Eagles (3-2/2-2 GLIAC) play at Mercyhurst (0-5/0-5). In last year’s Mercyhurst game, Lattimore had 10 tackles (six solo), six tackles for loss and a pair of sacks. Even though the Eagles lost, 25-14, Lattimore was cited as the GLIAC’s defensive player of the week. “He plays fast, he makes plays with speed,” Meyer said. “He has great acceleration to the ball. He’ll get to the blind side, cause fumbles and get sacks and tackles for loss. That’s been his strength since he’s been here. Plus, he’s gotten stronger and is more familiar with the defense.” “I think it’s a knack for finding the ball,” said Lattimore, when asked about that kind of big-play capability. “I just go after it. Our schemes give me help because they put me in the right place at the right time.” Lattimore’s play has put the Eagles in a better place. Even with the losses the last two weeks, AU has remained among the GLIAC’s upper echelon. “There’s no doubt about that,” Lattimore said. “We’ve got a year of experience on the defensive line, they’re better. Same thing with the linebackers. Our defense is sound, every position. I’ll risk giving up some stats for winning a ring.” Unlike buying a full tank of premium, that’s a price winning players don’t mind paying. The games the last two weeks, even though they resulted in defeats, show how far the Eagles have progressed. “We’re right there,” Lattimore said. “When they say it’s a game of inches, they’re right. It’s just one or two plays now. Last year, there were two or three games where we were a quarter or a half from where we needed to be.” The defense will have a great deal to do with the Eagles getting to where they want and need to be. Not only is it talented and cohesive, but it owns a take-no-prisoners mentality. “It’s fun,” stated Lattimore. “Our motto is if they don’t score, they can’t win. We just go out, hold teams and play defense. We just play our game.” |