UAB DL Coach Miguel Patrick speaks about the Blazers’ defensive line
By Steve Irvine
BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA - August 21, 2024
Finding depth and talent shouldn’t be a problem for UAB defensive line coach Miguel Patrick this season. Patrick coaches the interior defensive linemen and the edge defenders. The Blazers coaching staff bolstered their defensive front with transfer portal additions that included interior linemen LeDarrius Cox, Derrick Shepard Jr. and Demarcus Smith and edge defender Ezra Odinjor. They’ve combined with some experienced returnees, as well as youngsters like Miquon Merriweather and Eamon Smalls, to become a formidable unit.
How has the defensive line, as a whole, performed during fall camp?
So far, man, we're coming along great. The young guys have really improved since they got here. Kyle Moseley, Antavious Elder, J’Quan Mason, Chris Burge, those young guys are really practicing well. And then older guys LD (Cox), Desmond Little have taken a huge step. A great addition has been Derrick Shepard. He’s been practicing well. Another great addition, Demarcus Smith has been practicing well. And then, of course, Kendall Johnson, the older guy, is practicing well. Those guys just go in and do their jobs. Jonathan Allen and James Smyre have brought tremendous energy to the room. I think as an entire unit, we got a real opportunity to be special.”
Do the older additions like LD Cox, Derrick Shepard and Demarcus Smith need to play a role in helping the young linemen learn?
“Well, again, those guys have come in and took the leadership role to heart, just trying to lead the guys the right way, not just off the field, but on the field. Their work ethic and just, you know, they coach them behind me sometimes. As I'm coaching somebody else, they could be pulling a young guy to the side, (saying) ‘Hey, you need to do this, you need to do that.’ So just their leadership has been awesome with those young guys.”
You mentioned Desmond Little. In what ways has he stepped forward?
“Man, he's progressed tremendously. We know he was a big-time pass rusher, but I think he's added some things to his toolbox. We kind of worked all summer on him not being a one-trick pony. He'll have different things that he can bring out during the game. It's gonna be really hard to prepare for him. And then he's really worked hard on being a run stopper, too. He's progressed big time on being able to stop the run. He'll be a three-down, four-down player. I think he has a chance to really have a special year.”
What has Kevin Penn’s fall camp been like as he works back from injury?
“He's very important. He's gonna be kind of a rock that holds us all together. He's progressing his way back. He's been banged up a little, but last week he started taking snaps. And this week, he's gonna take even more snaps with the hopes that he'll be full go by (game) week.”
You have shown the ability in camp to get an interior push on pass rush. How important is that?
“Well, if you ask any quarterback, interior pressure trumps outside pressure, because you can step up and get away from outside pressure. But if you can't step up in the pocket, that's the worst thing for a quarterback. So, the big guys have been working their tails off in the pass run drills and they've put in the work in the team period. It's really a step up for us to be able to have interior and the edge pressure at the same time.”
At this point in camp, do you like the depth that you’ve shown up front?
“Yes. I feel like we're light years ahead of where we were last year at this point, especially depth wise.”
When you look at all five positions, what do is the needed number when it comes to depth?
“Ideal, you want to play with 12 guys. We want to play with 12 guys, you know, and if we can get there by the end of camp I'd be tremendously happy. I think we're almost there. If we can get those 12 guys ready to play football on Saturdays, with no drop off, we’ll be fine.”