Hogue Crosses Line of Scrimmage
3/25/2009 7:08:39 PM | Football
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Head Coach Doug Marrone Transcript | Student-Athlete Interview Transcript
Junior Doug Hogue is moving to the defensive side of the ball to line up at strong-side linebacker for the Syracuse football squad. Head coach Doug Marrone made the change because he wants to put the best 11 players on the field on offense and defense. As part of the move, Marrone moved strong-side linebacker Derrell Smith to the middle linebacker position.
“My thoughts were that we wanted to get better at that position athletically and bring in some people who can run with decent size,” Marrone said of the changes. “Also, at the same time, create some competition at that position. We feel we've upgraded the competition at that position from an athletic standpoint. At that same time, it has to transition onto the football field.”
In his first two seasons with the Orange, Hogue was a running back. He averaged 4.3 yards per carry (112 rushes for483 yards) and scored three touchdowns. In addition, Hogue caught 14 passes for139 yards (9.9 per reception) and a touchdown.
“It is definitely good news,” Hogue said. “If it's going to help the team, I am going to do whatever it takes to help the team. If he (Coach Marrone) tells me to play running back, I'll play running back. If he (Coach Marrone) asks me to kick, I'll do whatever it is to help the team. Everything was going to play out no matter if I was on offense or defense. The best man is going to play. That's the thing I respect about these coaches. They are really into playing the best people for the program to develop and be something good.”
As a sophomore, Smith started all 12 games and was SU's second-leading tackler. His 73 stops ranked 12th in the BIG EAST Conference. Like Hogue, the New Castle, Del. Native enrolled at Syracuse as a running back and made the transition to linebacker prior to his redshirt freshman season.
“I'm going to try to take him under my wing,” said Smith of his plans to assist Hogue in the transition. “I'm going to try to talk to him about it. I remember when I first moved from tailback to linebacker, it was a little tough. Tailback is the ultimate position on the football field, other than quarterback, but linebacker is a lot of fun. He gets to fly around now and hit. Doug is a good athlete.”
In addition to Hogue, junior wide receiver Dan Sheeran is now a linebacker and sophomore linebacker Chad Battles moved to defensive end. Sheeran, who missed most of the 2008 season due to a broken leg, has played in 14 games for the Orange, recording six catches for 55 yards (9.2 per catch) and one touchdown. Sheeran will line up in the weak-side linebacker spot behind junior Parker Cantey. Battles had two tackles in the two games played after returning from injury in 2008.
“We have some depth at the receiver position,” said Marrone of the decision to move Sheeran. “Again, how many times can we give him the ball on offense and how many snaps can he play in a game. He's someone who has the ability to help us on defense and we hope it transfers when you start putting the pads on."
During the first day of the transition, Marrone caught glimpses of the athleticism that Hogue and Sheeran add to the linebacking corps.
“I know this, when I was looking over there, I saw someone who could run and react and have the ability to help us at that position," Marrone said. “I always want to get better, athletically, on defense. Not to fall short of what we're doing offensively, but I want to put athletes on the field for defense. People who can run, people who can cover and people who can hit. I don't think we ever stop looking to get that done."
