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IllustrateD volume 25, issue 1 27 f tance, field position, intuition and other factors, lets the rush end know where to align. A three-receiver set on third- and-15 from the offense's 20-yard line, for example, might warrant him lining up as a typical defensive end on the end of the line, ready to blitz the quarter- back at the snap. But that could change, based on what he sees in the formation. "Coach Hudson always talks about how the first identity of the formation is the number of backs," said Russell, thinking back to his experience at the position. "So first of all, you've got to look at the number of backs, whether it's shotgun or back at home, pistol, I-forma- tion, things of that nature. It helps you know whether you stand up or whether your hand is down. And then the width, whether it's a two-man front or a three- man front, whether you have a wide off or a wing, things like that. Then, of course, you have to look at the receiv- ers; if you have to drop into coverage. If you have two detached, do you have an Eddie call over the back? So it's a lot of things. You try to work from the inside out: backs, tight ends, line, receivers." Sounds complex. And it frequently is for newcomers. Most don't play such a position when they come to Purdue, either being a de- fensive end or linebacker in high school, not a hybrid who bounces between both. For Antoine Miles, a redshirt freshman, he had to adjust from being an ev- ery-down D-end at McKin- ley High School in Ohio. "The main thing really is just getting a feel for the position," Miles said. "At the end of the day, I'm still at the edge of the defense, like a defensive end, may- be I stand up here or there, but it feels pretty much the same. "It's a perfect position to excel. It throws some offenses off because you stand up sometimes, you're in a stance sometimes, and they really don't know what to expect. The athleticism, being strong and quick, as well as versatile enough to drop back in coverage, it can throw offenses off." But it's the coverage aspect of the po- sition that seems to pose the most prob- lems. That was the case for Russell, who openly admitted to his discomfort. Imagine playing on the line for a career, then being asked to occasionally chase around a tight end, receiver or running back. And doing so in a variety of differ- ent zone and man coverages. Options: Follow a running back into the flat or blitz the quarterback? Russell's natural instincts pulled him toward the latter. "I'm always trying to get to the quar- terback," the defensive end said. "So I'd say that (coverage) would be the tough- est to do." As a reason for the difficulties, Pur- due spent the spring shuffling players in and out of the position. Of the top op- tions to start August, only Phillips and Miles stayed through the two weeks until the jersey scrimmage. Redshirt freshman Danny Ezechukwu, who had been the No. 1 weakside linebacker at the start of spring football in March, moved into the mix on the fourth day of camp. His athleticism at 6-2, 246 pounds helped make an immediate im- pact as he replaced Langston Newton, who shuffled to the interior of the de- fensive line, on the second team. Ezechukwu might be able to help the Boilermakers this fall. When Phillips was sidelined for a bit, Ezechukwu took first-team snaps and appeared to be successful, particularly in getting into the backfield, and he had a fumble recovery in the jersey scrimmage. Freshman Gelen Robinson is an op- tion, too; the former four-star Rivals.com prospect played defensive end at Lake Central High School but was recruited as an interior linebacker to Purdue. But his natural ability to rush the passer, in combination with Phillips' in- jury, had the Boilermakers cross-train- ing him during the second week of training camp. On Day 8, Robinson worked out with the rush end group during position drills, but was with the linebackers again the next day. "It's familiar to me," Robinson said of playing on the line. "So it comes a little more naturally. I like it so far. It's a good position." The most successful players there likely will not only have the right phys- ical attributes, like the 6-1, 239-pound Robinson, but will be able to play with quick instincts, too. "Wherever the ball is, that's where you need to be," Phillips said. "That's where you need to run to. It's just a mat- ter of playing football, just playing back- yard football in my opinion. Go to the ball, but at the same time do your job. "(Doing that) makes it easier, be- cause I feel like I'm in the backyard playing." j