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Gold and Black Illustrated, Vol 26, Digital 6

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GOLD AND BLACK ILLUSTRATED VOLUME 26, ISSUE 6 51 tunities to add to that total in 2016, with Els implementing his matchup defense that puts an emphasis on multiple-de- fensive back formations. "That's one position where we have too much competition," Els said. "My understanding is that they ran a lot with three linebackers in the game (in the past), so they had to be deep there. We don't have to be as deep at linebacker, so we had a little bit of trouble in spring of getting enough guys enough reps. That was the one position where we didn't get them enough reps." It's hard. In Els' system, where many defensive snaps are taken with five or six DBs in the package, only one or two linebackers are on the field. But it's made for a fierce battle to de- termine who the primary players will be. "I feel like it builds competition more than anything," said Ezechukwu, who has 18 career starts, including all 12 games last season, when he had 79 tack- les, "and I know that's one thing we're preaching this summer, competition and trying to win everything. "If you want to be that guy on the field and you want playing time, you'll see to it that you're that guy on the field and you'll get the playing time. You'll pay at- tention in the film room, pay attention in walkthrough, you won't make any mis- takes in practice. You'll adjust to some- thing you see new on the field and you'll show the coaches you deserve to be that guy. It breeds competition and you need that on any team." But while it's a position in transition, there are some knowns. Assuming he returns from the ACL injury that cost him half of last season, and he was well on pace through the start of the sum- mer, then Bentley, who had 49 tackles in five games in '15, will be on the field a lot From Our Family to Yours... We Love the Boilermakers! WindowWorld.com Five Indiana Locations Lafayette Indianapolis Terre Haute Muncie Columbus NEW STORE 523 S. Earl Ave. 765.447.4165 | www.lafayetteortho.com My Community. My Choice. Robert J. Hagen, MD Peter J. Torok, MD Daniel J. Daluga, MD Michael E. Highhouse, MD John T. Bauman, MD Mark C. Page, MD Michael D. Krauss, MD Joel A. Virkler, DO THE AREA'S PREMIER ORTHOPAEDIC AND SPORTSMEDICINE CENTER LOC_GB2015Ad.indd 1 6/23/15 10:04 AM

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