LU Notebook: Robertson adapting to defensive end rotation

By Chris Lang
Sports writer
Published: September 25, 2008

Daryl Robertson has spent his entire career as an interior lineman, from his time at Liberty High School to his brief stint at Virginia Tech.

So it’s taken the Liberty University sophomore some time to get used to lining up as a rush end in the Flames’ 3-4 defense.

After three games, though, it appears Robertson is getting more and more comfortable. In the Flames’ four-man defensive end rotation, he’s getting plenty of snaps and making the most of them. He leads the Flames with five tackles for loss and is second on the team with 1 ½ sacks.

“(Defensive line) coach (Chad) Wilt talks to me every day about my stance, and getting lower and everything,” Robertson said. “I’m going to continue to work on that every day and try to stay low and fire off on the ball and just improve my all-around game.

“I love being on the outside. There’s more space. I’ve got a lot more room to operate moves instead of being on the inside, where I had to worry about the guard and the center or the guard and the tackle coming down on me.”

Smith takes blame

In the first half of the Western Carolina game Sept. 13, Liberty quarterback Brock Smith had uncharacteristic troubles connecting with his receivers. Easy passes sailed high, and at times, it looked like Smith and the receivers were not on the same page.

Asked about it after the game, Smith said he wasn’t sure what happened, and that he’d have to look at game film to find out.

Tuesday, he had a clearer answer for what happened.

“Being the quarterback, I’m going to take all the pressure on myself,” Smith said. “I feel like it was me not setting my feet in the pocket because maybe I was getting a little pressure.

“As a senior quarterback, I’ve got to be poised in the pocket and just go to work on the field. That’s something the quarterbacks as a whole are taking pride in this week — really just being able to set our feet in the pocket, even if there’s pressure, being able to get hit in the face and stepping up and making the throw.”

Strong debut

Alex Stadler, the sophomore guard who transferred to Liberty from Alabama, was impressive in his first start of the season at Western Carolina. He replaced injured guard Britt Stone, whose broken leg is continuing to heal.

After the game, Liberty center Mike Godsil commended Stadler and said it was like Stadler had been starting all along.

“He came on and did really well,” Liberty coach Danny Rocco said. “And I think of all the areas of our football team that we made the improvement on during the open date, it was the offensive line. So I’m very encouraged with that.”

Extra points

Receiver Matt Lambros, who missed most of August and September with a broken thumb, was back in practice this week, adding depth to a thin position. … Linebacker Nick Hursky, who didn’t start but played at Western Carolina, will be back in the starting lineup Saturday, replacing Doncel Bolt. … The gametime forecast for Youngstown, courtesy of WeatherUnderground.com: Mostly cloudy, 68 degrees, 50 percent chance of light rain showers.