Duke DE learning new position, ways to rush attack a quarterback

Much like his colleague Jon Scheyer, Duke head football coach Manny Diaz has let it be known that all starting jobs and playing time are open, no matter how much of a veteran or how talented you might be. That sits just fine with defensive lineman Kevin O’Connor, who is coming off a sophomore season in which he recorded 11 total tackles, one tackle for a loss and four quarterback hurries. "He's made that clear to everybody on the defense throughout the spring and summer," O'Connor said. "I think it's breeding competition and breeding excellence. Everyone is scratching and clawing to get time, so it's a great place to be, in my opinion. Everyone is scratching and clawing to get better every day, and I think it's great for the overall well-being of the team." Duke’s defensive line has to replace Vincent Anthony Jr. and Wesley Williams from last season, and although O’Connor spent most of his time playing on the outside, he’s now seeing time on the interior of the line. But for the Easton, Md., native, he knows he just has to be himself thanks to the advice of former defensive coordinator Harland Bower, who left for the Baltimore Ravens this offseason.  "One thing Coach Bower actually said to me before he went to Baltimore was, 'You don't want to be the next VJ or Wes. You want to be the next Kevin,'" O'Connor said. "For Tyshon, he wants to be the next Tyshon. It's not about filling in someone else's shoes. It's you stepping up to the plate and doing what you need to do." As for seeing time on the inside, it’s given O’Connor new insight into how to attack a quarterback.  "I think it's been awesome," O'Connor said. "It definitely gave me a new perspective on how to rush. Hopefully, I think I'll still have opportunities to rush inside this year, and I'm really looking forward to it." This article originally appeared on Duke Wire: Duke DE learning new position, ways to rush attack a quarterback