DaytonDailyNews.com

OXFORD — The Miami RedHawks learned their lesson in 2006 when they were able to take only seven defensive linemen on a road trip to Syracuse.

"Including two freshmen," pointed out Jay Hood, Miami's second-year defensive coordinator. "It wasn't pretty."

The Miami linemen were run ragged in a 34-14 loss.

"We've come a long ways," Hood said Wednesday, Aug. 6, following practice at Yager Stadium.

This fall the RedHawks will play at least eight defensive linemen on a regular basis.

"I think we actually might go a little deeper," Hood said.

More is better in the case of defensive linemen, according to Hood, because football has changed over the years.

"The nature of today's game is that the offensive lines have gotten so big and defensive linemen have to be smaller because they have to be able to run," he said, "so to go against a 310-pound guy on a constant basis is physically draining.

"It's also the nature of today's offenses, all the passing, the spread," Hood added. "It forces you to run more. The more depth we can develop, the fewer plays certain players are forced to play, so that when they're in there they can be fresh and go hard."

That's something that becomes more difficult as the season progresses.

"They get beat on pretty good," Hood said, "and their bodies are going to survive only so many plays."

Hood said he thinks his linemen will withstand the strain.

"It's a real solid group ... I have high hopes for that group," he said.

It's a group that includes plenty of experience but only one senior, defensive end Joe Coniglio, who led the RedHawks with 6.5 sacks last fall and was named to the All-Mid-American Conference third team.

"Coniglio has had a great offseason, a great start to camp, has been great in the weight room," Hood said.

Miami's more prominent linemen also include junior defensive end Travis Craven, "a real physical specimen," according to Hood, and junior nose tackle Martin Channels who, "when he's playing well, is hard to handle."

Sophomore tackle Sean Redwine, a former tight end in only his second year on defense, played in all 13 games last year. Sophomore defensive ends Jordan Stevens and Morris Council "could probably start for a lot of teams," Hood said. "They push Travis and Joe every day."

Others with a chance to make an impact are junior nose tackles Mark Paun and D.J. Svabik, redshirt freshman nose tackle Matt Kajmowicz, redshirt freshman tackle Jordain Brown and true freshman tackle Mike Johns.