Oct. 12, 2007

By Mandrallius Robinson, The Greenville News

Furman University assistant coach Roberto Pinilla is like a meticulous writer, concerned with keeping his lines on the same page.

Last season, Pinilla coached the Paladins' interior defensive linemen in a separate group from the defensive ends. The division stunted the line's chemistry on stunts, leading to only 14 sacks by Furman last season.

When former defensive ends coach Julius Dixon left to become the defensive coordinator at Presbyterian College, Furman merged the line and promoted Pinilla.

"It's all the same terminology. It's all the same technique. We're all on the same page," Pinilla said. "They are able to work their timing together. They get together as a group, watch film on our opponents and look at their tendencies of how they pass-block and protect."

Furman's linemen have 12 sacks through the first five games. The line opened lanes for linebackers and defensive backs for another four sacks.

"Last year, we were working with two different coaches, so our timing wasn't together," said Justin Brown, the Paladins' All-Southern Conference nose guard. "Being together now, that timing is perfect. You know what your end outside of you is going to do when he slants, and he knows you're right behind him.

"That's a big factor when you're trying to get to the quarterback."

Furman's season sack record is 39, set in 1989. The Paladins played 14 games that season, reaching the semifinal round of the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs.

Averaging 3.2 sacks per game this year, the Paladins are on pace to break the record by five if they play 14 games, but Furman (2-3, including 0-1 in the Southern Conference) is guaranteed only 12 regular-season games. There is little room for error in the Paladins' bid for the playoffs as they prepare for Saturday's SoCon game at The Citadel (3-2, 1-1).

Regardless of how the season unwinds, the defensive linemen will continue to feed off Pinilla's electric spirit.

"He's excited when you make big plays," Brown said. "If you see him in the games, he's out there jumping around with us, chest-bumping us. It makes you want to make big plays."

"Any type of athlete will tell you it's hard to get up every day for a practice," senior end Paul White said. "Having an energetic coach helps a lot and gets you ready to play."

Pinilla said his passionate approach is carried over from his playing days at the University of West Georgia, where his coaches were "intense guys."

"When I made the transition from player to coach, it was the only way I knew how," Pinilla said. "I was blessed to get to coach the position I played. I knew what it took to be a defensive lineman."