Spiders’ preview

UR quarterback Eric Ward cools off in practice. He figures to throw more this season for a Spiders backfield without an obvious successor to Josh Vaughan. Consider the case of Patrick Weldon. The University of Richmond junior linebacker finished second among Spiders in tackles last season and was among the team's most productive defensive players with 13 stops for losses, three interceptions, two forced fumbles and four pass break-ups.

The 6-0 converted defensive back gained 20 solid pounds (up to 219) since UR beat Montana for the Football Championship Subdivision title in December and now looks as though he could be one of the Colonial Athletic Association's premier linebackers.

Yet Weldon may not start when UR opens at Duke. Such is Richmond's depth at linebacker, and throughout most of its defense.

An injury to Collin McConaghy, UR's returning starter at middle linebacker, allowed Weldon the opportunity of which he made the most last season. In a memorable effort at Appalachian State in the FCS quarterfinals, Weldon collected 11 tackles, four for losses. But the Spiders return five linebackers who were among their top 13 in tackles in 2008. Four were among the top seven, a jobs-sharing arrangement that came about because of injuries.

"We're all going to make every effort to get on the field as much as we can," said junior linebacker Tyler Sullivan, who played eight games last season before suffering a season-ending injury. "But we understand the situation."

Junior linebacker Eric McBride, co-defensive player of the year in the CAA's preseason poll, believes there will game time for six qualified linebackers -- the five returnees and redshirt freshman Darrius McMillan -- because each has his own strengths that will fit certain down-and-distance situations.

"There's a ton of competition among linebackers in camp. We're all trying to push each other," said McConaghy, one of UR's captains. "Best-case scenario is no one has to take a bigger role than they need to."

Nine starters return to a Richmond defense that finished sixth among FCS teams in scoring defense (15.6 ppg) and 10th in total defense (268.8 ypg). End Lawrence Sidbury and Sherman Logan, two of the league's best pass-rushers, are the only departures. In those spots, UR will turn to seniors Pierre Turner and Nick Battle, who have experience.

"They have big shoes to fill, but they are quality players," Sullivan said. "I think we're going to go out there and do what we always have. No reason to change something that's worked in the past."

In addition to linebacker, UR is deep at cornerback, nose tackle and tackle. Derek Hatcher, the returning starter at free safety, missed UR's first preseason scrimmage of August because of a minor injury. Colin Pehanick, a sophomore, replaced Hatcher and made two interceptions. Richmond's depth has first-year defensive coordinator Vic Shealy trying to decipher the best way to handle playing rotations.

"At the end of the day, the best players play. And they play with the expectations that as long as they're healthy and they are playing well, that you play your best players," he said. "From the coaching side, you also know in order for your defense to be efficient in the fourth quarter -- not tired, not beat-down, not banged-up -- playing [non-starters] in the second quarter and late in the third quarter is wise if you have a good player who can come in."