Chris McKillop gets a puff piece on his second season at Defensive End.

“Last year, I was so worried about what I had to do before the snap,” McKillop said. “This year, I know exactly what I have to do, so I can do more things.

“I can read the offensive tackle, to see if he’s going to block or run. I can read their stances, to see if they’re going to double-team me or clog. Things of that nature come a lot quicker with a year under your belt.”

Before Tuesday’s workout on the South Side, Wannstedt praised McKillop for using his natural skills and adapting to the new role.

“He’s probably our most consistent defensive lineman,” Wannstedt said.

McKillop is at a size disadvantage against most offensive linemen. Last year, he figured ways to combat that by sparring in practice with 330-pound offensive tackle Charles Spencer.

“You couldn’t let him grab hold of you, or it was over,” McKillop said with a chuckle. “This year, the same thing goes with Mike McGlynn. He’s a strong man.”

McKillop goes about 245 and at the other end position, Charles Sallet is 235. An undersized, but ostensibly fast pair of DEs. The whole D-line had better be fast to compensate for the noticeable lack of size up and down.

In the notebook, Coach Wannstedt observed the lack of depth on the O-line. Also, much like the receivers, now that the initial puff pieces and happy stories about the running backs have subsided it reads as if there is no one really distinguishing themselves outside of LaRod Stephens-Howling.

Neither Shane Brooks nor Brandon Mason has emerged as an obvious choice for the backup tailback spot behind starter LaRod Stephens-Howling. “They just need more work,” Wannstedt said. “We’re still getting a feel for what they’re capable of doing.”

Roughly translated, Kevin Collier is going to see a lot of action come the fall.