2020 Pre-Spring 2-Deep

[JRHEETER]

I wouldn’t put too much stick into a first 2 deep in early spring with a brand new defensive coaching scheme. Lots of things are going to change between now and when they officially start back this summer

 

[OrangeXtreme]

 

[PAcuse]

Ok that’s true, but also OT so I think it’s a bit misleading to say this kid was a PWO LB when obviously he was brought in for the OL. (This obviously is not aimed at you CL)

I'm was just going by what was posted in his recruitment thread.
I was not trying to be misleading, I've never gotten so much crap for a thread about spring depth chart before, geez.

 

[jmcclure33]

I'm was just going by what was posted in his recruitment thread.
I was not trying to be misleading, I've never gotten so much crap for a thread about spring depth chart before, geez.

Sorry, really didn’t think I was giving you crap and didn’t think you were purposely trying to be misleading, just trying to point some stuff out.

 

[PAcuse]

Sorry, really didn’t think I was giving you crap and didn’t think you were purposely trying to be misleading, just trying to point some stuff out.

I get it and didn't think much of it.
I just had an earlier reply as well about it as well with something or another.
No big deal to me was just kind of shocked the kid was a C on the two-deep with all our issues last year.

 

[CuseLegacy]

I'm was just going by what was posted in his recruitment thread.
I was not trying to be misleading, I've never gotten so much crap for a thread about spring depth chart before, geez.

Come on now...I didn't see pacusewife reply to you. It's only really bad when your spouse chimes in.

 

[PAcuse]

Come on now...I didn't see pacusewife reply to you. It's only really bad when your spouse chimes in.

Luckily the little one has her occupied right now

 

[money3189]

Bigger LB's are ideal for this scheme but bigger doesnt mean better. They need to have the instincts, toughness and IQ too.

 

[reedny]

Bigger LB's are ideal for this scheme but bigger doesnt mean better. They need to have the instincts, toughness and IQ too.

Absolutely. Do they know where they're supposed to be in a given situation? Can they get off blocks and get in the right gap or make it to the corner in time? And once they arrive, can they put a hat on the ball carrier? My sense is, if they can answer the first question, Richards, C-Arku and Linton seem like our best candidates to answer the second two.

 

[PhatOrange]

Bigger LB's are ideal for this scheme but bigger doesnt mean better. They need to have the instincts, toughness and IQ too.

He could play the rover position, he's basically the same size and speed as our safeties. 6-0 212

 

[Cusefan69]

He could play the rover position, he's basically the same size and speed as our safeties. 6-0 212

Boy that would make a helluva lot of sense. Granted there is still plenty of time to add good weight before the season starts but Jones at 212 pounds feels like he is looking to be at that weight and I would love a guy like him who has a nose for the ball.

 

[CuseLegacy]

 

[money3189]

He could play the rover position, he's basically the same size and speed as our safeties. 6-0 212

Not a fan of that. Just because of the cover skills that is required. There will be times when he will have to replace one of the safeties. Coming in and out of breaks, breaking at angles from safety depth is a whole other ball game.

 

[Cusefan69]

Not a fan of that. Just because of the cover skills that is required. There will be times when he will have to replace one of the safeties. Coming in and out of breaks, breaking at angles from safety depth is a whole other ball game.

Money depending on the offense couldn’t you bounce between a strong against the run vs stronger on the pass player in that role? Or are ya looking for a true 3 down player any scenario to play that role?

 

[Trueblue25]

very very interested in Trotter and Cantin this year. Linebacker builds (at this point) with safety instincts out of HS.

 

[Chip]

Put my money on Jones being too good to keep off the field, size be damned.

 

[shu 49]

Not a fan of that. Just because of the cover skills that is required. There will be times when he will have to replace one of the safeties. Coming in and out of breaks, breaking at angles from safety depth is a whole other ball game.

In my opinion he is going to get a lot of playing time with our without starting.

 

[money3189]

Money depending on the offense couldn’t you bounce between a strong against the run vs stronger on the pass player in that role? Or are ya looking for a true 3 down player any scenario to play that role?

That position has to play 3 downs. Not situational. What makes the scheme work is the flexibility. It’s less predictable when you keep the same guy in there.

 

[money3189]

In my opinion he is going to get a lot of playing time with our without starting.

He’s still our best and most experienced LB until I see something that changes my thoughts.

 

[Cusefan69]

That position has to play 3 downs. Not situational. What makes the scheme work is the flexibility. It’s less predictable when you keep the same guy in there.

Gotcha...thanks for the knowledge.

 

[Newhouse_83]

That position has to play 3 downs. Not situational. What makes the scheme work is the flexibility. It’s less predictable when you keep the same guy in there.

Much of this thread makes a great case for a hybrid "box safety," as is now popular in the NFL thanks to Duane Bucannon; Josh Jones was supposed to be that guy in Green Bay. It would be great if Mikel Jones could make it work, or find another role, but if he can't there are other candidates. The coaches haven't been sure if Trotter, at 206, is a safety or an OLB. Jonas seems to have hybrid size. LaBrosse might after a year.

But I feel far better about this approach than about converting a 200-pound Kielan Whitner into an OLB and hoping he'll survive against the run. I feel like the last time this worked, it required Keith Bulluck's talent.

The hybrids are intriguing, as usual. The staff in recent years clearly made the right call with Trill, and probably with Courtney Jackson, who seems to have game-changing speed. Because of strengths and weaknesses on the depth chart, I'd thought Barron and Wax were likely to end up challening Trotter and maybe Kpogba as backup LBs, and Pena would have been a CB. But consensus seems to be that Barron is a wideout, and Pena's tape makes a case that he's a guy who needs to get the ball.

Again, I'm frustrated by the emphasis on adding safeties -- even with a decommitment plus the move of Clarke to CB, we have nine (unless Atkinson moves to CB). Only Stritzinger is due to graduate. I mean, do I really need Carter *and* LaBrosse if I have six guys ahead of them and three are freshmen or sophs?

The WR numbers are even harder to understand. Even with Jackson having departed and Lutz moving to RB, we have 10 scholarship wideouts and zero seniors. Alford at 6'5" adds Custis-esque size, but Ja'vante Williams, gives us what, exactly? A Hendrix, Queeley and maybe Cam Jordan (I agree with an earlier post that he's not a starter), but with less ability and size? Better to have spent that scholly on OL depth, no?

That fuels my concern regarding corner. I love Trill and Iffy as starters, but each injury means a smallish redshirt freshman becomes a starter. As the lightest guy on the team probably since Carl Jones was a freshman, Cole had better have track-star speed.

In the olden days, deep talent at the offensive skill positions often meant the conversion of a Bryce Bevill to corner. If Lutz, who's an RB-4 at best, and maybe more like RB-6 or -7, or Sharod Johnson (WR7) wants to see the field, maybe they need a look at corner. Ditto Kevin Johnson, though he might lack the speed.

 

[money3189]

Much of this thread makes a great case for a hybrid "box safety," as is now popular in the NFL thanks to Duane Bucannon; Josh Jones was supposed to be that guy in Green Bay. It would be great if Mikel Jones could make it work, or find another role, but if he can't there are other candidates. The coaches haven't been sure if Trotter, at 206, is a safety or an OLB. Jonas seems to have hybrid size. LaBrosse might after a year.

But I feel far better about this approach than about converting a 200-pound Kielan Whitner into an OLB and hoping he'll survive against the run. I feel like the last time this worked, it required Keith Bulluck's talent.

The hybrids are intriguing, as usual. The staff in recent years clearly made the right call with Trill, and probably with Courtney Jackson, who seems to have game-changing speed. Because of strengths and weaknesses on the depth chart, I'd thought Barron and Wax were likely to end up challening Trotter and maybe Kpogba as backup LBs, and Pena would have been a CB. But consensus seems to be that Barron is a wideout, and Pena's tape makes a case that he's a guy who needs to get the ball.

Again, I'm frustrated by the emphasis on adding safeties -- even with a decommitment plus the move of Clarke to CB, we have nine (unless Atkinson moves to CB). Only Stritzinger is due to graduate. I mean, do I really need Carter *and* LaBrosse if I have six guys ahead of them and three are freshmen or sophs?

The WR numbers are even harder to understand. Even with Jackson having departed and Lutz moving to RB, we have 10 scholarship wideouts and zero seniors. Alford at 6'5" adds Custis-esque size, but Ja'vante Williams, gives us what, exactly? A Hendrix, Queeley and maybe Cam Jordan (I agree with an earlier post that he's not a starter), but with less ability and size? Better to have spent that scholly on OL depth, no?

That fuels my concern regarding corner. I love Trill and Iffy as starters, but each injury means a smallish redshirt freshman becomes a starter. As the lightest guy on the team probably since Carl Jones was a freshman, Cole had better have track-star speed.

In the olden days, deep talent at the offensive skill positions often meant the conversion of a Bryce Bevill to corner. If Lutz, who's an RB-4 at best, and maybe more like RB-6 or -7, or Sharod Johnson (WR7) wants to see the field, maybe they need a look at corner. Ditto Kevin Johnson, though he might lack the speed.

We share a lot of the same concerns. Only time will tell.

 

[PhatOrange]

Much of this thread makes a great case for a hybrid "box safety," as is now popular in the NFL thanks to Duane Bucannon; Josh Jones was supposed to be that guy in Green Bay. It would be great if Mikel Jones could make it work, or find another role, but if he can't there are other candidates. The coaches haven't been sure if Trotter, at 206, is a safety or an OLB. Jonas seems to have hybrid size. LaBrosse might after a year.

But I feel far better about this approach than about converting a 200-pound Kielan Whitner into an OLB and hoping he'll survive against the run. I feel like the last time this worked, it required Keith Bulluck's talent.

The hybrids are intriguing, as usual. The staff in recent years clearly made the right call with Trill, and probably with Courtney Jackson, who seems to have game-changing speed. Because of strengths and weaknesses on the depth chart, I'd thought Barron and Wax were likely to end up challening Trotter and maybe Kpogba as backup LBs, and Pena would have been a CB. But consensus seems to be that Barron is a wideout, and Pena's tape makes a case that he's a guy who needs to get the ball.

Again, I'm frustrated by the emphasis on adding safeties -- even with a decommitment plus the move of Clarke to CB, we have nine (unless Atkinson moves to CB). Only Stritzinger is due to graduate. I mean, do I really need Carter *and* LaBrosse if I have six guys ahead of them and three are freshmen or sophs?

The WR numbers are even harder to understand. Even with Jackson having departed and Lutz moving to RB, we have 10 scholarship wideouts and zero seniors. Alford at 6'5" adds Custis-esque size, but Ja'vante Williams, gives us what, exactly? A Hendrix, Queeley and maybe Cam Jordan (I agree with an earlier post that he's not a starter), but with less ability and size? Better to have spent that scholly on OL depth, no?

That fuels my concern regarding corner. I love Trill and Iffy as starters, but each injury means a smallish redshirt freshman becomes a starter. As the lightest guy on the team probably since Carl Jones was a freshman, Cole had better have track-star speed.

In the olden days, deep talent at the offensive skill positions often meant the conversion of a Bryce Bevill to corner. If Lutz, who's an RB-4 at best, and maybe more like RB-6 or -7, or Sharod Johnson (WR7) wants to see the field, maybe they need a look at corner. Ditto Kevin Johnson, though he might lack the speed.

Are you saying 10 WRs is too many?

 

[CuseOnly]

PWO LB at back up C
We need to find some depth this recruiting cycle, yikes

We are short 25 scholarship players right about now, it's always thin in Spring ball. Which is why we haven't played a real Spring scrimmage in what seems like forever.

 

[CuseOnly]

Him and Adams are grown men. If they can catch dump offs in the back field they’ll lower some booms on safeties and corners.

Can't wait.