Brian Ward: officially the DC

[OrangePA]

He's recruiting for SU right now, the coaches will not be back in Bowling Green until Sunday as finals are this week and there's no official football activities. They'll start prepping Sunday for Georgia Southern on the 23rd.

What do you think of Ward?

What kind of defense does he play?

 

[BGFalcon09]

What do you think of Ward?

What kind of defense does he play?

I've heard nothing but good things about him from people close to the program. I haven't met him personally but I've met Dino a couple times, last spoke to him in January while at a BGSU hockey game.

His defense is built off the Tampa 2 and he'll key on the run on 1st and 2nd down, the defense thrives on 3rd and longs. You'll need to have good safeties and LB who can both defend the run and pass. I'd say it took the defense around 4-5 weeks this year to fully grasp his scheme and the group got markedly better later on in the season.

 

[OrangePA]

I've heard nothing but good things about him from people close to the program. I haven't met him personally but I've met Dino a couple times, last spoke to him in January while at a BGSU hockey game.

His defense is built off the Tampa 2 and he'll key on the run on 1st and 2nd down, the defense thrives on 3rd and longs. You'll need to have good safeties and LB who can both defend the run and pass. I'd say it took the defense around 4-5 weeks this year to fully grasp his scheme and the group got markedly better later on in the season.

Cool.

 

[GoCuse14]

All in.

I think babers said they'd play defense to the personnel strengths and they can play an attacking scheme or tampa

And that is crucial to me and I love to hear it. I hate when a new coach comes and says "this is what we are going to do", prior to even knowing if he has the personnel in place.

 

[RoysRunts]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tampa_2 No Jack Lambert around




https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUv_3SdfrJA

 

[FrancoPizza]

I think with the talent we have on defense he can be very successful. We have some very good pieces we need some depth on D line and improve the secondary.

Not sure if you're serious. Outside of, maybe Thompson, who on that side of the ball has a chance to sniff the pros?

 

[TheCusian]

Not sure if you're serious. Outside of, maybe Thompson, who on that side of the ball has a chance to sniff the pros?

Steven Clark, Z.Franklin

 

[FrancoPizza]

Steven Clark, Z.Franklin

Clark is too early to say - he got pushed around a lot this year. Franklin has no chance.

The defense got torched and pushed around all year. I hope you guys are remembering we hired Babers to revamp the other side of the ball. Defense is just something we're going to do when we're not scoring TDs. Kind of like the old 80s SU hoops teams.

 

[Crusty]

Steven Clark, Z.Franklin

I don't think so.

 

[OrangeMojo]

Clark is too early to say - he got pushed around a lot this year. Franklin has no chance.

The defense got torched and pushed around all year. I hope you guys are remembering we hired Babers to revamp the other side of the ball. Defense is just something we're going to do when we're not scoring TDs. Kind of like the old 80s SU hoops teams.

Cam Lynch is in the NFL and Zaire Franklin has no shot of even getting a sniff?

 

[TheCusian]

Clark is too early to say - he got pushed around a lot this year. Franklin has no chance. The defense got torched and pushed around all year. I hope you guys are remembering we hired Babers to revamp the other side of the ball. Defense is just something we're going to do when we're not scoring TDs. Kind of like the old 80s SU hoops teams.

Ha. We'll see. I disagree with your assessment. Franklin has the tools. Steven did not get pushed around as much as you say - and when he did, I think you can attribute those things to technique issues not weight/strength. Guy is a bull. He was only a freshman.

 

[TheCusian]

I don't think so.

I do. Both of those guys have the athletic ability to mask NFL size concerns. New system, fresh start.

We'll see.

 

[jekelish]

For what it's worth, regarding not Ward but another member of the staff, was just told that Kaufman met with Jamal Holloway, and Holloway came away absolutely blown away and just loving Kaufman.

 

[Finwad32]

Clark was a true FR in the trenches of the ACC. He did just fine.

If you don't think Franklin can end up in the NFL, you haven't been watching. He'll certainly have opportunities. Not to mention that he still has two years to develop.

 

[FrancoPizza]

Clark was a true FR in the trenches of the ACC. He did just fine.

If you don't think Franklin can end up in the NFL, you haven't been watching. He'll certainly have opportunities. Not to mention that he still has two years to develop.

I just think he's undersized. When you're undersized you better have freakish abilities to compensate (e.g. Freeney).

 

[GoCuse08]

For what it's worth, regarding not Ward but another member of the staff, was just told that Kaufman met with Jamal Holloway, and Holloway came away absolutely blown away and just loving Kaufman.

That's great to hear...especially coming from a defensive player.

 

[All4SU]

He's recruiting for SU right now, the coaches will not be back in Bowling Green until Sunday as finals are this week and there's no official football activities. They'll start prepping Sunday for Georgia Southern on the 23rd.

So...who is recruiting for Bowling Green?

 

[Finwad32]

I just think he's undersized. When you're undersized you better have freakish abilities to compensate (e.g. Freeney).

Fair enough.

 

[money3189]

Clark took on double teams from ACC lineman all season long. Thats hard to do as a senior let alone a freshman.

 

[texascpa]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tampa_2 No Jack Lambert around




https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUv_3SdfrJA

It ended right before he started talking Tampa 2.

 

[Chip]

Lester was a HC/OC prior to SU and Bullough was a DC at UCLA.

I was more thinking McDonald.

We've had 3 straight head coaches who have pulled the plug on their first OC hire either during his first year or during his second year. No original OC has made it 2 full years. I'd like to hope that trend will change.

Also, since Babers replaced a previous DC with Ward, who was an upgrade, we're likely to not have to replace DCs into the tenure.

Experienced guys in their role who should stick around (unless poached) is something we haven't seen in quite some time.

I think for Ward, this is going to be a bit of a thankless job. There's a lot stacked against a DC here with this environment. For one thing you have Babers offense which doesn't possess the ball for long periods of time. A 3 and out or a TD drive might be the same amount of rest. Also, given that 3 of our 4 closest regional peers have all hired Big 10 successful DCs either last year or this year, it's going to be a harder sell to defensive recruits. Plus the 4th, BC, offers the opportunity to play for Don Brown who has been very successful there.

If you assume the offense will produce as it's expected to, then Ward is going to be the guy on the staff with the target.

 

[SUFaninNJ]

Not sure if you're serious. Outside of, maybe Thompson, who on that side of the ball has a chance to sniff the pros?

Considering the vast majority of the players were freshman and sophomores, in many case I think it's too early to tell. Clark and Franklin would be the most likely IMO, but again, it's early.

 

[BGFalcon09]

So...who is recruiting for Bowling Green?

The new staff which was hired today will be recruiting up until the dead period.

 

[money3189]

Bowling Green's defense ranking went from #122 to #78. I hope people realize he did this with replacing 7 starters and implementing a new defense. We can talk schemes and philosophies all day but numbers don't lie. Cant wait to see what he does with a defense that has 7 returning starters this year.

 

[djorange1989]

Saying Clark won't make the NFL is ludicrous at this point. The kid is an SEC level talent. Freakin' true freshman playing against Clemson, LSU, FSU etc. can we give him a couple of years in the S&C program and on the field before saying that? it goes both ways, we can't say he is a lock for the NFL either, but I think he has all the tools to get there. Franklin is very undersized, so my guess is he could be a late rounder/UFA.