E-Rob & the Defense

[VA Citrus]

We've come a long way from grabbing OCs from McNeese State. It's nice to be ahead of the chains for once. Both Nixon and ERob are going to get poached at some point. Talented young coaches are going to want to come here.

 

[SUFan44]

We've come a long way from grabbing OCs from McNeese State. It's nice to be ahead of the chains for once. Both Nixon and ERob are going to get poached at some point. Talented young coaches are going to want to come here.

Nixon, yes. Elijah Robinson? How quickly we forget. The defense last year was abysmal. And it wasn’t just talent deficiency.

 

[CNYGuy]

Nixon, yes. Elijah Robinson? How quickly we forget. The defense last year was abysmal. And it wasn’t just talent deficiency.

Not to derail the thread, but I'm not down on the defense... It was year one of a system change that requires more bodies up front and we lost two starters and a couple depth players on an already thin unit for the entire season because we had been recruiting for a system with 3 linemen previously. Not to mention probably our best player for like six weeks.

 

[HRE Otto IV]

Not to derail the thread, but I'm not down on the defense... It was year one of a system change that requires more bodies up front and we lost two starters and a couple depth players on an already thin unit for the entire season because we had been recruiting for a system with 3 linemen previously. Not to mention probably our best player for like six weeks.

The system and DL depth is fair. The scary thing though is we lost 5 or our best players from last year’s D. It will take at least a year for the current group to grow into their roles.

 

[FrancoPizza]

The system and DL depth is fair. The scary thing though is we lost 5 or our best players from last year’s D. It will take at least a year for the current group to grow into their roles.

The D was bailed out big time by McCord. We're not close talent-wise to what we need to be successful in this type of system. Hope like heck that I'm proven wrong.

 

[SUFan44]

Not to derail the thread, but I'm not down on the defense... It was year one of a system change that requires more bodies up front and we lost two starters and a couple depth players on an already thin unit for the entire season because we had been recruiting for a system with 3 linemen previously. Not to mention probably our best player for like six weeks.

I think you're in the minority then.

After a year of recruiting, let's hope it's different.

I would also say that the offense did just fine with the majority of returners back. A good coach figured it out and caters the coaching approach to the personnel you have.

 

[sufandu]

I think you're in the minority then.

After a year of recruiting, let's hope it's different.

I would also say that the offense did just fine with the majority of returners back. A good coach figured it out and caters the coaching approach to the personnel you have.

The offense did get a couple key additions the defense didn't get. We can't talk about how good McCord was and then pretend he wasn't a huge reason the offense did what it did. Having said that, as of right now, I'm not sold on Robinson. Hopefully this is an off season of growth. We'll need better defense next year.

 

[OrangeinBoston]

The D was bailed out big time by McCord. We're not close talent-wise to what we need to be successful in this type of system. Hope like heck that I'm proven wrong.

A little premature in your assessment.

 

[FrancoPizza]

A little premature in your assessment.

Let’s not overthink this. We lost the best players from a mediocre D. We haven’t brought anything in via the portal. The young kids will have more experience but i just don’t see this being a net improvement. Feels like a Carlos “let’s look the other way and cross our fingers” deal.

 

[SUFan44]

The offense did get a couple key additions the defense didn't get. We can't talk about how good McCord was and then pretend he wasn't a huge reason the offense did what it did. Having said that, as of right now, I'm not sold on Robinson. Hopefully this is an off season of growth. We'll need better defense next year.

Diggs was a huge get. Yes, McCord obviously was a big part of it. We had talent on D too.

 

[All4SU]

We have four guys on defense who have a legitimate chance of being drafted by the nfl this year. When was the last time we could say that? Of course we had talent on D. The question remains, who fills their shoes? Also how far along will the young guys have developed?

 

[Cusefan69]

So certainly some growing pains on defense last year. Part coaching (teaching like better angles and tackling) and play calling (3 man fronts). But we did see some adjustments. We lost some players on defense, key players that hurt. We are losing our 2 captains on defense and our secondary seemed thin. That said, you have Watson, Thomas (330 pound Dt transfer), Perry, Wilson and Hastings inside and all but Thomas in year 2 S&C. Jobity moves out to end and you have also Jaquez, Omopariola, King and a bunch of younger talent. At LB Sparrow, Heard, Goddard and some youth (so some issues there in that room to be figured out but we have some players) and then in the secondary Duce, Ibn, the Kerr brothers, Samuels, Grant. Some good talent in the mix. I am sure I missed a couple. I do think we will still hit portal for another LB or 2 if needed. That said i like allot of the younger talent. There are some big, strong and fast players on that defense.

 

[sufandu]

Diggs was a huge get. Yes, McCord obviously was a big part of it. We had talent on D too.

Diggs was not as impactful as McCord, if for no other reason that no defender other than Dwight Freeney can impact a game as much as a good QB. Meeks was also huge for us on offense. So, yes, a bunch of returners were great this year, but we got more help from the portal on offense, including a little help on the oline.

 

[OrangeFair44]

We have four guys on defense who have a legitimate chance of being drafted by the nfl this year. When was the last time we could say that? Of course we had talent on D. The question remains, who fills their shoes? Also how far along will the young guys have developed?

2019- Garret Williams, Cisco, iffy and trill Williams. Not necessarily all drafted but 3 out of 4 still on nfl rosters. Heck of a DB room.

 

[ezbeezy214]

Think there was also Shamarko Thomas, Durrell Eskridge, Marquis Spruill and Jay Bromley. Nowhere near as good but fun names to throw out.

Replacements: I’m guessing:
Diggs — Bunch of guys led by David O/maybe Reese
Barron — McDonald
Wax - Sparrow
Lewis — Kerr 1
Clark — Grant

Maraad, Tank, Grant and Duce will be the “leaders”

 

[FrancoPizza]

Think there was also Shamarko Thomas, Durrell Eskridge, Marquis Spruill and Jay Bromley. Nowhere near as good but fun names to throw out.

Replacements: I’m guessing:
Diggs — Bunch of guys led by David O/maybe Reese
Barron — McDonald
Wax - Sparrow
Lewis — Kerr 1
Clark — Grant

Maraad, Tank, Grant and Duce will be the “leaders”

The dropoff at LB stands out

 

[ezbeezy214]

The dropoff at LB stands out

The hope is Deslauriers and something clicks with Sparrow.

 

[CbusCuse]

Think there was also Shamarko Thomas, Durrell Eskridge, Marquis Spruill and Jay Bromley. Nowhere near as good but fun names to throw out.

Replacements: I’m guessing:
Diggs — Bunch of guys led by David O/maybe Reese
Barron — McDonald
Wax - Sparrow
Lewis — Kerr 1
Clark — Grant

Maraad, Tank, Grant and Duce will be the “leaders”

I consider Jobbity the replacement for Diggs since he wasn’t healthy for much of the year. And I’m guessing he’ll play a good deal at DE in 2025. Maybe he’ll bump inside on passing downs ti let David O, Reese or KJE to come in at End.

 

[FrancoPizza]

The hope is Deslauriers and something clicks with Sparrow.

Yea that’s reassuring

 

[ezbeezy214]

Yea that’s reassuring

at least we can say they wanted Sparrow back from the Portal for a reason

 

[ezbeezy214]

And of course that is for him to lead us out of the tunnel to the Pirates of the Caribbean theme song.

 

[FrancoPizza]

at least we can say they wanted Sparrow back from the Portal for a reason

we’ve seen him play. It seems like a desperation move.

 

[kingtidge]

The hope is Deslauriers and something clicks with Sparrow.

What about James Heard?

He had some big offers out of HS including Tenn, Ped St, TxA&M, Nebraska, etc.

Figured he'd be a rising performer @ LB.

 

[GoCuse14]

What about James Heard?

He had some big offers out of HS including Tenn, Ped St, TxA&M, Nebraska, etc.

Figured he'd be a rising performer.

I also feel like this is a name worth keeping an eye on, Ya Heard?

 

[kingtidge]

I also feel like this is a name worth keeping an eye on, Ya Heard?

Heard it from a friend who, who heard from a friend who, who heard from another he'd be starting at LB...