dollarbill44
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Edited for my preference.
Predictions on starting defense
- Thread starter RF2044
- Start date
I’ll be utterly shocked if that’s the case. Having said that it’s only because we have only been able to sniff that kind of contention a few times this century. Very much hope you’re right and I would have zero credibility to say you’re wrong, but I’d put that scenario in the category of pleasantly shocking for me.
dollarbill44
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Recent HoF inductee Zach Thomas agrees!
Cusefan69
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Yeah agreed and that was not my intent but my words read that way didn't they? Bailey is certainly showed well end of season when injuries were hitting the room. I think there are similarities between Bailey and others on the team but the others bring more sizing for the position. Lowery 240, Mason 228, Thompson 248, wax 230, Roon 231. Though McDonald's and Sparrow 224/ 225. Bailey 223. So if talent is the same I was thinking how it would tilt towards size(I count speed in the talent bucket)..
cusefan88
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I think in one of the camp interviews after practice it was mentioned.
CbusCuse
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Pretty sure that was confirmed. I remember reading or hearing it somewhere official.
money3189
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I get what you are saying. There is just so many variables that go into successful play but I understand your thoughts
Cusefan69
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I hear ya. Knowledge of the scheme, recognition of what the formation is showing on offense, the type of mentality the player brings, ability to adjust, etc and I am sure more. I am with you on that, didn't mean to distill it down to two elements, you are correct.
Well they already play the top 3 teams smack dab in the middle of the season. That will be a real litmus test.
dollarbill44
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In any case, the coaching staff will have options for when more size is needed, i.e. facing a power run game, or if speed or experience is needed more.
GeauxSU
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No one in the conference I'd rather have playing up the middle.
RF2044
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This year, we'll have improved size AND depth at DT.
Last year, Darton was an iron man. I can't sing the kid's praises enough -- after Lockett's injury, he had to basically play 90% of the snaps, despite being undersized, and he came through. We just didn't have great options behind him.
This year, Darton, Lockett, and Fuentes-Cundiff are all a little bit heavier [good weight], which will help them be better against the run. And you also add in Ingraham, the Alabama transfer, who comes in around 300 pounds. There's four, without counting Bassette, Perry, or anybody else who might get a few snaps inside.
I'm not claiming they're the '85 Bears, but we should hold up better against teams that just want to line up and try to blow us off the ball. Might not be possible with a great with better depth and size [not suggesting that it wouldn't be situationally possible, but that a team might not be able to just do that all game long like ND did, or like Clemson did late in our game down there last year].
Agree...rotating this defense should be something Rocky should do without fear because of the depth of talent. Get people snaps and the hungry ones will eat and get their fill.
Windyfly
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I think Bralyn Oliver is one guy getting over looked on the D, at least in the secondary.
He’s entering his second season here and third year removed from hs and seems ready for a breakout year.
I forgot who already, but someone was hyping him up in an interview, might have been Alijah Clark or Isaiah Johnson (who appears to be our next lockdown corner)…but anyways i expect BO to push for at least one of the primary backup spots.. if not a starting spot.
The more I look at the secondary, the more we seem LOADED back there.
He’s entering his second season here and third year removed from hs and seems ready for a breakout year.
I forgot who already, but someone was hyping him up in an interview, might have been Alijah Clark or Isaiah Johnson (who appears to be our next lockdown corner)…but anyways i expect BO to push for at least one of the primary backup spots.. if not a starting spot.
The more I look at the secondary, the more we seem LOADED back there.
CbusCuse
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DE Okechukwu
DT Lockett/Darton (shared)
DE Jaquez/Jobity (shared)
OLB Thompson
MLB Wax
OLB McDonald
CB I. Johnson
CB Jeremiah Wilson/Peterson (shared)
FS Clark
BS Farmer/Simmons (shared)
ROV Barron
Additional depth in order of PT:
- DE subs; Simmons, Perry (Likely will rise in depth chart throughout season), Nolton
- DT subs; Ingraham, Daisy Fuentes, Bassette
- LB subs; Lowery, Sparrow, Bailey, Omopariolas, Mason, Gilmore (Specials), ZMG 4 games and redshirt because of depth.
-CB subs; Bellamy, Gould, Buxton III, Delaine
-S subs; Oliver, Jalil Martin, Jaden Gould, Greenwood, Seabourne, Perry
Way more depth than I ever remember having.
DT Lockett/Darton (shared)
DE Jaquez/Jobity (shared)
OLB Thompson
MLB Wax
OLB McDonald
CB I. Johnson
CB Jeremiah Wilson/Peterson (shared)
FS Clark
BS Farmer/Simmons (shared)
ROV Barron
Additional depth in order of PT:
- DE subs; Simmons, Perry (Likely will rise in depth chart throughout season), Nolton
- DT subs; Ingraham, Daisy Fuentes, Bassette
- LB subs; Lowery, Sparrow, Bailey, Omopariolas, Mason, Gilmore (Specials), ZMG 4 games and redshirt because of depth.
-CB subs; Bellamy, Gould, Buxton III, Delaine
-S subs; Oliver, Jalil Martin, Jaden Gould, Greenwood, Seabourne, Perry
Way more depth than I ever remember having.
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Cusefan69
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Yeah plenty of options which is a good thing.
CbusCuse
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And by mid season I really think we could go big at DE and have Perry wreak havoc in the run game and still have the ability to pass rush. At 278 lbs he is very explosive. I really think it may make a lot of sense against the Clemson and FL state types of teams. We have so many options at DL and LB. I really hope we just rotate guys in a lot and have them go 100% every play, especially at DL.
sutomcat
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My understanding is that Thompson is being kept out of hard contact for now. He is still less than a year from a major knee injury. The plan is to work him in slowly and try to avoid being too aggressive with him too early.
Thinking he may play limited snaps the first couple of games.
TexanMark
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Makes sense...first two games should be tailored made to having him getting used to cutting at full speed. Hopefully he plays at least 40% snaps. We need to get the backups some work too.
RF2044
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Why is there any reason to think he wouldn't be in the rotation?
Dmcnabbrules
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Guys who are locks IMO
Caleb, Darton, Wax, Thompson, Johnson, Clark, Simmons and Barron.
So that leaves one defensive lineman, one linebacker and one defensive back.
We will see a lot of rotation on the defensive line so I don’t know if it matter who starts. I wouldn’t mind seeing Lockett, Caleb and Darton on first and second downs.
Sparrow is my favorite to be the third linebacker with a heavy dose of McDonald.
The second corner is the biggest question mark. Wilson has had high praise but is somewhat small. Patterson looked decent in the bowl game. Any chance Clark slide to corner once Farmer is comfortable?
Caleb, Darton, Wax, Thompson, Johnson, Clark, Simmons and Barron.
So that leaves one defensive lineman, one linebacker and one defensive back.
We will see a lot of rotation on the defensive line so I don’t know if it matter who starts. I wouldn’t mind seeing Lockett, Caleb and Darton on first and second downs.
Sparrow is my favorite to be the third linebacker with a heavy dose of McDonald.
The second corner is the biggest question mark. Wilson has had high praise but is somewhat small. Patterson looked decent in the bowl game. Any chance Clark slide to corner once Farmer is comfortable?
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Because we have a ton of viable options and we haven’t heard a word about how he’s performed. He’s a new player added to the mix who hadn’t played at his old stop. Why would we assume that he is in the rotation? Unless someone has info, which is what I was asking. I haven’t seen any info about him except that he’s practicing. Have you?
