Defense?

[asphalt cowboy]

The game is about blocking, tackling, rushing, and catching. Its not about formations, its about the people playing. DTS: Frazier. Huahulu, Thomas, Dollens, and others. Speed at linebacker was a problem last year. The 3-4 or 4-3 will be the same since one LB will always be charging. Well as Liz Taylor said when she called her bridesmaids, "Its time to go back to work."

[PoconoPony]

For the record, I hate the move to the 3-4. You see a half-dozen schools make this claim every year. It is a sign that the defense is going to suck. Dodge said they were going to a 3-4 at NTSU last year. Bennett said pretty much the same thing before too. When a team says they are going to a 3-4, they are really saying they don't have enough defensive linemen.

Well. That would make sense because we don't have enough D-Lineman

There is no question we lack depth at DT so a move to a 3-4 set is appealing, but I don't see a NG who can occupy 2 guys every play and you better have some ILBs who go about 240+ and can run. Once you start talking 3-4, why not look at some 3-3-5 sets? Charlie Strong ran a lot of that at South Carolina because they were really thin at DT, but they had a couple of talented DEs that went about 260-270 and had lots of 200-225 lb guys with speed to round out that defense. They were very effective playing against SEC talent.

The challenge is in getting your most talented guys on the field. Gotta give Jones a few more years to recruit the guys he needs to run his systems, but it should be interesting to see what this coaching staff can do with what they've got. It can only get better than last year, right?

Although a 3-4 would make sense, it is largely dependent on a huge and strong guy in the middle who can hold his ground, take on 2/3 blockers on every play, protect one line backer and still plug up the middle on running plays. I simply do not see this type/size of player or depth on the current roster to successfully run this defense. If the guy in the middle cannot handle this huge responsibility, the line backer get cut off/blocked and the defense becomes immediately vulnerable. I would not be so quick to abandon the 4-3 based on our current DL line talent. The coaching staff obviously knows best so it will be interesting to see what actually transpires.

[Cadillac]

I am concerned about our defense.

Golf Clap.

Hopefully, we'll be able to elevate from "Turn style" to "speed bump" in 2009.

-CoS

[The PonyGrad]

I am concerned about our defense.

Golf Clap.

Hopefully, we'll be able to elevate from "Turn style" to "speed bump" in 2009.

-CoS

(Edit: As they say, if it was half as true it would be twice as funny.)