Looks like we are going to a 4-2-5 defense

[footballdad]

fast big uglies, head-knockers and ball-busters- we need lots of them.

I predict that Morris converts some of the OL to DL in the short run. We simply don't have much beef on the DL and there are a few OL (who don't play) close to 300lbs.

Even if we sign some good recruits, the freshman will probably need a year or two to bulk up.

Maybe they send our massive Samoan Jerry back to O Line? i know he wanted to play D Line, so June let him (made some crock about him being a first round pick on the O Line), but he's massive and I remember when he got here all he talked about was how he loved hitting. He couldn't be any worse than any of our other guards and in Morris offense, we need to be able to at least kind of run up the middle.

Jerry another June experiment likely headed back to the islands. Nice kid but it is what it is.

[footballdad]

Hollie is a kid that has the size, feet, and athleticism to be an inside DL if he gets motivated and buys into a legit strength & conditioning coach. Hasn't yet so that's a 50/50 proposition.

[ojaipony]

Hollie is a kid that has the size, feet, and athleticism to be an inside DL if he gets motivated and buys into a legit strength & conditioning coach. Hasn't yet so that's a 50/50 proposition.

Agreed - this one is a head scratcher. I thought he'd be a lock.

[Digetydog]

fast big uglies, head-knockers and ball-busters- we need lots of them.

I predict that Morris converts some of the OL to DL in the short run. We simply don't have much beef on the DL and there are a few OL (who don't play) close to 300lbs.

Even if we sign some good recruits, the freshman will probably need a year or two to bulk up.

Skeptical of any OL to DL moves. The mentality and toughness of the DL usually isn't there in an OLineman. The only guy that looks the part and has the strength might be the 6'2", 330 lb kid from Houston Lamar from last years class.

I agree, but our DT's need to be pushing 300lbs in our system. Looking at the roster sorted by weight (http://espn.go.com/college-football/tea ... ort/weight) almost all of the really big guys are on the OL.

With undersized DE's and LB's a given, I figure a few beefy (if somewhat unskilled) DTs might help.

[Pony Fan]

JUCO!

[ponyte]

Hollie is a kid that has the size, feet, and athleticism to be an inside DL if he gets motivated and buys into a legit strength & conditioning coach. Hasn't yet so that's a 50/50 proposition.

Just a casual observance but he looks out of shape. Hades, you look to be in better shape than Hollie!

He could really use some hard off season conditioning and strength training.

[alyssa]

I love the 4-2-5!!!!

[alyssa]

I love the 4-2-5!!!!

[footballdad]

Hollie is a kid that has the size, feet, and athleticism to be an inside DL if he gets motivated and buys into a legit strength & conditioning coach. Hasn't yet so that's a 50/50 proposition.

Just a casual observance but he looks out of shape. Hades, you look to be in better shape than Hollie!

He could really use some hard off season conditioning and strength training.

Yeah, he hasn't seemed to buy into Magic Mel's S&C program.....but it's apparent nobody really has. Can't wait to hear who the next S&C coach is. Also curious if Morris is going to take this part of the program to the next level with some type of nutritionist on staff who works with the S&C coach to really monitor these guys to get the most out of them. Seems like a relatively small investment for a potentially large return.

[Stallion]

I would think this would be Hollie's big break. There is no way he was going to be effective at NG at that height-need lower center of gravity. I've never really considered him anything other than just "another big guy". His recruitment was way overhyped on SMU boards from what I can tell. But DT should be a more natural position for him

[Digetydog]

Hollie is a kid that has the size, feet, and athleticism to be an inside DL if he gets motivated and buys into a legit strength & conditioning coach. Hasn't yet so that's a 50/50 proposition.

Just a casual observance but he looks out of shape. Hades, you look to be in better shape than Hollie!

He could really use some hard off season conditioning and strength training.

Yeah, he hasn't seemed to buy into Magic Mel's S&C program.....but it's apparent nobody really has. Can't wait to hear who the next S&C coach is. Also curious if Morris is going to take this part of the program to the next level with some type of nutritionist on staff who works with the S&C coach to really monitor these guys to get the most out of them. Seems like a relatively small investment for a potentially large return.

The nutrition point blows my mind. If we want our guys to gain the "good" kind of weight, we need to make sure that they know what they should be eating and what they should be avoiding (Snuffers).

[RGV Pony]

isnt that what TCU uses?

[JasonB]

Yes, it is what TCU plays.

In order for the 4-2-5 to be effective:
- The linemen have to play really, really well. Get pressure without blitzing too much and keep the linemen off the LBs in the running game. We are much more well suited to run a 4 man front. Lots of ends that can do well there. Wouldn't be surprised to see Gentry moved to the middle. Biggest issue is the lack of depth at the tackle position. We probably need some JUCO help pretty badly. A player like Wood thought might excel in a 4 man front. We will be much better off than if we were trying to run a 3 man front next year.
- The two LBs in the middle have to be tough as nails, be able to run, and be as effective in the running game as in the passing game. This is a really, really important position in the scheme. And we don't really have guys that fit the bill. Tui and Horton are probably the only guys on the roster right now. The others are too small or have played on the outside. Seals in particular seems like a man without a position. Yenga too. If you look at the Clemson roster, all of their CBs are smaller, Safties are 195-210, and then they have a set of LBs that are 210-215, and another set 225-235. The first set is the hybrid position, the second set fill the two linebacker spots. We just don't have a lot of guys the size to fill that spot. Mabye you get Yenga to put on some weight so he can play there. But LB is a major position of need.
- The hybrid position we have a ton of young LBs that can play. They are fast and the right size. Yenga probably not a good fit here because he isn't great in coverage. His best spot was blitzing off the edge, and that doesn't exist anymore. Same with Seals (who has actually played a lot better recently).
- Corner and safety things don't change that much. We could use immediate help at corner. What is interesting is that the Clemson corners are smaller. To me, that would indicate that players like Sutton would stay on offense and we might see some of the smaller WR move to the defensive side of the ball.

[PlanoStang]

I think this is the way to go- I've always liked the 4-2-5

It looked good to me in 66 watching Billy Bob Stewart as one of Hayden Fry's linebackers, and he
reeked havoc

Might be a bad idea since we probably don't have the heavy duty linemen yet to beat off huge
Big 12 offensive linemen.

I like the 3 - 4 - 4, and being innovative enough to adapt to the players you have on hand, and
recruit to what you want it to be

See Hayden Fry