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In June Jones' first season as SMU's head coach, the offense underwent a complete overhaul. This spring, it is the SMU defense that is undergoing something of a facelift, as the Ponies move to a 3-4 alignment as their base defense.

One player who also is facing a personal switch is sophomore Torlan Pittman, who played in 11 games in 2008 (starting once) at defensive tackle and now finds himself moving back to defensive end, and playing in the system in which he enjoyed such great success in high school that he was named his district's Defensive Player of the Year.

Pittman visited with PonyFans.com to discuss the switch in defenses and the switch in positions, how it affects him and how he hopes to make an impact in 2009.

http://www.ponyfans.com/features/index.php?id=91

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don't really understand this move-a 5-11, 280 pond DE in a 3-4. Is this just filling spring holes because of lack of depth. Eventually he'll go back to NG.

so do we really only have two NTs?

Good move. It gives us some weight at DE, which a 3-4 DE needs.

I can see him playing at either spot on the line. So far as I can tell, the Weakside DE in a 3-4 plays a similar role to a DT in a 4-3, especially on Rushing downs. Depending on the play, the OLB can move in against the run, drop back into coverage, or "destroy everything on the way to the quarterback"

But I'd rather see him spelling at NT to keep the guys fresh, and it's not like we have so much depth that we can spare it.

-CoS

Stallion wrote:don't really understand this move-a 5-11, 280 pond DE in a 3-4. Is this just filling spring holes because of lack of depth. Eventually he'll go back to NG.

I was thinking the same thing. Keeps talking about his speed. He cant run better than a 4.9.

SMU21TCU10 wrote:

Stallion wrote:don't really understand this move-a 5-11, 280 pond DE in a 3-4. Is this just filling spring holes because of lack of depth. Eventually he'll go back to NG.

I was thinking the same thing. Keeps talking about his speed. He cant run better than a 4.9.

Torlan has a quick first step.